Jones Plantation

Okay. Just to get it out of the way, this is a low budget production. Obviously so. The most distracting areas this popped up for me were with the music and some of the editing and staging of scenes. Some reviewers have talked about the acting, but I really didn't notice too many issues there.

If you just can't watch low budget movies, then maybe you should avoid. I think that'd be a shame though because this movie has a lot to offer in terms of social commentary, though they do go over the top at times spelling it out for the audience.

My 8/10 is for the commentary being offered and the interesting idea of exploring it in this specific time period. I was hooked from start to finish, despite elements that, in other productions, might have made me stop watching.

I subtracted 2 points for the distracting score, some awkward/jarring choices with regard editing and scenes, and for not trusting your audience to make the connection, feeling you had to spell it out constantly.

This film may be the best social and political commentary I've seen in a long time. Covers any number of themes relevant to American history and I can see it being presented in social studies classes for years to come. It's well worth watching for that alone.

As a film, it tends to drag a bit. There's lots of long discussions and speeches to get to the social and political statements they wish to make. In general movies tend to work a bit better when they show things through storytelling than through long drawn out dialogs.

Acting performances are mixed. Some of them are great, others fall a bit short of the emotional impact needed to get the points across and some of the writing leaves some characters as cliches.

The other thing that I found bothersome was the soundtrack. A lot of it seems to be canned music that's just dropped in at odd points and doesn't blend well between parts. The music choices often seemed to not fit well with what's happening in the scene.

But again this is a pretty powerful film that's for the most part well presented.

The vast majority of people just won't understand this film as they can't see that they themselves are slaves.

As the famous quote from The Matrix so effectively put it 'You have to understand. Most people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured and so hopelessly dependent on the system that they will fight to protect it.'

The Jones Plantation is an excellent film that articulates the illusion of democracy and the desire of most people to abdicate responsibility for their own lives to someone else.

Given the tiny budget, I thought the quality of the film was still good and some of the acting, in particular Mr Smith, was excellent.

The importance of the message that this film is trying to convey is profound. It is the root source of most wars, poverty and corruption that we see in the world today. Sadly most people just don't get it or even want to get it. They are blissfully living their comfortable lie.

The Jones Plantation Credits (JPCs) is a nice touch and demonstrates in a very simple way how all fiat currencies are worthless pieces of paper that can be created at will and in unlimited quantities by the powerful. Also the creation of debt as a method of control is cleverly incorporated.

Finally the use of fear as an effective method of coercion is demonstrated multiple times throughout the film. There is always some bogeyman just around the corner who is going to get you and so you need the plantation owner to protect you.

Well done to the producers of this film. Let's hope that in some small way it moves us towards a more free and peaceful world.

I wouldn't normally want to watch any modern movies about slavery. Roots is/was the gold standard for that subject much like Exorcist or Jaws are in their genres. Any attempts to match the success of those iconic masterpieces usually end up in the dustbin of film history.

Most slavery movies use the depiction of physical punishment on the slaves to evoke emotions. The monotonous desperate life of a slave is rarely the subject. What does it take for a human to wake up everyday and go about his day knowing his life is no better than a beast of burden? This movie offers an angle that I've not seen before. A full on perspective from the slave owners' side as well as the hired consultant Mr. Smith, a former slave himself.

I was "sold" on this movie once it was clear that Mr. Smith's agenda was beginning to take shape. I hung on every piece of dialogue between Smith and Jones. Instead of just feeling sorry for the slaves I had this nagging idea that we are all trapped much like the slaves. We are all in the Matrix!

Obviously, this film has a message in which both left and right leaning viewers would cast the other side as the evil slave owners. Both would be correct since we are in fact willfully trapped in the mental slavery system. We rather blame each other instead of the ones holding the reins. We are grateful for the leftovers when we haven't eaten in days. We follow their mandates without question. Well done!!

I would have given this a 10 if the overall acting was better. Some scenes were flat and not convincing. Maurice Johnson as Mr. Smith deserves an Oscar nomination if I had any say about it. This is a movie that I may watch again which is rare.

Welcome, dear reader, to another exciting episode of "How to Hide Slavery in Plain Sight!" Today, we'll be journeying through the hallowed grounds of the infamous Jones Plantation, where our ancestors got a sneak peek of what the 21st century had in store. Spoiler alert: it's pretty much the same thing, but with better Wi-Fi.

Oh, The Joneses!

Ah, the Jones family, the unsung pioneers of modern-day exploitation. While most were busy with their primitive chains and shackles, the Joneses were already thinking outside the box, tapping into the future. They realized that the best kind of slavery is where you convince the slaves they're free. Genius, right?

Introducing: Illusion of Choice!

You see, instead of physical chains, the Joneses employed the ever-potent chains of the mind. They understood something we're only starting to grasp today - that real power is making people believe they have a choice. So, instead of telling workers what to do, they gave them options. Do you want to toil in the fields today or the barn? Oh, the sweet illusion of choice! Just like when you're choosing between two equally corrupt politicians every election season.

Credit Where Credit's Due (Literally)

We owe a lot to the Joneses. Today's system of indebtedness and the never-ending cycle of consumerism? All inspired by the Jones Plantation's blueprint. Remember when Mr. Jones introduced tokens, which could only be spent at the Jones-owned store? It's almost like when we use credit cards and get tied down to ever-increasing interest rates. But hey, at least we have cool holographic cards now!

Social Mobility: Just Another Word for "Good Luck Climbing That"

The Joneses propagated the myth of social mobility. Work hard, and one day you too can be a mini overseer. Nowadays, we call that a "managerial position". The carrot-and-stick approach at its finest. Dream big, they say. And sure, some made it, just like some win the lottery today. But the majority? Well, let's just say they're still buying lottery tickets.

21st Century Upgrades

We have to give credit to the modern world. We've innovated on the Jones blueprint. Instead of overseers, we have surveillance cameras. Instead of the loud bell signaling the start of a workday, we have alarm clocks (which we bought on credit, of course). And best of all, we've globalized the Jones model. Outsourcing, anyone?

Freedom: Some Assembly (and a Lot of Denial) Required

The biggest trick the Joneses taught the world was that freedom is subjective. As long as people feel they're in control, they won't question the larger structure. Today, you're free to choose which massive conglomerate gets your hard-earned cash, which influencer tells you how to live your life, and which streaming service gets to numb your brain after a long day at the (virtual) fields.

Conclusion: Hats Off to the Joneses!

So, as we look around and see a world where many are shackled by invisible chains, let's take a moment to appreciate the forward-thinking genius of the Jones Plantation. They didn't just exploit; they innovated. They laid the foundation for a world where the masses are convinced of their freedom, while a select few pull the strings behind the curtain.

To the Joneses of yesteryears and the puppet masters of today, we salute you! Here's to another millennium of blissful ignorance. Because, as the saying goes, ignorance isn't just bliss-it's downright profitable.