Ok so by popular request here is the thread for chatting about documentaries.

I don't really like any so Im not putting them down roflmao

Im not sure if its a documentary, but i flicked over to a movie once called Without Warning, and it was about some meteors had fallen to Earth, and the worlds scientific community came to realise it was aliens----but it was filmed in documentary style, like just news bulletins and interviews with the public throughout. If i didnt know i was watching sky movies, i would have believed what i was seeing, which is bad because they blew the world up at the end!!!but it was a cracking film. Ive searched in shops all over but never seen it though

Spinal Tap:lol:

That was a good Rockamentary . ;)
Apparently it was based on the heavy metal group Saxon... :blink:

roflmao

:clap:

loved the little stonehenge... and all the exploding drummers :D

Best in Show and The mighty wind (?) other good mockumentaries by Christopher Guest (the former about Dog Shows, the lattter about Folk Bands..)

Some great documentaries:


Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room(2006)

Excellent outlining of the Enron scandal, helping to demystify the labyrithine world of corporate finance.. Compelling and frankly quite horrifying account of what some can get away with if their lies are big enough and told with sufficient conviction. And a lesson in not believing what you read.


An Inconvenient Truth(2006)

Effectively a televised version of Al Gore's lecture on Global Warning. He has given this lecture many times, all over the world, and it has become a finely honed, crystal clear outline of the environmental issues that really need to be addressed asap. Enjoyed the film, and was then lucky enough to meet him just a few hours later.

When We Were Kings(1997)

I'm not a boxing fan, but this is a fantastic account of the 'Rumble in the Jungle' between Mohmmed Ali and George Foreman, back in 1974. It had originally been due to be released as a concert film until the film makers realised that the big fight also going on in the Congo was much bigger. So, it is also interdispersed with amazing footage of live performances of Glady Knight, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and of course some memorable quips from Ali.


Other good documentaries include:

Winged Migration(film about migrating birds)
March of the Penguins
Spellbound(children's 'spelling bee' contest in the USA)
Buena Vista Social Club (Ry Cooder doc about a group of musicians in Cuba)


There used to be many good documentaries on UK TV.. but I think that it is more likely to see them at the cinema these days..

It's been so long since I've seen it . . . .

But I liked the part about their special amplifiers. Other band's amps only went up to 10, but theirs had an 11. :D

roflmao roflmao

I'd forgotten that bit! I havent seen it for ages either - must make a special effort to watch it soon :)

the last spinal tap I saw was not very pleasant :blink:

*makes wish to Santa for the version Pebs is talking about*

I liked Morgan Spurlock's 'Supersize Me" where he ate MacDonalds crap for a month or whatever. I think that did a public service cos if it hasnt; put you off Maccy D and other crap fast food, then there is clearly no hope! :rolleyes: It was alarming to see the effects on hsi body, inc his liver, and it mad eme feel sick. I've never like dMaccy D's as the food is expensive, unsatisfying and poor quality and bland IMO but I wont; eat there again after this. He did concern me though that he carried on even though the doctor told him to quit.

I've just got a book called Fast Food Nation and that is quite shocking too. If I had my way I'd close Maccy Ds and all those awful places down, they are making a fortune out rubbish food and damaging health. I'm nto against fast food, but it doesnt; haev to be unhealthy, disgusting and provided by huge corporations liek this. They put all the decent samll places out fo business and occupy all the prime sites in towns and on the motorways, and that really annoys me as it limits choice.

I'm also concerned that a recent survey in the Uk shoed that somethign liek 90% of under 7s (I think so dont; quote me) can spell Mac's name but not their own name.

I remember that bit ! B)

I know, that film is hilarious. I forget the guy's name who was in it, but he's a nutter - he was on R2 the other week and he was hilarious. He's a Lord or Baron or something like that and married to Jamie Lee Curtis. Anyone know?

There's an absolutely brilliant documentary called Grizzly Man, about a guy called Timothy Treadwell who spent every single summer for 16 years living with Grizzly bears in Alaska - kind of trying to bring attention to the animals or something. For the last few years he filmed himself, and the director got hold of the videos, as well as interviewing his friends and family to find out why he decided to do what he did.

I'm not giving too much away to say that Timothy was killed by a grizzly (strange that :blink: ) - it tells you at the beginning of the film, and knowing that makes it strangely poignant but oddly amusing at other points. The guy's a nutcase.....but it's a really brilliant film!!!

Touching the Void-A brilliant film,documentary about two climbers who conquer Siula Grande in Peru,one of the most dangerous climbs in the world.

Simon Yates&Joe Sampson scale the summit,and one of them breaks their leg on the descent,and after a tragic accident which leaves one of them dangling over an edge,he is cut away by his colleague,and this is where the remarkable story takes on epic proportions,which would rival any plot to come out of Hollywood.

ahhh DJ I missed that at the weekend, but recorded the repeat last night.

Haven't viewed it yet, but understand him and his girlfriend were killled (and eaten) by the bears. Tragically hightlights the dangers of taking a wild animal of that nature for granted. I understand many experts from the animal kingdom thought he was a complete crazy.

Anyway will let you know what I think when have viewed it all.

oh that is superb, have seen it a number of times.

Think it is on over Xmas.

Oh superb,I haven't seen it in a while :ok:

United 93-This may prove to be difficult to watch for some,but I found this to be essential viewing.Very moving,and horrifying,but a film full of courage.
As you know this tells the story of flight United93 which never reached it's target of crashing into The White House,in Sept 2001.

This film feels very real,helped by the fact that some key roles are played by the actual people on the day in question.Mixed in with unknown actors,gives you a plot driven experience.
I have long admired ordinary people who do extraordinary things,and this film personifies that.

I'd like to see that. I imagine it s harrowing in many ways, but thank god we are allowed to make films about reality these days and that political censorship is less than it used to be. It' simportant to see things form other perspectives and for all involved.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Farenheit 911on here. Whatever people's view of it ( I've not seen the whol ething yet but some clips I've seen have been very sharp) what a clever name for it, it comes from the sci fi classisFarenheit 451 cant; remember the damned number! it's by a French Director (Trufaut or the other big one whose name escapes me) and it's about a society where books are banned and the title is the temperature at which books are burned. Great idea.

Yes, it was directed by Truffaut, a remake is being made by Frank Darabont, the guy who directed The Shawshank Redemption. The film is based on the book by Ray Bradbury. Apparently, Bradbury was not very pleased with Michael Moore for using the name of his book without asking him for permission - he called him a "screwed a***hole" :)

Anyway, that reminds of the little-known sci-fi film called Equilibrium starring Christian Bale. The plot is quite similar to Fahrenheit 451, its set in a dystopian society where all emotions are suppressed by the use of a drug and all books, art etc. are considered dangerous and destroyed. Its been a couple of years since I saw it but I think there's a scene in which they burn the Mona Lisa. It has quite a few fight sequences which are very Matrix-like and a very unusual gunfight at the end.