Jones Plantation

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.

There is trouble on the plantation. The slaves are becoming restless. The jig is up and the owners are fearing they will lose the farm, or worse. So, with the help of Mr. Smith, the owners forge stronger, more diabolical, chains.

It is hard to tell people about things they cant see. This movie makes it crystal clear. If those without eyes still cant see what is enslaving them after this film, then they are blind by choice. At the very least, THE VERY LEAST, this film is a conversation starter. Not many movies are even that nowadays. I recommend watching this film at least once. Its awesome to see what can be done with a $50,000 budget.

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.

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.

As someone who is aware of the Youtube "Jones Plantation", it was very interesting to see that come to life.

I thought the sets were nice and the story was pretty interesting. I wasn't bored and thought it had a decent pace.

It's a budget movie, but it was nicely executed.

The "insider" cameos were fun, but the main characters caught and held my attention.

I can see how this could repel people who are caught up, and invested in mainstream narratives, and world views. But then they would wouldn't they?

I found the experience to be akin to watching a good theatre play and will have fun showing it to people so I can ask them questions to perhaps lead them to self-reveal some of their cognitive dissonances, lol.

Anyway, thought it was a good film and better than most films that come out these days from the mainstream.

Yeah, watch it. It could well mind bend you with a new perspective on the system that encompasses the modern world.