Best Documentary
What's yours?
I'd have to say Children Underground simply because it's haunted me for YEARS but it also kept you glued to the set just hoping that things would turn out for them... I've stopped thinking about them. I mean, I have NOT stopped thinking about them. haha
Anyway, what's your favorite doc?
The Aristocrats.
This is Spinal Tap!
Original Post by bagga:
This is Spinal Tap!
You know what Bagga.. I have always hears so much about Spinal Tap and people couldn't believe that I had never seen it. I finally rented it a few months back and I didn't like it. I didn't know what the fuss was all about.. I think I only laughed once? :( I was disappointed.
But! Don't use that against me! I know MANY people love it!
The Fog of War or Spellbound
Original Post by jewelsmcblah:
I have a pitiful group for Doc film lovers for reccomendations and discussions and what not. But it's got no members.
Aww! I'll join your group!
Doesn't anybody like Ken Burns?
The dreaded double post.
Ok, I'm going to add Be Like Others to my list.. :)
dnrothx - I saw Spellbound, it was good..
I also saw Mad Hot Ballroom (below from IMDB)
"This is a heart warming and amusing documentary about a ballroom dancing competition between 11 year old students at several New York public schools where ballroom dancing is taught. The kids are taught to dance the merengue, tango, foxtrot and other steps. To merely say it was cute is an understatement.
It begins as the kids start to learn to dance, at first sometimes awkward and bashful, but by the end of the course the kids are transformed into "ladies and gentlemen" (as the teachers refer to them), miniature versions of accomplished ballroom dancers. The children take on many of the aspects of professional adult dancers, moving to the beat of the music, always smiling and making eye contact with their partners while they dance like pros."
Original Post by jules817:Parts were horrifying, such as them encouraging the children to approach strangers in DC or Ms. Fisher stating that she wants to raise an army of children who are willing to "die" for their beliefs just like ones in "other religions" do, or the agressive indoctrination into a politcal agenda moreso than a spiritual path.am i the only one who didn't find jesus camp funny? i just found it horrifying....
Other parts, however, are funny, like when they exorcise Satan from their Powerpoint software (now there's a big Bill Gate hasn't addressed yet!), pray over a cardboard cutout of George Bush(why not a cutout of Christ? It's not called "Dubya Camp".), or when Ted Haggard acts like a snippy queen to a 12 year old boy preacher he seems to feel threatened by. (keeping in mind this footage was taken about a year before Haggard was outed in that scandal.) Or the irony that this whole thing occurs at a place called "DEVIL'S Lake"
Original Post by jenniferthepennifer:
Original Post by bagga:
This is Spinal Tap!
You know what Bagga.. I have always hears so much about Spinal Tap and people couldn't believe that I had never seen it. I finally rented it a few months back and I didn't like it. I didn't know what the fuss was all about.. I think I only laughed once? :( I was disappointed.
But! Don't use that against me! I know MANY people love it!
LOL and Spinal Tap's not even a documentary! LOL How did I fall for that?
Original Post by silentdeadlyrose:
Has anyone seen the HBO documentary, "Thin?" I've always been curious to see it and was wondering if it was worth actually buying.
i've seen Thin. i wouldn't recommend buying it, but if you get a chance to see it for free, go for it (i think i caught it on cbc newsworld, so it's out there). it plays up the drama of inpatient treatment, and a friend of mine who has been in many ED facilities didn't like the treatment model that was being held up as exemplary.
honestly, from a voyeuristic perspective, it's interesting, but there's nothing particularly insightful about it.
double post
OH man, how could I forget Grizzly Man!! .. Talk about funny!
Bob - Never heard of Ken Burns..
Original Post by coffincritter:
(re: Jesus Camp)Other parts, however, are funny, like when they exorcise Satan from their Powerpoint software...
Or when Becky Fischer says "...had it been in the Old Testament, Harry Potter would have been put to death!"
My first thought to that was They put fictional characters to death in the Old Testament?
Supersize Me. That was a great documentary. It's also why I avoid fast food whenever possible.
Also, Bigger Stronger Faster, a documentary about steroid use and our childhood heroes, like Hulk Hogan.
The Civil War
Original Post by santonacciMy first thought to that was They put fictional characters to death in the Old Testament?I suppose the answer to that would depend upon how literally you take the Old Testament.
I was discussing the story of Job with a friend who was raised in a devout Baptist home, who told me his Sunday school teacher said that while the story of Noah actually happened, the story of Job was a metaphor. If that is the case, then I suppose you could say that when God kills Jobs family and field workers they were fictional characters.
That part always reminds me of a scene from the Simpsons where Ned Flanders is reading to his kids from a Harry Potter book, but obviously making up what the book says. He finishes with "...and Harry and his friends all died and burned in Hell for the sin of practicing witchcraft!" The boys say "Yay!" as Ned tosses the book into the fireplace.
What, you think the character is the New Testament aren't fictional? Oh, sorry, wrong thread.
Original Post by coffincritter:
...while the story of Noah actually happened, the story of Job was a metaphor. If that is the case, then I suppose you could say that when God kills Jobs family and field workers they were fictional characters.
I suppose one could say that - if they could find any logical justification for taking one story literally over the other.
Back on topic: One of the better documentaries I saw many years ago is called "The Mighty Mississippi" (narrated by Hal Holbrooke, which has a lot of great midwestern history in it. I particularly liked the parts about Mark Twain and The Sultana.
