Viewed in
2010
Premise
A documentary about the 2003 World Air Guitar Championships, the first time U.S. contestants attended.
Loved
The rock music.
Liked
The goofy charm.
Disliked
The bad volume issues.
Thoughts
A nice, goofy, and rockin' documentary.
It had a good story, centered around C-Diddy and Bjorn Turoque's rivalry as they attempted to be America's first world champion. On a side note, speaking as an arrogant American, how dare they hold such a competition without even inviting the country that invented rock and roll?
All the interviews were entertaining. The contestants were dorky and charming onstage and off the stage. My favorite moments were the uncut performance footage of Diddy and Turoque. Last but not least, there was awesome rock music going on throughout the film.
My biggest problem was volume of the film. During the whole time, the dialogue was too quiet and the music was too loud. Either I was blowing out my ears, or struggling to tweak the volume up and down.
I had fun getting exposed to this goofy subculture. This would be a fun film for families, if it was not for the explicit lyrics... and the naked air guitarist. That was disturbing.
Now if you'll excuse me, time for some "Rock Band" video gaming!
What I would change
Fixed the volume imbalance.
Showing posts with label documentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label documentary. Show all posts
Aliens of the Deep
Viewed in
2007
Premise
James Cameron and scientists do some deep ocean diving to observe strange creatures.
Who should watch
Those who want to see some cool deep sea creatures in HD.
Thoughts
For those unfamiliar with chemosynthesis, this might be a nice eye-opener. For those who are aware of such animals, the 90% HD footage might be worth your time. Thankfully, the movie isn't too long.
I wished there was more footage of different animals. A large portion of the time were spent on sulfur-eating shrimp, mainly because they're easy to find.
The cool thing was that they brought in scientists with astronomy backgrounds to study these animals. I agree that observing life far-removed from typical land life would be beneficial to anticipating alien lifeforms.
However, they didn't seem to go into much detail about how. I don't know if it was because there wasn't much to study. So while James Cameron said that was what they wanted to accomplish, I don't think they did.
What I would change
Ditched the unnecesary, expensive CGI 'imaginary' aliens. I'd rather use my imagination.
2007
Premise
James Cameron and scientists do some deep ocean diving to observe strange creatures.
Who should watch
Those who want to see some cool deep sea creatures in HD.
Thoughts
For those unfamiliar with chemosynthesis, this might be a nice eye-opener. For those who are aware of such animals, the 90% HD footage might be worth your time. Thankfully, the movie isn't too long.
I wished there was more footage of different animals. A large portion of the time were spent on sulfur-eating shrimp, mainly because they're easy to find.
The cool thing was that they brought in scientists with astronomy backgrounds to study these animals. I agree that observing life far-removed from typical land life would be beneficial to anticipating alien lifeforms.
However, they didn't seem to go into much detail about how. I don't know if it was because there wasn't much to study. So while James Cameron said that was what they wanted to accomplish, I don't think they did.
What I would change
Ditched the unnecesary, expensive CGI 'imaginary' aliens. I'd rather use my imagination.
The Announcement
Viewed in
2012
Formats
HDTV w/ commercials
Premise
A documentary about Magic Johnson's experience before, during, and after being diagnosed with HIV in 1991.
Loved
Story-telling, compelling topics, emotional moments.
Liked
Wealth of interviews.
Thoughts
As a big Lakers fan, this was really emotional for me. But I have a feeling I would've been impacted no matter if I was a sports fan or not.
I was really young back then, and rumors and misinformation were spread pre-internet. Thanks to the honest interviews from teammates, coaches, family, I have been better educated about Magic's past. Even though I lived in the epicenter, there was still much that I learned, such as Len Rosen the friend (instead of just an agent), Karl Malone's truthfulness about his then-thought process, and Cookie's admirable resolve.
While such an era now feels as archaic as Salem Witch Trials, the film makers did a great job of illustrating how ignorant our society was about HIV, AIDS, and gays. Magic's decision to make his battle public was truly a game-changer.
While homosexuality was not a direct theme in Magic's saga, it was still a factor in the HIV world, and I agreed with Bill Simmons in pointing out that the documentary glossed over how even Magic succumbed to the unintentional gay-bashing back then. Specifically, the moment when Arsenio Hall asked him if he was gay, he replied no, and the audience applauded as if he was disease-free.
The Announcement was an incredible journey, emotionally, personally, and historically.
2012
Formats
HDTV w/ commercials
Premise
A documentary about Magic Johnson's experience before, during, and after being diagnosed with HIV in 1991.
Loved
Story-telling, compelling topics, emotional moments.
Liked
Wealth of interviews.
Thoughts
As a big Lakers fan, this was really emotional for me. But I have a feeling I would've been impacted no matter if I was a sports fan or not.
I was really young back then, and rumors and misinformation were spread pre-internet. Thanks to the honest interviews from teammates, coaches, family, I have been better educated about Magic's past. Even though I lived in the epicenter, there was still much that I learned, such as Len Rosen the friend (instead of just an agent), Karl Malone's truthfulness about his then-thought process, and Cookie's admirable resolve.
While such an era now feels as archaic as Salem Witch Trials, the film makers did a great job of illustrating how ignorant our society was about HIV, AIDS, and gays. Magic's decision to make his battle public was truly a game-changer.
While homosexuality was not a direct theme in Magic's saga, it was still a factor in the HIV world, and I agreed with Bill Simmons in pointing out that the documentary glossed over how even Magic succumbed to the unintentional gay-bashing back then. Specifically, the moment when Arsenio Hall asked him if he was gay, he replied no, and the audience applauded as if he was disease-free.
The Announcement was an incredible journey, emotionally, personally, and historically.
Aristocrats, The
Viewed in
2007
Premise
A documentary on the the dirtiest joke ever.
Who should watch
Comedy fans. Those who think Bob Saget is clean.
Thoughts
Very entertaining and funny. Make sure you have a stomach for jokes of incest, fecal matter and bestiality. The editing ensured that it wasn't just comedians saying the same joke one after another.
What I did not like was the editing within the individual interviews. The DVD contains unabridged interviews. After watching that, I felt cheated and manipulated. As for the DVD, I highly recommend checking out Gilbert Gottfried and Bob Saget's interviews.
What I would change
Less trick editing.
2007
Premise
A documentary on the the dirtiest joke ever.
Who should watch
Comedy fans. Those who think Bob Saget is clean.
Thoughts
Very entertaining and funny. Make sure you have a stomach for jokes of incest, fecal matter and bestiality. The editing ensured that it wasn't just comedians saying the same joke one after another.
What I did not like was the editing within the individual interviews. The DVD contains unabridged interviews. After watching that, I felt cheated and manipulated. As for the DVD, I highly recommend checking out Gilbert Gottfried and Bob Saget's interviews.
What I would change
Less trick editing.
Band That Wouldn't Die, The
Viewed in
2009
Premise
Part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series, Barry Levinson explores Baltimore from 'The Move' to the Ravens, through the eyes of the Baltimore Colts Marching Band.
Who should watch
Anyone with a heart.
Thoughts
This was an excellent, emotional film.
First off, this was an amazing story, and Levinson was able to show all aspects of it. I laughed at the funny anecdotes of how the band uniforms were saved before the move and smoldered at Robert Irsay's abuses. The irony of Art Modell being sympathetic to the band, then later ripping the hearts out of Cleveland was astounding.
I liked all off the interviews, especially Jim Irsay's honesty. He did not apologize nor rationalize his father's follies in the whole saga.
The film did an excellent job of portraying the love the city had for the team and the band. A great story about determination and heart.
What I would change
I know it's an ESPN co-production, but do you really have to use the technicolor-ed footage of The Greatest Game Ever Played? The vintage black-and-white would have added to the legendary aura of the Baltimore Colts.
2009
Premise
Part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series, Barry Levinson explores Baltimore from 'The Move' to the Ravens, through the eyes of the Baltimore Colts Marching Band.
Who should watch
Anyone with a heart.
Thoughts
This was an excellent, emotional film.
First off, this was an amazing story, and Levinson was able to show all aspects of it. I laughed at the funny anecdotes of how the band uniforms were saved before the move and smoldered at Robert Irsay's abuses. The irony of Art Modell being sympathetic to the band, then later ripping the hearts out of Cleveland was astounding.
I liked all off the interviews, especially Jim Irsay's honesty. He did not apologize nor rationalize his father's follies in the whole saga.
The film did an excellent job of portraying the love the city had for the team and the band. A great story about determination and heart.
What I would change
I know it's an ESPN co-production, but do you really have to use the technicolor-ed footage of The Greatest Game Ever Played? The vintage black-and-white would have added to the legendary aura of the Baltimore Colts.
Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest
Viewed in
2012
Formats
DVD
Premise
A documentary about A Tribe Called Quest.
Liked
Everything.
Thoughts
I'm actually not familiar with A Tribe Called Quest, so I found this very educational.
Director Michael Rapaport did a great job of getting the four members to be candid and unfiltered on camera. The subject and characters were compelling, so he just kept a steady hand, letting the personalities, interviews and footage do the story-telling.
In the end, I got a great feel for their music, each member's thought processes, their personalities, and the group's influence on hip hop. I also got to know Q-Tip and Phife, and how their relationship evolved over the year, no sugar-coating, no sensationalizing.
I think all music fans should check Beats, Rhymes & Life: A Tribe Called Quest out. I learned a lot about them and learned to appreciate them as artists, pioneers, and people.
2012
Formats
DVD
Premise
A documentary about A Tribe Called Quest.
Liked
Everything.
Thoughts
I'm actually not familiar with A Tribe Called Quest, so I found this very educational.
Director Michael Rapaport did a great job of getting the four members to be candid and unfiltered on camera. The subject and characters were compelling, so he just kept a steady hand, letting the personalities, interviews and footage do the story-telling.
In the end, I got a great feel for their music, each member's thought processes, their personalities, and the group's influence on hip hop. I also got to know Q-Tip and Phife, and how their relationship evolved over the year, no sugar-coating, no sensationalizing.
I think all music fans should check Beats, Rhymes & Life: A Tribe Called Quest out. I learned a lot about them and learned to appreciate them as artists, pioneers, and people.
Being Elmo
Viewed in
2012 (2)
Formats
Netflix streaming (Xbox 360)
Premise
A documentary about Kevin Clash, the man behind Sesame Street's Elmo.
Loved
Everything.
Thoughts
What made this great was its journey of Kevin Clash as an artist and a fan. We got to see some fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the Jim Henson workshops, from Sesame Street to The Muppets to Labyrinth. At the same time, the film had great heart, as it showed the magic of Jim Henson's genius and impact through the eyes of one of his biggest fans.
I was truly astounded by how much footage they had of Kevin in his early years. One could be skeptical in noticing how convenient that the cameras were for the first time he met Kermit Love and such. Personally, I'm not cynical about all the amazing videos of him performing. They just helped to tell a wonderful story of success.
Even if you're a casual Henson fan, I highly recommend Being Elmo. It's interesting and emotional, especially experiencing a glimmer of Jim Henson's legacy through Clash's eyes. Had I watched it sooner, I might've chosen it as my favorite documentary of 2011.
2012 (2)
Formats
Netflix streaming (Xbox 360)
Premise
A documentary about Kevin Clash, the man behind Sesame Street's Elmo.
Loved
Everything.
Thoughts
What made this great was its journey of Kevin Clash as an artist and a fan. We got to see some fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the Jim Henson workshops, from Sesame Street to The Muppets to Labyrinth. At the same time, the film had great heart, as it showed the magic of Jim Henson's genius and impact through the eyes of one of his biggest fans.
I was truly astounded by how much footage they had of Kevin in his early years. One could be skeptical in noticing how convenient that the cameras were for the first time he met Kermit Love and such. Personally, I'm not cynical about all the amazing videos of him performing. They just helped to tell a wonderful story of success.
Even if you're a casual Henson fan, I highly recommend Being Elmo. It's interesting and emotional, especially experiencing a glimmer of Jim Henson's legacy through Clash's eyes. Had I watched it sooner, I might've chosen it as my favorite documentary of 2011.
Best That Never Was, The
Viewed in
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series, a documentary about highly recruited college football player Marcus Dupree.
Loved
The footage, the wealth of interviews.
Thoughts
What was so fascinating to me was all the themes his journey encapsulated. It was like watching Ricky Williams's eccentricity, LeBron James's high school fame, Josh Luchs damning portrayal of collegiate sports, and sports media frenzy, all rolled into one. If that was not interesting enough, director Jonathan Hock fit in the racial tensions/history/connections of Dupree's home town as nice bookends to the story.
To help tell this compelling story, Hock got tons of amazing footage of Dupree's high school and college days, detailed interviews from friends and family, and of course, direct conversations with the subject himself. Dupree came off as a fascinating kid, now a wise man who was open and at peace with all the positive/negative events that transpired earlier in life. Personally, I found his love for his brother to be the most touching part.
I also enjoyed the interviews with his "adversaries", coach Barry Switzer and agent Ken Fairley. It was good to hear their sides of the story. Their conversations added depth and complexity in Dupree's journey.
Lastly, I wanted to touch on the vintage footage. Watching him obliterate opponents All-Madden style truly justified the hyperbole that was given to his skills and talents. Equally fascinating (in a sad way) was watching his abilities diminish as his lack of conditioning and injuries took a toll.
As someone completely unaware of Marcus Dupree, this was a complete package that told an interesting story about an interesting athlete, while sadly reminding us that sometimes sports and life are not independent of each other.
What I would change
Nothing.
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series, a documentary about highly recruited college football player Marcus Dupree.
Loved
The footage, the wealth of interviews.
Thoughts
What was so fascinating to me was all the themes his journey encapsulated. It was like watching Ricky Williams's eccentricity, LeBron James's high school fame, Josh Luchs damning portrayal of collegiate sports, and sports media frenzy, all rolled into one. If that was not interesting enough, director Jonathan Hock fit in the racial tensions/history/connections of Dupree's home town as nice bookends to the story.
To help tell this compelling story, Hock got tons of amazing footage of Dupree's high school and college days, detailed interviews from friends and family, and of course, direct conversations with the subject himself. Dupree came off as a fascinating kid, now a wise man who was open and at peace with all the positive/negative events that transpired earlier in life. Personally, I found his love for his brother to be the most touching part.
I also enjoyed the interviews with his "adversaries", coach Barry Switzer and agent Ken Fairley. It was good to hear their sides of the story. Their conversations added depth and complexity in Dupree's journey.
Lastly, I wanted to touch on the vintage footage. Watching him obliterate opponents All-Madden style truly justified the hyperbole that was given to his skills and talents. Equally fascinating (in a sad way) was watching his abilities diminish as his lack of conditioning and injuries took a toll.
As someone completely unaware of Marcus Dupree, this was a complete package that told an interesting story about an interesting athlete, while sadly reminding us that sometimes sports and life are not independent of each other.
What I would change
Nothing.
Beyond the Mat
Viewed in
2001
Premise
A documentary about the life of pro wrestlers when they are not in the ring.
Who should watch
Fans of professional wrestling.
Thoughts
There was some good stuff about the business. It did not glamorize nor berate the business. Like any other show business, there were plenty of hard-working dream-chasers climbing an incredibly competitive mountain just for their moment of glory. I enjoyed the rare footage from the lesser known and international wrestling arenas.
What was disappointing was the lack of WWE content. Understandably, WWE probably wanted to keep their footage for themselves. However, it was like watching a documentary about American Football without using NFL clips.
What I would change
It needed more WWE footage.
2001
Premise
A documentary about the life of pro wrestlers when they are not in the ring.
Who should watch
Fans of professional wrestling.
Thoughts
There was some good stuff about the business. It did not glamorize nor berate the business. Like any other show business, there were plenty of hard-working dream-chasers climbing an incredibly competitive mountain just for their moment of glory. I enjoyed the rare footage from the lesser known and international wrestling arenas.
What was disappointing was the lack of WWE content. Understandably, WWE probably wanted to keep their footage for themselves. However, it was like watching a documentary about American Football without using NFL clips.
What I would change
It needed more WWE footage.
Birth of Big Air
Viewed in
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series, a documentary about extreme sports star Mat Hoffman's Big Air ramp.
Loved
Brutal honesty of the injuries, vintage footage.
Thoughts
As a casual X Games viewer, this film was very engrossing.
First off, this was a great historic piece for me. The information was in depth and well-explained thanks to testimonies from Hoffman, his family and friends and peers. In addition, there was tons of cool video of Hoffman on his bicycle doing tricks and attempting giant ramps. I got to learn about the evolution of this sport.
The other great thing was that this was not a simple puff piece. There were countless shots of Hoffman getting seriously injured. Some were a bit queasy. He, his family, and his doctors pulled no punches on how dangerously close he was to death and the uncertainty of his future health. Things climax as his injuries clash against his desire to conquer the 20 foot ramp.
Thanks to the honesty and wealth of info, this was very educational and entertaining. It made me really appreciate the origins one of my favorite X Games events.
What I would change
Nothing.
2010
Formats
HD TV
Premise
Part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series, a documentary about extreme sports star Mat Hoffman's Big Air ramp.
Loved
Brutal honesty of the injuries, vintage footage.
Thoughts
As a casual X Games viewer, this film was very engrossing.
First off, this was a great historic piece for me. The information was in depth and well-explained thanks to testimonies from Hoffman, his family and friends and peers. In addition, there was tons of cool video of Hoffman on his bicycle doing tricks and attempting giant ramps. I got to learn about the evolution of this sport.
The other great thing was that this was not a simple puff piece. There were countless shots of Hoffman getting seriously injured. Some were a bit queasy. He, his family, and his doctors pulled no punches on how dangerously close he was to death and the uncertainty of his future health. Things climax as his injuries clash against his desire to conquer the 20 foot ramp.
Thanks to the honesty and wealth of info, this was very educational and entertaining. It made me really appreciate the origins one of my favorite X Games events.
What I would change
Nothing.
Black Magic
Viewed in
2008
Premise
A documentary about the impact of black colleges, their coaches and players on basketball.
Who should watch
Anyone who cares about the history of basketball.
Thoughts
An incredibly in-depth documentary.
The best part of the film was all the amazing, untold stories. I was enlightened by the prolific coaching tree and pioneering influence of the late great John McLendon. Turns out fans of 'Seven Seconds or Less' was derived from his basketball philosophy.
I learned about McLendon (including a weird chapter with George Steinbrenner), Ben Jobe, 'Big House' Gaines, Bob Love and Pee Wee Kirkland. I got to know better Jon Chaney and Earl 'The Pearl' Monroe. Lastly, I was saddened by the lost career of Cleo Hill.
Another great reason to watch this was the vintage footage from the 1940's to present day. My favorite was Monroe being a god among men on the court. Based on I would argue that he is the most underrated great player.
My recommendation is to watch this in two or three sittings. Not only was it nearly four hours long, but the documentary was told in that fashion. So there were some repeating clips and narration.
Anyone who claims to love basketball need to do two things. Read Terry Pluto's 'Loose Balls' and this film.
What I would change
Reduced the time spent on well-known stories, such as the Willis Reed game, since most basketball fans are aware of those. This made the documentary a little meandering.
2008
Premise
A documentary about the impact of black colleges, their coaches and players on basketball.
Who should watch
Anyone who cares about the history of basketball.
Thoughts
An incredibly in-depth documentary.
The best part of the film was all the amazing, untold stories. I was enlightened by the prolific coaching tree and pioneering influence of the late great John McLendon. Turns out fans of 'Seven Seconds or Less' was derived from his basketball philosophy.
I learned about McLendon (including a weird chapter with George Steinbrenner), Ben Jobe, 'Big House' Gaines, Bob Love and Pee Wee Kirkland. I got to know better Jon Chaney and Earl 'The Pearl' Monroe. Lastly, I was saddened by the lost career of Cleo Hill.
Another great reason to watch this was the vintage footage from the 1940's to present day. My favorite was Monroe being a god among men on the court. Based on I would argue that he is the most underrated great player.
My recommendation is to watch this in two or three sittings. Not only was it nearly four hours long, but the documentary was told in that fashion. So there were some repeating clips and narration.
Anyone who claims to love basketball need to do two things. Read Terry Pluto's 'Loose Balls' and this film.
What I would change
Reduced the time spent on well-known stories, such as the Willis Reed game, since most basketball fans are aware of those. This made the documentary a little meandering.
Born Into Brothels
Viewed in
2007
Premise
A documentary about a photographer's attempt to help Indian prostitutes' children (ignored by their society) through photography.
Who should watch
Depends, if you're a half-empty or half-full person.
Thoughts
This was an emotional roller coaster. Given the subject, I was afraid of being depressed throughout the entire film. But like all great films, they can inspire. The film swings back and forth from the absolute joy of watching a child's mind and imagination at work to the devastating harshness of their reality and situation. There was a nerve-wracking moment when the photographer tries to get these kids into school, but they have to take an HIV test before they're admitted.
As a person, it was maddening and see there are parts of this world that caste children simply because of where they were born. One cannot help sorry for them, and admire them. They have seen more pain in their childhood and as the females get older, they inch closer to force prostitution. Yet, under all that, they still maintain their innocence and smiles. But for how long?
What I would change
Nothing.
2007
Premise
A documentary about a photographer's attempt to help Indian prostitutes' children (ignored by their society) through photography.
Who should watch
Depends, if you're a half-empty or half-full person.
Thoughts
This was an emotional roller coaster. Given the subject, I was afraid of being depressed throughout the entire film. But like all great films, they can inspire. The film swings back and forth from the absolute joy of watching a child's mind and imagination at work to the devastating harshness of their reality and situation. There was a nerve-wracking moment when the photographer tries to get these kids into school, but they have to take an HIV test before they're admitted.
As a person, it was maddening and see there are parts of this world that caste children simply because of where they were born. One cannot help sorry for them, and admire them. They have seen more pain in their childhood and as the females get older, they inch closer to force prostitution. Yet, under all that, they still maintain their innocence and smiles. But for how long?
What I would change
Nothing.
Bowling for Columbine
Viewed in
2011
Formats
TV
Premise
A documentary by Michael Moore about the Columbine shootings and guns in American society.
Liked
The vast topics that he covers.
Thoughts
I have a queasy stomach, so it was really hard for me to watch raw footage of the shootings, and an assortment of graphic gun violence caught on tape.
Moore basically did a good job of letting the story tell itself. He pulled some stunts, such as the uncomfortable confrontation with Charlton Heston, but the message came across clearly. I liked that we got to see a personal side of him, as his home state of Michigan was a part of the tragedies he talked about.
Another thing I enjoyed was how he kept trying to ties things up to the big picture. The film gave numerous history lessons, with topics about media tactics, civilian prejudice, and America's foreign policy that might not seem related to Columbine on paper. These moments were definitely educational, and helped me keep things in perspective and open-minded.
Obviously, an agenda-ed documentary like this needed stats to support its argument. But the stat for number of people killed by guns per country was a bit unfair. Not surprisingly, the figures for the United States was staggeringly large, but in the back of my mind, I wondered if the gap between us and other countries would be less had it been converted to a population percentage.
It was interesting that Columbine is not as prominent of a subject as the title suggested. In context of the film, that probably was a good idea. After all, it had been covered ad nauseum. An exploration into why Americans tend to shoot each other more often than other developed countries was definitely more worthwhile than retracing two troubled teenagers and the people they hurt.
Overall, Bowling for Columbine was a pretty intelligent film. Moore's presence was not annoying, and I learned some good points of views about the subject. He did not simplistically bash the Second Amendment, but just questioned its role in modern society. As an essay, it could have been tighter, but I liked all the different angles that he explored, showing a nuanced discussion about such a polarizing topic.
What I would change
Omitted explicit footage of gun violence.
2011
Formats
TV
Premise
A documentary by Michael Moore about the Columbine shootings and guns in American society.
Liked
The vast topics that he covers.
Thoughts
I have a queasy stomach, so it was really hard for me to watch raw footage of the shootings, and an assortment of graphic gun violence caught on tape.
Moore basically did a good job of letting the story tell itself. He pulled some stunts, such as the uncomfortable confrontation with Charlton Heston, but the message came across clearly. I liked that we got to see a personal side of him, as his home state of Michigan was a part of the tragedies he talked about.
Another thing I enjoyed was how he kept trying to ties things up to the big picture. The film gave numerous history lessons, with topics about media tactics, civilian prejudice, and America's foreign policy that might not seem related to Columbine on paper. These moments were definitely educational, and helped me keep things in perspective and open-minded.
Obviously, an agenda-ed documentary like this needed stats to support its argument. But the stat for number of people killed by guns per country was a bit unfair. Not surprisingly, the figures for the United States was staggeringly large, but in the back of my mind, I wondered if the gap between us and other countries would be less had it been converted to a population percentage.
It was interesting that Columbine is not as prominent of a subject as the title suggested. In context of the film, that probably was a good idea. After all, it had been covered ad nauseum. An exploration into why Americans tend to shoot each other more often than other developed countries was definitely more worthwhile than retracing two troubled teenagers and the people they hurt.
Overall, Bowling for Columbine was a pretty intelligent film. Moore's presence was not annoying, and I learned some good points of views about the subject. He did not simplistically bash the Second Amendment, but just questioned its role in modern society. As an essay, it could have been tighter, but I liked all the different angles that he explored, showing a nuanced discussion about such a polarizing topic.
What I would change
Omitted explicit footage of gun violence.
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story
Viewed in
2010
Formats
DVD
Premise
A documentary about the Sherman brothers, composers of many great Disney musicals from the 1960's.
Loved
The footage showing how the brothers worked together.
Liked
The music, the interesting dynamic between them.
Thoughts
It was a surprisingly compelling story, and the film makers did good job of telling it.
With a wealth of archived footage and in depth interviews, including Robert and Richard themselves, the film gave me a very good idea about the brothers' early years, their days at Disney, and how two people so in sync in creating art could be so far apart in life. By telling the story chronologically and clearly, I was able to understand the brothers' personalities, lifestyles, and complexities in their relationships.
At the same time, it was a celebration of their accomplishments. Beforehand, I was not aware of just how important they were to the success of Disneyland, Mary Poppins, or other Disney animated musicals. In fact, a great deal of time was spent on the creation process of the Julie Andrews masterpiece. My favorite parts were when the film talked about how catchy and annoying "It's a Small World (After All)" is, and the footage/explanation of how the brothers operated when they wrote music. I did not realize that they also contributed to non-Disney titles like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Snoopy Come Home.
By the end, I learned to appreciate the Sherman brothers' craft and influence, as well as the documentary's nostalgic trip. It also helped me further admire the depth and complexity in Mary Poppins's music.
What I would change
Nothing.
2010
Formats
DVD
Premise
A documentary about the Sherman brothers, composers of many great Disney musicals from the 1960's.
Loved
The footage showing how the brothers worked together.
Liked
The music, the interesting dynamic between them.
Thoughts
It was a surprisingly compelling story, and the film makers did good job of telling it.
With a wealth of archived footage and in depth interviews, including Robert and Richard themselves, the film gave me a very good idea about the brothers' early years, their days at Disney, and how two people so in sync in creating art could be so far apart in life. By telling the story chronologically and clearly, I was able to understand the brothers' personalities, lifestyles, and complexities in their relationships.
At the same time, it was a celebration of their accomplishments. Beforehand, I was not aware of just how important they were to the success of Disneyland, Mary Poppins, or other Disney animated musicals. In fact, a great deal of time was spent on the creation process of the Julie Andrews masterpiece. My favorite parts were when the film talked about how catchy and annoying "It's a Small World (After All)" is, and the footage/explanation of how the brothers operated when they wrote music. I did not realize that they also contributed to non-Disney titles like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Snoopy Come Home.
By the end, I learned to appreciate the Sherman brothers' craft and influence, as well as the documentary's nostalgic trip. It also helped me further admire the depth and complexity in Mary Poppins's music.
What I would change
Nothing.
The Captains
Viewed in
2012
Formats
Netflix streaming (Xbox 360)
Premise
William Shatner interviews all the actors who've played starship captains in the Star Trek franchise.
Liked
Parts of the interviews.
Hated
Sloppy storytelling, annoying score.
Thoughts
As a fan, I really wanted to like The Captains, but found it a meandering bore.
Obviously, it was cool to see him talking to all the captains from each series, one-on-one. The most interesting conversations involved topics like the actors' hesitations to attend conventions, the dislike of being known just for their captain role, and the hardships of shooting their series. I also got a glimpse of each actor's personalities.
Unfortunately, as a whole, the narrative was all over the map, which is probably what a conversation with Shatner would be like. I frankly could care less about their life philosophies nor anything unrelated to acting/Roddenberry's creation. Same for the Chris Pine interviews, who I'm sure is a fine fellow, but at the time of this documentary, had only one Star Trek film under his belt and had very little to offer.
Shatner the personality was fun. Shatner the writer/director/interviewer was not. He was too close to the subject to help mold a coherent, interesting narrative to the fascinating subject. There were bizarre editing choices left and right, and he kept interjecting himself during each conversation, coming off as a control freak diva. Music choice and placement was super distracting as well.
Even for hardcore Star Trek fans, I'm on the fence to recommend it. There was some nice nostalgia and nuggets of insight, but unfortunately, Captain Kirk could not steer this vessel into the territory of a fascinating story to an interesting subject.
2012
Formats
Netflix streaming (Xbox 360)
Premise
William Shatner interviews all the actors who've played starship captains in the Star Trek franchise.
Liked
Parts of the interviews.
Hated
Sloppy storytelling, annoying score.
Thoughts
As a fan, I really wanted to like The Captains, but found it a meandering bore.
Obviously, it was cool to see him talking to all the captains from each series, one-on-one. The most interesting conversations involved topics like the actors' hesitations to attend conventions, the dislike of being known just for their captain role, and the hardships of shooting their series. I also got a glimpse of each actor's personalities.
Unfortunately, as a whole, the narrative was all over the map, which is probably what a conversation with Shatner would be like. I frankly could care less about their life philosophies nor anything unrelated to acting/Roddenberry's creation. Same for the Chris Pine interviews, who I'm sure is a fine fellow, but at the time of this documentary, had only one Star Trek film under his belt and had very little to offer.
Shatner the personality was fun. Shatner the writer/director/interviewer was not. He was too close to the subject to help mold a coherent, interesting narrative to the fascinating subject. There were bizarre editing choices left and right, and he kept interjecting himself during each conversation, coming off as a control freak diva. Music choice and placement was super distracting as well.
Even for hardcore Star Trek fans, I'm on the fence to recommend it. There was some nice nostalgia and nuggets of insight, but unfortunately, Captain Kirk could not steer this vessel into the territory of a fascinating story to an interesting subject.
Catching Hell
Viewed in
2011
Formats
HDTV (w/ commercials)
Premise
A documentary about sports scapegoats, focusing on Steve Bartman and Bill Buckner.
Loved
The attention to detail of the foul ball and the aftermath in those seats.
Liked
Use of Buckner as a contrast.
Thoughts
Quite a riveting doc.
The breakdown of when Bartman touched the ball and the immediate aftermath was exhaustive and compelling. Director Alex Gibney explored numerous aspects of how such a typical event became a perfect storm of irrational and embarrassing tide of sports fandom. I really liked all the angles that I never thought about, from the seven-second delay in Bartman's headset, to Moises Alou's immediate reaction, to the really interesting way how animosity originated from the crowd outside of the stadium, then seeped into the stadium.
All of this fascinating phenomenon would not have been captured had it not been for all the interviews with everyone around Bartman, including a pub owner who probably would've been the scapegoat had it not been for the wind. More importantly was the really good fan footage from people in that section. It was haunting to see these never-before-seen angles. Gibney used these to show how different things felt in the bleachers, and how the vitriol actually took time to develop.
Not surprisingly, Bartman refused to interview. But actually, this seemed to make the film better. Here was this poor fan caught in the storm, mysterious and aloof. As the subject of the documentary, his absence was just as mysterious, aloof and compelling. I loved the testimony of a writer who was assigned to hunt down Bartman for an interview.
Gibney wanted to explore the theme of scapegoats in sports. While it made sense to use Bartman and Bill Buckner as main subjects, I was disappointed that he did not take a wider look at it, with other incidents or sports. I don't think he was intentionally exploiting those two, but he could've done a more comprehensive job on that topic. I learned a lot of details, but I didn't learn anything about sports scapegoats.
Having said that, the Buckner stuff was equally intriguing. It was a great contrast and comparison to Bartman. It definitely put things in context with his experience and the Red Sox pre-2004 and post-2007. I was never a big baseball person, but the footage of his return to Fenway in 2008 was quite emotional and awesome.
I think even casual sports fans will find Catching Hell film enlightening and engaging, thanks to the Zapruder-like analysis of the foul ball and very thorough examinations of what Bartman and Buckner experienced.
What I would change
Nothing.
2011
Formats
HDTV (w/ commercials)
Premise
A documentary about sports scapegoats, focusing on Steve Bartman and Bill Buckner.
Loved
The attention to detail of the foul ball and the aftermath in those seats.
Liked
Use of Buckner as a contrast.
Thoughts
Quite a riveting doc.
The breakdown of when Bartman touched the ball and the immediate aftermath was exhaustive and compelling. Director Alex Gibney explored numerous aspects of how such a typical event became a perfect storm of irrational and embarrassing tide of sports fandom. I really liked all the angles that I never thought about, from the seven-second delay in Bartman's headset, to Moises Alou's immediate reaction, to the really interesting way how animosity originated from the crowd outside of the stadium, then seeped into the stadium.
All of this fascinating phenomenon would not have been captured had it not been for all the interviews with everyone around Bartman, including a pub owner who probably would've been the scapegoat had it not been for the wind. More importantly was the really good fan footage from people in that section. It was haunting to see these never-before-seen angles. Gibney used these to show how different things felt in the bleachers, and how the vitriol actually took time to develop.
Not surprisingly, Bartman refused to interview. But actually, this seemed to make the film better. Here was this poor fan caught in the storm, mysterious and aloof. As the subject of the documentary, his absence was just as mysterious, aloof and compelling. I loved the testimony of a writer who was assigned to hunt down Bartman for an interview.
Gibney wanted to explore the theme of scapegoats in sports. While it made sense to use Bartman and Bill Buckner as main subjects, I was disappointed that he did not take a wider look at it, with other incidents or sports. I don't think he was intentionally exploiting those two, but he could've done a more comprehensive job on that topic. I learned a lot of details, but I didn't learn anything about sports scapegoats.
Having said that, the Buckner stuff was equally intriguing. It was a great contrast and comparison to Bartman. It definitely put things in context with his experience and the Red Sox pre-2004 and post-2007. I was never a big baseball person, but the footage of his return to Fenway in 2008 was quite emotional and awesome.
I think even casual sports fans will find Catching Hell film enlightening and engaging, thanks to the Zapruder-like analysis of the foul ball and very thorough examinations of what Bartman and Buckner experienced.
What I would change
Nothing.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Viewed in
2012
Formats
Netflix streaming (XBOX 360)
Premise
Werner Herzog's documentary about the Chauvet cave drawings, the oldest of its kind.
Loved
The subject.
Liked
First hour.
Thoughts
It was interesting, thanks to the fascinating subject, and the amazing access to such an incredible piece of history. As expected, Herzog's quirky, hyperbolic narration added a fun style to it. But he also did a thorough job of educating me about the drawings, scientifically and artistically. I could really feel some mystical, spiritual aura permeating through the screen.
Where the film loses steam was the third act. After all, how many times could you see the same set of paintings before it got repetitive? The annoying trippy music didn't help either.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams definitely had some mind-boggling, historically-haunting visuals, and worth checking out. I heard the 3D version was well-done, so I'm bummed it missed it.
2012
Formats
Netflix streaming (XBOX 360)
Premise
Werner Herzog's documentary about the Chauvet cave drawings, the oldest of its kind.
Loved
The subject.
Liked
First hour.
Thoughts
It was interesting, thanks to the fascinating subject, and the amazing access to such an incredible piece of history. As expected, Herzog's quirky, hyperbolic narration added a fun style to it. But he also did a thorough job of educating me about the drawings, scientifically and artistically. I could really feel some mystical, spiritual aura permeating through the screen.
Where the film loses steam was the third act. After all, how many times could you see the same set of paintings before it got repetitive? The annoying trippy music didn't help either.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams definitely had some mind-boggling, historically-haunting visuals, and worth checking out. I heard the 3D version was well-done, so I'm bummed it missed it.
Charismatic
Viewed in
2011
Formats
HDTV w/ commercials
Premise
A documentary about the race horse Charismatic and his troubled jockey, Chris Antley.
Thoughts
Meh. I thought it was a pretty standard sports doc.
The movie did its homework on the Charismatic and Chris Antley's background, as well as play-by-play of their bid for the Triple Crown. My favorite part was the nerve-wracking twist at the end.
Having said that, I didn't find it all that interesting or significant. Granted I'm not a horse-racing fan. However, neither the characters nor the subject was compelling enough to seem to justify a documentary.
What I would change
No idea.
2011
Formats
HDTV w/ commercials
Premise
A documentary about the race horse Charismatic and his troubled jockey, Chris Antley.
Thoughts
Meh. I thought it was a pretty standard sports doc.
The movie did its homework on the Charismatic and Chris Antley's background, as well as play-by-play of their bid for the Triple Crown. My favorite part was the nerve-wracking twist at the end.
Having said that, I didn't find it all that interesting or significant. Granted I'm not a horse-racing fan. However, neither the characters nor the subject was compelling enough to seem to justify a documentary.
What I would change
No idea.
Cosmos: A Personal Voyage
Viewed in
2012
Formats
Netflix streaming
Premise
Carl Sagan's 13 episode epic series about stars and stuff.
Loved
Clear demonstrations.
Liked
Sagan's weird speech pattern, wealth of knowledge.
Disliked
Meandering story-telling.
Hated
Laughable spaceship of the imagination.
Thoughts
A little dated, but still worth watching once.
While it had the slow pace of an 1980's science series, it was chock full of information about the universe, large and small. As a part-time science buff, some of it I already knew. Some of the info was very outdated due to technology or new discoveries. But there was still a decent percentage of interesting science that was news to me.
Sagan, as narrator/presenter/teacher, was sufficiently uneven. His quirky delivery of speech gave the series a sense of personality. He did a brilliant job of illustrating and demonstrating various, complex abstract ideas, theories and laws. On the other hand, his eye-roll-inducing "spaceship of the imagination" was hilariously bad in today's sensibilities.
Personally, I hated the meanderings. His insistence on telling each scientific figure's entire life-story was truly boring. I was more interested in the science-y stuff, and could care less about Kepler's kid. Apparently, the special effects were quite ground-breaking back then, but not anymore.
Based on its outdated information, sloth-like pace, and pointless detours, Cosmos could really use a revamp. Still, for astronomy fans, I would consider it in the pantheon of must-see.
The Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson update/sequel is most welcome in my opinion. No one can replicate Sagan's quirky style, but Tyson's charm ain't no slouch.
2012
Formats
Netflix streaming
Premise
Carl Sagan's 13 episode epic series about stars and stuff.
Loved
Clear demonstrations.
Liked
Sagan's weird speech pattern, wealth of knowledge.
Disliked
Meandering story-telling.
Hated
Laughable spaceship of the imagination.
Thoughts
A little dated, but still worth watching once.
While it had the slow pace of an 1980's science series, it was chock full of information about the universe, large and small. As a part-time science buff, some of it I already knew. Some of the info was very outdated due to technology or new discoveries. But there was still a decent percentage of interesting science that was news to me.
Sagan, as narrator/presenter/teacher, was sufficiently uneven. His quirky delivery of speech gave the series a sense of personality. He did a brilliant job of illustrating and demonstrating various, complex abstract ideas, theories and laws. On the other hand, his eye-roll-inducing "spaceship of the imagination" was hilariously bad in today's sensibilities.
Personally, I hated the meanderings. His insistence on telling each scientific figure's entire life-story was truly boring. I was more interested in the science-y stuff, and could care less about Kepler's kid. Apparently, the special effects were quite ground-breaking back then, but not anymore.
Based on its outdated information, sloth-like pace, and pointless detours, Cosmos could really use a revamp. Still, for astronomy fans, I would consider it in the pantheon of must-see.
The Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson update/sequel is most welcome in my opinion. No one can replicate Sagan's quirky style, but Tyson's charm ain't no slouch.
Dave Chappelle's Block Party
Viewed in
2005
Premise
Dave Chappelle hosts a music festival.
Who should watch
Music fans. Dave Chappelle fans.
Thoughts
Basically, it was a really cool music concert film. The lineup was insanely good and Dave Chappelle was entertaining as usual as host of the festival and the film. It had a relaxed style that did not butcher the music by going MTV on us.
What I would change
Nothing wrong with more music.
2005
Premise
Dave Chappelle hosts a music festival.
Who should watch
Music fans. Dave Chappelle fans.
Thoughts
Basically, it was a really cool music concert film. The lineup was insanely good and Dave Chappelle was entertaining as usual as host of the festival and the film. It had a relaxed style that did not butcher the music by going MTV on us.
What I would change
Nothing wrong with more music.
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