On: the frightening methodologies that (seemingly) all power elites operate on, but aren't disseminated at all through the mass media. After all, people are too stupid to deserve the knowledge that they're being handled. Part 4 was instrumental in showing how far the scope can be widened, ie, this idea of "small ball politics" and the clear rationale behind rampant lying and photo ops. (Apparently only rulers can utilize reason...) In summary: ffffFFFFffffFFFFfffffuuuck Freud.

Amazing, they should show this in every school. People NEED to know this.

extremely enlightening.

This is a documentary that should be required viewing for all impressionable teenagers (and adults), but it never will be considering the copyright footage used prevents it from even allowing a DVD release (see it on Google Video). Although I found the first episode - about the origins of PR in America and how it was spearheaded by Freud's cousin Bernays - the most interesting, the latter episodes are still incredibly insightful into how corporations, and now politicians, control the masses.

It was 2 hour too long! Otherwise it would have got 85 for interesting content. Things to be learned: 1. Freud had a lot of bad theories. 2. We are too eager to buy the "new iPhone". 3. Good marketing experts easily fool us to buy stuff (or make us vote for a candidate)

A valuable documentary that seeks to explain how our sociopolitical world got into the mess it's in now. I think Curtis's understanding of the symptoms is correct, but his explanation of the cause seems a bit too simplistic; by the midpoint of the series I was yearning for a more concrete anchor to grab onto. The fourth part does a good job of tying it all together, and we're left with the paradox that true insight into the problem probably shows that we're too far gone for it to do any good.

Very well done documentary on the impacts of psychology on Anglo-Saxon civilisation. Loses focus after the FDR era. By the time we get to Reagan we're all but reduced to monochrome coverage.

Psychology, public relations, capitalism, politics, media, irrational desires, focus groups, individuality, and how all these things relate to one another within the broad theme of controlling the masses. Adam Curtis delivers another fascinating piece of work that excels in its clear presentation, showing how simple ideas can be picked up, twisted around and have a huge influence on our lives years later.

Fascinating and disturbing documentary about how Freud's ideas were almost immediately pressed into service -- not to heal broken minds or anything like that, but to control people... and how ideas on how to do this spread like cancer throughout the world

A fine and ultimately moderate series illustrating the 21st century connection between psychoanalysis, business and politics, all entwined by the thread of the individual. Bernays's 'Torches of Freedom' is a stroke of brilliance and is quiet proof that despite intense scrutiny of his uncles work that there is a connecting factor between their respective fields. The Freudian slip moment caught by Curtis is beyond comedy.

another great documentary by mr adam curtis. i feels a bit stretched out though, could've fit into 3 hours methinks. it's nice to think about the implications in the world today, seems to be getting worse all the time

This is the greatest ever cinematic attempt to explain what led to our present situation, and the first of Curtis's truly superb documentary series. It should be accompanied by a reading of Bernard Stiegler's books, Acting Out and The Decadence of Industrial Democracies. Curtis's three series, and in particular this explication of the meaning and significance of the 20th century, make him the first truly 21st century documentary filmmaker.

4 of the most important hours of moving pictures ever created. Plus it makes me want to pee on Edward Bernays' grave.

Fairly interesting, if not particularly mindblowing. Isn't using It's a Wonderful World ironically a cliche by now?

Kind of repetitive in places. Also veers too sharply into politics for the last episode, it would have been nice to have explored a broader scope of how the Internet is further factionalizing us and continuing the consumerist trend (for example). Still, the link between Bernays and Freud is fascinating and well worth a documentary.

A terrifying but masterful piece of work. Adam Curtis is a bastian of what journalism used to, and should still be. His programmes are always thoughtful, contextualised and well researched. Terrific.

agree to the general idea. but some quick & 'crude' explanations/generalisations. had to be more accurate in terms of 'agency' and 'structure' or meaning of 'rational' versus 'irrational' (but of course, we are not dealing with a social scientific endeavour here). irritated by the unfairly hostile representation of Freud. we are talking about one of the few truly revolutionary geniuses; not some misuse of his theory and methodology.

Again, Adam Curtis is brilliant. This documentary deals with the rise of Freudianism as well as the rise of public relations. Fascinating and thought provoking.

Very intersting, but the way it is presented is very dry. Nonetheless, it should be mandatory viewing for students.

I'll give it points for being amusing like most BBC documentaries of this sort, but I can't give it full credit due to the amount of fallacies the documentary presents and how much vital stuff they miss. I think they overestimate Freud's presence in the field of psychology which, consider how significant he actually was, says a lot.

Critique of popular culture, the best I have ever seen.

Manipulative in the last episode, but very good as a whole. Impressive research by Mr. Curtis.

Semi-amusing tripe filled with hyperbole, half-truths, the incredibly obvious, and outright falsehoods. I find it more disturbing that people are so easily taken in by this documentary (do you REALLY think no one knew about and used psychology before Freud, who is considered primitive and overly simplistic by today's quality shrinks?) than anything it actually claims.

Definitely one of the most interesting documentaries I have ever watched. So many documentary filmmakers reach for ridiculous conspiracies about the US government, aliens, 9.11 etc... while this documentary carefully ties together a series of factual occurrences which paints a picture far more frightening than that of George Bush running around in his underpants planting bombs in the twin towers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JevW-g2rCu8