Big Brother is Watching... and So Was I (Nineteen Eighty-Four, 1984)

Okay, so I finally got around to watching the 1984 film adaptation of Nineteen Eighty-Four. I know, I know, I'm late to the party! But sometimes you just need to be in the right headspace for dystopian stuff, you know? Anyway, while I've read the book before (obvs), seeing it visualized was... intense. John Hurt nails Winston's quiet rebellion and the sheer exhaustion of being constantly watched. That scene in the Chestnut Tree Cafe? Gut-wrenching. You can see the life draining out of him. What really struck me was the claustrophobia. The sets, the drab clothing, everything just felt so oppressive. And the Thought Police? Super creepy. The whole concept of Newspeak is terrifying, the idea of language being deliberately dumbed down to limit thought. I think what got to me most was the slow crushing of Winston's spirit. He starts out with this flicker of hope, this desire for something more, and then it's just systematically beaten out of him. It's not a comfortable watch, AT ALL. I do have to admit though, I found some of the pacing a bit slow at times? It felt like a faithful adaptation of the book (which is a good thing!), but maybe a little too faithful? Some of the philosophical bits felt a bit clunky on screen, like they could've been streamlined. But overall, powerful stuff. Definitely leaves you thinking, and maybe a little paranoid about your smart devices... Has anyone else seen it recently? What were your thoughts? Did you find it as disturbing as I did? I'm keen to hear what others think. Maybe I’ll rewatch it soon too.