1984
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Movie Reviews of 1984
Movie Review: Faithful to the Classic: Disturbing Portrayel of Future
Summary: 4 Stars
This adaptation of George Orwell's 1984 is relatively faithful to the novel, and creates the same type of pessimistic and frightening view of the future. Winston Smith, who is played aptly by John Hurt, works in the Ministry of Truth editing the past and present by eliminating and retracting facts from news articles. The citizens of Oceania live in constant surveillance under the authority of Big Brother. The ideals of Big Brother shun individualism and free thought; uniformity and totalitarianism rule. Winston feels a need to keep a part of his individualism, so he secretly does acts that would violate the laws of Big Brother. For instance, he secretly goes into a store and buys a journal so he can record his thoughts despite his thought that he might get caught by the Thought Police. He eventually meets and has a dangerous affair with a woman named Julia, who also rejects the notions of Big Brother. Together they try to maintain independence while living in this totalitarian society. Eventually Winston has a meeting with O'Brien, one of the men who also works in the Ministry of Truth. However, Winston does not know everything about O'Brien, and this will eventually lead to his downfall.
Overall, this movie brings to life the image of a negative future that Orwell was trying to depict in his work. The city is not the rosy picture that we often see for the future; it is bleak, filled with a depressing atmosphere and people who are under the constant strain of "fitting into" the roles of citizens. John Hurt does a commendable job of bringing Winston's character to life, especially the last part of the film where his "transformation" of character is complete. Overall, this film illustrates how a society can become detrimental and horrifying when we are not allowed free thought and will.
Movie Review: Great Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading the book, I could hardly wait to see the movie and I was not disappointed. The movie is a direct adaptation of the book. Nonetheless, I would suggest reading the book before watching this movie as it will give you better insight into certain things (i.e. Newspeak, Big Brother, Thought Police/Crime). Definately a must buy!!Movie Review: Orwell's vision of hell
Summary: 5 Stars
This version of Orwell's world captures all that made the book so memorable. The translation from the book's verbal form to the movie's visual one succeeds at every level.
The city is still deep in the rubble of some past war. Its population is ant-like, dark uniform figures scurrying across a landscape too big for them, shaped by totalitarian forces that are also too big for them. Everywhere, every day, voices blare. Every place, even homes are subject to video surveillance. Everywhere, except the the slums of the lower classes. Those are the places for prostitution, grey-market exchanges, and guilty trysts.
Winston, the central character, is willingly seduced by Julia. In a world trying to stamp out the family and even the body's innate pleasures, this is the worst of crimes. No wonder, when Julia first strips off her uniform coverall, that she seems to undress as an act of defiance, even aggression. They are drawn to each other, and try to figure out what affection means. It is incredibly sad - Julia, in an antique print dress, with inept lipstick and makeup, trying to reconstruct what romance might have been.
The couple is captured. There is no trial, no interrogation. There is no execution - the crime of being human is too severe to punish with mere death. Instead, Winston's mind is crushed under torture, and he is remade as a loyal citizen.
The fact that this movie was released in the acutal year 1984 is certainly no accident. It's a bleak vision, and was all too believable when Orwell first wrote it. It's still believable today, even though the literal 1984 has come and gone.
//wiredweird
Movie Review: a surreal "could have been" alternate reality
Summary: 5 Stars
Intelligent movie, haunting, beautiful in its surreal "rundown world" way, sapped of happiness or freedom or natural human life. It's perfect. The book is great, but the images you see in the movie are simply artistic. It really does take you to a different time and place, an alternate reality that COULD have happened. I have this DVD in my collection, and I love it when I'm in the mood, but it DOES get depressing a tad much near the end. But still, a movie relies on characterization and story, as does this one. The romantic elements, the true spark of life and interest to all of us, is what keeps this movie from being a total dour mood piece. You so totally want this man and woman to beat the odds and find a way to stay together. Mesmerizing.Movie Review: Still... as depressing as the book. ie. PERFECT
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie was exceptionally well done and did a great job of giving the characters and audience a false sense of security that was afforded the thought criminals. The brainwashing of members of society to betray the misguided trust of thought criminals and report them to "the party" was well done in this adaptation.
I particularly admired (but not liked) the scene where the children are singing praises of Big Brother and the party while the adults (parents) seem to look at them with a great deal of apprehension really sets the scene. It tells the audience two things: The first is that if the children are brainwashed into believing whatever the party tells them then they will report anyone who deviates from the party's doctrines. The second thing it tells us is that while the "resistance's" power resides in the proles the party's power resides in the youth who will inherit the future... A very bleak picture overall and a perfect adaptation of Orwell's classic book.