We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists

2012 "The Story of the Hacktivists"
7.2| 1h33m| PG| en
Details

Takes us inside the world of Anonymous, the radical "hacktivist" collective that has redefined civil disobedience for the digital age. The film explores early hacktivist groups like Cult of the Dead Cow and Electronic Disturbance Theater, then moves to Anonymous' raucous beginnings on the website 4chan. Through interviews with current members, people recently returned from prison or facing trial, writers, academics, activists and major players in various "raids," the documentary traces Anonymous’ evolution from merry pranksters to a full-blown movement with a global reach, the most transformative civil disobedience of our time.

Director

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Luminant Media

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Reviews

KnotMissPriceless Why so much hype?
FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.
Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.
Derrick Gibbons An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
arsindermanege The film was written and directed by Brian Knappenberger and features the story of Anonymous assumed to stem from the imageboard 4chan. It also outlines major turning points and "operations" in their history. Angered by many diverse issues such as copyright abuse, police brutality, online censorship and would-be web controllers this loosely affiliated collective of hacktivists have organised both online and offline protests, cyber attacks on foreign governments during the Arab Spring movement and provided technical support to the Occupy movement.
Jonas1969 To me the world is very unlike that of reviewer Thomas Chase who views this as a movie promoting crime. I didn't see a movie that promotes anything, but, it is about activism in different online forms. The activists themselves are doing most of the talking and it shows how loosely tied the group called anonymous is.It shouldn't really matter if you are with this groups actions or not because it's about understanding their motivations and how groups like it can and will impact our shared future; sometimes with government crushing impact and sometimes for a cruel laugh at someones expense.I came away feeling both uplifted and slightly scared, but whatever you feel it will make you think and to me that is always a good thing.
jcraig-817-581959 Let me say up front that I have serious reservations about hacking as political tactic. The members of Anonymous attack anyone they don't like, without reference to any set of political principles or the likelihood that their actions will change anything. Based on the film's interviews with Anonymous members, they're motivated as much by the thrill of the hack as by any serious political agenda. I also question the filmmaker's selection of some of their interview subjects. One guy from New York is apparently incapable of uttering a sentence without using "f***" or "f***ing" at least twice. Barrett Brown, a so-called spokesman for Anonymous, is so affected it sounds like he's working on a William F. Buckley impersonation while waving around his unlit cigarette. When these guys tell you they're changing the world, it's a bit difficult to believe. This isn't a bad documentary - it's well done technically and it's certainly informative. What it didn't do was change my mind about the legitimacy and important of Anonymous.
Thomas Chase This a fine example of the media sympathizing perhaps even glorifying a group and actions of criminals. The reason people in government are given authority for adverse actions against citizens is in part necessary lesser evil one that is preferable to the actions of a fascist state where citizens have no recourse to penalties and no defense or legal representation to protect themselves from individuals or groups acting above the law for unknown motives. Vigilantism and conspiracy in a grand scale is really treason with a pretty bow tie. Being a fan of these people is spitting on the real professions dedicated to their appointed often selfless and extremely dangerous position. I suppose it is a lot to ask someone making millions from potentially creating situations that get groups of actual individuals paid, trained, and responsible for their actions hurt or worse is acceptable to the media, but it sucks and I personally feel boycotting this sort of crude, it promotes crime and undermines our government.