WebRev Blog

(Updated)

I went to see The Social Network (www.500MillionFriends.com) this weekend. It was an interesting, mostly fictionalized account of the history of the popular social networking site, Facebook. 

The movie is getting rave reviews from the critics.  I think the reviews are as overly melodramatic as was the movie.  Actually, if the movie had been done in the more contemporary, realistic, no-soundtrack style of many movies and TV shows nowdays, I'd have probably liked it better.  The incessant gut-wrenching piano scores, however, were enough to make a happy person depressed.

That's right, depressed.  By the end of the movie, we were supposed to feel sorry for the creators of the most wildly-popular social networking site on the planet.  It didn't work for me.

As soon as I got home, I did what seemed appropriate after watching a movie about Facebook, and updated my Facebook status.  I wrote: "...Just saw 'The Social Network,' an overly melodramatic attempt to get Mark Zuckerberg sympathy dates. I doubt it'll work."

The clencher is that in the lawsuits portrayed in the movie, all of the key players were slapped with 'nondisclosure agreements," so they are unable, legally, to comment on the accuracy of the film, and their roles in the development of the site.  This basically leaves Facebook's real story wide open for anyone to create their own version.  So, here's mine:

Facebook was an idea that was bound to happen.  In the book of Numbers in the Bible, God used a donkey to fulfil His purpose, because the donkey was in the right place at the right time, and in a position of servitude.  If the donkey had not been available, someone/something else would have been used. The creators of Facebook are very much like that donkey.  The idea was birthed in a Harvard dorm room and within a few years had spread worldwide.  Will the creators of Facebook ever be capable of feeling gratitude for their incredible fortune?  Stay tuned for the sequel.

Also see:  All of Facebook Went to see The Social Network Last Night

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

Want to go to the movie theater this weekend, but not sure what to watch?  Here are some of my favorite movie sites.

Movies.com is good for a comparison of show-times in your area.  The downside is that there is SO MUCH stuff on the site that it frequently doesn't display correctly in some browsers, and has an annoyingly-long download time (especially on mobile phones).   There are fairly decent reviews, although I almost never agree with them.  There's also lots of information about what's available on DVD and for downloading at home.

I LOVE Flixter on my Android (there apps for other smart phones, too).  The site provides showtimes, cast and character info, previews, and reviews.  I've found it to be quick, and user-friendly.  The reviews are by Rotten Tomatoes - and are funny, but again, I almost never agree with them.

IMDb.com is great for figuring out who that actor is, and what else he or she has been in.  This site is near the top of nearly any Google search for the name of a movie or actor.  There's even a mobile version (m.imdb.com) for when these arguments discussions occur in the car (make sure a non-driver looks the info up - don't surf and drive)!

I've found that Facebook is really pretty good for figuring out whether a current movies is "worth it," or not. Why?  Because you'll be able to get the opinions of your friends and family, whose movie taste you might be more familiar with.  Plus, most new movies have a Facebook page, and you can get more information there.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking.