Condensed from an apparent 33 hour initial cut, this Canadian documentary about the evolution of corporations in North America tends to ramble at times, but features lots of interesting information, even if one might be skeptical about some of it. The first stretch of the movie is the best as the filmmakers use a checklist of symptoms of psychopathic behaviour to conclude that a corporation operates like a psychopath, which is all the more fascinating when one considers legal precedents that allow corporations to have the rights of a human being, to sue others, buy investments and so forth. After this initial stretch, the film is a bit of a bumpy ride with far too much footage recycled from Michael Moore's 'The Big One' for its own good; Mikela Jay's cold and impersonal voice-over narration is a minus too. The majority of the archive footage here is very well used though, perfectly juxtaposed against dialogue and narration. There are some captivating interviews too, most notably with a Goodyear CEO who simply rules corporations off as an expected "consequence of modern capitalism". There is also an interesting stretch towards the end of the film dedicated to corporations manipulating kids due to their 'pester power' when it comes to pleading for their parents to buy certain items. In fact, the film flies by very quickly for a 2.5 hour documentary.

Succeeds on countless levels. A groundbreaking work which is as important and significant as any of which I'm aware, and theatrically perfect. So brilliant, absorbing, enlightening, and enabling, is this documentary; that in my opinion, it ranks with The Beatles, Shakespeare, sex, whipped cream, kittens, and the mini-skirt. The audience with whom I first saw it (Philadelphia Film Festival) immediately stood and applauded at the films end. I myself had tears of satisfaction and felt inspired by it beyond any telling. The 2-part DVD-set version will continue to educate one for many hours on end. So, please, please, please; everyone, see "The Corporation" and then pass it around. You really must do this thing!!

The Corporation tries to explain to a mainstream audience what left-wing sociologists and philosophers and anti-consumerist publications have been saying to those already politically inclined - why are corporations so powerful, and why are they so dangerous? This long documentary generally cuts out the jargon and vocabulary that makes political media sometimes so difficult for an apathetic perspective, but at the same time isn't patronising or overly preachy. Instead of having the moral depth of an afterschool special, it presents a number of anti-corporatist figures (Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn and Naomi Klein are among the most notable) who try and explain the destructive and cruel nature of corporations.The most clever idea of the film is to compare corporations and their anti-human actions to a human being, to develop on the notion of Corporate Personhood - the fact that a corporation is legally recognised as a person. With this in mind, businesses are analysed like a human being would be, and here we come to a disturbing conclusion - corporations, with their disregard for other human beings, have similar patterns of functioning to that of a psychopath.As excellent as this documentary is, however, my concern is that those who will watch it and enjoy it and talk about it will be those who already are to the left and are interested in politics. This is true with me - I'm an anarchist, and if I wasn't into activism I wouldn't have heard of it. So here's to hoping the power of word can give this film the breakthrough it deserves, because it's a much better alternative perspective than the sort of half-baked, wishy-washy sentiments expressed by Michael Moore in 'Capitalism: A Love Story'.'

The Corporation should be given kudos for being a massive nearly three hour length documentary and still remain mostly entertaining and keep you engaged in the material. However I also felt like they were simply like lawyers trying to prove a case. It would not be hard for them to convince me that corporations are evil and conducive to bringing down society and yet they really pour it on thick and go so far as to try to make us believe that a corporation is equivalent and fits all the qualifications for a medical diagnose of a psychopath. Director and creator Mark Achbar is obviously very passionate about this topic and kudos to him but I think where the film falters is in it's passion. All this information is presented in a very factual straight forward fashion and it just feels like it's being drilled into you for three straight hours. I think the film could have been far more effective given a smaller time frame and some serious trimming. Certainly the film isn't for the weak minded or someone who doesn't want to be intellectually challenged because the film will take some serious thought. I think in the future we will see some great things in documentary film making. Worth seeing if you're doing some studying into the politics of corporations. 6/10