wilsonbk Killswitch is an unmissable documentary that gives insight into the political battle for the internet and how it effects free speech across the globe. Even if you are not an avid user of the internet, the attempts to regulate the internet has the potential to destroy a major part of communication. Killswitch evaluates many famous controversies in which the American government clashes with citizens over their rights on the internet. The lively narration and beautiful imagery breaks the stereotype that documentaries are purely informative, lacking the entertainment value that blockbuster movies are accompanied with. There is no doubt that you will be questioning the way the American government and how to take action to reform the way the government works.

punishable-by-death The concept of 'net neutrality' was something I had heard mentioned a few times, but had no idea of the meaning. It seems liked it was important but I wasn't tech-savvy enough to understand it in any sort of detail. This film efficiently explains the situation, and its importance, by explaining the very real dangers of having the internet turned into a monopoly; into a place that is not free as we know it to be now. While using three excellent talking heads, the film also uses two major examples to strengthen its argument; the cases of Edward Snowden and Aaron Schwartz; both extremely bright young men within the IT sector, both vilified as traitors, targeted simply due to their politics and ideals.Now there is no question – this film is biased as all hell. It doesn't approach ZEITGEIST levels of bias, but obviously intends to hammer its ideas home in the most efficient way possible. This didn't bother me at all though, as it revealed so much to me that I did not know. It also doesn't seem preachy at all, and factually it checks out with global rumblings I was already aware of.The biggest part of this story is that of Aaron Schwartz. Programming code at the ages of 14 and 15, once Aaron matured he became almost a crusader, a selfless leader in the charge for information to be free. It is stated at the start of the film that information is like the new world's gold, and whoever controls it can control almost anything. Schwartz defended his ideals with his life, downloading thousands of scholarly articles without paying and then sharing them across the web. It was an act of civil disobedience, but the reaction to it was almost like he'd committed a terrorist attack. This section of the film is also emotionally stirring as one of the professors interviewed had met Aaron at 14 and had watched him grow up, doing these marvelous things that affected his own way of thinking. Snowden's appearance wasn't as well done as the part about Schwartz, mainly because there wasn't a close relative or friend offering comments. The information he offers is far from useless, but it is all from other videos and was mostly things I had already heard him say. His points stand though; guilt is not needed anymore, as simply matching the description of a suspect is all that is needed for your every click on the internet to be combed through and scrutinised. Not to mention the flagrant ignorance of privacy his revelations brought into the public eye.The NSA is not protecting the US in any way, and the film makes a good case for the opposite to in fact be true.Before watching this I had never really thought of the two men in the same light. IT is a big sector these days and the two young men were in very different areas. However, the issue of a free internet over a controlled internet is a powerful one that I now feel I properly understand. It didn't matter what areas of IT Snowden and Schwartz worked in – both were targeted because they used the freedom of the internet to do what they thought was right for the public.This is why the inherent corruption within US governments is also brushed on, but not elaborately, as it is the government that stands the most to gain from having someone like Aaron Schwartz silenced. The same applies to Edward Snowden - I'm sure the US would be very happy to know that he isn't telling any more of their dirty secrets – secrets that were vital to public awareness, kicking up a dust-storm over the NSA's activities. The film is surprisingly broad in the issues it covers without feeling cluttered or messy in any way. This coherent feeling is thanks largely to two things – the editing, which looks subtle yet modern and results in a compact (under 90 minute) film – but also the three talking heads that are used throughout: Tim Wu, Peter Ludlow, and the man who was close to Schwartz, Lawrence Messig. They all offer very different views, and they all obviously know what they are talking about. They may all be on the same side of the argument, but their different backgrounds mean that their input is unique and doesn't overlap or repeat itself.While not the perfect documentary, I feel the information within KILLSWITCH is something almost everybody needs to see, as the issues it deals with can affect almost anyone using the internet. It is an important film. The excuse, "I have nothing to hide so I don't care if the NSA spies on me," simply is not good enough anymore.www.epilepticmoondancer.net

maddieburakoff For a relatively un-tech-savvy person such as myself, the thought of a documentary about net neutrality does not immediately come across as riveting. In fact, prior to the recent buzz over the FCC vote, there were many who were entirely unaware of the concept of net neutrality, and had little reason to invest themselves in its future. However, Killswitch manages to take the highly technical issues involved with the freedom of the Internet and allow an average citizen to not only understand them, but actually care about them. Though the film could have easily become a dry and uninteresting lecture or a preachy and overwrought battle cry, its balance and nuance make it so much more than that. Both informational and moving, the movie infuses its documentary with human narrative to personalize an issue that often is faced with dispassion. Not only does Killswitch teach viewers about the importance of net neutrality, it does so in a way that is engrossing and easily accessible to those with even the most limited background knowledge. To build a great documentary, it is essential to have a basis of reliable sources and plentiful information. Killswitch achieves this through its interviews with some of the most influential figures in the net neutrality scene. Tim Wu, professor at Columbia and author of The Master Switch, contributes knowledgeable commentary that expresses a soft-spoken intelligence and an obvious familiarity with the subject matter. Harvard professor Lawrence Lessig adds a humanizing touch as well through his emotional descriptions of Aaron Swartz, an important figure in the fight for Internet freedom and a personal protégé of Lessig himself. Finally, Northwestern professor Peter Ludlow relays his input with a passion that at times comes across as humorous but is never laughable. These three interviewees share the quality of being deeply qualified and extremely knowledgeable about the topic, but each provides a slightly different perspective to create a complex and thorough view of the matters at hand.The sheer scope of the film is also impressive, as it tackles a wide number of topics within the larger issue without feeling cluttered or disconnected. Each segment has a role to play in the discussion, and irrelevant material is scarce to nonexistent. The film delves into the history of Internet freedom, providing an essential background to today's debates. It relates the issue to the everyday audience member, who may be shocked to realize that a felony can be as simple as lying on a dating profile or even accessing Seventeen magazine's website at age seventeen. Even the story of Kim Dotcom, an Internet tycoon and owner of file-sharing site Megaupload, feels impressively relevant despite its semi-ridiculous nature. By including a variety of different stories to support the overall theme, Killswitch successfully keeps its narrative feeling fresh and creates an argument with a broad base of evidence.However, the true heart of Killswitch comes from the story of Aaron Swartz. An extremely intelligent young man with prodigious coding abilities, Swartz grew to become the face of the "hacktivist" movement through his use of computer skills to expose unfairness and fight inequality. His emotional story is recounted sporadically throughout Killswitch, peppered in with other aspects of the net neutrality discussion to create a cohesive arc. Though Swartz may be seen as a sort of martyr for the cause of net neutrality, the use of his story never seems manipulative or propaganda-esque. Rather, Swartz becomes the accessible face of a battle that often seems too complex and technical to truly fight. The moderated pathos of Swartz's narrative combines with other logical arguments to build a strong case for the protection of free Internet.Of course, one aspect of this film has contributed massively to its success and impact: timing. Killswitch largely started circulating through film festivals in late 2014, following FCC chairman Tom Wheeler's proposal in May to allow purchase of higher-speed broadband. The outrage at the highly discriminatory potential of this plan is what sparked much of the conversation about net neutrality on a public scale and provided the perfect platform for a documentary detailing the ins and outs of this widely misunderstood issue. With the FCC vote in February 2015 to approve stronger protections for equal Internet access, Killswitch could not have come at a more relevant time. Whether this is due to meticulous planning or incredible luck is unclear, but it is obvious that Killswitch is an integral film for this crucial deciding moment in the future of the web. By providing viewers with a clear picture of the issue at hand and delivering a rousing call to action, Killswitch has the power to inspire generations to continue to work for freedom of information and, in the words of Charlie Chaplin as employed in the film's stirring finale sequence, "fight for a world of reason."

Richard Steele Killswitch is an excellent film, managing to be both informative and entertaining, with superb pacing and a strong voice.As "Food Inc." and "Inside Job" are to the food and financial industry, "Killswtich" is to the Internet. Arguing vociferously for a free and open internet, it pulls no punches on Republicans or Democrats, going after politcians and media giants with vengeance. Despite this fact, none of the film seems heavy handed, perhaps this is because soft-spoken sage, Harvard Constitutional Law Professor carries the film with an intellect that is difficult to argue against. The way the film is able to capture the intricate mentor/mentee relationship between Internet prodigy Aaron Swartz and Lessig takes the film to new heights. Without giving away the ending, let's just say the director took me on an emotional roller-coaster, that left me inspired by the end of the film. If you are looking for the film that successfully humanizes the Internet and will make you feel like doing whatever is necessary to protect it, this film is for you. I give it a 10/10.