Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Maybe it's because the participants are closest to my own age, but I found this the most interesting of the series. Many of the subjects are in some state of transition (new job, financial troubles, divorce) or are eloquent enough to reflect on their lives with insightful introspection. The most compelling one, Neil, has taken a turn for the better, though still struggling. John once again disappears from the picture, but Symon makes a return with a new family. Tony and Paul are both taking baby steps in upward mobility, but finding it difficult. The commentary on class at the end of the film was more thoughtful than previous attempts to address the subject. I still think the series is better as an idea than in execution, but I've got the next one queued up anyway, perhaps just out of habit, like a TV show you don't particularly enjoy but keep watching out of desire to know what happens next.

The 'Up Series' represents one of the most fascinating and unusual uses of film in cinema history - a documentary life-long chronicle of the lives of 14 people starting at 7 years old, revisiting them every seven years through age 49 (so far). While I could quibble, wishing for a bit more depth here and there (especially with the women, where there's a bit too much emphasis on love and marriage at the expense of all else), it's really an astounding, moving, frightening and uplifting document. There's no way to watch this remarkable series of films without reflecting deeply on one's own life, and how you have changed (and stayed the same) over your own lifetime. While Michael Aped deserves every bit of credit he's received for this amazing piece of cultural anthropology, it's important to note this first film, 7 Up,was actually directed by Paul Almond, and Apted was a that point a researcher for the project.

As a UK-born and resident who is 2 years older than the participants of this series, all I can say to Michael Apted is thank you. This series has been a record of the social, economic and cultural influences over my own life. It may surprise some of your US readers to know that there was a brief window of opportunity for working class (blue collar)kids in the late 70's and early 80's to access higher education in the UK. It is a pity that no-one in the 7up series accessed such chances as I did; now working as a forensic psychologist (having left high school at 16 with nothing worth a damn). Nevertheless, I feel enormously proud of the working class kids in the series in the way they have handled the challenges of their twenties and thirties; I am so pleased that Apted has reflected their lives without judgement. As a woman, I am equally proud of Suzie, who survived probably the most apparently 'deprived' childhood to grow into a confident, warm and happy wife and mother. Finally, who could fail to have a corner of their heart reserved for Neil and for Bruce who reached out a helping hand - these people feel like my friends. Thank you so much to all of you for sharing your lives so generously - please don't stop. I am REALLY looking forward to my next 'postcard' from you in 49 UP. You have been, and will continue to be,an inspiration to others in your simple humanity and your enormous dignity, reflected so skilfully by Michael Apted. Love him or hate him, at least he has remained loyal to this fantastic and unparallelled project.

I just finished "42 Up" on 2/26/05 and have a few things to say about the film and the series.First, it's the only longitudinal study of human development we have, and for that reason, no matter how boring or trivial some people may find this series, I find it to be extremely valuable. Especially when considering how people develop by age, socioeconomic status, education, ethnicity, culture and gender. I am unaware of any other study that has covered as much ground as the Up series has. 14 children, all British, taken at age 7 and revisited every 7 years from 1964 to 1998 certainly makes for an interesting study. If there is no "49 Up", Michael Apted can at least rest on what this study already has accomplished.Second, it's amusing to me that at various stages the participants have no clue as to the importance of this study. Some of them decline to be a part of the project and others seems to really understand the value of participating in this study. If my wife and I had a 7 year old we would jump at the chance for him/her to be in this type of project. I fail to understand why some of the participants (Charles, John & Peter) continue to belittle, devalue and not take part in this study. Nick, Symon, Suzy and Andrew all participate, but with an air of sourness about what the study has done to their lives. As I stated, it's truly amazing how some of the participants have no concept of the psychological/sociological value of this study the participate in, they merely seem to be thinking only about themselves and how it affects their lives.Third, there are a few annoying pieces to this series. One is that Michael Apted fails to explain why Peter is not part of the program anymore after "28 Up". You have no idea why he isn't in "35 and 42 Up". Michael doesn't even add a 30 second explanation!!! At least Mr. Apted explains what's going on with John and Charles, and why they are not part of the program. He failed in "35 Up" to mention why Symon was not interviewed! Yet, Symon re-appears for "42 Up" and all is explained. Another thing about this series is that it greatly improves around 21 and 28 Up as Michael finally organizes the stories so you can keep track of each person, and the technology advances as well as all the participants begin to have something to say about the world they live in. Still, Michael Apted could stand to not engage in flashbacks as much as he does and spend more time on the present. If you watch each show in order like we did, you do not need the flashbacks because you already know what has happened. These films should be viewed in order. Just watching "42 Up" is a mistake and a disservice. You need to watch how these people grow in order to see the whole picture.My recommendation is, that if you are in the field of psychology, counseling, social work, teaching, etc. You should watch this series as mandatory to your education. If Mr. Apted continued with "49 Up" this year and then continues the series in the future, this project will be even more fruitful and valuable of just looking at how personalities are shaped and determine future choices and consequences.