Film review of the upcoming documentary about The Villages
 

The author Ezra Haber Glenn lives in Somerville, where he serves on the Board of Directors for the Somerville Community Corporation, a local nonprofit committed to affordable housing and community empowerment.

Ezra Haber Glenn | MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning



I have to wonder how and why he zeroed in on three unhappy people in The Villages. I think he had an agenda before coming here.

What a load of crap.
 

:ohdear:Talk about an agenda. Where do these people come from and why do they have to be so negative? Next...

They will be bringing back Mr Midnight next.

Ezra Haber Glenn, Author, teacher.

Lawrence Methuen Community Coalition | Family Services of the Merrimack Valley | Lawrence Methuen Community Coalition | a Non-Profit Social Services Agency in Lawrence, MA

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I agree that it looks like a somewhat negative take, but I will definitely watch it.

Like the author of "Leisureville", the people behind this clearly have a negatively driven agenda.

An "agenda", of course.....LOL ! Anyone remember Leisureville by Blechman ? "Mr. Midnight", Kathie Belle's, that whole thing "agenda to sell books & (possibly) boost sales in all the other nearby "active lifestyle" communities that were doing "okay", but not selling like The V's ? It did the trick, put us on the late night shows for a short time as the most sex crazed, disease ridden, community on the planet. Did all the lies slow down demand ? Not at all. There are always haters, always folks with ulterior motives, agendas, that have nothing to do with what they are seemingly writing about. It's all only as serious as the reader makes it, LOL !

I come from the academic community. It is important to "climbing" the promotion ladder (asst. prof, associate prof., etc. to make your mark by fulfilling certain research, community, etc. goals). More and more, those who are extremely focused on careers, are not content with allowing a "natural" process of recognition of their work in a particular area of research. It is now not unheard of to have professionals, like agents for sports and entertainment people, guide a career and arrange speaking opportunities, news outlet attention, etc. where once the mentors of a new PhD. recipient came primarily from the faculty and especially from the grad student's dissertation committee (who were better equipped to recognize truly ground breaking research discoveries, etc.), that is now not the only way to recognition. While this more traditional way is still the practice at many institutions, this kind of self promotion happens all the time. Not sure that kind of change is in the best interest of academia, or for that matter, our world in general.... more who is the best self promoter, or who can hire the best publicists, rather than genuine talent for research coming to the top naturally.

You know what they say about opinions. One says it, another agree’s, now all sudden it fact! Repeat it enough and now it’s true story.

Books and documentaries are really person or persons beliefs about subject with their agenda’s with intent sway ones beliefs. It’s only truthful in eyes ones actually seen it and the way story told or not told.

I will definitely watch it but it sounds like it really isn't about "life in The Villages" but rather three stories of unhappy people who could live anywhere.

The first story is the guy living in his van. He isn't even a resident, just some bum looking for a free ride. Second is a married couple where the husband is ... acting odd ... as he gets older. Maybe cognitive/dementia issues? Could (and does) happen any and everywhere. And the third is a woman who moved here with her hubs to live happily ever after, he dies unexpectedly and she is left in less than optimal financial shape. Again, a universal story that, sadly, happens all too often all around the world.

That said, the cinematography looks lovely (based on the trailer). It will be fun to do a movie night with Sissy and BIL to watch.

kathy

Looks like it will be good for a few chuckles

How is this any different than the network news channels? They find an example of something that matches their agenda and that’s the “news” they promote. Based on the “news” you would believe that unarmed blacks are killed daily by police. You would believe that ICU’s across the country were being overrun by Covid patients. The only reason you realize that this movie about The Villages doesn’t represent the vast majority of the residents is because you actually know firsthand. If you didn’t live here you would probably believe that it was a true representation of life in The Villages...

If the movie was completely unbiased and factual, it would be boring and wouldn't sell. Instead it resembles the crap you see on the magazine counters next to the checkout at your local supermarket. It might be fun for residents to watch, but will make outsiders think that everyone here is a bit crazy.

It amazes me just how negatively bias and unrealistic almost all of the national media coverage of the Villages is. I think they are just jealous of us having fun enjoying the fruits of our lifetime of labor during our much earned retirement years?

I don’t care what some movie producer thinks about The Villages, it’s what I think that’s important to me and I like it here.

It is not a documentary is any sense of the term.

This is a ridiculous review that basically says nothing! Zeroing in in 3 ‘lives’ in a community of this size does not give any information of the community as a whole, but rather, the story of the three chosen stories. It doesn’t even make sense, and supports the likelihood that the goal is to support the author’s own predetermined agenda. Pointless.

Thank you for the post

I just moved in and I have tons of empty boxes for anyone who doesn’t like it here

There are other “agenda driven” reasons why The Villages are hated by some. Unfortunately I can’t go into them here but I’m sure many of us are intelligent enough to know what and who they are.

The Morses have the last laugh.

Seems like a poorly made movie by a wannabee director that doesn’t have the talent to be one. Like a required college project to get a grade for a class. This one gets an F.

Looks like a remake of "Three Coins in The Fountain" but all three lose. These three characters were chosen to support an agenda and anyone who believes them to be representative of The Villages is easily fooled.

Its meant to make money like all movies, books and music is. Who cares if its negative?

It will be like the network news! A little truth with a whole lot of lies. People who don’t know or want to know the real story will believe every word being said. However like chick filet, even more people will want to come to the villages.

it came across as lovely piece of fiction. def some kind of agenda, for sure. let the haters hate

I agree completely. No place is perfect, but this one comes pretty close for a lot of us. Good grief, if one is unhappy here, just leave. Feel very grateful to be here!

I would say that if the movie were completely unbiased and factual, it would look more like the sales videos produced by The Villages, and those DO sell houses. Granted, the videos produced by The Villages ARE biased and glamorous and glossy, but really, they are a lot closer to reality than the gripes of cranks or journalists hungry for headlines who sold their souls for a job. This is not a secretly grimy and nasty place to be. It’s a wonderful place to be. I’m continually amazed by the concern taken for beauty and safety. When I told people I was moving to The Villages, the first thing I heard was warnings of rampant sex (at our age?), STDs, and people sloshed on wine at 10 a.m. book clubs. I keep looking! Where ARE they! (Laughing).

The Villages is NOT “The Good Place” (Did you see that TV series? The Good Place is actually a form of hell.) The Villages is a GREAT place. Some people are natural-born gripers and curmudgeons. Others come to it with age. But I think most of us feel we are in something close to Paradise.

That said, I thought the review of the movie linked in the original post was thoughtful, well-written, and useful. The totality of The Villages inevitably includes endless sorrow. I know a lot of widows and some widowers. There are a lot of sad stories. There is a lot of sickness, suffering, loneliness, and we are all getting older and wrinklier and approaching The Long Goodbye, The Big Sleep. That’s one of the definitions of Tragedy: we end up dying. But what a lovely place to do it, and what a safe place to do it. I look forward to seeing the movie. It’s worthwhile being reminded that things are more complicated than they may seem on the surface.

Ain't that the truth!

Thank you, that's the best compliment I've received all week. :crap2:

I wouldn't waste my time watching. I know how we feel about TV and the life style we have enjoyed for the past 12 years. It's always an outsider who finds fault with us. Remember the moron from Conn. who wrote that we (seniors) should be home watching our grandchildren and not acting like kids having fun downtown etc. Really? Sorry, my real comments would not be printed here.

Waste of time watching biased junk is like watching the news. People will believe anything! Stupid.

Oh, boy! Another installment of the STD saga. LOL

Great statistical sample. Pick 3 people out of 125,000 to base your whole story on.

The ICU's across the US are being overrun by COVID patients. As the Premier of Manitoba said 'if you think COVID is a hoax, you are an idiot." The closed minds on this forum never cease to amaze and disappoint.

Gee ... where have I heard this before? (It’s true.)

I may watch it...and the circumstances and life experiences may be somewhat factual. But, I don't know why the location/setting would be a factor? I'm sure all those same circumstances happen all over the country, and in other retirement communities? Agenda???

We’ve lived in The Villages for almost two years. I’ve never seen so many people who show so much goodness, kindness and unselfishness as I have seen here. Every day I read about the unbelievable amount of fundraising and volunteerism in The Villages that benefits those less fortunate in the surrounding communities. The Villagers have been a gift to this area. Shame on that director. I’m happy and proud to live in The Villages. I won’t watch that “documentary” anymore than I would watch pornography. Discernment and wisdom comes, hopefully, with age❗️:a040: