New World Newsfeed: 1st Reviews of "Life 2.0", Full-Length Second Life Documentary, are Mixed-to-Positive (Updated)

SLASHFILM: Sundance Video Review: Life 2.0

Here's the first reviews of "Life 2.0", the full-length Second Life documentary which just premiered last weekend at Sundance, by credentialed movie geeks Peter Sciretta of Slashfilm, Laremy Legel of Film.com, and Brandon Tenney of First Showing. They all have positive things to say about elements of the movie, with the segment about content creator Asri Falcone and her war with content theft generating the most praise. They're less enthused (to the point of being unsettled) by the other two segments featuring an adulterous relationship unfolding in Second Life, and an ageplayer who in real life is a man about to be married. Most curious to me, they wanted more of an editorial voice and broad overview of Second Life, perhaps because they had little background with SL beforehand. In any case, not having seen the movie myself, it's difficult to review their reviews, but their take may influence the fate of "Life 2.0" far as acquisition offers and distribution deals.

Update, 11:50am: Here's a much more positive review in the Salt Lake City Weekly, which calls it "a surprisingly complex study of virtual worlds both as unhealthy escape and as an opportunity for self-discovery". (Hat tip: Briana Dawson.)

Update 2, 12:15pm: The Onion AV Club's Nathan Rabin gives Life 2.0 a B, but ironically, that seems to partly stem from a negative bias against Second Life going in. (Changing post title to reflect broader gamut of reactions.) Excerpt after the break:

Second Life, an online community that allows shut-ins, middle-aged virgins and even a handful [sic] of normal, well-adjusted souls to lose themselves in a virtual world where they can be anyone they want to be... Subjects include an extremely likeable heavyset African-American woman who still lives in her parent’s basement yet makes six figures a year selling virtual clothes, shoes and beauty products on Second Life... and a pair of star-crossed cyber-lovers who fell for one another on Second Life despite being married to other people and living in different countries: The man lives in Canada while the shockingly [sic] attractive woman lives in New York.

Comments

[melponeme_k]

These are average people.

Take note what they find really creepy as opposed to what they find fascinating in SL (i.e. the economy).

And you will notice that in the SL upside down world the creepy is emphasized and trumps what makes it vital...the economy.

This is a real problem and will stand in the way of SL gaining any ground with more subscribers.

I also find it fascinating that SL is separated from Warcraft. In that we are "people who are seeking connection". Isn't that what Warcraft is about as well? Maybe even more so. Perhaps its the game aspect in WoW that allows people to ignore this fact.

[Roger]

Writing from Sundance here. I haven't seen the movie yet but have heard/read a lot and Im on a waiting list to see Life 2.0.

I think you missed the mark on this post. This video review was not the "first review." The written reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. This video review strays from what is said in writing elsewhere. How about linking the dozens of "real" reviews which are pretty much all positive. An assessment of "mixed reviews" can't be made based on one review. Especially an off the cuff video review made immediately after the reviewers saw the movie. A serious critic thinks more before opening mouth.

Can't wait to see the movie!

[ColeMarie Soleil]

*hits myself over and over in the head and says nothing*

[Hamlet Au]

Heya Roger, these are indeed the first reviews of "Life 2.0" I've seen online, but please post links to other reviews and I'll be happy to update with them.

[Roger]

Seriously? Wow.

Sorry I can't take the time to get all the links but here is at least one review that came two days before the one you posted.

http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/movie-215-life-20.html

Plus the reviews and ratings here which you should be following

http://sundance.bside.com/2010/films/life20_sundance2010

There's a lot more. I'll bet you can find the rest. There are these great things called Google and Twitter that can help you.

Just because its the first YOU've found online doesnt meant its the first reviews.

[Hamlet Au]

No need to be uncivil, Roger, I'm finding these all on Google. I haven't found the "dozens of 'real' reviews" you say are out there, but will post links to those that I find.

[Sidney Smalls]

Still waiting for "dozens of real reviews" Roger. The first review you posted is, to say the least, minimal. The second is just a plot synopsis with a couple of lame comments.

[Roger]

didn't mean to be uncivil. Sorry if I hurt your feelings. Just pointing out that your headline is misleading and inaccurate. The first reviews to be posted online were positive, not "mixed," and the video review you cited as the "first" actually came a few days after the first batch of reviews.

My apologies also that I don't have time to do further research for this blog post.

[Ann Otoole]

Perhaps if the movie is ever made available to the public we might get some qualified reviews. Nobody cares what the Sundance clique thinks.

[Nyoko Salome]

;0 lol back when i was in college, i lived at the 'freak' dorm on campus (there was nothing at all wrong with it; it was just the gothy artsy liberal place on campus to live). and the frat and sorority types just -loved- to drive by and scream 'FREEEEEAKKKSS!!' at us. ;0

(lol one nice sunny day, most everyone in the dorm was outside, and one of those cars drove by, and they screamed 'THE SUN'S OUT, RUN BACK TO YOUR HOLES!!' we actually applauded that one!)

anyhow, it's just tells me a whole lot more about others, those who would just point their fingers and scream 'freaks', than they could ever comprehend about me or my friends. :0

[Jason Spingarn-Koff]

This is the director here... as I travel around Sundance, I'm overwhelmed by the positive reception, from screenings to people in the street (Valerie Plame, the outed CIA operative who touched off a political firestorm, told me of encountering a crowd of people on a shuttle bus discussing the movie).

Another positive review: http://www.slugmag.com/festival-coverage/604/Life-20-Review.html

For on the ground reactions, check out Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/Life2pointO

I'm actually honored that the video reviewers criticized the film as being "too balanced"

[Adric Antfarm]

Not a bad review.

http://tusundance.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/sundance-2-0/

[Adric Antfarm]

More of an interview.

http://techland.com/2010/01/28/sundance-second-life-better-than-the-first/