What difference does it make? It's not like the prices of homes is going down or home sales will slow. Shoot, I have friends that want to move down that every time they go to look at home for sale, it's already PENDING. And why should we care what outsiders think? As long as we like it here, what they think is irrelevant.

It wasn't as biased as I thought it would be. They focused on the north where most are eldery so they could make old people look silly. And of course the antiwhite racism was sort of there.
But all in all it was ok
At least the film maker admitted the STD thing and the swinger thing is bull****.

I'm In!
 

Golf!!! Booze!!! & Guns!!! Where do I sign up???

That's what I needed! Thank You Sir. :mademyday:

Not much here!
 

I was surprised at the Orlando Sentinel reporter’s take on there existing some dark purpose to the developers motives. If you to want publish a newspaper extolling the benefits of your community it is your right; we are not forced to buy. It was also disappointing that they spent five years developing this film and didn’t see fit to note the charitable good The Villages does for surrounding community. I am sympathetic to those folks who feel displaced by the growth of The Villages but this development did not come by razing city blocks and displacing thousands but, more often than not, purchasing large tracts of unused farm land that was not to be purposed in the future. As to the water usage the villages has been recognized for its use of 8.5 million gallons per day of reclaimed water and the use of 5 million gallons per day of storm water, this was never mentioned. On the topic of ageism and the locating of like minded folks in the same community (Bubble) I’m not sure where they want people to live. As a widower with no children my block in a NY suburb had more to offer young and growing families than empty nesters. It also seems a little short sighted to assume that The Villages has some hold on drawing only conservative thinkers to its population. I moved here for affordability, beautiful surroundings, weather, kind people in and outside the community and the healthy lifestyle. I’m not swayed by political bias on either side, I’m more attracted to intelligent thought. In closing I have to say I’m not concerned with the developers success as it pertains to their financial rewards because, for me, they have created a meaningful and joyful life and I wish them only good.

One thing for sure, the lady from the Orlando newspaper won't be moving to TV on retirement!
The rest was pretty predictable, true in most parts, far too long, and very cleverly edited.
JMO.

I heard it was released a couple of years ago, but didn’t really get much interest then, so it was just re-released. We watched it here in California and had mixed feelings about it. We definitely wouldn’t tell our kids to watch it as an example of where mom and dad are moving to next month, lol, but it certainly didn’t deter us as we’ve been there already and think TV is awesome. This documentary left out so much good stuff.

Freedom of choice. The Villages is only one option. As far as I think I see this is a Swiss production. Ironic, some might wish to go to Switzerland for a vacation. Are things that boring in Switzerland that they are interested in the villages?
There are many constants no matter what or where CHANGE is a constant. Since I was born the population of the US has doubled. Air Conditioning has tremendously improved the livability of the South.
What others think of the choices you have made. It only matters IF YOU CARE. Why would you chose to give others power that should be and is yours escapes me.
The only choice you do not have, you will be OLDER tomorrow than you were today.

The bottom line is, no matter how bad the MSM or others try to make this place look, people are still coming here in droves. The old "Any press is good press" applies here.

The Villages Straight Shooters, link below.

Home

I thought it was well done. My kids are all happy we are here. We are a close family. We text multiple times every day. Whenever reasonably possible, we get together. We have 5 kids, 11 grandies, scattered about. They don't want us living in their homes, and we don't want them living in ours. At this point in our lives, we are able to help them financially more than we need them to help us, and that's fine with everyone.
I thought the segments highlighting the residents were handled with dignity and respect. If someone thinks they are ridiculous, or pathetic, well, that's their problem. I would be happy to call any of them my friend, and while I may, or may not agree totally with their political views, so what? I bet any one of them would help you with a problem if they could. I'd be happy to call any of them a friend, and delighted to have any of them as a neighbor.
I enjoyed the interview with the lady who made the film. I thought she was sensitive to the needs of all involved, and as non-judgmental as humanly possible.
The Orlando Sentinel lady, well she made some salient points, but didn't bother to learn enough about the gates to know that they aren't for security, but for making it safer for carts. She could have gained some credibility there, but you never know what was left on the cutting room floor.
I could say more, but this post is already too long.

If I am not not mistaken that woman is the infamous Lauren Ritchie who has written numerous articles disparaging The Villages, its developers and its residents. She wrote the world famous totally erroneous article about the rate of STDs in TV.

I did look it up and Lauren Ritchie of the Orlando Sentinel is reporter in the documentary. It does appear she retired at the end of 2020. As someone else said, probably not in the Villages.

At first after skimming through it I felt it was a little mundane. But I did watch it later that evening fully. The music when showing all the wonderful clubs was a little depressing to me. BUT I did think the documentary was pretty good. I liked the interview with her. She seemed to go both ways on her perspective of the villages. Of course, she has a totally different perspective of what an elderly lifestyle should be. It did make me aware of the local's perspective and I get it. A few of her remarks I didn't agree with.

2 outdoor airgun ranges, Multiple clubs for other firearms using off-property or indoor ranges.