Anyone who thinks that this documentary paints a pejorative picture of Islam or is just propaganda more than likely is already looking at it with preconceived notions. It is a documentary that EVERY THINKING PERSON should see, and I suggest that you see it more than once. It is NOT a condemnation of Islam. It is NOT a western propagandist platform. It is NOT a U.S. bashing "leftist rant". It IS one man's take on the organization we have come to know as Al-Qaeda and it's role in fomenting terrorism worldwide. It is a MUST SEE for any thinking person who is capable of analytical thinking.. no matter which side of the religious fence you fall on. I happen to be an American born Christian and I found the film to be thought provoking on many levels.
12 Reviews
An solid, informative and fairly objective documentary
vrut2523 September 2010
I can't call this film "riveting" or "eye-opening". It is low-tone and most of its information is hardly surprising to me. But I am more interested in politics than most other people. However, don't listen to the extremists form both sides when they accuse this documentary of "lies". Yes, if you are a Koran-burner or a Bin Laden fan, the facts in this film will make you mad and you will want to burn some more Korans or more American/Israeli flags or Danish cartoonists or KFC outlets, but normal people will recognize that this film is truthful.
I checked main facts from this documentary against other sources, and all of them were confirmed. This film correctly explains the jihadist mindset of the Islamic extremists and the feeling of "humiliation" that many in the Islamic world feel towards the more economically, socially, and technologically successful western countries; and equally correctly explains why Americans should never allow our leaders to abandon our democratic values under the pretext of "fighting terror". This film explains why its not only immoral but also bad policy to keep invading foreign countries, to torture prisoners, to suspend civil liberties etc, as this only feeds the resentment in the Islamic world. After this film one gets a desire to join the Libertarian Party.
I checked main facts from this documentary against other sources, and all of them were confirmed. This film correctly explains the jihadist mindset of the Islamic extremists and the feeling of "humiliation" that many in the Islamic world feel towards the more economically, socially, and technologically successful western countries; and equally correctly explains why Americans should never allow our leaders to abandon our democratic values under the pretext of "fighting terror". This film explains why its not only immoral but also bad policy to keep invading foreign countries, to torture prisoners, to suspend civil liberties etc, as this only feeds the resentment in the Islamic world. After this film one gets a desire to join the Libertarian Party.
Interesting take in the phycology of terrorism...
adanathel25 October 2010
Very well made documentary well structured on the motive and evolution of terrorism.It gives a number of interesting reasons and explanation of the world and the history and the social problems that produced the individuals that participate in such organizations.It almost gives a real and human aspect to them.The idea of how a human being is transformed into becoming such a type of murderer.
Although it must be said that it leaves out a very important aspect.The responsibility of the Western countries on the creation of the circumstances leading to the rise and influence of terrorist organizations.Granted of course that the subject of the movie is not centered on that aspect, so it is quite understandable that it is not analyzed that much.One though has to explore Western intervention, alongside the events depicted in this movie, to have a more complete picture on the subject.
Lastly I don't really see why some see this as giving a bad name about Islam...It just analyzes the motive of RADICAL Islamists.It never even crossed my mind that this movie attacks Islam, before i actually saw someone commenting on it.And I still think it is not.It comments on RADICAL movements and I don't really think anyone in the right mind can really confuse typical Muslims with the radical sects of Islam that are depicted here.Unless of course he is a complete idiot....
Although it must be said that it leaves out a very important aspect.The responsibility of the Western countries on the creation of the circumstances leading to the rise and influence of terrorist organizations.Granted of course that the subject of the movie is not centered on that aspect, so it is quite understandable that it is not analyzed that much.One though has to explore Western intervention, alongside the events depicted in this movie, to have a more complete picture on the subject.
Lastly I don't really see why some see this as giving a bad name about Islam...It just analyzes the motive of RADICAL Islamists.It never even crossed my mind that this movie attacks Islam, before i actually saw someone commenting on it.And I still think it is not.It comments on RADICAL movements and I don't really think anyone in the right mind can really confuse typical Muslims with the radical sects of Islam that are depicted here.Unless of course he is a complete idiot....
Excellent Documentary! Something every American should watch.
mbshaw777 September 2010
First let me say I am a conservative at heart but I'm also open minded to hearing the point of view of others. Whether you are on the right, left or somewhere in between this is an excellent documentary. This film was completed very objectively with no perceived, at least by me, bias for one view point or another.
Lawrence Wright, in my opinion, identifies well America's complacency and false sense of inferiority. Mr. Wright also describes very clearly the extent to which Al-Qaeda will go to fulfill their prophecy. This film is not intended to be a scare tactic but to simply and objectively state the facts.
Every American should take an hour and half of their selfish day and watch this film. Not to brew hatred or to scare people to action but to educate them about the determination of Al-Qaeda.
Lawrence Wright, in my opinion, identifies well America's complacency and false sense of inferiority. Mr. Wright also describes very clearly the extent to which Al-Qaeda will go to fulfill their prophecy. This film is not intended to be a scare tactic but to simply and objectively state the facts.
Every American should take an hour and half of their selfish day and watch this film. Not to brew hatred or to scare people to action but to educate them about the determination of Al-Qaeda.
Good Documentary
eastbergholt200220 September 2010
Lawrence Wright's film is fascinating and thought provoking. I read Wright's book The Looming Tower in 2006 and it was the first time I felt I had a clear understanding what the war with Al Qaeda was all about. In this film, Wright explores similar territory and provides an explanation of the philosophy of groups like Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Both share a view of the world that is repugnant and alien to our liberal western sensibilities. We value human life, scientific progress and equality for women and they don't. Wright explains that the Islamic world resents the material and military success of the West. The rise of terrorism has been a way for some extremists to obtain payback for the years of humiliation.
While the West has mostly rejected religious fanaticism, Wright shows that parts of the Islamic world are now embracing it. Many regard their failure to compete with the West as a punishment from God. Because Muslims have rejected the true path they need to embrace fundamentalism to achieve God's forgiveness. They therefore reject modernity and oppose Arab leaders like Anwer Sadat who favor secularism. Al Qaeda wants to eliminate what it sees as our corrosive influence in the Middle East. However it is not clear why God isn't punishing us, the infidels for our blasphemous ways. We don't enforce the punishments listed in the Old Testament like killing anyone who works on the Sabbath, so it's hard for us to understand why the stoning of women is making a comeback in countries like Iran or why this is something that God requires.
Wright argues that U.S. policies towards the Muslim world after 9/11 have played into bin Laden's hands. Policy makers failed to understand that bin Laden was happy to weaken the U.S. by drawing it into long draining wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The nightmare scenario is for the Islamists capture the Middle East or they start an ongoing insurgency in the West. Watching this program you feel reasonably confident this won't happen, mainly because you quickly realize how crazy their beliefs are. Their views have no appeal for us and it's hard to believe that rational Muslims really want what Al Qaeda is selling. Even their interpretation of Islam seems un-Islamic.
The West and the Islamists have incompatible views on the world so it seems that there will always be conflict. Wright seems to understand this strange world. This is a fascinating film.
While the West has mostly rejected religious fanaticism, Wright shows that parts of the Islamic world are now embracing it. Many regard their failure to compete with the West as a punishment from God. Because Muslims have rejected the true path they need to embrace fundamentalism to achieve God's forgiveness. They therefore reject modernity and oppose Arab leaders like Anwer Sadat who favor secularism. Al Qaeda wants to eliminate what it sees as our corrosive influence in the Middle East. However it is not clear why God isn't punishing us, the infidels for our blasphemous ways. We don't enforce the punishments listed in the Old Testament like killing anyone who works on the Sabbath, so it's hard for us to understand why the stoning of women is making a comeback in countries like Iran or why this is something that God requires.
Wright argues that U.S. policies towards the Muslim world after 9/11 have played into bin Laden's hands. Policy makers failed to understand that bin Laden was happy to weaken the U.S. by drawing it into long draining wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The nightmare scenario is for the Islamists capture the Middle East or they start an ongoing insurgency in the West. Watching this program you feel reasonably confident this won't happen, mainly because you quickly realize how crazy their beliefs are. Their views have no appeal for us and it's hard to believe that rational Muslims really want what Al Qaeda is selling. Even their interpretation of Islam seems un-Islamic.
The West and the Islamists have incompatible views on the world so it seems that there will always be conflict. Wright seems to understand this strange world. This is a fascinating film.
"Humiliation is a choice."
GoukenX28 November 2012
The documentary "My Trip to Al-Qaeda" was 'alright' despite being severely propagated; moreover, I think objective journalists in general would take issue with Wright's criticism of Saudi culture. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, likening the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to a "hypnotized chicken" is just as arrogant of a comment as the Hamas "death to The West" crowd, or The fascist Iranian president's views on Israel.
Mutual respect is that which bridges gaps between cultures, religions, etc. We as Americans have our own cultural irregularities that the rest of the world doesn't exactly agree with. As level-headed and rational I find Mr. Wright to be, I must disagree with his approach and overall condescending attitude towards Saudi culture in this documentary.
Government tolerance is really a subjective thing. Our forefathers wouldn't tolerate taxation without representation, and found it befitting to start a war over it. Today, the federal and state governments bully us out of roughly 28% of our paychecks in income taxes; highway tolls, and other illegal means, without any opposition. If you're rich enough, hire a good lawyer; if not, you're legally forced, much like situations elsewhere in the world, including Saudi.
Saudi women cover to prevent getting raped/uphold their religion. We in the US get fined "for our own safety" for just about everything. No seat belt: fined! Forgot your wallet at home -- triple fined (despite today's technology which allows law enforcement to pull up where you took your last dump)! Your tail-light/license plate light is out? That's okay if there's no way that you can tell without someone telling you -- you're getting fined anyway. What happens if you don't pay the fine for a traffic violation? You get thrown in Prison, like a violent criminal. What happens when you don't pay taxes? Prison. What happens if you don't have health-care and need dental work, organ transplant, etc. One of a few things: you either pay the piper, live with the pain, die in agony eventually, or go to prison for medical attention. What happens when you lose your job and home? You go to the shelter? I guess it works for some; however, there are many others who prefer steady meals in Prison over Homeless Shelters.
Is the US then to be classified as God's Hell on Earth? No. Why not? Using Mr. Wright's own words: "Humiliation is a choice." If you don't like your situation, leave, humiliate yourself by staying, or say thank God for everything as-is and live life with hope and a positive outlook. As the saying goes: "God grant me the power to accept that which I cannot change."
Mutual respect is that which bridges gaps between cultures, religions, etc. We as Americans have our own cultural irregularities that the rest of the world doesn't exactly agree with. As level-headed and rational I find Mr. Wright to be, I must disagree with his approach and overall condescending attitude towards Saudi culture in this documentary.
Government tolerance is really a subjective thing. Our forefathers wouldn't tolerate taxation without representation, and found it befitting to start a war over it. Today, the federal and state governments bully us out of roughly 28% of our paychecks in income taxes; highway tolls, and other illegal means, without any opposition. If you're rich enough, hire a good lawyer; if not, you're legally forced, much like situations elsewhere in the world, including Saudi.
Saudi women cover to prevent getting raped/uphold their religion. We in the US get fined "for our own safety" for just about everything. No seat belt: fined! Forgot your wallet at home -- triple fined (despite today's technology which allows law enforcement to pull up where you took your last dump)! Your tail-light/license plate light is out? That's okay if there's no way that you can tell without someone telling you -- you're getting fined anyway. What happens if you don't pay the fine for a traffic violation? You get thrown in Prison, like a violent criminal. What happens when you don't pay taxes? Prison. What happens if you don't have health-care and need dental work, organ transplant, etc. One of a few things: you either pay the piper, live with the pain, die in agony eventually, or go to prison for medical attention. What happens when you lose your job and home? You go to the shelter? I guess it works for some; however, there are many others who prefer steady meals in Prison over Homeless Shelters.
Is the US then to be classified as God's Hell on Earth? No. Why not? Using Mr. Wright's own words: "Humiliation is a choice." If you don't like your situation, leave, humiliate yourself by staying, or say thank God for everything as-is and live life with hope and a positive outlook. As the saying goes: "God grant me the power to accept that which I cannot change."
More than meets the eye
JohnSeal13 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This is a very good documentary--we wouldn't expect less from filmmaker Alex Gibney--but My Trip to al-Qaeda succeeds in ways that Gibney may not have intended. Based on a play by reporter and author Lawrence Wright, the film provides a history of the development of al-Qaeda--much of it quite valuable, most of it interesting--but also exposes the man's deep-seated contempt for 'backwards' Islam, unfailing belief in American exceptionalism, and apparent inability to imagine any other kind of society than the one in which he lives. The reliance on 'good Muslims' such as former FBI agent Ali Soufan and a representative of the Quilliam Foundation, a taxpayer-funded front organization for Britain's (New) Labour Party, to tell his story is a dead giveaway: whilst Wright doesn't seem like a bad guy, he also doesn't come across as particularly curious or particularly willing to engage with alien ideas and philosophies. Perhaps his book The Looming Tower is a better representation of his thinking, but what we see here seems a bit on the shallow side.
Brilliant
sherco-854-78759025 September 2010
Every American; each person on this planet should see this extraordinary film. It is a unique, insightful and unemotional presentation that tells it like it is. What I witness from abroad, happening to America is precisely what plays into the Al Qaeda/Taliban script. America, you are self-imploding just as Lawrence Wright brings so succinctly to the forefront. The rhetoric of the extremists (particularly the Christian religious radical Right) which is spewed by the Fox media, is a powerful enabler of extremism and will bring down your country from within. To where has compromise, compassion, understanding, meaningful debate and sanity disappeared? Wake up Americans, before it is too late and take the message of "My Trip to Al-Qaeda to heart.
Interesting, although unfocused
gayfordeniro10 May 2013
Warning: Spoilers
This isn't so much Alex Gibney's documentary as it is Lawrence Wright's powerpoint presentation. So I think any criticism must be leveled at Wright (which has been the case in other reviews).
The documentary attempts to draw conclusions from a large and complex political environment, and as Wright has years of personal experience here, he draws on this to make these conclusions. This is a problem, as the micro is being used to reinforce the macro. Now, I'm not saying wide conclusions cant be drawn from an isolated case, look at The Oath (2010) for an example of how to do this well. But here Wright's focus causes the viewer to have an unclear understanding of important points of his argument. I.e. the difference between an Islamist and a Jihadist is not shown well. And much depth seems missing from the actions of the West in breeding this 'humiliation'; for example the trade embargo on Iraq post the Gulf War, harming millions of innocents, is completely missing. Wright's goal is to understand the motivation and mind-set of the jihadist, and I think he fails due to his starting point being his personal experiences.
Wright's experiences however, happen to provide the most interesting parts of this documentary. The wire-tapping he encountered for example, held my attention far more than his introspective rant to finish. This documentary really should have just centered one or two of these personal aspects in isolation, or even just Wright's life. The conclusions would have been much stronger.
The documentary attempts to draw conclusions from a large and complex political environment, and as Wright has years of personal experience here, he draws on this to make these conclusions. This is a problem, as the micro is being used to reinforce the macro. Now, I'm not saying wide conclusions cant be drawn from an isolated case, look at The Oath (2010) for an example of how to do this well. But here Wright's focus causes the viewer to have an unclear understanding of important points of his argument. I.e. the difference between an Islamist and a Jihadist is not shown well. And much depth seems missing from the actions of the West in breeding this 'humiliation'; for example the trade embargo on Iraq post the Gulf War, harming millions of innocents, is completely missing. Wright's goal is to understand the motivation and mind-set of the jihadist, and I think he fails due to his starting point being his personal experiences.
Wright's experiences however, happen to provide the most interesting parts of this documentary. The wire-tapping he encountered for example, held my attention far more than his introspective rant to finish. This documentary really should have just centered one or two of these personal aspects in isolation, or even just Wright's life. The conclusions would have been much stronger.
Frustrating
dean-857-41848229 September 2010
Great documentary, encourage everyone to watch it to open a dialog with all.
Watching this i don't know who frustrates me more.... the radicals or the radicals.... (think about that statement, i mean both the American and the middle eastern radicals).
All i do know is people are dying needlessly, but i don't have any answers (apart from slicing the nuts off the guy who maimed the bear - i'd be first to line up).
I think we are all at fault, how can we reset the clock is my question.
I read the other comment here and wanted to suggest to anyone reading these comments check out the movie for yourself and make up your own mind.
I think that all education is good for you, but it's up to you as to how you use it.
Watching this i don't know who frustrates me more.... the radicals or the radicals.... (think about that statement, i mean both the American and the middle eastern radicals).
All i do know is people are dying needlessly, but i don't have any answers (apart from slicing the nuts off the guy who maimed the bear - i'd be first to line up).
I think we are all at fault, how can we reset the clock is my question.
I read the other comment here and wanted to suggest to anyone reading these comments check out the movie for yourself and make up your own mind.
I think that all education is good for you, but it's up to you as to how you use it.
Awful, False, Spreading Hatred, Negative Journalisim....
hkcricket14 September 2010
This documentary is nothing but full of lies. Some of the stuff is totally unbelievable. I taught in Middle east as well but people there are no where near bad or the way he mentioned. We have Madrisa's in UK as well and where students go and study Islam. And they are as normal as anyone else... I am sorry to say but Lawrence Wright's got it all twisted and it seems like he is assuming stuff and working on some Propaganda.
Information is totally false and biased, its really shame that this guy taught and lived in middle east for so long and still could not understand real Islam and people of Islam.
Information is totally false and biased, its really shame that this guy taught and lived in middle east for so long and still could not understand real Islam and people of Islam.
Rubbish Documentary without any truth... Full of Lies...
ilovejhelum14 September 2010
This video is the Prime example how west is manipulating the brains of people who don't know much about Islam and People of Egypt.
Its a propaganda video in a sweet way to spread hate and negativity of Islam and Muslims, Really shame on Author and i pity how less he knows. Sham on you.
There are so much information in the documentary which is false and has no true Islamic truth, Author is just assuming what he thinks is right but he never care enough to know what exactly is the truth.
I seriously don't see any logic behind this video other than to give Muslim and Islam bad name, director/author thinks that people in middle east are imagining the truth and their beliefs are self made. Which i find really deceptive and prerogative.
Its a propaganda video in a sweet way to spread hate and negativity of Islam and Muslims, Really shame on Author and i pity how less he knows. Sham on you.
There are so much information in the documentary which is false and has no true Islamic truth, Author is just assuming what he thinks is right but he never care enough to know what exactly is the truth.
I seriously don't see any logic behind this video other than to give Muslim and Islam bad name, director/author thinks that people in middle east are imagining the truth and their beliefs are self made. Which i find really deceptive and prerogative.
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