The Experiment (2001)

Sorry, this movie sucks

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Darwin theory of human evolution stated that humans evolved from apes;those violent,fierce,wild and fighting for living creatures.This movie really express that theory in a medical psychological theme, and tries to show the acts of humans in life threatening situations, when everyone think of themselves,during the lack of upper hand to control themselves, and during the misuse of the power if it's given to the wrong people.You will see the worst acts of humans to each other, a real humiliation , a pure violence and the injustice in its best form.As you know from the title, it's basically an "Experiment"; between 20 males that are divided to 12 prisoners and 8 guards,they have to follow simple rules during their staying in the artificial prison for 14 days, and whoever will stay till the end will get a bounty, and FYI this "Experiment" was real conducted in 1971 which was called "Stanford Prison Experiment".The movie has a good start except the weird music that pop up in unrelated scenes, the background of each character will be explained briefly, and then the events follow in a good rhythm except the boring moments when "prisoner 77" flash back his memories.This movie is absolutely not for families, as it has a lot of nudity scenes in addition to the extreme violence.Finally, it's a good thriller/drama movie that let you watch new and different aspects of human personality in a good theme.

If I say it was unwatchable, that would be a great injustice however the movie was nothing special, the story idea was not new and even within the known cliché there was no innovation. The critical problem was the very slow pace of screenplay. 2 hours is a long time for such movie, it could've been much better if they would trim the movie to something between 80 to max 90 minutes. Movie started very slow and remained slow till the end. Supposed to be shocking scenes were merely flat and unattractive. Another problem was poor character development which was worthy of a B movie and at the end there was some unanswered questions (not the good type of unanswered questions). Why the guard group had access to the outside? why they could even go home? Why no one searched them before letting them in? in one scene, one bottle of wine looked like a big deal among the guards but if they had access to the outside and apparently no one was searching them, it should not have been a big deal. Also the mysterious air force major, what was he doing among inmates? A 2 bit former reporter/taxi driver meets a woman one night in a car accident, takes her home (I buy that) and sleeps with her (I buy that too) and develops telepathy connection with her (total bull***, a rip off). The presence of this lady has nothing to do with the resolve of the movie, even when she shows up at night at the experiment facility (known as medical school), she fails play any roll in the resolve except to take the gun from one scene to another which could have been done by anyone. I guess they squeezed her in so they would not end up with an all male movie which would've been unattractive for most females or couples. Overall not a movie I can suggest even for merely a night no brainer entertainment.

I wasn't too sure what to expect when I first placed this movie in my 'watchlist' some days ago. Needless to say, however, i'm more than glad I did. 'The Experiment' was a rather harsh movie which really makes you feel helpless while watching. It's a story of insanity, fear and psychosis, all brought on by a poorly managed experiment. It was a very entertaining movie and I could really feel the emotions of each character and felt like I could somehow relate to their plight. My only complaint would have to be a lack of character development at points, because even though you felt for the characters in the movie, it still didn't really feel like you knew them. I would have especially liked more background on #77s cell-mate (that's not a spoiler now, is it?). Anyways, overall it was a great movie. I would definitely recommend this movie to a lover of violence and psychological suspense, as well as to someone who is captivated by cognitive experimentation.

The best group psychological behavior movie since long, or how would act/do most human under the Authority agreement, considering the fact that most people have sadistic and/or submissive potentials (under certain circumstances), as long as there is a strong leader in any group.The Stanford Experiment is the basis of this movie, and even though the conclusions of the S.E. were contested, with comprehensive reasons from a scientific point of view, for my humble understanding of human nature, I unfortunately have to agree the conclusions are definitively true.Many comments do take in consideration Abu Graib, or the last WW2, but it's only because we know nothing about what is still going on every day of the year, in too many countries.Newspapers make a big thing every once a few years, but it's only because the Freedom of Knowledge is quiet under control on this Earth, as long there are only very few courageous journalist/politicians/legal actors/banking or industry leaders/and/or individuals that really act/shout against Unjustice, because most of them live and make money on it ! (except last category)And second (the possible main point), they are mostly friends, even apparently and publicly they disagree with each other.I remember an incredible thing that happened in Madagascar in 1992, or 1993; I was working there 4 months a year (for 8 consecutive years), and since 1991, there was a big clash between the then actual President ("elected dictator") Ratsiraka and the opposition of most malagasy people, politicians included.For the background, that year there was a manifestation and one million people marched against the president palace. My malagasy friends told me to come... I just replied that was may be not the best way to do, because president's were no good boys... However this day according to the government, there were about 12 officially dead, killed in a "self-defensive response" from the guards, but it was from an helicopter gun machine and the more reality there were about 200 persons who were killed this day (according Red Cross)... Sad you'd say... obviously me too !But coming back to the "Newspapers paragraph" above, what really puts me down is that a few time later there was a direct TV show between two representatives of the government and two from the "opposition" party, and a journalist. As the talks went on, they all started quiet politely, but more and more it went on were really becoming aggressive, to almost shout against each other at the end, I mean government and opposition people.The only one who tried to cool it down was the TV showman... who at the end of the official program thanked every one...This was the end of the program... BUT the camera continued to shoot on live...After about 30 seconds everyone started to chat and laugh to each other very friendly, and pleasant again ! The show was supposed to be off program, no more shooting...This very day, I will never forget !2 minutes ago they were all together apparently showing a real and true disagreement, talking about how many were killed, arguing, and so on, almost fighting...Then laughing and chatting...If you consider this story, this is not exactly the topic of this movie... but close to what I'm saying : most people collaborate, even though it possibly does not please them entirely.Following other "happenings" I've seen before I thought I was no more so naive...For everything what is in The Experiment, it's brilliant, the only weakling thing is the woman flashback, but it's a very minor thing, to cut down the tension, but finally helps to reinforce it afterward. The escalate is real, the acting and script and filming is all together compact, for real !At the end, I just cried, not for the movie, I know it's one !But because this could help many to realise and behave differently...The "Authority" is always a bad thing, unless it's not due to self respect to the authority's kindness and knowledge which should only be taken as a positive example.For me, may be only the Dalai Lama is a worldwide known person (to me) who really is a true example, and as for he's not invited in a main ecclesiastic conference, I just laugh : one of the Only !To kill someone, is a bad thing, an horrible thing, but if you do it under the Authority consent because it tells you have the obligation and right to do it otherwise you'll be the next one on the list to be killed and not ONLY because YOU are sincerely convinced you must do it for your deepest belief AND for your personal soul justice (if it does possibly exist), then you may enter in doing things how we see in this movie.Of course, it's not easy : self respect is a difficult thing to deal with, for everyone...It reminds me another brilliant must see movie : Closet Land (1991), which deals too with the topic, beautifully shots, but only with an inmate and a woman prisoner.I wonder if any movie maker could translate and adapt the topic... for a children movie !It seems, since a few years, in Europe and particularly in Germany, they are again excellent directors, who deals with the notion of Autority or Power abuse...Die Welle (The Wave) (2008) is also a damned good example.Anyway for The Experiment, just take the helicopter for you next dealer... (but just don't shoot him :-)or easier, take the phone to buy/rent/steal (for the last word, I do sincerely discourage it:-) this must see movie ! *** a film is never really good unless the camera is an eyes in the head of a poet Orson Welles ***