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The Circle
The Circle
Dave Eggers | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.8 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
The Circle is Eggers 10th fictional work and through dystopian world building, goes to highlight some of the key modern day issues - specifically those surrounding technology and social media. Unlike other dystopian novels Eggers sets about showing the ‘positive’ side of what could be, ficionally speaking, as opposed to novels such as The Handmaids Tale and Divergence and such books that set themselves in a destroyed-dystopia.

Despite being set in a dystopian world full of technology we currently only see on the Syfy channel, it somehow clings to our ideas of reality and what is possible. By doing this, it soon offers a dangerous look at what technology may become as it highlights the impact it already has on our lives. The protagonist, Mae, lands a job at a technology company named “The Circle” which is comparable to brands and companies such as Apple, Google and Samsung. Eggers takes the ideas of the main technological companies of the twenty first century and rolls them into one; producing an unstoppable powerhouse of sharing, transparency and sociability overseen by a trinity of male bosses that we never really connect to. While Eggers sets the scene, and development of society, through his use of The Circle as an interdimensional power house, he fails to develop a relatable character in his protagonist.

From the start of the book the protagonist, Mae, comes across as weak and unmotivated with some parts of the novel serving almost as a pity party for her. If she’s not complaining, she’s raving about ex-boyfriends or how hard a life she has as though she’s the only one in the world that matters - though I suppose to Eggers she is the most important. Through this self pity, the reader struggles to find a point of contact with Mae; she offers no escape from the real world and instead becomes a motivation to stop reading the novel.

However, despite the lack of character development, the novel does raise relevant questions concerning technology and social media. In the film adaptation, it serves to show us just how much of an impact we can have on others without realising it; and how even when we do realise it the popularity or reward is too enticing to stop.
  
Unfriended: Dark Web (2018)
Unfriended: Dark Web (2018)
2018 | Horror
Could’ve been worse
Whilst a second Unfriended film was entirely unnecessary, it’s not really a surprise that they’ve made another one. Technology and social media are becoming more and more prevalent so it’s kind of predictable really that they’ve made another film to exploit the darker side of it all.

One of the things I do like about this film (and the original) is how they’ve been filmed using only Skype and other types of video calling and technology. The problem is that the story is pretty poor. It’s just ridiculously far fetched and whilst this one is better than the original and actually feels more sinister, it’s still a little laughable. That said though, it isn’t all bad and did have me vaguely intrigued for the short run time. Using the video calling does prove to be an entertaining story telling mechanism, even when the story isn’t that great.
  
The Circle (2017)
The Circle (2017)
2017 | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Could have been so much better
I'm a little disappointed with this film. On paper it sounds great, but in reality it's very badly executed.

It's very similar to Black Mirror, although nowhere near as dark or good. The idea is a good one and one very close to home considering how advanced technology is nowadays. It is a good take on social media and technology companies, it just doesn't quite work although at times it does make you feel rather uncomfortable at how all this is used. The problem is it comes across as a little boring and unengaging at times, and characters actions seem a bit bizarre. Tom Hanks and John Boyega are greatly underused although Emma Watson doesn't do too badly as the lead. I didn't get the ending either, it just didn't seem to fit and was a little confusing.
  
The Haunting of Hill House- Season 1
The Haunting of Hill House- Season 1
2018 | Horror
This had all the wondrous traits of classic, old school horror. Suspense, tension, jump out of your skin moments. This has been beautifully blended with modern technology and a very thoughtful touch. There are some really fantastic subtleties to this. (0 more)
In some parts I did find it quite predictable, however this doesn't distract from the way in which the sometimes obvious story is put across. (0 more)
Scary scary times!
This is worth watching more than once. There are some very easy to miss subtle nods to the 'twists' in the story lurking in the background of several scenes. I do find the overall story predictable but at a peice of television it is dramatic, tense, full of suspense and really harks back to classic horror, but it has the benefit of a modern eye, modern technology and an audience perhaps unfamiliar with the older horror styles, so it packs a real punch.
  
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