Unless you’re a Friendster user or have been too distracted by your FarmVille crops (it *is* harvest season after all) you probably know that The Social Network was released today. I’ll avoid revealing any spoilers but wanted to share some of my thoughts.

I was lucky enough to take in an advanced screening for SMBMSP members earlier in the month have had some time to let the experience sink in. I still stand by my initial under 140 character review on Twitter:

My main takeaway was just how darn enjoyable the film was on virtually every level. Casting, script and score (by Trent Reznor!) were all worthy of note. The characters, even minor players, were complex and anything but the stereotypes they could have been. Some may not be a fan of reverse storytelling via flashbacks, but I think it worked well in this case. Watching the birth of Facebook unfold through small private moments while being so familiar with the current version of the site in full glare of the the public eye creates a marvelous tension for the viewer.

It’s far too limiting to say it’s a just movie about a social network. It’s about those rare moments in history when a person, an idea and and a culture converge to create something infinitely bigger. It’s really about the birth of a movement. The main difference here is how quickly it caught on and the incredible scale it achieved.

So my rating should be no surprise:
one pixelated thumb up. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist)

It’s easy to discount the “best movie ever” praise oozing from every corner of cyberspace, but this movie is something special. Here are more reviews from some of my peeps:

• Cydney Wuerffel on Idea Peepshow
• Judy Grundstrom on JustJudyJudyJudy
• Kay Roseland on Shareology
• Katie Little on the SMBMSP Blog

Some related videos…

My favorite “official” trailer
While it doesn’t appear in the film, the chorale-like version of “Creep”
backing this preview really sets the mood.

Mark Zuckerberg’s version of ‘The Social Network’
Even funnier after you’ve seen the film. Be patient, this player shows
an advertisement before the clip. (via Bombi(llo))

Greatest Hits of Zach Galifianakis’s Between Two Ferns
Recut As the Social Network Trailer
I had to include this. The parody features clips from Galifianakis’s hilarious
Funny or Die web series. (via Vulture)

Animated News of the Day: The plot of The Social Network
summed up in (just over) one minute
Taiwan’s premiere animated tabloid by Next Media Animation. This is definitely
funnier after seeing the film. The subtitles are epic.