28 Up

Still interesting, in some cases fascinating, to see how these lives have developed but there's a lot of duplicated footage, and it's a shame that two of the public school educated men didn't wish to participate.

This is where the series really starts to pick up. Through much better editing of the back-footage, it is far less confusing to keep up wit the lives of these adults, even their lives are getting far more confusing themselves. It's less depressing to watch than the previous instalment, as most of the adults are married now, have kids, or some are just waiting for a better time. Listening to the adults talk about the previous "seven years" is very fascinating.

The British sure aged badly in the 70s and 80s, most of them looked much older than I'd expect 28 year olds to look. Snide comments aside, though, it's a great continuation of the series that builds well on what was done in 21Up. Some of the stories are heartwarming, others heartbreaking and I still hate that smug rich kid with the big lips, John.

I'm still underwhelmed. The highlights here are Nicholas and Neil. Other than that, most of the subjects have just settled into comfortable, and somewhat mundane, lives. I was disappointed not to get more of John's douchiness, but he declined to be interviewed. It's amusing to see the way Apted keeps trying to badger his subjects into expressing some kind of rage against the upper class, yet they're having no part of his agenda. Except for Neil, they all seem quite content with their standing.

The first "Up" that I've watched where the subjects are older than me. Which makes me think about my future... uh oh!

Disappointing that a few of the "kids" chose not to participate, but this one was great. For the first time, we see the kids at an age where they're making all of their own decisions and in control of their own lives. In some cases, it's amazing to see the differences between 21 and 28; in others, devastating to see the lack of progress. The whole concept for this series is absolute genius.

Interesting concept.

Best of the series.

I'm rating all of these a 90 because I see the experiment as valuable. These are normal people, for the most part, and some are interesting, some are not. Some of them have very bad problems, some don't. The prejudice of the film-maker is obvious, but what captivated me was whether or not we come to know these children, and later adults? I think we do, better than we ever will know Tom Cruise or Lindsay Lohan, no matter how many films they make. For that, for the depth of information, it's a 90.

The first in the series to become a genuinely "great" and fascinating meditation on life and the ageing process finds Apted's subjects definitively ensnarled in adulthood and graduating from "kids say the darndest things" which tended to dominate the earlier entries. Even lost soul Neil feels like a more focused and real person at this point, who has made decisions and is seeing the outcome of them. Truly the moment where the scope and magnitude of this project comes into focus.

Not surprising that John dropped out (only to later come back to self-promote himself), but it is that Charles permanently discontinued - from the previous episodes you would have thought this project was in line with his personality. Depressing that Peter was forced out of teaching and the program altogether because of his criticisms of the Thatcher government. Besides Neil everyone else seems to have found their "place" by 28.

At this point the subjects are beginning to present insightful ideas and are being able to observe how their lives have changed. At this age they have gone out in to the world and we see the full fruition of the concept.

GUYS, CAN WE JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE HOW HORRIFYING LIFE AND TIME AND THIS EXISTENCE IS? FUCK. This Up series makes a dude ask some questions!

Neil Hughes: "If the state didn't give us any money, it would probably just mean crime and I'm glad I don't have to steal to keep myself alive. If the money runs out then for a few days there's nowhere to go and that's all you can do, I simply have to find the warmest shed I can find."

Intriguing to no end. Some real opinions are presented now. "The Up Series" concept is a thought provoking look at the social structure.

See my review of 49 UP.

In the "7 Up" series, this is the first age where the subjects have lived and experienced enough to somewhat look at themselves and their future in a much less speculative way. There's varying degrees of ignorance and naïveté when you're 7, 14, and 21. Now at 28, the participants are well into their adulthood and are now coming to terms with the realities of their respective lives versus what they may have thought in their youth.

I have begun to realize what the Up series, in its entirety, is all about. It's a damning indictment of the British dental system.

Coolseeingliars/trynahavebetterlivesforthedoc/trynamakefailuresoundbetter+dogkillsafuckingrabbitinthebackground+lmaohestotallygay-hiswifehasamustachelmao+britishpeoplearejustsomuchmorenaturallypompouslmaoespeciallyaskids+unemployedintrovertthoughtfuleccentric-doesntwannariskpassingmiserabletokids-hessurprisedhewashappykidbutithinkhewasntnormalkidhappy+thepoorillegitamatehalfblackboythatwas13tiloutofchildrenshomemightbethehappiest+allonplayground+givemachilduntilhe's7andiwillgiveyoutheman

Watched this one as a 28-year-old which might explain why I like it the most. It's incredible how I can relate in some way to all of them.

The trajectory of their lives is so fascinating (and I didn't realize that driving a cab was such a great career in England).

"The 14 subjects of the "Up" series came together as a group only twice, and by the end of 28 Up, three have dropped out of the project." - Ed Gonzalez

Excellent.

My favorite of the Up series, where the interviews with Bruce and Neil stand out as highlights. Apted does a nice job providing engaging portraits of these people he has known since they were children, which is an achievement of editing as much as it is of his interview skills. The incorporation of the old footage gives the film an invaluable sense of history. And I like that not everyone is dramatically "interesting," but rather that their interest comes from their being "normal" people.