Amp Charge

A reasonably good documentary but not an excellent one, in no small part due to obnoxious soundtrack music throughout. Truly needless and interfering with what otherwise would be interesting discussion. Where in the world does this perceived need for soundtrack music originate? Baffling, Anyway, this cult is not particularly different than all other cults, domestic and foreign. A supposedly ‘brilliant, compassionate’ leader gathers an increasingly huge flock of mindless sycophants who follow him everywhere. Literally. Yet no one can see through the obvious, namely his penchant for opulence and power. For whatever his supposed ideology is/was, it’s also striking that none of the interviewees can speak in a compelling way to what exactly that is and how it is supposedly so different from standard Western ideology. Rather, we hear endless accolades about what a “beautiful man“ he is. But the actual ideology itself? Notably in abeyance. No big surprise for people who are easily pulled into mass hysteria. And when you see the throngs of people running after his numerous Rolls Royces or dancing with their hands in the air, eyes closed, wearing just glowing smiles, it’s not particularly different than watching people at Woodstock. Oh, and let’s not forget lots and lots of free sex here, as well. So much for sophisticated ‘enlightenment’ and Eastern philosophy, I suppose. If nothing else, though, if one wants to watch an expose of the well-coiffed sociopath, listening and watching Sheela, past and present tense, will tell you everything you need to know about the fundamental absence of conscience/remorse of the sociopath. She just wears nicer clothes than some. Overall, the documentary is interesting In conveying the ambient hysteria of a cult, as well as the pernicious narcissistic and sociopathic foundations that move it along. But the fundamental dynamics of cults are not unique. This all results in a good watch but not an amazing one.