Customer Reviews

Paradise Lost 2 - Revelations

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Paradise Lost introduced us to what may be the most frightening onscreen villain in years : a biased judicial system. 24 jury members (2 separate trials) that had made up their minds before they had even set foot into the court room. And like any good villain, it has to slaughter a few innocents to be really scary. PL2:Revelations shows us the aftermath of said slaughter: The seemingly destroyed lives of Jessie Misskelly, Jason Baldwin, and Damien Echols (Even though they seem to have come to terms with their fate. That doesn't mean we should). Just like a good horror sequel, it shows us that the monster is even bigger and more powerful than previously guessed. The prejudice towards the 3 innocents spreads a lot further than the original trial courtroom. We have some heroes along the way in the name of the Free The West Memphis 3 organization, and seemingly at the center of it all, John Mark Byers, one of the parents of the 3 murdered children, and the mysterious death of his wife. Just like the first, this film moves, touches, infuriates, frustrates, and compels everyone I know who has come in contact with it. It is a testament to how powerful a film camera can truly be, and regardless of your opinion on whether or not the 3 are innocent, it is impossible to walk away from this film and forget it. This, like the first, is one of those film experiences that will haunt you for a long, long time. Don't miss it.

"Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a documentary film by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, is a sequel to their earlier documentary "Paradise Lost." These films investigate the aftermath a a horrific triple child murder and the conviction of three young men who continue to maintain their innocence.

PL2 picks up where the first film left off. We meet the three convicted young men--Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, all older and still imprisoned. Damien, the only one of the three to receive the death penalty, is appealing his conviction, and his life-and-death situation gives PL2 a particular power and urgency.

There is extensive interview footage with many of the individuals involved in the case: the original judge, Jessie's defense attorney, and more. Especially poignant is the footage with the family members of the convicted. But as in the first film, the most indelible character is undoubtedly the controversial John Mark Byers, the angry stepfather of one of the murder victims. One issue PL2 explores is the question whether Byers was actually involved in the actual murders.

Also fascinating is the footage featuring members of the support group of people who believe that Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were all unfairly convicted. The young men have become known as the "West Memphis Three" to their supporters, and PL2 tells about the origins of the WM3 Web site.

I will warn potential viewers that this film contains graphic photographs of the murdered children, one of whom was sexually mutilated. Overall, PL2 is a gripping and, in my opinion, important film. It's more than just a real-life human drama. The film raises compelling issues about crime, justice, punishment, prejudice, truth, and the impact of the media. Highly recommended.

I have been a West Memphis Three supporter since 1999. It is of upmost importance that everyone who sees this documentary and is shocked, interested, or angry, pass the word on! The more people who know about it, the better chance of getting Damien, Jason, & Jessie new trials. Not everyone is convinced of their innocence (I, after lots of research, am. Everyone should should study up & come to their own conclusions. All the info you need can be found at [the website]) but EVERYONE will agree that this trial was a sham. An 18 year old boy was sent to death row based on nothing but someone else's word & a bag of black t-shirts. The fact that this has been allowed to happen in this country in the 20th century is both embarrasing & horrifying. Evidence was lost, not followed up on, and the trial took place in a community where all three were tried and convicted before they ever set foot in a courtroom. If it happened to them, it could happen to you, or your child, your sister/brother, friend, etc.

"Paradise Lost" is a documentary film that will permanently open viewers' eyes to the tragic miscarriages of justice that can occur in the American court system. Warning: Viewing this film may result in emotional discomfort and sleepless nights.
With more felony cases being reopened and overturned every day, often due to reexamination of physical evidence with DNA testing unavailable when the cases were first tried, false convictions are beginning to cause a stir in the public consciousness. "Paradise Lost," however, depicts not a case in which physical evidence was misinterpreted, but something much more disturbing: a horrific murder case in which a justice department, law enforcement organization and twelve members of a jury chose to prosecute and convict three easy (but likely innocent) targets rather than do the difficult work of searching out the actual guilty party.
"Paradise Lost" is a warning cry to all Americans, demonstrating that innocence is *not* always assumed until guilt is proven, and that a rush to judgement can create situations of unparalleled injustice.
"Paradise Lost 2 - Revelations" continues the tale of the three railroaded teens who were falsely convicted of murder. While this sequel could be viewed alone, it will stand in a more coherent context if the viewer has first seen the original documentary "Paradise Lost."...

While the first documentary was pretty unbiased, this one was definitely in favor of the WM3 convicted of the murders. It was unfortunate not to have a more balanced view, as the murdered boys' families chose not to participate (can't blame them for that), save for the creepy stepfather of Christopher Byers. It still made me believe that there was not enough evidence to convict the WM3, but left many unanswered questions. Unfortunately, truth can be like that. Hopefully it caused people to sit up, investigate the case, and DNA evidence testing will provide a permanent sequel that will answer questions once and for all.

After seeing both of the Paradise movies, I have to say I am shocked by our legal system.. I believe in some cases, our judicial system may have failed, but in this case, I believe it has failed terribly. This movie makes one feel sorry for the 3 murdered children, and also for those convicted of the crime, conviction based only on allegations.
Everyone should see this and then visit www.wm3.org

the makers of this film felt they had exonerated the defendents in the first film, so their intent was to find the real killer, and of course they focused on the step father of one of the victims, Mark Breyer.

I say 'of course' becasue the circumstantial evidence to convict Mr. Breyer is far greater and more convincing than anything shown to conivct the three boys accused of the crime.

If you think he's a stupid hillbilly, you weren't paying attention. He only talks like a hillbilly. This is a highly intelligent, very manipulative, probably narsacistic sociopath that lies incessantly throughout the movie.

Of course, that doesn't mean he's a murder, but on the other hand, the one time they call him on it, with a polyograph, he passes. (this guy is good)

It irked me that they didn't focus more on the elements of the crime, that cast serious doubt on the guilt of the defendents.

1> No physical evidence links them to the crime scene.

2> No physical evidence links them to the victims.

3> It is virtually impossible for the crime to have occured at the place where the prosecution says it did. (Even the procecution pathologist agreed to this)

4> The prosecution's theory of the crime is not supported by one single piece of convincing evidence.

The scary thing is a guy can go to death row, and the original court judge can uphold that decision with no regard what so ever to the concept of reasonable doubt.

Like it's predecessor, this is a fascinating and probing look at a case that continues to rouse many questions and controversies. Made a few years after the original "Paradise Lost", it is interesting to see where the people, especially the accused Memphis Three, had come to, and how they now viewed all that had happened. But a great deal of this documentary is just footage from the first - which is important in giving context - but it means that there is not all that much new content here. But what is there is very good, and very interesting. I just in some ways think it would have been better to have found a way of adding the new material onto the original documentary, turning into a single "extended version". If you watch the two together, chances are you will find this second one just a tad tedious because you will have already seen so much of it before.

This case, has trully not had a fair trial, these guys have basically, been charged for nothing more than living their own life, since when is that illegal? But, to call another man guilty when you have no proof of what has really happened when all these other signs are around you. Look at John Mark Byers, he is a mad man, not only did he have his teeth encrypted, but he has the knife with his sons blood on it. So how are you gonna say that these three innocent men are capable of this when these other clues lead to someone else. I guess it's just a way of saying our Government sucks, they rid of any other clues proving of innocence of the people they claim did it. Watch these films, and read Devils Knot by Mara Leveritt for a better understanding of what really happened. Also visit www.wm3.org FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE.

I have followed this case for quite some time now, but unfortunatley time is running out for these 3 young men. Many people sit back and think "well what can I do?" or "it has nothing to do with me because it could never happen to me." Well I think the scariest thing about this case is that it shows that stereotypes still exist and that if the law wants a guilty verdict,it will do anything to make you look guilty If this happens ANYWHERE in America, it can happen EVERYWHERE!! ... Also "Devils Knot" and "Blood of Innocents" are both great sources to read for info.Please visit the website, show your support, show that you will not accept a modern day Salem Witch Hunt to exist in your America. Time is running out, espcially for Damien.Demand that they FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS 3!!