Good documentaries
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[edit] 
Planet Earth (2006)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0795176/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt079517.
As the influence of man expands across the globe, fewer and fewer truly untouched wilderness exists. This series aims to use technology never used for nature programmes before to take us into these wildernesses and see the environment within them and the creatures that live there. Starting with a journey from one pole to the other, this series explores the extreme conditions of mountains (from the birth of one to the coldest of those existing), deserts, caves, oceans, fresh waters and others to present some of the most impressive footage ever seen in a nature documentary.
With a budget of about £40 million, the BBC were going to have to deliver something pretty special to avoid the usual accusations of waste tax payer's money, catering to a small audience etc etc. However with Planet Earth they have easily silenced the critics to present a nature programme that is interesting and education. The biggest selling point is the footage which, at its worst is impressive but at its best is simply breath-taking and actually had me saying "wow" at some points. I am not naturally a nature programme viewer but this show had me hooked from episode 1 where a quick glance at the opening minutes had me staying with it for the following eleven weeks. The footage is impressive and, although it is the weakest part of each hour, I did enjoy some of the "Planet Earth Diary" sections where we actually saw the technology, techniques and sheer trial of getting the views that we get. My words can't really do it justice but the series gives footage that you won't have seen anywhere else before – with episode 1 claiming that the footage of a pack of dogs hunting told experts things they hadn't previously known.
...
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/planet-earth/planet-earth.html
Saw on: 2007-01-19
[edit] 
The U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478049/
Source: Film: 2006: U.S. vs. John Lennon
[edit] The Laramie Project (2001)
Source: Film: 2001: The Laramie Project
[edit] Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judgment_at_nuremberg
The film examines the questions of individual complicity in crimes committed by the state. It is never propagandistic, and does not shy away from difficult issues. For example, defense attorney Hans Rolfe (Schell) raises such thorny issues as the support of the U.S. Supreme Court for the practice of eugenics, and Winston Churchill's words of praise for Adolf Hitler. One noteworthy scene is the testimony of Rudolph Petersen, a German civilian baker, who, considered mentally incompetent, was sterilized by the Nazis in accordance with their social laws. As played by Montgomery Clift, Petersen's nervousness about recounting the horrific tale of his past is visible from the start; he shifts and fidgets constantly on the stand and stammers in his speech. The tension is further amplified when he is cross-examined by defense attorney Rolfe, who reveals that Petersen was removed from school for an inability to learn and because his mother was also deemed mentally incompetent.
This was a very challenging and interesting dramatization of the post-World-War-II Nuremberg Trials. Challenging because it asks hard questions like are those who were just carrying out orders responsible for their actions [can phrase that better]?. The case wasn't simple, and it showed compelling arguments for both sides (prosecution and defense).
I agree with judge Dan Haywood's verdict in the end: guilty. And as he told Ernst Janning when he visited him in prison after the trial was over, "It [went that far] the first time you condemned someone to die who was innocent."
[edit] The Exodus Revealed: Searching for the Red Sea Crossing (2001)
Source: The Exodus Revealed: Searching for the Red Sea Crossing (2001)
[edit] Winged Migration (2001)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301727/
Beautiful scenery! Especially liked some of the shots with fog, water, and trees. Beautiful birds. Amazing how close up they got with their cameras while flying with the birds: you're right up in their faces as they're flapping their wings. A great variety of birds. The story of their amazing migration feat: some 2000 miles, some [20,000] miles (Arctic to Antarctica)!
I would have appreciated more commentary, so that I could learn facts about the birds, their behaviors, and their migratory patterns. It did at least give the name of the birds as text on the screen, along with where they're flying from and to and how many miles that is. The narration was too sparse and at times hard to understand (his accent).
[edit] Marche de l'empereur, La [March of the Penguins] (2005)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0428803/
[edit] When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (2006)
http://imdb.com/title/tt0783612/
"An examination of the U.S. government's role and its response to Hurricane Katrina." Specifically, in New Orleans.
I thought this was an eye-opening documentary. It certainly made me a lot more informed and sympathetic to the victims of the hurricane than I had been before.
To think that this tragedy happened within our own country is embarrassing and infuriating. The government (specifically, the Corps of Engineers, FEMA, and President Bush) failed its people and the result was thousands of unnecessary (preventable) deaths.
Corps of Engineers: They knew about the flaws of the "levee" for [20] years and the risks thereof, but did nothing to resolve them. It wasn't even a true levee, it sounded like, as levees aren't just walls: they are supposed to have an underground structure about as wide as the wall above it is tall. It sounded like they took that shortcut because they were too lazy to buy the land needed to have enough space to build the levee correctly. As one New Orleans resident so eloquently stated, ~"If they needed money or something, then they should have made some noise about it."
President Bush and FEMA: Forget the bureaucracy! Forget your pride. Admit that it's a national emergency. Respond immediately. Send generous aid and supplies. Accept help. The people needed water, food, a place to go to the bathroom, a place to stay, a way to evacuate. All of these things were extremely delayed at arriving and should have been provided much, much sooner.
Complaints:
- Some of the testimonies from residents were very emotional and the movie seemed to accentuate the emotional nature of these testimonies a bit too much, making me uncomfortable at times. For example, several times, someone was telling their story and then broke down and started crying. Instead of just cutting at that point, the director decided to keep rolling so that we could savor every awkward moment that followed.
- They showed lots of disfigured and dead bodies. Again, the emotional appeal of such sights seemed a bit excessive. It was disturbing (probably as the director intended).
- Lots of foul language... although I admit that some of it was pretty appropriate or funny at times.
- They re-used some of the same people perhaps a little more often than they should have. For example, those 2 ladies who were drinking and were shown in front of the remains of one of their houses.
[edit] Mystery of the Nile (2005)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444673/
Somewhat disappointing. Too short. Seems like if they spent 4 months (or however long) making the trek they should have more than 47 minutes to show for it. In general, the scenery wasn't as pretty as I'd expected, although there were exceptions.
I did enjoy much of it: Seeing people from different cultures (not enough though). Beautiful shots from the helicopter -- especially of the falls. Some excitement with crocodiles and hippos.
Video entertainment edit (Category edit)
