What Would Jesus Buy?
by Rob VanAlkemade
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DVD details
Actor: Reverend BillyDirector: Rob VanAlkemade
Brand: Hart Sharp Video
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 91 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-05-27
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Model: 670495
Studio: Arts Alliance America
Product features:
- In this hilarious documentary produced by SUPER SIZE ME's Morgan Spurlock, Reverend Billy takes on American corporate giants such as Wal-Mart and Disney. But the commercialization of Christmas and life itself is the real target for Reverend Billy and his Church of Stop Shopping, as they demonstrate the dangers of living a life driven by money and possessions. No company is safe from Reverend B
DVD Reviews of What Would Jesus Buy?
DVD Review: Hallelujah !!!
Summary: 5 Stars
What Would Jesus Buy? is an outstanding documentary of the very creative--and confrontational--tactics of "Reverend" Billy (Bill Talen). He organizes a gospel-style singing choir called the Church of Stop Shopping; and they perform songs and go on a major cross country bus tour to challenge people to re-think their attitudes about shopping in general--and especially to reevaluate the value of frenzied holiday shopping which pushes aside the real meaning of Christmas. The documentary flows at a very good pace; and I was never bored--their story is remarkable, true and rather dramatic. The cinematography is very professional and I felt that I was with them and knew what their experiences were like as I watched this DVD.
For the better part of the film the focus is on two subjects. To a lesser degree, we meet several people who have spent so much that one of them can max out a new credit card in just one day and not show very real concern about it; and we meet a woman who has incredible amounts of clothing--for her Chihuahua. There are teens confessing that they'll be ostracized in school if they don't wear the latest fashion trends; and one woman uses Reverend Billy's mobile "confessional" booth to tell him how she had to destroy an article of clothing in a store dressing room because once she tried so hard to fit into it she couldn't get it off! She goes on to say that she couldn't go back into the store--where she shopped every day--unless she hid the fact that she couldn't fit into a dress, and having to destroy the dress just to remove it wasn't too much fun for her, either.
However, the principle focus of the film is the group's one month cross country journey to go into shopping malls and ring people's doorbells to alert them to the "Shopocalypse." For Reverend Billy and his followers the "Shopocalypse" comes when there's so much spending just before Christmastime that the rate of spending is irresponsible and threatens to destroy the true meaning of Christmas. Reverend Billy and the chorus hit the road in a rather old bus; and it is indeed ironic that the one road accident that befalls them happens when a truck rushing to get Christmas merchandise to stores rams into the back of their bus. Fortunately, no one gets hurt too badly and after a day or two they go on their way.
But the culmination of the one month tour (which ends on Christmas Day in Disneyland) may have some consequences. In fact, just making it to their destination may have some problems for them. While they get some calm conversation time with a local merchant whose business has been ruined by Walmart, the group's appearances at several Walmart stores, a number of Starbucks franchises and The Mall of America are not exactly welcome. No spoilers here--watch and find out what happens!
The DVD comes with some nice extras. We see footage of their "send-off" concert in Saint Mark's Church in Manhattan; there's a public access revival television spot made by Reverend Billy; and we learn the pitiful story of how China jailed a young woman for two years--all for the crime of being Christian. I also like the footage from their stop at a post office in Pennsylvania, too.
What Would Jesus Buy may have been produced, shown in theaters and put on DVD before this huge recession started and spending did slow down, but the concept of getting people to shop less and be more fiscally responsible is timeless. For example, younger people on college campuses are easily lured into credit cards with high interest rates if they don't pay their bills in full right away; many of these people don't understand the real responsibilities of having a credit card--it creates a bill that you DO have to pay. In addition, I strongly agree with Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping that people have become so enamored with shopping that the true meaning of Christmas is in very real danger of being forgotten. I highly recommend this film.
Description of What Would Jesus Buy?
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