Crop Circles...Quest for Truth

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As a documentary, it pulls no punches about its stance on its subject matter - "They're Real."  At least that's what the press materials clearly state in large, bold letters.   And the film goes to great lengths to make us believers.  </div> <bR> <div> As a documentary, <I>Crop Circles: Quest for Truth</I>, is no <I>Waco</I>, to be sure.  Where <I>Waco</I> was penetrating and loaded, <I>Crop Circles</I> is only fitfully compelling.  An uneasy combination of highly-convincing images and more than a few questionably mumbo-jumbo explanations, the film would have been better served if Gazecki had willing to stand back and let the curious wonder of its opaque images just speak for themselves.  Unfortunately, where <I>Crop Circles</I> threatens to undo itself is in the extended testimonials by a parade of "experts" - some infinitely more credible than others -ranging from academics to scientists to normal folks. </div> <bR> <div> At a running time of nearly two hours, the colorful interview subjects are given ample time to discuss their various theories. These notions range from a mysterious liquid that lies beneath the earth, to an artistic rendering of advanced geometric and mathematical equations, and include the possibility of supremely intelligent extra-terrestrial life conducting an experiment in communication.  The film goes to great lengths to dispute the modern notion that anything unexplainable must therefore be a hoax; or, as in the 17<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> century, that these types of messages were thought to be "…born of the devil."  At times, the film's passion for its subject feels almost like one-sided propaganda (for what, I'm not sure).    </div> <bR> <div> Still, the power of this film is in the images themselves.  There probably will never be a better visual record of crop circles, and <I>Crop Circles</I> is often undeniably gripping.  The score, by award-winning composer David Hamilton, is evocative and mysterious, lending an air of near-suspense to the unfolding images.  Coupled with the built-in enigma of the subject matter and eerie cinematography by Ariane Compagnone, it's quite a trip.  </div> <bR> <div> Of course, there are no definitive explanations given.  Are crop circles the markings of an advanced civilization that lies somewhere between alien and human?  Are they a form of sacred art?  Are they three dimensional, geometric "footprints" left by objects that exist in another dimension?  But to explain them away is impossible; Gazecki knows this, and is content with juggling his many theories.  I was satisfied with the research and intelligence that has obviously gone into making <I>Crop Circles</I>, and though I do feel the film could be trimmed to a sixty-minute Discovery Channel-like examination, I'm most certainly happy I saw it.  </div> <bR> <div> The final word on this one is that if you believe in <I>Crop Circles</I>, it works, and if you don't, it doesn't.  If you're in the middle, Gazecki and company have done their damndest to make you a convert.  </div> <bR> <div> 115 minutes</div> <div> Not Rated</div> <div> No Objectionable Content</div> <div>   </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>