The Social Dilemma

 What I love about this film is that it delivers a large amount of useful information in a clear, and creative way. Sometimes, documentaries can be a little slow but during The Social Dilemma, I stayed engaged the whole time. I think that the dramatization of the information helps communicate it better to the audience. Every time I reach for my phone to check my social media, I think about the points brought up in the film about addiction and brainwashing. This is exactly what the director wanted for this film, for people to be impacted by it and to look at their devices through a different lens. 

My favorite technique the creators used were the skits of the family with the children who have a major phone addiction. I like how each child had a different perspective on social media with the youngest one completely consumed by her likes and followers and seems like she seeks approval from people on social media. The middle child is a little less focused on social media likes and follows but seeks a connection with someone as well as attempts to figure out what he believes and values through media. He becomes so fired up and tied into the media that he ends up getting in trouble after showing up to a protest. The oldest sister and parents seem to be the voice of reason in the media addicts' lives. They were born in a generation where technology was not worshipped as much as it is today. They see that their family members are going down dangerous rabbit holes of addiction and brainwashing. 

       

I am guilty of the issues mentioned in the film. I admit I am a social media addict too. Simply resisting it is impossible, I have to uninstall it off my phone to keep myself from scrolling all day long. Watching this film produced anger in me on behalf of people that struggle with a phone addiction. 

What I'm Currently Watching

I decided to revisit the classic (Is it a classic? It's been 20 years since the first one, IDK) Pirates of the Caribbean. Wow, I remember thinking it was good when I first watched it but it's even better now that I'm older and actually understand what's going on. The creativity is insane. I love the Marvel movies of today but their use of Special FX and CGI is sometimes excessive. With Pirates, there was a lot of this but it only added to the film. In the second movie, the undead barnacle men on Davy Jones's ship looked very realistic and disgusting. Also, Jack Sparrow is a phenomenal character.  I think that Johnny Depp for the role of Jack Sparrow and Kiera Knightley as Elizabeth Swann was spectacular choice by the director. 

                      

One thing I love about this film series is, not only is it action-packed (which I love), but it is very different from common action movies. If you think of the most popular action movies, John Wick series, James Bond series, Inception, The Matrix– the settings are always the same– in an urban or suburban area (on land). However, Pirates takes place mostly on the ocean. This must have been very hard to do for the cast, camera crew, etc., constantly being on a large ship on the water. However, their efforts were very much worth it because the film is amazing.