Bidder 70

Excellent But Unfinished
If you are watching "Bidder 70" because you want to get closer to an environmental hero, to know him better, to know what motivated him to do such an extreme thing--this is the movie for you. If you are watching the movie for entertainment--don't. Like all other videos about the environment, it's too depressing. Our terrestrial environment is on a very slippery slope. But everybody reading this probably knows that. If you are watching "Bidder 70" because you want to delve into the anti-fossil-fuel movement, find out what it believes in and where it's going, and learn what you might do to help carry it forward--don't.

So I had to give "Bidder 70" three stars because it fulfilled only half of what I wanted, which was to: 1) know Tim DeChristopher and 2) learn about the movement that formed around him. The other reviews do an excellent job of exploring DeChristopher, so I won't discuss that. What really disappointed me was that there was not just little, but absolutely...

An Activist Proves There Is Hope And A Future
In 2008, as George W. Bush tried to "gift" the energy and mining industries thousands of acres of pristine Utah wilderness via a widely disputed federal auction, an activist was born. Don't let anyone tell you that sole activism is gone. This documentary chronicles the actions of college student Tim DeChristopher from Salt Lake City who went to the bidding and won the land - 22,000 acres with NO intention to drill. This was considered civil disobedience and the ball started to roll - in both directions.

We see Tim DeCrhistopher as a gentle but firm organizer of "Peaceful Uprising", a civil disobedience group full young and old people that just felt that this was all so very wrong of the government. Through small groups and in ingenious ways, this group grew and grew while Mr. DeChristopher waited for his trial which he felt, was sure to get him jail time - possibly ten years ins a federal penitentiary.

Watching as months go by with delays, the group "Peaceful...

Engaging and thought provoking documentary on one man's fight to save Utah's wilderness from destruction
This is another fine documentary in the "Environment" series of DVDs from First Run Pictures. It's been a film festival favorite and I can see why. It's the story of one man - environmental activist Tim DeChristopher - who tries to save some pristine Utah wilderness from having the mining industry (with the Federal government's help) ruin our natural resource. De Christopher spent 21 months in prison for his efforts but he got publicity for the issue at hand and this film should do even more. At just 73 minutes in length, it is not drawn out and Directors George and Beth Gage keep the pacing so it will hold your interest. (DeChristopher's engaging personality helps too!). With a music background by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and appearances by such A-list personalities as Robert Redford, it will also draw in more people.

The DVD is packaged in a environmentally-friendly recycled cardboard package and the sole bonus is a 12 minute "conversation with" DeChristopher...

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