DVD. Fox Home Entertainment, March 2005.
What the Bleep Do We Know!? Offers us a good time while explaining the illusion of our reality, the relationship between the observer and the observed, and the tug of war between the body and consciousness. All the questions, ideas, and theories are the positive qualities of the film. We normally assume reality to be solid matter separated by space. That the movie shows it to be all energy must give materialists a moment's pause. Where is the observer? This entity has not been found anywhere in the body, but it does have the ability to rewire the brain. Our habits and addictions suggest that although we identify with our bodies, we do not always control them.. The question of the nature of thought and its power to affect our lives and others brings responsibility, as well as freedom, back to the individual. We are the scientists studying our own lives.
A good portion of the discussion dwells on the energy and chemistry of our bodies and seems to reduce us to biological machines. This Cartesian attitude looks at all the parts and adds them lip to something less than what we are, which is greater than the sum of our biological parts. Some people have had the experience that emotions are more than just peptides and chemical reactions. The special effects illustrating the aspects of simple. cases are entertaining, but a bit over done, especially overemphasizing the baser aspects of human nature.
If only the commentaries of the scientists acknowledged that what has long been said in the perennial wisdom comes to light anew with their efforts. Instead, some offered opinions on what God is, based on some unanswered questions like where do the particles come from or go, or why we seem to be the observer.
All in all I highly recommend this film for its research, insights, wit, humor, and accompanying illustrative story.
-SUSAN OCKERSE
July/August 2005