Walking in, I wasn't really sure if this was to be a complement or detriment to one of my chosen hobbies. I was very, very disappointed. The documentary focuses on a few small aspects of online gaming - the potential for addiction and effects on health and relationships. They make a cursory effort to show the other side, but even then they use a series of stereotypical "gamer" couples to make a weak counter point, before going back to the theme they want to ram at their audience: game companies are drug dealers, and those on the games are geeks, unable to hold a job, maintain a relationship, or take care of their health. Only the scant few minutes devoted to the benefits for the severely disabled game the games any credit. Where's the couple who lead normal lives, have great jobs, travel, attend movie festivals, built themselves a house, and, oh yeah, play World of Warcraft? The only person that comes close in the film is being shown as "breaking the habit" to get on with his life.
I know there are people who are prone to addiction, but that's true for many, many hobbies, most of which never receive such continuous bad press. The worst part to me is that, while I know there is a darker side, I also know that these games can be played in a healthy, normal manner, just like any other hobby. The general public seeing this film will only have the stereotypes imprinted on them again. For this, I recommend no one ever watch this again.
Second Skin
2008, 95 minutes, directed by Juan Carlos Pineiro Escoriaza
2 comments:
In reading this blog, one thing is painfully obvious to me; You didn't actually see this movie.
I'm not sure where you got your information from, but this is possibley the most uninformed review I have seen to date.
Where's the normal couples who get married, build a house, have kids?
They were 2 of the main subjects!! Anthony from Indiana showed his new house being built and you even saw his bachelor party and his wedding.
You also saw Andy's twins and him spending time with them. Not to mention the extremely uplifting story of Kevin and Heather which protrayed them as a normal couple who just happened to meet in a virtual world.
I'm not sure which film you're reviewing here or if you're just going on what you've "heard" but this review is representitive of maybe 10% of the movie.
It would be a shame if people read this review and thought it was accurate because that simply isn't so.
I was in the second screening, Monday afternoon if I recall correctly.
Your points are wrong and/or miss my point.
Yes, we saw Anthony from Indiana building his new house, getting married to his non-gamer wife, and moving on. But that's the point - he was being shown as moving on. There was a final monologue from one of his roommates that was staying behind, feeling left alone with his gaming life.
All that did was imprint the stereotype that games are for kids and geeks, and you'll leave them when you're ready to grow up.
Regarding Andy and his twins, all I got out of it were the comments his wife made regarding his play time, versus the time he planned to spend, and then did actually spend, caring for his kids. I don't know about the screening you saw, but the in screening I saw, the audience around me laughed at his plans to balance gaming with the rest of his life, then groaned when his wife revealed that he wasn't taking care of his family in the way she hoped.
Again, reinforcing stereotypes.
Finally, Kevin and Heather. Yes, they meet in game. Yes, they are trying to get along. But they are still being shown as a socially awkward geek couple, who's relationship downsides are displayed as much as the upsides. The audience laughed and or groaned at Kevin. There was no sympathy or understanding for him. (I know, no one is Mr. or Ms. Perfect, but it seems like they were picked to show a point of view.)
For a audience of gamers, this could be a mediocre, if slanted documentary. For an audience of the general non-gaming public, though, it will cause far more harm that it ever will good. If you want to see a good movie about gaming, go see Darkon. Stay away from this one.
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