chriscorona-design We learn early in the film that Dean lacks any sort of marketing prowess. First when talking about the short falls of the Segway launch. And then about half way through when discussing how to overcome those shortfalls with the 'Slingshot' launch and beyond. At that point the light-bulb went off. "Holy sh*t, this entire movie was created to help sell his product." I kind of felt used!Then there's his "messiah" complex. He's convinced (or the film makers are, but I'm positive he funded this project) he's some sort of modern technological savant. Akin to Da Vinci, Einstein, etc.... Are you kidding me? bring yourself back down to the Earth, sir.Don't get me wrong, what's he's pursuing is great! Solving the water crisis, brilliant. It could save millions of lives. But I can't get over the fact that this film is essentially a clever marketing stunt masquerading as a documentary. "Look how bad the water crisis is. Look how great Dean is. Look what Dean built. Buy Deans product."

hampe98 The documentary Slingshot's main purpose seems at first to be to feature Dean Kamen and his inspirational and impressive ethos, his view on life and dedicated grasping after sophisticated goals. Although, later on it becomes quite clear that its real purpose is rather to spread the word of the vapor compression distiller, called 'Slingshot'. A machine that can make polluted water drinkable, no matter how the water is polluted, making it very versatile. Dean is very keen on letting us know that the Slingshot would have far-flung positive impact on global health. He claims that clean water alone could empty 50 percent of all hospital beds around the world. This is very intriguing, although, Dean makes it very clear that the machine is facing big distribution problems, which is obviously a significant reason for the making of this documentary, to spread the word.However, that does not make it 'just another infomercial', not at all. This is not a cheap way of getting more sales for profit. Dean Kamen has a much deeper desire, he is looking to empty 50 percent of the hospital beds around the world. Although, Slingshot is not quite the perfect cinematic experience. What appears like behind the scenes footage feels rather made up and camera-ready. This is where the movie is missing out, we are missing the real behind the scenes, what happens behind the facade of the camera. Also, Dean and his many contributions, like founding a project helping children learn science, appears mostly like a sales pitch, however noble the purpose.Nonetheless, what Dean is doing is truly inspiring and noteworthy. It may not be a Oscar winner, although, the subject of the movie and Dean Kamen's inspiring life makes this documentary entertaining and definitely worth a watch.

atvanderschaaf-198-669326 Like most, I'd heard of the Segway, even considered purchasing one for myself, but I hadn't given a whole lot of thought to who had actually invented it. And had never heard of Dean Kamen or his work.'SlingShot' was a wake up call, both to the presence of Dean Kamen, the modern day Edison or DaVinci, and to the seriousness of the issues he's passionate about. STEAM/STEM and FIRST Robotics seem like the next logical step for schools to take and it surprises me that these programs aren't a nationwide standard. I wish I had them when I was in school.But, I think more impressively is what 'SlingShot' did to my outlook on the water crisis. Wow. I never fully understood what people and especially young girls have to go through every day just to drink or wash or cook. Something has to be done and it's my hope Dean Kamen will be the one to accomplish it.This movie makes me want to do something. Watch it and be inspired. We can fix this.

steven-leibson We just saw this documentary movie tonight at Cinequest in San Jose, CA. It was finished just three days ago. The subject is Dean Kamen, a genius inventor. The man behind Segway. The man behind the FIRST Robotics Competition that's making science, technology, math, and engineering into a sport so that kids are sucked in body and soul. The man who has spent nearly two decades developing a machine to purify water in the toughest locales on the planet. That guy.This in-depth look at Kamen the man is inspiring. This is a man who likes to solve problems, so much that he's dedicating every waking moment to solving these problems. He's part Tom Swift. A small part Howard Roarke. A big part humanitarian. No matter what he's doing, Kaman's trying to help people live better lives either through medical equipment, truly assistive wheelchairs, or clean water.These days, Kamen's a man on a mission. Several missions in fact. This documentary walks you through them. The filmmaker, Paul Lazarus, would like every middle school and high school student to see this film. Why? Because it's inspiring. Kamen's a spark plug of positivity in a world where negativity is so readily on tap.Which would you rather have: a bunch of young people out solving the world's problems or a bunch of young people Tweeting their opinions about these problems? I know which I prefer.Go see this movie. Tell Netflix you want it. Tell Amazon you want to get it through Amazon Prime. But do something positive. See it.