Sadly Over-hyped

Absolutely brilliant

Absolutely amazing

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Volunteers flaunt their experiences on social media and portray themselves as 'heroes' who are 'saving' underprivileged villagers. It reinforces stereotypes, images of differences and unequal power relationships between the volunteer and the host community.The "hero" (called eco-warriors) dance/prance around, lamenting the invisible "foe" (some unidentified palm oil company), without any in-depth knowledge of the issues at hand. The result is a sing-along of spoiled brats that pursue shallow solutions to a very complex issue.Today, several years later little has changed for the local communities. Despite repeated promises to make a difference from the eco-warriors. ("we'll be watching from the sky")#EndHumanitarianDouchery

This documentary has a very long and slow beginning and took a fair bit to get into the documentary but the overall quality of this film is great. It's heart warming and very educational. It really makes you think about how little people care about forests and it's inhabitance. The story of these 15 young people in the jungles of Borneo for 100 days is very inspiring and interesting. First watching this I did not think it would be a topic i'd get into but later finishing it opened my mind up. The documentary makes the audience want to speak up and do something about the global challenges we face. I recommend anyone looking to become educated on the topic or those interested in global challenges to watch this documentary.

"Rise of the Eco Warriors" offers a unique way of viewing the deforestation issue in Borneo which is a current and very pressing issue. The whole project as well as the film is quite technology-oriented, which resonates well with or engages a contemporary audience. The structure of the documentary is admirable, as each member of the audience feels as if they are being taken on a journey with the young crusaders and is connected on a level that they share their wins and their losses, their celebration but also their anguish. For this reason,"Rise of the Eco Warriors" is a very moving and evocative film.The producer offers a preempted but proactive perception of the problem (deforestation in the Borneo rainforest) and, in this context, spreads awareness of the alarming statistics and the state of the environment over there, whilst giving the story momentum: There is action. There is change. There is a call to action, providing the audience with methods to become a part of the movement and ultimately the solution.I found the film extremely moving and empowering. No really! I cried during the film and then left the cinema with a strong sense of stewardship and an eagerness to help the environment (especially the situation in Borneo) that couldn't be suppressed. In short, this film will make you care, by lifting the wool from over your eyes and giving you a useful insight into the current state of the environment and how you personally can help. Every action counts! I cannot recommend this film enough and I believe that if you miss out on seeing it during its short seasons in cinemas around the world, you are missing out on an amazing opportunity that could see you become a better and more responsible citizen in our global community.Simply incredible!

If you haven't realised I am very passionate about the issue of Palm Oil and how the unsustainable practices in Malayasia and Indonesia are killing Orangutans and ruining villagers lives, then I must assume you are new to my blog. If you are equally as passionate about protecting this species from extinction then you must check out a great new documentary called Rise of the Eco-Warriors, directed by acclaimed award winning Australian director, Cathy Henkel.Faced with the challenge of spending one hundred days in the jungles of Borneo, Rise of the Eco-Warriors tells the real life story of fifteen young people from nine countries who undertake the mission to explore and implement solutions to the rampant deforestation which is destroying local Dayak communities, driving endangered Orangutans and other wildlife to extinction and contributing to climate change.Against all odds this dynamic group succeed in building an Orangutan rehabilitation centre, introduce a satellite monitoring system called Earthwatchers, start a reforestation nursery and build a global support network. Their efforts are put to the test when the bulldozers move in and threaten the future of a community living in a traditional longhouse. Supporting the documentary, the filmmakers have implemented an education program to inspire other young people in Australia around the world. Through DeforestACTION they have engaged over 1,900 schools and 60,000 students in multiple countries about the issues facing Borneo and how people can and continue to do more work to highlight the situation.The film made me feel so many emotions. I was angry, I cried, I was inspired and it reinforced my resolve to continue putting pressure on companies using unsustainable palm oil in their products and educating others as to how they too can make a difference.Special screenings are being held around Australian cinemas and a DVD is soon to be released. To find out more and to view the trailer visit www.ecowarriorsrise.com