Rating: 
Summary: A thoughtful reflection on 42 years of life
Review: The *up series is a touching document of the lives of a few individuals from across British class lines. I fear I was disappointed by 35-Up because the interviewees seemed overly sure of who they were, but 42-up returns to the more intriguing uncertainty we saw in 21 Up (the first I saw upon release) and 28 Up: all now confronting their existence as (nearly) fully-formed adults whose future paths are becoming clear, though sometimes painful. The series is largely free of artifice--like all of us these people are grappling with their true identities, largely shorn of the peer pressure, career uncertainty, and growing pains that preceded their 40-something years. By-and-large, this film affirms the fundamental decency and worth of us all, with the ups and downs of life evident and faced full-on usually. Hopeful, despite some pain, decent, and a valued small-scale testament to our times.
Rating:
Summary: Before purchasing 42 UP, consider getting the whole series
Review: The whole series up to this film is finally available on DVD and is an awesome experience, much richer than this single film, as amazing as this single film is. I have discussed the reasons why one might prefer to get the entire series on DVD over on the Amazon page for the set.
Rating:
Summary: For anyone who cares about human beings
Review: These documentaries, when watched together, provide a wonderful portrait of what makes up a life. Anyone who cares about people will benefit from watching any or all the films in the series.These documentaries are probably the greatest and most noble use of television since the medium was invented. Proof that television can actually benefit society and appeal to our best instincts, instead of what it usually does. As a side note -- why don't they release all the films on one DVD box set? Seems like such a logical thing to do and I'm sure they'd sell a few. This series obviously has a built in audience.
Rating:
Summary: Highly Interesting.
Review: This is a fascinating documentary and truly a monumental and patient undertaking. I can't help wondering how much film footage exists that shows the progress of people through life. It would be so fascinating to watch many, many examples of human development.
Rating:
Summary: Not Worth Missing
Review: This is a memorable documentary that is not worth missing. Watching these people grow throughout the years and change is amazing! These are real people with real lives - makes you realize that we all struggle with similar problems and events. You get to know these people and learn to care about them. It is even better if you can watch a few of the earlier ones first (28up, 35up). I can't wait for 49up to come!
Rating:
Summary: Not Worth Missing
Review: This is a memorable documentary that is not worth missing. Watching these people grow throughout the years and change is amazing! These are real people with real lives - makes you realize that we all struggle with similar problems and events. You get to know these people and learn to care about them. It is even better if you can watch a few of the earlier ones first (28up, 35up). I can't wait for 49up to come!
Rating:
Summary: Inconclusive - I hope it does not end here
Review: This series deserves 5 stars for many reasons that are well articulated by many of the other reviewers. Many people have an emotional connection to the series also. Mine is that I am close to the subjects' ages, and also moved from London to the U.S.A. to study science. The series purports to study (as much as one can in such a small sample size) the British class system. That was something that I became acutely conscious of as I made the final decision to emigrate. I have two issues with 42 up, though. The most important is that some of the best potential material is left unexplored. I am full of admiration for some of the people in this film. However, the physicist at Wisconsin, for example, is allowed less than a few minutes at the end to comment on the structure of the class system in the U.K. Same with the others. The lawyer makes a very telling statement about how technology has raised his clients' expectations, but that he realizes he needs to meet them. That is something you might expect to hear from the taxi driver. For both of them, internally directed drive transcends the class system. We see how some of their outward lives have developed, but the narrative and video are mundane and unchallenging. Except for the first subject, the strongest feeling one gets while watching them is that of being an intruder. The resentment that they feel at being filmed every 7 years is now firmly established in the video, and detracts from any intelligent analysis. Finally, we hear so frequently from some of them about the financial problems that they have (or not, as the case may be). It is amazing to see one of the 14 year olds complaining that he is misjudged because factory workers on high wages could afford to send their children to private schools in they wished. Nowhere is that notion challenged or affirmed, because the narrator seems intent on focussing on who married whom and also keeping the subjects mellow enough to appear next time around. A series like this will obviously not have a tidy ending (happy or otherwise). It seems to need some kind of refocussing, though.
Rating:
Summary: very interesting
Review: This series is an incredible project.
Does anyone out there know how I can get 7, 14 & 21?
Rating:
Summary: very interesting
Review: This series is an incredible project.
Does anyone out there know how I can get 7, 14 & 21?
Rating:
Summary: Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!
Review: To Bruce, Jackie, Symon, Andrew, John, Charles, Peter, Suzie, Nick, Neil, Lynn, Paul, Sue, and Tony for your generous contribution. This series is a wondrous acheivement that lets us all learn more about ourselves and the societies we live in. Thank you for sharing your joys and your pains, your successes and your hardships, your dreams and your disappointments. You've given something to the world that is immeasureable in it's value, and for that, you are all heroes.
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