Ambition to Meaning: Finding Your Life's Purposes, expanded version
by Michael Goorjian
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DVD details
Actor: Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Portia de RossiDirector: Michael Goorjian
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 180 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-01-13
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Hay House, Inc.
DVD Reviews of Ambition to Meaning: Finding Your Life's Purposes, expanded version
DVD Review: the potential to be life-altering
Summary: 5 Stars
Updated January 2011: Sorry for the duplicate review here... this originally appeared on a different page when these DVD's were sold in two different packaging sets (one was a single disc version and the other a two-disc set which I reviewed below). The duplicate review you see above appeared along with the single DVD version which has since been deleted, so the reviews have been combined.
Also worth noting is shortly after the original release of this DVD, the name was changed to THE SHIFT, and you can still purchase it new under this name if you desire. But it is the same movie as reviewed here. Note, the only way to purchase the original "Ambitious To Meaning" title is to buy it used, here. If you decided to do this instead of buying the re-named version, you might want to check to see if you are getting the single disc version or the double disc set, as this particular product page doesn't really make it clear which version is being sold here.
Hope this helps sort out what has caused a bit of confusion. I think it would have been good if the folks at Hay House had gotten their act together before releasing this great movie in multiple disc-sets and names. (End of update)
This is a two-DVD set: the first DVD is the "movie" (which is more of a docudrama) and is 2 hours long. The second is a supplemental disc containing about 2+ hours of interviews, additional movie footage, and music. Both DVD's are excellent and worth a few dollars more for the set, as compared to the single DVD version that is also available. The second DVD contains the taped interview with Dr. Dyer that the movie was ultimately written around. It goes into depth into areas sometimes only touched on in the movie itself.
The movie follows the stories of various guests checking into a beautiful resort along the California Coast: a young family; a wealthy couple with a troubled marriage; and my favorite, an ambition-driven director, wonderfully played by Michael Deluise, whom I remember as a frequent guest star on the Gilmore Girls. (Some trivia here - he is also the son of Dom Deluise.) The director and his small crew are filming a docudrama starring Dr. Dyer (played as himself).
All of the key characters in the film experience what Dr. Dyer describes as a "quantum moment". It opens the door to transformation for them as they recognize and begin to live "the music inside" that Dr. Dyer teaches we were all born with but too often push aside while we are busy living our lives. One of the key points in the movie: what if we come to the end of our life and discover it was all wrong?
The three stories (as well as some additional, interesting character development) are expertly woven throughout the movie and accompanied by voice-over's from Dr. Dyer. His deep, soothing voice always seems to hit the mark and works perfectly within each scene that it is added to. (Not too much, not too little.) The dramatizations are used to illustrate Dr. Dyer's timely teaching (mostly Taoist) of transformation from a life of ambition into a more meaningful life; a life that can be just as successful and full of prosperity and ambition as you desire but with greater significance through a deeper, spiritual motivation. It is a wonderful departure from the usual "live-audience seminar" format of most personal growth DVD's.
The narrative and story lines used as a way to exemplify the ideas presented here remind me of another Hay House production also directed by Michael Goorijan "You Can Heal Your life" starring Louise Hay, and of another docudrama, not related to Hay House or Goorijan, "What the Bleep Do We Know?" (I recommend the "Quantum Edition" only, as you can edit out the sometimes tasteless dramatizations & it offers hours of additional interviews). Although both of these are excellent DVD's and highly recommended, "Ambition to Meaning" is so expertly written, directed, acted and produced that it has raised the bar and taken this genre to a whole new level. The cinematography of the Monterey Coast is absolutely breathtaking. The tranquil original musical score is worth noting as well. Especially nice are the original piano pieces played by "Joe, the Janitor" mid-way through the movie. (Don't ask... you just have to see the movie - it really does work.)
I have watched "Ambition to Meaning" countless times now and continue to learn something new and unexpected about myself with each viewing. This is not a "spiritual addiction" response as a previous commenter asserts of another reviewer who also said they have watched this movie repeatedly. But rather it is to be encouraged if you wish to explore your true purpose in life - or just want to make sense of life's struggles and challenges. Also worth pointing out is that I am a Christian and find these teachings well attuned to the teachings of Jesus. I believe, whatever your faith, you will find the movie inspiring if not life-altering.
"Seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened to you". God bless all who watch this DVD in the spirit it was intended. You will be all the richer and wiser for it.
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