Great Documentaries

[Lee909]

Watched the one about Donkey Kong the other night, great stuff. The nerds in it are hilarious, well worth a watch especially for the slimy fella who claims to be the King of Donkey Kong.

 

I would recommend this as well.

Strange bunch the lot of them

[Baldi]

I would recommend this as well.

Strange bunch the lot of them

 

Yes King of Kong is awesome, feel for the guy trying to show them how good he is.

[Baldi]

Almost anything by Adam Curtis is well worth a watch: The Power of nightmares, The Trap and All Watched Over By Machines Of Loving Grace are all 'fuck me'! doccoes.

 

Love "it felt like a kiss" too

[Baldi]

Cocaine Cowboys is really good kinda like Miami Vice the real story meets Scarface.

[Bjornebye]

Africa on bbc tomorrow. Get on it

[Rapey Hugh]

Ace thread. Watched the Defamation and People's Temple ones today both were brilliant with the former proving quite shocking in places.

 

For me one of the greatest documentary series of all time is The World at War. Imo possibly one of the BBCs best works. Excellent research, balance, footage and above all interviews ( generally with main players' subordinates). There is also the added bonus of the Lawrence Olivier narration. Top class stuff.

 

Mentioned on the film tread but I really enjoyed Vietnam: Lost Films.

 

 

For any egg chasers on here Living with Lions 1997 and Living with the Pride 2009 are great viewing on probably my favourite sporting occasion. Jim Tefler is a god, a proper old school coach.

[Mathewbet1]

man on a wire

senna

[Evelyn Tentions]

For anyone interested in a very different look at WWII

 

Russia's War Blood Upon the Snow

was a 10 part series, 45 min, on the history channel.Youtube to Ep 1 (they're all there)

 

[Ian Sea]

Africa on bbc tomorrow. Get on it

 

Anyone been watching this, I'm just catching up with it on iPlayer? Has it been on before? I've done a bit of googling and it appears to be new but I've definitely seen it before. Either that or I'm having the weirdest deja vu ever.

[Ian Sea]

Anyone been watching this, I'm just catching up with it on iPlayer? Has it been on before? I've done a bit of googling and it appears to be new but I've definitely seen it before. Either that or I'm having the weirdest deja vu ever.

 

Been doing my head in this. It wasn't an Attenborough programme I saw before, it was a 3 part series called The Great Rift: Africa's Wild Heart that was on BBC 2 a few years ago. Very similar to the current series, it even had an elephant die in it. Using the same footage I reckon.

[chauncey]

Anyone been watching this, I'm just catching up with it on iPlayer? Has it been on before? I've done a bit of googling and it appears to be new but I've definitely seen it before. Either that or I'm having the weirdest deja vu ever.

 

Deja vu mate, it's an entirely new series. Some of the BBC Natural History spin-offs will use library footage but hardly ever the Attenborough docs (especially recent legacy stuff like this).

 

Massive BBC Earth fanboi and judging by the first couple of episodes Africa is going to be up there - the hippos at night was boss but that cricket stalking the chicks freaked me the fuck out in ep one.

[SammyAftershave]

The Imposter (2012) - IMDb

 

Absolutely bizarre and compelling tale of unconscionable deception perpetrated by a real fucking weirdo. Truth is often stranger than fiction and this intriguing documentary very skilfully unwraps the layers of a very pungent and unsavoury onion. Not unlike Talhotblond: (2009) - IMDb in terms of incredible exposition.

8.5 unbelievable blags out of 10

 

Searching for Sugar Man (2012) - IMDb

 

For the first 20 mins or so I thought this was some sort of spoof and was tempted to jump ship, I'm glad I didn't. A stirring tale of a humble musician who's work brought joy to one corner of the world but was inexplicably lost to the rest of the world. Two dedicated South African fans set out to solve the mystery of the Sugar Man. This is one of a few documentaries that left me feeling that it was worth all the time invested watching mediocre or disappointing ones to eventually chance upon an occasional diamond. Brought a tear to my eye.

8.5 life affirmations out of 10

 

Talk about tears to the eye 'Fight to Save the World Sergio' BBC Four - Storyville, 2011-2012, Fight to Save the World: Sergio tells the moving story of the meteoric rise and devastating fall of the former Head of the UN delegation to Baghdad, Sergio Vieira de Mello. A modern candidate for sainthood?

8.5 humbling experiences out of 10

 

For those familiar with the horrifying but fascinating Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) - IMDb and it's sequels, West of Memphis (2012) - IMDb not only brings us up to speed with the long and tireless global campaign to force a retrial of the 'The West Memphis Three' but emphatically points the finger at the most likely perpetrator. The collective level of cavalier and callous opportunism displayed by the Judge, Prosecutors, Investigators and 'expert' witnesses to fly in the face of the evidence and further their own careers by enthusiastically railroading three convenient 'no hopers' at the expense of leaving the guilty still at large is truly jaw-dropping.

8 despicable injustices out of 10

[Champ]

Currently watching Attenborough on the Galapogos islands. Not normally one for wildlife programmes but really enjoying this. Fascinating stuff

[Dr Nowt]

Searching for Sugar Man (2012) - IMDb

 

For the first 20 mins or so I thought this was some sort of spoof and was tempted to jump ship, I'm glad I didn't. A stirring tale of a humble musician who's work brought joy to one corner of the world but was inexplicably lost to the rest of the world. Two dedicated South African fans set out to solve the mystery of the Sugar Man. This is one of a few documentaries that left me feeling that it was worth all the time invested watching mediocre or disappointing ones to eventually chance upon an occasional diamond. Brought a tear to my eye.

8.5 life affirmations out of 10

 

Talk about tears to the eye '

 

Was just about to chip in with this one, life-affirming indeed. The guy completely blew me away on several levels; outstanding, inspirational and wise man of true depth. His song 'Cause' is stunning - hairs on the back of the neck stuff, similar vein to Cash's version of 'Hurt'.

 

Opposite end of the spectrum with mainly highly unsympathetic characters is a film I found difficult to watch in places, yet which was powerful, compelling and thought-provoking:

 

Raw Deal: A Question of Consent

 

"Director Billy Corben has stumbled onto one of the most controversial films of the modern day. With the legal issues of women's rights and sexual harrassment always jarring heated debates this film is, quite simply, gasoline on the fire. Raw Deal is not just a pornographic documentary of an evening of sex, strippers, drunkenness, drugs, dirtier sex and the eventual alleged rape of exotic dancer Lisa Gier King; it is also a very thorough accounting of the months of legal issues that eventually took place. The date is Friday, February 26, 1999 and the Delta Chi fraternity brothers at the University of Florida throw a party with the obligatory collegiate set pieces; drunken guys, naked women and more drunken guys. Sounds like your average big, dumb male party until the next morning...

 

Raw Deal is not really a film that can be rated on your average scale since the subject matter is so unbelievably powerful, but what can be judged is the way in which the events are presented. More than simply heads speaking their side of a seven-layered cake, there is actual footage of the piece of testimony to either support the claim of the interviewee or prove them wrong. This is a film that MUST be seen by men and women, together, if not to expose this amazing story to the world, then just to see how split down the middle men vs. women are in regards to the outcome. You decide which way each sex falls. --Film Threat"

 

"'Raw Deal' is disturbing, utterly absorbing." --Miami Herald

 

"One of the most powerful docs I've ever seen." --Yahoo! Movies

[The Tott]

The War on Democracy is all about Americas involvement in the Latin American countries.

 

Its a real eye opener for the 9/11 mockers about just what America has been doing for decades now.

 

It shows what a bunch of arrogant arseholes the top people in the CIA etc are capable of doing,and how they will lie to the American public to achieve it.

 

It s a great watch but then most of John Pilgers docs are.

 

 

Watched this on the back of your recommendation. Superb documentary. Cheers.

[Bjornebye]

Been doing my head in this. It wasn't an Attenborough programme I saw before, it was a 3 part series called The Great Rift: Africa's Wild Heart that was on BBC 2 a few years ago. Very similar to the current series, it even had an elephant die in it. Using the same footage I reckon.

 

Nah it's new this one mate, how good is it. Never fails to deliver that bloke.

[Dr Nowt]

The War on Democracy is all about Americas involvement in the Latin American countries.

 

Presume it is but have watched a lot of Pilger's docs featuring America (funny that!) - is this the one where he interviews an ex-head of the CIA regards Chile, and while casually dismissing their involvement in Pinochet's ascension to bloodthirsty power via the overthrow of a democratically elected regime, the guy writes their former president Salvador Allende off as "whatsisname", to which Pilger shows memorably restrained indignation at the incredible arrogance and callousness on display? Moments like that in his films speak volumes.

 

'Palestine Is Still The Issue' is superb as well; his interview with an Israeli father, who's young daughter was killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber, is one of the most humane, moving and wise pieces of footage I've seen, given the circumstances.

 

And, of course, 'Year Zero'; entering Cambodia as an eye-witness journalist in the aftermath of the overthrow of Pol Pot's regime - voted one of the most influential documentaries of the 20th Century by the BFI. Stirring and brilliant stuff from one of the best.

[SCOUSE TAPAS]

Watched this on the back of your recommendation. Superb documentary. Cheers.

Glad you enjoyed it mate.

 

Pilgers documentaries are nearly all outstanding and saying that I think this is out there with the best ones ever made.

 

It shows you exactly that no matter who the president of America is there all following the same line and causing deaths and uprisings in other countries to get what they want.

 

It shows you exactly how the media is exploited even in other countries to achieve this as in Venezuela and Chevez.

 

It shows you in detail the lies they have told not only to th e American people but the world as well.

 

It s been going on for years from president to president all of them exactly the same following the same agenda.

 

Then you have the sheep all mocking people calling them conspiracy nutters and loons.

 

When infact them sheep have been getting bullshited by American governments and other governments for years through the use of the media.

[SCOUSE TAPAS]

Presume it is but have watched a lot of Pilger's docs featuring America (funny that!) - is this the one where he interviews an ex-head of the CIA regards Chile, and while casually dismissing their involvement in Pinochet's ascension to bloodthirsty power via the overthrow of a democratically elected regime, the guy writes their former president Salvador Allende off as "whatsisname", to which Pilger shows memorably restrained indignation at the incredible arrogance and callousness on display? Moments like that in his films speak volumes.

 

'Palestine Is Still The Issue' is superb as well; his interview with an Israeli father, who's young daughter was killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber, is one of the most humane, moving and wise pieces of footage I've seen, given the circumstances.

 

And, of course, 'Year Zero'; entering Cambodia as an eye-witness journalist in the aftermath of the overthrow of Pol Pot's regime - voted one of the most influential documentaries of the 20th Century by the BFI. Stirring and brilliant stuff from one of the best.

Yes it is that one.

 

Most of Pilgers are superb and yes I have also watched The Palestine and Cambodia ones as well.

 

 

There are some truely eye opening documentaries out there.

 

The war on democracy one was the first of pilgers to be shown in cinemas.

 

 

Akward winning journalist John Pilger examines the role of Washington in America's manipulation of Latin American politics during the last 50 years leading up to the struggle by ordinary people to free themselves from poverty and racism. Since the mid 19th Century Latin America has been the 'backyard' of the US, a collection of mostly vassal states whose compliant and often brutal regimes have reinforced the 'invisibility' of their majority peoples. The film reveals similar CIA policies to be continuing in Iraq, Iran and Lebanon. The rise of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez despite ongoing Washington backed efforts to unseat him in spite of his overwhelming mass popularity, is democratic in a way that we have forgotten or abandoned in the west. True Democracy being a solid 80% voter turnout in support of Chavez in over 6 elections

[chrisbonnie]

ive just finished watching the Donkey Kong documentary.

 

that was fucking excellent. Talk about a bunch of nerdy nay sayers. The corruption was unbelievable, yet so blatantly fucking obvious.

 

thats a 10/10 for me. Cheers for posting that up lads, excellent viewing!!

 

p.s, Fuck you Billy Mitchell

[REDTALISKER]

Storyville | Storyville: The House I Live In | Radio Times

 

I was going to start a new thread but as this thread was here I thought I would add to it. I havent as yet seen this but the director was on five live this week and it sounds worth watching. Just from the radio interview I learnt a few things I never knew. Apparently 25% of the worlds prison population are in US. 14% of drug users in the US are black but over 50% of those convicted in the US are black. From what I can gather the war on drugs is really a war against the poor in particularly the black community.

[VladimirIlyich]

Glad you enjoyed it mate.

 

Pilgers documentaries are nearly all outstanding and saying that I think this is out there with the best ones ever made.

 

It shows you exactly that no matter who the president of America is there all following the same line and causing deaths and uprisings in other countries to get what they want.

 

It shows you exactly how the media is exploited even in other countries to achieve this as in Venezuela and Chevez.

 

It shows you in detail the lies they have told not only to th e American people but the world as well.

 

It s been going on for years from president to president all of them exactly the same following the same agenda.

 

Then you have the sheep all mocking people calling them conspiracy nutters and loons.

 

When infact them sheep have been getting bullshited by American governments and other governments for years through the use of the media.

 

South Of The Border is decent but I've only seen bits of it due to not being able to get a decent copy of it.

[SCOUSE TAPAS]

South Of The Border is decent but I've only seen bits of it due to not being able to get a decent copy of it.

Not seen that I dont think I see if I can find anything thanks.

[VladimirIlyich]

Not seen that I dont think I see if I can find anything thanks.

 

Recommended by Stu or Section or LF to me a while ago and directed by Oliver Stone. Mainly about Chavez and the US distortion of him and his life.

[Guest San Don]

Not sure what its called, either Last or Lost Voices (of World War 1).

 

Its the memories of old soldiers who were all 100 years old or over, recounting their memories of friends and colleagues alongside them in the trenches. Often whole village's young men living, fighting and dieing alongside each other.

 

Very, very moving and a real eye opener.