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Reviews
Welcome to Happiness (2015)
Compare the moral vision of these two movies
Compare Welcome to Happiness, to It's a Wonderful Life. It has a similar concept of 'erasing.' I won't get into any detail so I don't spoil anything. I'll keep it vague. In the 1946 movie we find out that if George Bailey is 'erased' from people's lives the whole town is a hellhole.
In this modern movie we see the same result except these people aren't good like George Bailey, yet, their bad deeds somehow made life better for others.
It's a Wonderful Life inspires people to understand their sacrifices and good deeds spread so much goodness.
This movie tells us that if we do terrible things they also lead to wonderful things and good deeds. It's a moral message that if you do terrible things, don't worry because it was really a good deed if you look at it another way.
George Bailey was a saint and people's lives were made better. These characters in this modern movie did bad things and people's lives were made better. Do good and people's lives will get better or do bad. Maybe it doesn't make a difference?
George resents the real sacrifices he made but this character resents doing good deeds for others? The character in this movie is no George Bailey! His complaint makes him seem spoiled rather than legitimately frustrated like George Bailey was. We don't feel that George is just being spoiled.
This really seems like a morally idiotic version of It's a Wonderful Life... conceptually. This is the version our modern society perhaps deserves.
Cruel & Unusual (2014)
Imaginative story!
I enjoyed this movie. My wife went to sleep after about twenty minutes. I tried to get her to watch it because the story was a worthwhile tale. The feeling of the beginning was kind of depressing. A lot of people might not want to give it a chance but the plot and ideas expressed are thoughtful.
It was imaginative and compassionate.
It had that Rashomon element, if you know what I mean. I don't want to say anymore. Just watch it if you enjoy conceptual stories.
The I-Land (2019)
too abstract for some?
Do you enjoy disorienting stories? Twilight zone? David Lynch? odd cult movies? Black Mirror? Most people seem to hate this t.v. series for reasons that don't make a lot of sense if you watch the show. eg: there is a reason why the characters are acting like jerks that is revealed later.
Maybe critical reaction will change in time.
My wife and I found this show a lot of fun.
Why do a lot of people hate it? At first I thought it could be politics but now I think the public wants familiarity in their programs. The feeling is too surreal and disorienting?
One negative commenter below said, "I guess this is what happens when the creators are not down to earth and trying to create "art" rather than being familiar. "
Was this show trying to create 'ART?'
Since it is a 'mystery box,' narrative it probably won't make great repeat viewings but the narrative is very enjoyable the first time.
Other shows you may like if you liked this: Maniac, Leftovers, Charlie Kaufman movies... I don't know. Do you enjoy moral ambiguity?
Don't believe the people that say this movie is stupid. It's just not a show for everyone.