Review - Idiocracy

 

Many people laud this film as somehow being predictive of the future, however, besides a relatively obvious critique of corporatism that is found within the film I do not find that to be the case.

This movie either intentionally or unintentionally, is promotive of eugenics. If it weren't its explanation for societal reduction of intelligence would focus purely on environmental and social occurrences instead of attempting to portray intelligence as a genetic trait by comparing it to evolution and reproduction.

It also, in classic early 2000s humor is extremely offensive in its portrayal of individuals of which it calls stupid (though using much more offensive language) and those people are portrayed in an extremely harmful stereotypical way. It is exceeding the harm the Good Doctor had in terms of offensiveness.

For that, I did not enjoy this film.

Rating: 4/10

Review - Animal Farm (1954)

 A somewhat mild bastardization of the original book by Orwell. This film was was funded in part by the CIA, and I attribute that to the reasons why multiple part of Orwell's original message of the book, including its ending, were changed from the film. While the film has its moments, while the animation is beautiful, and the music compelling, unfortunately the changes in plot cannot be overlooked. It changes the message completely from the original critique Orwell made, and transforms it into a propaganda film that attempts to portray the animal's situation with Jones as potentially better than where they ended up. And that any attempt of rebellion against an oppressive society would necessarily doom them to the same fate. If you wish to experience this story in its best form, please read the book or if you must, listen to an audiobook. In that way you can experience the actual message Orwell was attempting to give you, not what the CIA wants you to think Orwell meant. The film is not worth watching. But I also find it the height of irony that a book that gives a critique of Authoritarianism was turned into propaganda by an actual government agency.

Rating: 5/10