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Second Skin

Play trailer Poster for Second Skin 2008 1h 34m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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60% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 42% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Director Juan Carlos Pineiro-Escoriaza investigates the realm of computer role-playing games, focusing on die-hard players who have had their lives altered by their gaming obsession. While the documentary notes the pastime's positive aspects, specifically including a disabled gamer who finds a sense of freedom online, it depicts people consumed by their dedication to living in a fantasy world. Also featured are game designers and psychologists, who weigh in on spending time in a virtual reality.

Critics Reviews

View All (5) Critics Reviews
Gary Goldstein Los Angeles Times You don't need to be a gamer to appreciate this involving and well-paced character study. Rated: 3/5 Aug 14, 2009 Full Review Joel Brown Boston Globe Most of the movie's revelations will be old hat to anyone who's paid modest attention to pop culture for the last 10 or 15 years. Rated: 2/4 Aug 13, 2009 Full Review Joe Leydon Variety A sometimes celebratory, sometimes cautionary look at the phenomenon of massively multiplayer online computer games (MMOs). May 22, 2008 Full Review Bill Gibron Filmcritic.com As with most of the ideas tossed around by Second Skin however, it's never fully explored or realized Rated: 3/5 Sep 2, 2009 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an intriguing yet undeniably overlong documentary... Rated: 2.5/4 May 12, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (60) audience reviews
Audience Member This documentary presents an idea and doesn't really know where to run with it. The whole film felt like a set-up to nothing. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member drags out the little content it has to offer Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member A deeply irresponsible, horribly unbalanced and, quite frankly, DANGEROUS film. Even my wife was angered by this film's horribly biased view of "gamers". The film implies "games" as the root of all evil while presenting "gamers"--which the film, by the way, assumes EVERYONE who plays a game IS--as freaks of nature who forsake all human contact and gainful employment so that they may play MMORPGS until they lose their jobs and families and homes. There's a real subject here, ripe for a genuine exploration. Honestly, what REAL filmmaker wouldn't be interested in exposing a world that forces those on the fringes to find solace in an online replication? This "documentary" makes Michael Moore look objective. Boo. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member The sadness of MMORPG's...makes you feel better about your own life though. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Nothing new, and nothing in enough detail. Very sad though. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member How do I discuss Second Skin with sensitivity? I know a lot of online gamers, some of whom read these reviews, and outside views of their virtual world aren't always appreciated. So let me just lay it on the table, I am not going to mince words. It's up to you if you read on... Second Skin is a 2008 documentary exploring the cultural impact of MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) and the impact they have on the lives of those who play. The film focuses on World Of Warcraft and Everquest but encompasses all virtual worlds. It's jam packed with uber nerdy people trying to convince the audience that no one can possibly understand the mindset of a gamer unless they are themselves gamers. What a load of horse shit. This movie documents a group of people who use gaming to escape real life problems and issues. I found the film really tragic and it's an important social commentary of a problem that has become epidemic. 80% of gamers fit the same profile... overweight and lonely. They use the virtual world to create new lives and become the characters they wish to be in real life. Rather than doing something to change their situations they choose to shut-off from the real world. In this film jobs are lost, health is neglected and suicide is an ugly factor. Now of course this is a harshly negative view, and there are most certainly positives to this ever growing world. But I am afraid that I find it too difficult to see past the problem. The film annoyed me. It didn't open my eyes nor did it change my opinion. In trying to let the world into their mindsets, I was only reassured how arrogant and anti-social the addicted gaming community is. It's an environment I sure am happy to be distanced from and can never see myself being in and the most positive thing I took away from Second Skin is a renewed desire to walk and explore the outdoors. Fresh air and exercise have never been this appealing. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Second Skin

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Director Juan Carlos Pineiro-Escoriaza investigates the realm of computer role-playing games, focusing on die-hard players who have had their lives altered by their gaming obsession. While the documentary notes the pastime's positive aspects, specifically including a disabled gamer who finds a sense of freedom online, it depicts people consumed by their dedication to living in a fantasy world. Also featured are game designers and psychologists, who weigh in on spending time in a virtual reality.
Director
Juan Carlos Pineiro-Escoriaza
Producer
Peter Schieffelin Brauer, Victor Pineiro-Escoriaza
Screenwriter
Victor Pineiro-Escoriaza
Production Co
Pure West Films
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 8, 2017
Runtime
1h 34m