Rating: 
Summary: An important and profoundly disturbing documentary
Review: "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a documentary film by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, is a sequel to their earlier documentary "Paradise Lost." These films investigate the aftermath a a horrific triple child murder and the conviction of three young men who continue to maintain their innocence.PL2 picks up where the first film left off. We meet the three convicted young men--Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, all older and still imprisoned. Damien, the only one of the three to receive the death penalty, is appealing his conviction, and his life-and-death situation gives PL2 a particular power and urgency. There is extensive interview footage with many of the individuals involved in the case: the original judge, Jessie's defense attorney, and more. Especially poignant is the footage with the family members of the convicted. But as in the first film, the most indelible character is undoubtedly the controversial John Mark Byers, the angry stepfather of one of the murder victims. One issue PL2 explores is the question whether Byers was actually involved in the actual murders. Also fascinating is the footage featuring members of the support group of people who believe that Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were all unfairly convicted. The young men have become known as the "West Memphis Three" to their supporters, and PL2 tells about the origins of the WM3 Web site. I will warn potential viewers that this film contains graphic photographs of the murdered children, one of whom was sexually mutilated. Overall, PL2 is a gripping and, in my opinion, important film. It's more than just a real-life human drama. The film raises compelling issues about crime, justice, punishment, prejudice, truth, and the impact of the media. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Chilling indictment of American "justice" system
Review: "Paradise Lost" is a documentary film that will permanently open viewers' eyes to the tragic miscarriages of justice that can occur in the American court system. Warning: Viewing this film may result in emotional discomfort and sleepless nights.
With more felony cases being reopened and overturned every day, often due to reexamination of physical evidence with DNA testing unavailable when the cases were first tried, false convictions are beginning to cause a stir in the public consciousness. "Paradise Lost," however, depicts not a case in which physical evidence was misinterpreted, but something much more disturbing: a horrific murder case in which a justice department, law enforcement organization and twelve members of a jury chose to prosecute and convict three easy (but likely innocent) targets rather than do the difficult work of searching out the actual guilty party.
"Paradise Lost" is a warning cry to all Americans, demonstrating that innocence is *not* always assumed until guilt is proven, and that a rush to judgement can create situations of unparalleled injustice.
"Paradise Lost 2 - Revelations" continues the tale of the three railroaded teens who were falsely convicted of murder. While this sequel could be viewed alone, it will stand in a more coherent context if the viewer has first seen the original documentary "Paradise Lost."...
Rating: 
Summary: As good as Paradise Lost was...
Review: ...Paradise 2 is equally as bad. The first film was a disturbing, harrowing affair that cast legitimate doubt as to the guilt of the three accused and convicted teens. This was accomplished by using logic and rationale in reviewing and assessing the forensic evidence of the case and then asking the logical follow-up questions (something that even the defence attornies failed to do in this case). The only other crime documentary that I would rate higher than Paradise Lost is the Thin Blue Line.
Paradise Lost 2 seems to never rise above the level of a grocery market tabloid. Everyone involved in this film including the filmmakers seem to have decided that they should be the star of this film instead of letting forensic evidence and logic stand out. Grandstanding abounds in this film by Mark Byers, the convicted teens, a forensic "expert" and the convicted teen support group "West Memphis 3".
One reviewer wrote that the film brings up the fact that Mark Byers was under heavy prescription drugs which may have affected the polygraph test that he did indeed pass. What troubled me was the filmmakers listed the drugs but then failed to present evidence describing how those drugs could have a negative effect on the validity of the test results. The only conclusion that I can come to for not having an expert explain how those drugs could taint a polygraph exam is that maybe the answers wouldn't support the film's intended agenda. Considering all of the time alloted the crime specialist to present his viewpoints it's unsettling that no time was spent discussing how specific psycotropic drugs can color polygraph results. As I implied earlier, this is either a major failure on the filmmakers' part or an intentional deletion of important information. It's also troubling that the producers decided to pay Byers for his participation, something that ethical journalists would never stoop to. It's also frustrating that during filming the producers seemingly engaged in their own form of witch hunt much like the West Memphis community did during the trial of the "West Memphis 3". I would hesitate to classify Paradise Lost 2 as a documentary as the producers seem to have arrived at a conclusion and then set out to film a movie that supported their ends. Paradise Lost 2 Revelations could just as easily have been titled Opportunity Lost as it's unlikely this film will ever contribute to justice being served. This movie is a major disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie.....
Review: an extremely important update on the now famous witch hunt... you have to see some of the revelations that are once again disregarded and completely ignored.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie.....
Review: an extremely important update on the now famous witch hunt... you have to see some of the revelations that are once again disregarded and completely ignored.
Rating: 
Summary: Elitist snobbery reigns
Review: Are these three guys guilty? I wasn't in the jury so I didn't see all the evidence and I didn't see the original Paradise Lost. On one side we have Byers, a drunk, a petty crook, guy on so many drugs he probably can't think straight and who claimed that he was going to need brain surgery for a tumor. He is a big, dumb, ugly redneck; everything that the beautiful and educated look down on with disgust or pity. On the other, we have 1) these well-groomed and well-spoken lawyers, 2) these fun-loving, enlightened and victimized wicca adovcates and 3) these grieving families of the "wrongly convicted". I noticed that they barely focused on one of the other defendants and completely ignored the third. Why? Daimen Echols is a handsome and articulate young man. I guess that the others don't have the required Hollywood looks and media saavy. Now as I noted I haven't seen the original, but where is the balance? Did they talk to Byers' doctors? Did they interview the man who administered Byers' polygraph? If so, what did he have to say? If not, why not? They made a point of telling us that Byers' wife died under mysterious circumstances. So why didn't they grill the police or local officials about this? They made a point of telling us that the dead children were savagely bitten and that Byers had his teeth removed. Why didn't they track down his dentist or pay off someone to get them his dental records? Why didn't they try to find out if the man has/had a brain tumor? They stated at the start of the show that the families of the other victims didn't want to be involved in the making of this documentary. If this is their idea of a seach for justice and fairness, I can understand why.
Rating:
Summary: Very Important Documentary - A Must See
Review: Both Paradise Lost and Revelations are full of terrifying facts: Three teenage boys convicted of murder and the only "proof" the prosecutors have is a coerced confession full of inconsistencies; A mail order "doctor" who claims that the crimes were committed as a Wicca ritual (with confusing and nonsensical information to try to support it); and claims that the color of one's clothing or their music preference is enough to assume one is guilty. The defense attorneys, however, are more than able to show reasonable doubt and botched police investigations, which resulted in missing evidence and other suspects who were never questioned. Although it doesn't prove who actually committed the crimes, it does prove that the West Memphis Three didn't get fair trials and a judge who refuses to see the real facts of the case. And the most terrifying fact of all: After watching it, you'll realize that it could happen to any one of us. Any of us could end up on death row for a crime we neither committed, nor had any knowledge of.
Rating:
Summary: Totally Sick
Review: I cannot believe this. It is such a mockery of justice. F'n robbed of their freedom just because the law couldn't pin it on anyone else. These teens may have liked heavy music and dressed in black , but that does not make them murderers. The loss of evidence(which was not there to f'n begin with) is ridiculous. In my opinion, the Byers guy is guilty as hell(toothless liar). Just because they were different the cops blamed them for the murders of those children to make it look more obvious to the victims' families and to the public. Even talking about this B.S. angers me. Good film. Paradise Lost II will sure make you mad as hell to watch it though. FREE THE WM3!!!
Rating:
Summary: scary that this can happen here in the U.S. ...
Review: I have been a West Memphis Three supporter since 1999. It is of upmost importance that everyone who sees this documentary and is shocked, interested, or angry, pass the word on! The more people who know about it, the better chance of getting Damien, Jason, & Jessie new trials. Not everyone is convinced of their innocence (I, after lots of research, am. Everyone should should study up & come to their own conclusions. All the info you need can be found at [the website]) but EVERYONE will agree that this trial was a sham. An 18 year old boy was sent to death row based on nothing but someone else's word & a bag of black t-shirts. The fact that this has been allowed to happen in this country in the 20th century is both embarrasing & horrifying. Evidence was lost, not followed up on, and the trial took place in a community where all three were tried and convicted before they ever set foot in a courtroom. If it happened to them, it could happen to you, or your child, your sister/brother, friend, etc.
Rating:
Summary: PLEASE HELP FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS 3!
Review: I have followed this case for quite some time now, but unfortunatley time is running out for these 3 young men. Many people sit back and think "well what can I do?" or "it has nothing to do with me because it could never happen to me." Well I think the scariest thing about this case is that it shows that stereotypes still exist and that if the law wants a guilty verdict,it will do anything to make you look guilty If this happens ANYWHERE in America, it can happen EVERYWHERE!! ... Also "Devils Knot" and "Blood of Innocents" are both great sources to read for info.Please visit the website, show your support, show that you will not accept a modern day Salem Witch Hunt to exist in your America. Time is running out, espcially for Damien.Demand that they FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS 3!!
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