South of the Border: Oliver Stone says Chavez's U.S. threat equal to Castro

Oliver Stone's documentary film, "South of the Border" is condemned as anti-American propaganda . The new trailer provides a glimpse into what some consider an attack on America leaders and a valentine cameo for Latin American leaders, with a primary focus on Hugo Chavez.

From the President of Cuba to Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina the Latin American leadership is spotlighted, not as countries of tumult, unrest and conflict, but as soccer-friendly harmless neighbors whose ideals we should not scorn, but perhaps embrace, because they are in ways small and large - responsive and superior.

Check the trailer provided on the sidebar and sound off with your opinion of Stone's latest effort and its intent. The trailer, transcribed by Devonia Smith, Political Transcriptions Examiner, follows:

Text: In January, 2009, filmmaker Oliver Stone traveled to Venzuela to interview President Hugo Chavez and investigate the image of the man portrayed by the American media.  While in South America, Stone and his crew met with seven other presidents in five other countries and uncovered a larger,  more compelling story.

Narrator: The Venezuelan president has become more dangerous to the U.S. than Fidel Castro ever was.

Clip: He's more dangerous than bin Laden and the effects of Chavez' war against America could eclipse those of 9/11.

Doug Schoen: Chavez is supporting terrorism on a daily basis. He's given Al-Qaeda and Hamas an open invitation to come to Caracus.

Narrator (Oliver Stone): Who is Hugo Chavez?  Where did he come from? He was literally born in a mud hut and grew up in poverty. And this affected his view of Venezuela, as well as ultimately, his lifelong mission to transform the country.

Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, translation: You elected a government that will not be a government of Chavez because Chavez is the people.

Condelezza Rice: I think we have to view, at this point, the government of Venzuela as a negative force in the region.

Chavez translation: This continent wants to be, we want to be ourselves.

Cristina Kirchner, President of Argentina, translation: To me it seems, that for the first time in the region, the leaders look like the people they govern. If you go to Bolivia and look at the face of Evo, the face of Evo is the face of Bolivia.

Evo Morale, President of Bolivia,  translation: What's being implemented is a politics of control. Not just against Bolivia but against many Latin American countries.

Lula de Silva, President of Brazil, translation: I personally have no interest in fighting with the United States. The only thing I want is to be treated as equals.

Nestor Kirchner, Former President of Argentina, translation: I say it is not necessary to kneel before power, nor do you need to be rude to say the things you have to say, to those who oppose our actions.

Fernando Lugo, President of Paraguay, translated: It hasn't been easy in my country. Here there is a group, which has historically been privileged in the government, with the country's resources.

Oliver Stone: Rafael Correa is now being cast as one of the potentially bad left.

Rafael Correa , President of Ecuador, translated: With all due respect, knowing the North  American media,  I would be more worried if they spoke well of me.

Oliver Stone: I want to play soccer ball with the president. Can you show me a little soccer ball action?

Oliver Stone to  Raul Castro: You are the grandfather- the godfather, and  what do you think

Raul Castro, President of Cuba, translated: No maybe the first, but not the godfather. Everybody is grown up and walk with their own two feet, their own ideas and contributing new ideas.

Oliver Stone: He's as much a threat to the system as Castro was. He's a great example - if he succeeds, it will be the first time in Latin American history except for Castro where he's led an entire region away from United States economic control.

Chavez: And perhaps this is one of the things that keeps us going. The optimism, the faith, and  hope and the concrete evidence that we can change the course of history. It's possible, Oliver!