Movie #774/775 ........................."7 Up"

Movie #774/775 "7Up" and "7 Plus Seven" are documentaries I've heard tons about, and I finally got to see them last night. The first one I would give 3.8 stars to --- there are 14 kids and they are all very distinct, but the one big complaint I had was that the movie expected you to memorize all their names and faces in a couple of minutes --- they need to label each speaker for at least half of the movie --- give the viewer a break! Once we can follow who is who, then we can better take in all their characteristics and what they say about their future, so we can compare notes in the future films (They are on 50+ right now, I think). The second film I would give 3 stars to for a few reasons. Once again, there should be subtitles as to who is who, but also there was too much repetition, reminding us what they said. I know that is because people are supposed to be seeing it 7 years down the line, and I was watching them back to back, but still................whole discussions were reproduced. I still like the idea of watching the kids growing and changing their focuses, their interests, and their hobbies/careers. Apted, the director, works with the quote: show me the boy at 7 and I'll show you the man, " and so far he's been fairly accurate --- the shy boy as a 7 year old is the same as a 14 year old. The African American is the major one to see a huge disparity between the rich and the poor, even at age 7 (not surprising), and the kids who went to private schools seem a little more interested in money than in other things. It's fun to see them growing, and I can't wait to see the kids in the present. Seven Up / 7 Plus Seven 1964 NR 92 minutes. "7 Up" 3.8 stars (out of 5), and "7 Plus Seven" 3 stars (out of 5) When Seven Up was broadcast in 1964, it broke new ground and became the first segment of a laborious and momentous labor of love: an engrossing chronicle of the lives of 14 students from varied social backgrounds, beginning when they were 7 years old. The first meeting with the group of wide-eyed, innocent children invites viewers to take a look at lives in the making; the follow-up film, 7 Plus Seven, checks in on them 7 years later. Genre:Biographical Documentaries, Social & Cultural Documentaries, TV Documentaries, Documentary