What the Bleep!?: Down the Rabbit Hole (2006) User Reviews

How far down would you like to go?

[colberino · 6/10 · 19 February 2006]

"What the Bleep!?: Down the Rabbit Hole" is not quite a sequel, and not quite a director's cut of the original "What the Bleep Do We Know!?". "Down the Rabbit Hole" features new commentary and narration from its panel of interviewees, and new animations featuring Dr. Quantum (who was briefly mentioned in the first movie). However, it is hard to call this a sequel, since an only slightly abbreviated version of the Marlee Matlin storyline from the first version is shown again here. This film would have been fantastic had it introduced new narrative footage and left the old footage in the first film. (Thus a 6 out of 10, and not 8 or 9.)

"Down the Rabbit Hole" elaborates on a few of the quantum theories mentioned in the first film, namely the role of the observer in reality, our limits of perception, the influence of intention, and the connectivity of matter. If the ideas from the first film piqued your interest, "Down the Rabbit Hole" will make a wonderful addendum.

I would recommend seeing "What the Bleep Do We Know!?", and then watching "Down the Rabbit Hole" a few weeks later. The commentary is engaging throughout the movie (no small task at 2.5 hours long), but sitting through the scenes carried over from the first film gets tedious. I think one would easily be lost without seeing the first version, though. The commentary in "Down the Rabbit Hole" is 90% new, and hits the ground running.

Overall, both "Bleep" movies are wonderful and thought provoking, and I enjoyed the ideas presented in the commentary.

Just My Perception

[arjenoldenhuis · 7/10 · 17 September 2006]

...it is easy to question the speculation in the movie and point your finger at all the things that are not true. But in fact it shows your own strong believe in the importance of pure science. But what is pure science? That word is too abstract. In this case, pure scientific truth is based on mathematics. In pure science, if the mathematics are right, something is true till its proved wrong. Do you think that's a good approach on the truth? It gets more difficult when the movie tickles some of your own crazy thoughts and ideas about the Universe, which you already had when you where a child. A little bit hypnotized under influence of alpha- wave music and the easy- listening tone of voices, for me, the movie what the Bleep do we know, was a spiritual journey. I think when you approach this movie only in a scientific way, you get lost in a veil of secrecy. In that case this is simply not a movie for you, there are enough beautiful pure scientific movies, go for that! This movie is for philosophers, people in quest, spiritual starved people craving for new insights, dreamers, people in orthodox chains, etc. This movie doesn't have the answers, it never claims to have them. But what fun would it be if the makers of this movie just followed the protocol 'Pure scientific approach'? Wouldn't it be nothing more then a 13 in a dozen movie, a skinny version of Hawkings Universe? Its a movie, everybody has to decide for themselves what is true or not. The reason why the movie get a 7 out of ten is because of two lies. 1. The change of water after blessing and the intention of a thought. In fact it shows a molecule before and after freezing it. ( a shame ) 2. Quantum mechanics does not tell us that large objects like a basketball, a chair or a table or even persons are waves of possibilities. I think that this is the point Ramtha goes its own course and I go mine, still I keep the idea in mind. Its just fun to question it all and try to find answers. But it always is a mystery. That's why its fun in the first place. Like the following idea; 1+1=3 Why? For example; one person + one person = a group. Now you got one person, another person and a group. So 1+1=3 2=3.

Not as fascinating as the original, but still interesting...

[kenboesem · 6/10 · 18 February 2006]

This sequel to the first film about quantum physics is full of fascinating tidbits but lacks the cohesive feeling of the original "What the Bleep" film.

Watching "Down the Rabbit Hole" feels a bit like reading the footnotes to the first film. Some parts of the film are directly lifted from the first film and give the sense of reading a kind of textbook summary/reminder of previously covered theories to contextualize some of the new ideas discussed. In other cases, identical footage is used to illustrate slightly different ideas.

There is also much new footage and discussion, much of it apparently footage that was cut from the first film. There is definitely more emphasis on the religio-spiritual aspects/impacts of quantum theory, especially around the idea that we are all interconnected in a vast web of energy. This is simply one aspect of the world of quantum physics whether it proves/disproves one's personal religious/spiritual vision or not. (In other words, disagreeing personally with some of the ideas in "Down the Rabbit Hole" doesn't make it a bad film although it's lack of cohesion might.) An interesting continuation but definitely not as compelling as the first film.

Interesting movie

[HightowerNL · 9/10 · 20 December 2010]

I actually liked this movie very much, even though there are lots of things to be disliked. The first time I saw it, I thought that it was jaw-dropping. Then after that I researched some of the claims and unfortunately it seems that some of the things presented as truth are not true at all. And yes, I'm also very cautious with people who claim that they are a medium and there is one medium in this film...

But next to that there are a lot of interesting things said in this film by some very intelligent people. So my advise is to not take everything too seriously and to draw your own conclusions about the things said in this film. Don't let the false claims and the medium distract you from the interesting stuff this movie has to offer.

You either adore or hate... I adored!

[lisaofshades · 10/10 · 19 March 2014]

I guess it depends how much you like to be confronted to new possibilities.

There's a war between science and religion, and this movie tells them that they are both wrong, and right, and bring them together... so yeah it's mind blowing.

I never could understand quantum physics because I'd have too much to learn before it, but they made it extremely easy to understand... and it was mind blowing.

I am not one of those people who rely on ads to tell them the "truth", who they are and what they want... I'm a free thinker and the weirder the better, but this movie made so much sense with my own experiences.

I almost died and no I didn't see a light or Santa on a cloud...

I simply asked myself "what does it looks like after death"... but then my inner voice told me that it's not the right question... so I took some time to think, and since I was letting go of life itself slowly, my mind was particularly open... so I asked: "What does the existence looks like, outside of matter and outside of time?" And then I saw... endless possibilities spreading like the branches of a tree into the future, endless possibilities to reach the same present, like roots... then an endless forest for all living creatures on the planet... that were, are, and will be... My mind opened from a dot in a line... to everything.

At another moment,I came to the realization that all sentient being are people. There's no difference between us and animals, even insects. We all make choices and learn, feel, live. (and this really offended me in the movie, to say that animals can't choose because of their frontal lobe, that's just ego. But they did try so hard to open their mind that they have respectable views anyway.) But every single cells in your body can feel, send messages, have different needs, different functions... so from this view... it means that every cells of your body is a different person.

And it is true.

You are actually the sum of a community of beings, working together. You are all those people who have been, are, and will be. (Every 7 years your whole body is renewed into completely new cells) Just like society.

We think we're separate, as a cell feel differently and look separated under a microscope... but when you stand further enough, with a wide enough view and open mind... you see the whole... as one.

So just like your brain is made of a network of neurones... that were, are and will be... your whole brain is like one neurone in the whole creation... and the cumulation of thoughts, that influences the world, is what we call god. Deeper than your conscious mind... your sub-sub conscious... is the universe's self awareness... the mind and will of god...

Your own thoughts affects your body, and the sums of the thoughts of the collective affects the world... the actions of one might seem to have little impact, but the actions of many in the same direction can change the whole planet (maybe that's why people at the head of companies deny the very existence of global warming... but we did that by burning dinosaur farts in our cars and others, too much too long) And thoughts... have divine powers as well, with an effect less easy to see than moving objects, but intent can still move you and the world itself.

I came up with that on my own... it amazed me to see scientists state the same theories with scientific experiments to back them up... and so much more that amazed me... by actually explaining what I noticed but couldn't explain.

I do feel like my brain isn't set in the present but can see the past, present and futures as well... They said that your thoughts can change the past... and then I thought that I should use that to help my past self! And I actually did... all those countless times that my inner voiced warned me of danger, the horrors that happened after not ignoring it... and blessing that saved my very life when I did...

Because when I was dying... after I opened my mind and saw how immense and magnificent existence is, I saw that I wasn't ready to take it all in, I wanted to stay a little dot on a line a little more...

So then I asked myself what I could do to live... and my body simply told me to take care of my needs.

I'm still here. Enjoying great movies. Thank you, myself, and all the people who open their mind... to endless possibilities.

I discovered this movie from the Dr Emoto's work on the mind's energy effect on water crystals... I believed in chi, but being able to freeze water to observe the effect is amazing... If hateful thoughts make crystals look so damaged compared to the artistic magnificence of love and gratitude... imagine what it does to you and the people around you, knowing that we're 90% water... You can deny it and refuse to believe it all you want.

But you'll still feel and live it. Everyday.

Enjoy!

A film of profound dishonesty

[dj-218 · 2/10 · 15 February 2006]

This film starts out with a mix of things, animations, a deaf woman going about her life, talking heads talking physics. It all seems like a nice dance around quantum physics principles, addressing some of the messy edges that are either hard to understand or not yet understood.

However at some critical point the film switches to complete a BS description of ice crystal growth influenced by meditators, followed by an equally BS descriptions of electronic random sources being influenced by meditators. This is thoroughly debunked non science and has no place being represented as truth.

The film then descends into a morass of nonsense, attempting to link every facet of pseudoscience BS back to the quantum physical principles discussed earlier. The density of real physicist talking heads drops off and the density of loony fringe talking heads increases.

The remainder of the film is painful to watch. Seeing a crowd of gullible idiots lap it up as truth did not inspire my confidence in humanity. Someone ditz even clapped at the end. The bad stuff consumes the larger part of the film and it feels way too long.

One amusing twist was seeing the scenes in the Bagdad Theatre in Portland, since I was watching it in the Bagdad Theatre in Portland.

This film should come with a health warning. If you want to watch it, see the film up until the ice crystals then leave, unless you're in the Bagdad Theatre in Portland, where you might want to wait until the bit where she goes into said theatre.

Thought Provoking

[The_Defiant1 · 9/10 · 4 September 2006]

This movie is a blend of new age thinking and what we know about quantum physics. This is basically an expanded version of the previous "What the Bleep?" movie but it provides a lot more depth.

The most compelling aspect of this movie is not the specific examples they use, but the overall message that we create our own reality, we shape our own reality and we change reality.

This movie uses both sound and questionable science to convey it's message. It is up to the user to come to their own conclusion about the implications.

This movie is worthwhile for the simple fact it makes you think. It could be classified as it's own genre in that it blends the format of documentary and drama yet it is not a true example of either. You would not watch this for the drama, and the science is based on theory and speculation more so than hard fact.

The added portions in this 2006 release make it better than the original. The editing is not as smooth, but the extra information allows you walk around with more things to ponder afterward.

science or sectarian mumbo jumbo? let me decide.

[brendannewitt · 3/10 · 3 February 2006]

This so-called documentary is based om the teachings of a woman channeling the spirit of an Atlantis-god-warrior called Ramtha, just like the last one. The so-called 'scientists' come from impressing quantum-physics institutions like the swami-Ami-university-of-love-harmony-and-making-it-up-as-you-go-along and the likes, or just Ramtha-sect followers.(the one scientist that was in the last film screamed bloody murder when he saw the finished product and in what way they manipulated his four hours of interview) The funding of the film too is taken care of by the Ramtha sect.

This does not make this a bad film per sé. It is shot wonderfully, and it asks some fun questions, and of course the followers of Ramtha-the god-warrior should be free to voice their opinions in whatever way thay see fit. It would just be more gentlemanly of them to state their religious point of view at the start of the movie, as I have met many people who believe that the film depicts a scientific viewpoint and convince others in their new found enthusiasm that the most interesting characteristic of quantum dynamics is that quantum-particles have a power to grant wishes for all happy suburbanites, if you only believe ! It wasn't boring at all, but it was damn annoying afterwards listening to the goateed morons I watched it with, who felt not only empowered and enlightened, but smug too, now that their always smouldering new-age-Oprah belief in their own uniqueness and soul has a pseudo-scientific base...

I guess I was wrong

[johnasouzaiii · 8/10 · 12 April 2007]

With the polarization of the human race between Religion and Science, this movie (so I thought) did a good job in expressing a view that, if nothing else, opens some minds on both sides. To my horror, by reading some of these posts, it seems that the science community is becoming more and more close minded by totally disproving topics that don't align with their beliefs. I do not know how this movie was advertised, but I wasn't anticipating a science class. I will admit there were at least one self-serving unnecessary opinion in this movie that kind of turned me off, but overall I thought it did a good job of making the average person think in a way they never have and that is always a good thing.

Feel-good movie for believers

[celestia63 · 3/10 · 16 August 2006]

Although it claimed a great deal more than should be accepted by any reasonably thinking person, I quite liked the first BLEEP movie. It was refreshing and offered an interesting view on reality that was presented in an entertaining way.

Alas, I can't say the same is true for the sequel: it further builds on the concepts that were already outlined in #1, which brings us well within the realm where fairy tales and other fantasies dwell.

As such I would have given it another star or two, *but* for the effort that has gone into convincing the viewer that it is actually *we* who are living in a fantasy instead.

The 'proof' for this relies on extrapolations of solid scientific facts far beyond the borders where they can be applied with any degree of dignity, quasi-scientific claims for which no support is presented whatsoever, and self-important statements by expert with impressive but meaningless CV's. This is done in such a chaotic manner that the only entanglement that results will be your own trying to make a coherent picture of it all.

All-in-all this sequel left me feeling only lectured, not entertained.

But if you're already into this kind of stuff I suppose I could recommend it: chances are you will feel pretty good about yourself after-wards.

The comments enforce what the movie is saying!

[donestabrook · 10/10 · 14 October 2008]

WOW! In reading the comments here, I am shocked by how many people missed the point. The movie is designed to make people think. Quite frankly, you don't make people think by telling them that what they are currently thinking is perfect. You have to challenge their view. They make it clear at the beginning of the film that they are presenting debatable theories and opinions. One of the big ideas of the film is that our past experiences shape how we interpret the information that we bring in. The biggest irony is that, so many people who are clearly accustomed to thinking "inside the box" have sought to find ways to disregard every idea of a film that is designed to encourage people to think for themselves.

Main message of the BLEEP films

[TheCosmicDetective · 10/10 · 19 February 2006]

The "message" of the BLEEP films is that coherent individuals humans have the potential to clear cellular level false and harmful to well-being 'memory' information and ways of thinking, and thereby improve the quality of one's life, allowing for a more enlightened level of Conscious Awareness. In the films is presented different individuals' perspectives on information about the history of, to leading edge modern scientific explorations into why people think what we think is "true" and correspondingly behave the way(s) that we do, as well as a method of using 'free will' to change and improve ourselves. In short, the main point is that we have a certain amount of choices and options for what and how we use/spend our human energy 'time'. No one needs to join anything, follow anyone or "believe" anyone or anything. That message is as old as humankind, from cave drawings, to numerous higher-level consciousness individual prophets, philosophers, alchemical scientist, messiahs, psychics, and others. It is clear to me that the endeavor of the filmmakers, and on screen participants, is to contribute to the new genre of Spiritual Cinema films for the purpose of a desirable "New Evolution" for humankind and life on this planet. Otherwise a future of doom and gloom is assured. This is all about taking and using whatever we choose, from wherever, to help ourselves in much needed ways.

This movie Sucked

[vikingwench · 1/10 · 28 August 2006]

I naively thought that this movie would explain to a dummy like me some of the more curious and fascinating aspects of quantum physics.

I guess the "dummy" part of the above equation was the operating factor.

What a stupid and annoying movie - to suck someone in with the lure of actually learning something only to find out that this little fairy-tale was about as in touch with reality as the original rabbit hole of Alice in Wonderland.

Some re-packaging would be in order to warn other unsuspecting naifs that this is an exercise in credulity with abysmally lame ignorance on display.

The best thing about it: anticipating watching it.

The worst thing about it: watching it.

Amazing, requires some amount of openness and concentration to understand - but worth it!

[email_surprise · 9/10 · 30 May 2011]

This movie is a great combination of various things, a group of people's hard work of putting it together in an attempt to explain our world (as we know it and beyond), its existence & spirituality, in a scientific way. Many viewers may find it difficult to understand unless they are ready for it.

I have also seen an extended version and its extensively powerful...very nice way to simplify the concept as much as possible.

Great one!!!

Everyone involved has done a great job and I would say its a breakthrough film in combining various known and unknown ideas and facts in a convincing way...appreciate your work guys!

Bad mix of pseudo-science and pseudo-religion

[tragicdragon · 3/10 · 10 January 2007]

There is an amusing little tale in Flavius Josephus' "Against Apion" about an ancient Egyptian superstition. A Jew is traveling with some Egyptians who suddenly stand still upon the sight of a particular bird descending on a tree. Their belief demands that they stand still as long as the bird remains perched on the tree branch. The bird is supposed to be able to foresee the future. Then the Jew shoots the bird and says: "If this bird can foresee the future, why did it come here, for then it must have known I was going to kill it." I get the same feeling from this film. I generally take an optimistic view and when something appears to be less than positive, go out of my way to find something good in it. So how come I think this film is about the worst example of pseudo-science and pseudo-religion; degrading, misrepresenting and insulting both science and religion if my thoughts influence my perception and reality? The entire film is going nowhere. The opening animation suggests a parody on new age attempts to fuse science and religion in a rather unwholesome way. Then it switches to documentary style. Very soon it becomes clear that the science presented is anything but groundbreaking. The double slit experiment is hardly new. Concepts of science are thrown around without explaining them. I'm not a scientist so I do not know what a Bose-Einstein condensate is and from my scientifically trained friends I heard that Schrödinger equations are difficult to understand even for them. So let's switch to my field of training: theology/psychology. That's when I felt like stopping the DVD in disgust. People are victims because they think they are victims? Try selling that to someone dying of hunger in Darfur! This is anything but spiritual and a very convenient way to avoid responsibility. It goes even further in degrading religion. The old worn out cliché of God as a big daddy up in the sky keeping score and Jezus as big brother placating big daddy for us is brought up again. "Many" Christians believe this, it is said. Well, I sure don't and how many is many anyway? The interpretation of Genesis is even worse. If this is the standard for both religion and science, I can wholeheartedly understand the scientific criticism on this film It's teeming with logical fallacies. So after the snowflake nonsense I was ready to stop watching this film and label it new age baloney and possibly harmful to the uneducated and uncritical. Trying to find some good, I switched to another perspective. Could this be the depiction of the thought processes of a depressed photographer, trying to make sense of life after being hurt in marriage, her mind clouded by negative thoughts and tranquilizers? In the second part of the film it seemed to go that way. But then the film abruptly ends with Dr. Quantum giving a demonstration of "flatlanders". That book was written in the 19th century! Verdict: 3/10 (some of it was amusing) unimaginative, uninspiring, shallow, containing some truths, some half-truths and a lot of unsound thinking, degrading both the glory of science and God. A better tale can be made out of this. For instance: our unity can easily be demonstrated by showing the evolution of the universe. Our peptides are made of atoms created in stars and flung into space when these stars became (super)nova. I don't need grossly misinterpreted quantum physics to understand that were are all united. The oxygen I breath to maintain the life in my cells is produced by algae in the ocean and trees on land. In turn I breath out carbon-dioxide to feed the trees. This is classical biology and enough to make me gasp with awe and wonder. Move out into space in your imagination and look at the planet. Can you see boundaries separating the landmasses into countries?

Mind YOUR Evolution [...and the reverse 'of' this title]

[fourie-jd · 10/10 · 6 July 2008]

To balance the meager comments on this excellent view into the mostly unknown world of quantum physics - so here is my take.

This movie is about using your mind, and how it works - but also MORE so how we are affected by things - whether we understand them or NOT!

I suggest that most viewers "should" watch the 1st movie, "What the Bleep", FIRST. Else watching this part II alone (w)could be "confusing"...(lol)

This movie is for all people who have started 'thinking' about more than what is proffered in the mainstream media. Being an avid reader or comfortable exploring 'new' ideas would greatly help in understanding the 'story' that's told in 'snippets of interviews.

Perhaps it helps thinking about the fact that an 'observer' doing an experiment affects that experiments outcome in some manner - and that an 'experiment' could be simply your life and your choices.

Not a movie for all - sure! But if evolution is humanity's theme this movie could be a helpful tool in shedding some light on "us" and how we use our minds. Watch both movies! Watch each a few times at least.

Even if you are already well versed in Quantum, Quarks and Esoterics - this movie is still an excellent stage for yourself or friends to ponder on!

Unknown is simply a state of mind and "lack of action"! The unknown overwhelmingly engenders fear and confusion. But we have the Internet and vast repositories of knowledge - so what's our excuse for not using these resources? ...AND enjoying the ride! ...Enjoying the trip into the "Rabbit Hole" which each new 'unknown' presents us with!

If you DO like this movie then at least you know the 'beginning' has already started for yourself!

Idiotic.

[inbox-24 · 1/10 · 27 March 2006]

If you see this movie and like it, it says some scary things about the rigour of your mental processes.

You really only need to know four things:

1) The movie purports to be truth, not fiction.

2) You have to believe in mediums, Atlantis, and spirit channeling to buy into the premise, since the core of the movie is a 35,000-year-old Atlantean Cro-Magnon channeled through a new-age spiritualist.

3) The experts are either are new-age loonies (not scientists), misquoted, or quoted in a misleading fashion. It is impossible to be a reputable scientist and to support the film's assertions.

4) They have the physics wrong. Quantum indeterminism does not manifest itself on a macro-scale, only at the quantum level. That's why it's called QUANTUM indeterminism.

This movie could be fun if it was fiction (after all, some of the elements sound a lot like StarGate plots), but they are dead serious: they want you to believe what they say, and Ramtha's School of Enlightenment wants your money.

You wanna see some real miracles? Go buy the boxed DVD set of Nova.

Vastly Underrated and Generally Misunderstood

[FiendishDramaturgy · 10/10 · 8 January 2009]

This work seeks to explain why Magick and the powers of Creation are real and linked to our daily reality by way of quantum mechanics, neurobiology and the power of human consciousness. So there IS a lot to understand. Personally, I can understand why the rating here is so low. If the common man cannot understand it, he seeks to remove it from his realm. Most of the common clay won't be able to understand this information, and those who do may find it difficult to assimilate it into their belief system, as it proves that most of what we do and who we are is affected by our own thoughts. That doesn't hold well with most non-Pagans, and therefore, this work did not do well. We live in a superstitious age where the dogma of religion outweighs the fact of science. And you thought we were no longer primitive? Think again.

If you seek enlightenment, wish to arm yourself with the scientific explanation as to how and why Magick works, or need to know how to affect a change in your world, this is a lovely place to start, but bear in mind it IS scientific in nature and will require at least a small degree of intelligence to understand. Of course those who do not and cannot will vehemently decry the value of such a work, as they cannot begin to value that which they cannot fathom.

It rates a 10/10 for being the first of its kind released to the masses, from...

the Fiend :.

terrific movie

[jboscolev · 8/10 · 4 February 2006]

The point of this film is not the science nor the philosophy but really that science IS philosophy. Mankind will never be able to explain all the why's of human existence. When it thinks that it has it will have to contend with the "why" of it all. To me, science deepens the mystery of life. There is no certitude. You don't have to believe their answers only the questions. I would like to refer you the great physicist, Stephen Hawking who said, and I paraphrase what is it that breathes life into the universe? What is it causes the universe to bother in creating itself, whether it is done by its nature or by an external influence? Indeed what is the meaning of life itself. This film doesn't tell you, but it sure entertains you in its attempt to try.

Ramtha's School of Quantum Flapdoodle - coined by John Olmsted MA, Med.

[rha8 · 1/10 · 24 August 2008]

A load of pseudo-scientific nonsense seemingly aimed at the gullible by members of a New Age cult/organisation fronted by J Z Knight, who according to John Olmstead (http://skepdic.com/ramtha.html) said the warrior/god Ramtha "...first appeared to her, while she was in business school having extraordinary experiences with UFOs.

She must have a great rapport with her spirit companion, since he shows up whenever she needs him to put on a performance. It is not clear why Ramtha would choose Knight, but it is very clear why Knight would choose Ramtha: fame and fortune, or simple delusion?" "...conducts sessions in which she pretends to go into a trance and speaks Hollywood's version of Elizabethan English in a guttural, husky voice. She has thousands of followers and has made millions of dollars performing as Ramtha at seminars ($1,000 a crack) and at her Ramtha School of Enlightenment, and from the sales of tapes, books, and accessories (Clark and Gallo 1993)." Another reviewer, Johann Hari, had this to say: The global understanding of science is being slowly contaminated.

If you want an example of this new pseudo-science, check out the dismal, brain-rotting movie What the Bleep Do We Know? which arrived in the UK fresh from sleeper-success in the States. Marlee Matlin plays a woman who is having a strange day; she meets a boy who is capable of bizarre physical tricks, and he asks her, 'How far down the rabbit-hole do you want to go?' The film claims to be a serious study of the philosophical implications of quantum physics, and Matlin's story is intercut with interviews from people who seem to be scientists. At first, they simply point out some of the extraordinary things that have emerged from the study of matter at a quantum (sub-molecular) level. But gradually the film begins to stir in unscientific (and absurd) extrapolations from quantum physics. The movie's 'scientists' begin to claim that discoveries in quantum physics provide proof for a whole range of fantastical New Age claims. They say you can walk on water if only 'you believe it with every fibre of your being'.

The real scientist Richard Dawkins summarises the film's assumptions: 'Quantum physics is deeply mysterious and incomprehensible. Eastern spirituality is deeply mysterious and incomprehensible. Therefore they must be saying the same thing.' Sadly, Dawkins' reaction is an exception; many newspapers have lauded the film as a 'brilliant scientific study'.

Okay, so it's a dumb movie, you might think, but what harm does it do? On its own, very little. But What the Bleep ... bears all the hallmarks of the new pseudo-sciences. One typical tactic is to take a gap in scientific evidence and fill it with faith-based claims. For example, geologists have discovered a gap in the fossil record which makes it hard to explain how evolution worked at certain periods. The neo-creationists seize on this and claim it as 'proof' that evolution didn't happen at all. (Incredibly, over 40 per cent of Americans believe them). The New Agers do the same with the gaps in quantum physics. (From The Independent a UK quality newspaper).

Intelligent Seekers: You are NOT alone

[NousPax-1 · 9/10 · 2 October 2006]

As can be expected, the comments on this run the gamut as though people were picked randomly from a crowd to watch it. For anyone who has looked into Science, Metaphysics, Occultism-Ugh, Spiritualism, Rosicrucianism, Templarism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Shamanism, hypnotism and ESPECIALLY post-classical physics, this is HIGHLY interesting, particularly the Double-Slit experiment segment. For the most part, these are intelligent no-nonsense people in Part 1, have not seen Part 2 yet. OK, so ignore the parts you don't like, quit getting huffy about pseudo-science and enjoy! For anyone who is interested in the world around them and attempts to understand it, this will be very entertaining. If you're only interested in confirming your own beliefs, or in just slamming it for slamming sake, go back to grade school, or into a coma so the world might be a better place without your "observation." BwAAAAHAHAHHAHAMuaaaaHHHHHH !!!

What the Bleep?

[edouard_monpetit · 1/10 · 27 August 2007]

Having no prior knowledge about the "what the bleep" series, I picked up this film with the following two assumptions:

1) It is an in-depth exposition of quantum mechanic principles and how it relates to everyday life.

2) It is *not* an attempt of some obscure occult movement trying to link the "spiritual" and the "physical" worlds.

The first 30 minutes or so was a barrage of ideas that may or may not have to do with quantum physics or to each other. Then it got a little more weird ... when they talked about how meditation could influence electronics and crystal growth, and how basketballs can be at one place and everywhere (may work as an example, but not in reality). I started skipping sections after sitting for about an hour. When I heard something about some Atlantic warrior God ... okay, that's too much ... I wonder if the meditation is doing something to my DVD player.

I really wonder how they get a line-up of all these doctors and professors. (Okay, one was a priest-turned-physicist, and a couple of them got their degrees at on-line universities). I can only imagine that, the physicists and doctors, at least those who were reputable, were somewhat deceived when they signed in for the interviews.

In the end, I felt cheated, to see that, this is nothing more than a propaganda for some new-age occult religious movement, based totally on misrepresented scientific principles. I wish they were a little more up front about their film, or at least put a disclaimer on it, to let the viewers be aware its purpose.

In my opinion, the whole film was meant to confuse the viewer with sound bites from all the interviews, while a "message" slowly builds up with the Amanda plot line. The leaders of the cult probably assume that they fan easily manipulate the viewers' intelligence the way they do to their own followers. Sorry, I am not a physicist, but I know enough to say that it is all rubbish.

Out of ignorance, incomplete understanding, many of these so-called philosophers and religious practitioners claim that Einstein's theory of general relativity and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle are the missing links between the scientific and spiritual world. To quote the words of Prof. Dick Feynman, "as always ... when philosophical ideas associated with sciences are dragged into another field, they are usually completely distorted." Indeed, this film distorts what is quantum physics and the filmmakers feel no qualms about it.

a VERY GOOD beginers guide to quantum physics

[marioandreou · 10/10 · 12 June 2007]

This is documentary should be looked upon as an "idiots guide to quantum physics" type of presentation. It gives you a very good taste of what quantum physics is capable of and the possibilities it opens up for us as human being. So what if the graphics are cheap and the people are not internationally known, they are people with enough or may I say more knowledge than any top dick and Harry. You want a good introduction to quantum physics and cant be bothered to read 8 billion web pages then get this very pleasant and interesting documentary, from here you will know if you like quantum physics enough to keep researching it or give it up. Believe me, I am fascinated by their ideas, as a psychotherapist and as a person who like physics. Don't forget, this is just one point of view on the matter, research on with other points of views to get a clearer picture of the subject. Thumbs up to the people who thought of this and may this documentary spread around the globe so everyone in the world can understand what reality really is. make no mistake, I've read many books on the subject and they all basically say the same thing as the documentary. What a fulfilling experience watching this, loved it to bits, watch the extended quantum version, its more informative.

Worst movie I've ever seen in the theater

[SUJovian · 1/10 · 9 February 2006]

This is not an exaggeration. The trailer (animated) made it seem like a film that was designed to teach people about some of the more in-depth concepts of Quantum Mechanics in a simple way. This is NOT what the movie was about. About 40 minutes in, the film took a bizarre turn and quickly became a pseudo-scientific religious indoctrination video preaching new-age spirituality through a bizarre leap-of-faith jump from quantum entanglement to psychological interconnectedness that purports scientific validity in psychokinesis, telepathy, and more, essentially claiming that the Quantum universe is, in actuality, "the force".

Major BS. major boredom. almost laughable, at the agony the audience is asked to undergo. I really question Marlee Matlin now. I've always liked her, but this movie was awful and her role in it was superfluous, pointless, and poorly developed.

1 star

Imaginative, though confusing & fairly arrogant

[legocity · 8/10 · 1 March 2006]

For free-thinkers this movie is a must, if only because it defies categorization. The closest comparison might be a mixture of Donnie Darko & Moulin Rouge, with a little Neverending Story thrown in for good measure. But it's really in a league all it's own & as such must be taken with a grain of salt, not as gospel. It does get preachy, especially towards the end, and some of the new-age babble will leave non-free-thinkers highly uncomfortable at times. The movie walks the line between creativity & craziness, physics & psychics, psychology & psychosis. One minute we have "Dr. Quantum," an animated character rendered as a wise old blue-eyed man (read: God) encouraging the denizens of "flatland" (read: Earth) to break free of their 2D mindsets & recognize infinity, and the next we have an Irish priest saying that the idea of some aloof God lecturing from on high can go against ethical development. Some of the interviewees are geeky & down-to-earth, while others seem to have resolved-upon-observation to one fixed point of view from among the many potential points of view that they may hold when nobody's around. That said, the viewer should have a basic familiarity with some of the paradoxes, a.k.a. "weirdnesses" of the sub-atomic realm vis-a-vis the mechanical realm & "God" really does give a good visualization of the classic double-slit experiment near the movie's beginning, which for me was worth the price of admission anyway.