Branded

Somewhere at the far edges of the absurd, the profound can be found. This movie can be enjoyed strictly as a comedy, it can be taken seriously by a few, but most should know this film reaches further than it could ever truly grasp. Branded is flawed, fun, and perhaps best enjoyed in an extremely tired, alternative state of mind.

A few reviews and reviewers note that this film does not live up to its own advertising. There is irony there, but what does live up to advertising? Advertising is amongst the biggest waist of resources in contemporary society. Not just in terms of illusory currency, but the waist of many of todays greatest artists, thinkers, and idea makers; professionals payed to spin lies and manipulate participants of mass media consumption.

Branded may only scratch the surface of many important current problems caused by modern media, but at least its creators and performers put themselves "out there" to ask some interesting questions. May more artists ask important questions, and help move us all to a better place.

This is a strange one folks, but just strange enough. On the surface it seems to be railing against the institute of advertising. From just that level, it is a bit flat.

On the level of sci-fi, one can see the suggestion that the brands are alien monsters bent upon domination of earth. We have been bought and sold to feed their needs.

Underneath this though, is a much deeper message - one of our own personal consumerism. In the West we believe that we are free, but this movie, using a surrealistic approach, questions that for us. It's been said that you can get addicted to anything, even your favorite soda. So, what are you addicted to? Where have you, moment by moment, given up your life?

Will you like this movie? Not if you just want to sit back and be entertained. It does have a decent plot, and good acting, as well as decent CGI. What it doesn't have is an easy to swallow, cookie-cutter script.

This is a great little movie that has a very relevant message about what we put in and on our bodies. Hopefully it will make people more aware, but honestly I doubt the ignorant masses will watch this movie.

Judging from the low ratings on IMDb, I can officially call the movie "BRANDED" highly underrated, and a must see film for anyone who wants even a glimpse of responsibility for what we put in and on our bodies that leads to so much disease, war and suffering.

A unique perspective, full of detail, a hero's journey to find substance in a world gone mad.

Great imagery, dystopian atmosphere and what the world is like that most walk through simply unaware, and not wanting to care.

It seems that a lot of people are threatened by simple truths in this film. Fat people don't want to be told that their food choices are being influenced by advertising. The negative ratings come from the mirror held in front of the faces of the audience, the negativity is a reflection of the shame of being overweight or the reflection of their own brands that they are wearing and the value they put in them.

This is an original film that doesn't fit the current Hollywood blockbuster mold, but rather it requires self-examination of what influences human choices.

There are a lot of word salad reviews on this movie already, no need for another. Go in with no expectations, come out with a cleaner view of the world and start to understand why you're craving your McDonalds/Coke/Idevice.

Check it out and be pleasantly rewarded - unless your own reflection reflects something too unpleasant to accept....

It's several kinds of stories layered on top of each other including love story, spy story, critique of consumer culture, mystery, schizophrenic story, with an ending that is a bit magical realist. Keeps you wondering and guessing throughout. Great characters and story-telling draw you in and you care about them. Definitely worth seeing. I went into this film with no preconceptions other than a sci-fi take on consumer culture. Found the film very enjoyable and well told. Setting the film in post-Soviet Russia with an onslaught of American consumer capitalism was a nice angle to the "genre" of consumerism critique films. Frankly, I don't think the director quite knew what genre of the film it was but that's okay. Was a very fun ride.