Paul Harms

"IF" you are looking for amusement ~ DO NOT spend time with this movie. Heavy "Thoughtful" Lifting required. I immediately re-watced with phone in hand clarifying acronyms which is time consuming. Told in 3 parts with a re-wind back towards the beginning of the crisis for different operational responses, the film DEMANDS you consider the impossible circumstances that confronts our fragile existance with technologies that exceed humankind's grasp of "reality". The Roger Ebert gives a thoughtful review (5 stars) but multiple others wanted "amusement" (not thinking) & provided single stars & negative reviews. BTW - I was startled by a snapshot of President Obama & Susan Rice about a third of the way into the film. I challenge people to spot them. Reality is often AN UNHAPPY revelation!

Just finished 6th & final chapter. Mixed feelings about this one. Mark L. Smith's "Fantasy" reflects an intense personsl perspective which embodies incredible reality but does not escape unbridled bias. "Theater" extending all the way back to Greek Drama has rarely been objective. The final 2 episodes of American Primeval cross the line into "Fantasy" in a rather compelling way. BEWARE! NOTE: In this presentation ugliness is reserved "only" for the white invader especially one part of it. The historical brutality of the aboriginal natives is ignored. They are seen as noble & blameless. "Bias" is rampant! "Theater" is being effectively used to highlight a narrow & one sided perspective. The fact that "This Theater" is Skillfully, Even Elegantly Portrayed is to be acknowedged - but "is" troubling. Production values deserve 4 stars. Portraying the severity of 19th century western expansion existence deserves 5 stars. The Gordian Knot of cultural & socio relativity deserves only one!

My review ~ I believe this attempt to portray a panorama of attitudes, personalities, cultural malaise, personal courage, mindless puppets, in short, a strife riddled societal Gordian Knot, proves to be a breath taking act of courage. A thoughtful read of the other reviews will show that your own personal perspective is the only "review" that has any significance & will be a reflection of your own temperament "tempered" by "your" own unique life & all it's perspectives. It "IS" a dark, brooding & sometimes tragic contemplation of humankind's incredible complexity in it's struggle with societal reaction to imposed expectations for "sorting out" STATUS. It is a rather thorough, perhaps risky attempt to deal with humankind's foiables. It's deliberatness "might" get tedious for some but I found the tedium easy to bypass. You decide. The complaints that others have pointed out, (diverse writers / directors prompt "uneveness") while sometimes dimly legitimate, Should Not detract from the thought provoking contemplations that seem to be the goal of this Ambitious effort. Humankind's imperfections ARE soul wrenching. Again- YOU decide. GOOD LUCK!

I would agree that the writing deteriorated for the 2nd half when it came to plot & dialog. It was "ok" if a bit simplistic & rather predictable. How to evaluate the "predictability" is up to the viewer. I found it OK. The river rapids sequences are rather Breath Taking & worth the time spent watching some good actors making an inconsistant plot work. At some point - I suspect I'll watch it again. No profundity here. Just some good family entertainment that will keep you on the edge of your seats.

THIS Could have been a great movie. The beginning is frankly fabulous. It is a "good" movie with an OK ending but the writing for the middle (good ideas there) gets uneven which is disappointing. The music is perhaps the best feature along with a good idea whose promise is left only partially fulfilled. I liked most of the acting. When innocence meets absolute msddness we approach a horror movie that we didn't anticipate.

Half way through episode 3, I chose to look at the reviews. They confirmed what I had suspected - "this" is agenda projecting rather than a clarification of history. It might easily be described as propoganda. You decide We are now and always have been at the mercy of storytellers. Reading several reviews found here will provide details which I will not repeat. I have no quibble with personal "axe grinding" but at age 84 I recognize craftiness when I see it. Stars are required to make a post so "1" will suffice. I "will" finish the series in search of redeeming features

I often like to take notes or make observations on what I watch. Sometimes I don't as I merely want to be entertained & not make what I'm watching a "Study / Source" of social or psychological input. About 15 minutes into Voyagers I grabbed my laptop & typed: " It seems to me that this show is about regular self-discovery with different, albeit abnormal, obstacles and challenges. The psychology of humankind's individual personality is not to be denied. Apparently the designers of this trip had hoped to control that psychology ". 20 minutes into the show I decided to read some reviews. They are a worthwhile read & may suggest you spend your time elsewhere. I stopped reading the reviews after Roger Ebert. As I did not go beyond 22 minutes I feel my 3 stars are not meaningful.

Since there are some thoughtful & comprehensive reviews found here (Roger Ebert comes to mind) I will limit myself to just two observations. First, Peter Jackson's fantasy reimagining of the 1933 Classic rises to the challenge in wonderful fashion but is a bit too long in the reimagining. The "fantasy" seems deeper, however, than one might normally anticiate. The "connection" (bond?) bridging the vast devide between species seems a Peter Jackson message that we fall short or even sabatage the possibility of bridging our dissimilarities in a deeply poignant manner. "THAT" is the Real Fantasy. That we would evolve - connect, perhaps even bond. ((Sigh!))

5 Stars (*****), However, It is said that we have Paleolithic emotions; Medieval institutions & god-like Technology; -> Meaning our primive selves are being managed by barbaric customs enabled by technology that delivers our primitive predispositions to one another at warp speed. Ugliness reigns supreme here regardless of really incredible acting, directing & production values. Despite all the Well Deserved Accolades accorded to this movie (It is among the best!) it still represents "Teststerone Run Amok" wheather by bad guys or the heroic father. The accompanying reviews will testify to a great movie but its greatness should not distract that civilization is in a state of chaotic mismanagement. Human Trafficking is beyond ugly & fighting that ugliness here just might be just as ugly as the perpetrators in spite of perceived justification. "Taken" will almost assuredly be worth the time spent in viewing it. The plot is a bit preposterous but there are messages here that should be heeded. Please forgive the "grim" tone of this report but reality doesn't notice mine or your feelings.

Clancy's meticulously & carefully crafted storyline is really too tough to capture. It appears that this "offering" is a weak attempt to hitchhike on Clancy's notoriety & Jordan's popularity. Any resemblance to the Clancy yarn is tentative, disjointed & awkward. Trying to rewrite Clancy is a monumental undertaking and this one misses the mark.