Netflix documentary-film review

Life 2.0 is a documentary film following different people who use the online game Second Life – a virtual world where users can be who they want, see who they want and pretty much do what they want (I witnessed an eleven year old avatar shooting other avatars before blowing herself up with a bomb so this is truer than you think)

As expected, the users of the game that the documentary follows are heavily into Second Life (or “SL” as they call it in the gang), with most of them spending between 12 and 16 hours a day playing it. We follow a few different characters (no pun intended) who all get something very different from playing the game. For instance, one woman who used to run her own graphic design company now generates all her income from playing Second Life – she sits at home in her pyjamas and smokes cigarettes whilst creating high end, luxury products which other users can buy.

We also witness people who have found love within Second Life, as well as seeing the SEX BETWEEN THEIR AVATARS – yes really. We hear about a real life court case which occurred when a user’s items were stolen and we meet one man, in an adult relationship, who poses secretly as a young girl.

Life 2.0 is okay, it could have been better and it could have been slightly shorter. It’s not hugely long at 100 minutes but the subject does dwindle a little towards the end. The most interesting thing for me (except for seeing avatars have sex!!) was learning more about the game itself. I found it interesting learning how Second Life began and what it looked like and what users can do once logged into it. Of course there is also some unintentional hilarity (and gasps of horror) when you see just how far some people are taking their ‘Second Life’ and I’d imagine this is a big selling point of the documentary. Though no-one is made a mockery of and the documentary makers are sure to put everyone’s reasons across for using a virtual game so intimately.

If you’re looking for a great documentary to watch then I can recommend loads. But if you’ve watched them all and you’re looking for something at least good enough to pass the time (and maybe learn something new) then this is certainly good enough and a worthy enough choice.