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Reviews
Skins (2011)
Should NOT have been attempted
I remember when this first came out. I hadn't seen the original skins yet and I remember thinking to myself that I bet people would be upset. When I heard it was a remake of a British show that was about teens and controversial I figured that it would be watered down but I will admit I planned to watch as soon as I saw the commercial. I was around 18 and just the age group they were hoping to attract. But I wanted to dive into the original first because I just knew an American version would be way tamer. And for once the hype was true the original was freaking awesome and very realistic. And there is tons of drugs and sex and nudity but i think that being exposed to stuff makes you more mature about it. Anyway soon after I settled in for the American premiere. The 1st episode is basically a shot for shot remake except for 1 thing. In the original there is a gay male character named Maxi. Honestly he was one of my favorites. In the US version he's replaced by a pretty cheerleader lesbian. I think if you asked one of the writers or anyone affiliated with the show why they changed the character they'd probably say something like "lesbians aren't shown on teen shows and girl power blah." But in my opinion I believe that they felt Americans are more comfortable seeing very feminine lesbians (cheerleaders no less) have sex than males doing the same. And honestly in most cases(especially considering this was 10 yrs ago) it's true. Especially when it comes to males and even more true for males around the age the show is aimed at.
I know that may seem like a small change but it changes the plot significantly from the original. Since this show was canceled 10yrs ago I don't consider this a spoiler: In the original version Tony who is basically the main character is NOT a good guy in the 1st season at all. He's selfish and impulsive and will try anything if it feels good. He has a loyal girlfriend who cheats on constantly and she takes it. Then he sleeps with maxi to "try it." I had a feeling that wouldn't be in the US version but to change the characters sex changes everything. In the US version when him and his lesbian friend have sex it takes away the whole point. I felt like it showed how hedonistic and manipulative and almost sociopathic he is that he would basically change his sexual orientation and hurt EVERYONE involved because he was "bored" and wanted to try it." When it's a girl nothing is different for him and it pushes the idea that a lesbian can change for the right guy. I actually kept watching to see how it differed I was curious how the changes would affect the show and I was constantly amused how OUTRAGED parents were about the show. It was so watered down compared to the original but I knew it would happen. It got canceled after like 7 or 8 episodes cause all the sponsors pulled out because parents threatened to boycott. They said how this awful show would influence their kids to do drugs and have sex but I think the problem is they don't wanna know that this is what their kids are really doing and the show forces them to see it.
Too Young to Die? (1990)
A very realistic and disturbing movie
I remember seeing this as a kid and it always stuck with me. Even as a kid I could see how unfair Amanda's life was. And after 20ish years I watched it again only to find my feelings haven't changed except for the fact I understand even more the pain she dealt with her entire life. I also see the difference in opinion some people seem to have with me about this case. The real Amanda was the last girl under 18 to be executed and the fact billy (her pimp, boyfriend, accomplice) only got life is sickening. I'm not a hardcore feminist at all but it seems like most of the folks who think she deserved death are men. This movie only has 2 "critic" reviews and only 1 is in English. But the man makes the crime sound completely different and his entire description of the movie is totally different than what I saw.
Now I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinions but I don't believe that a man who sees a 14 yr old stripping at bar and KNOWS her age but still begins a sexual relationship with her is "a friend trying to help her out"
Then when their relationship is found out and HE could get in trouble her "friend" kicks his 14yr old girlfriend out knowing she has nowhere to go. I'm NOT implying the victim deserved to die but I think the whole situation needs to be in context. This was not a nice man. He had a sexual relationship with a child! Then when it became inconvenient he threw her out in the street (heartbreakingly Amanda actually SAYS this)
This "good man" knew she left her pimp and had nothing or anyone but threw her out.
Amanda says herself that everyone throws her away. And she was right. She believed that the victim might actually care. And actually love her. That was in my opinion what really broke her. He actually DID care and someone was showing her affection for the 1st time in her life and him just taking it away and throwing her out hurt more than she could take. I also believe that billy was the driving force behind the crime. If Amanda was a cold killer then why did she let the woman go? Billy drugged her heavily and she knew he was all she had now anyway. She was scared of him I believe. And billy took advantage of all this.