Great Documentaries

[sl1k]

Who doesn't love a good, well produced, informative documentary? Loads of people probably, but they don't matter

Whether it be conspiracy theories, tech, society, history, wild life, survivalists living off of shit & piss (etc) - there's always fascinating - and disturbing - knowledge to pick up. Please feel obliged ( ) to share ones that had you intrigued.

I'll drop two here.

The Choice is Ours

"The most pressing issues facing humankind today - from climate change to widespread crime to financial calamity to the rapidly depleting natural resources of our planet - take center stage in The Choice is Ours, but they're approached from a refreshingly unique perspective. This elegantly produced film promotes our capacity to invoke positive change in the world, and considers the behavioral and cultural shifts which must take place to make this possible."

^ It covers loads of topics relevant to us and our future as a people. Really brings home the reality that is our finite planet, and just how much influence powerful businessmen/corporations have on our society.

Blood and Oil

"How did the Western world become so engaged in the Middle East? Why did the Ottoman Empire - now known as the Middle East become involved with World War I which was a European affair?

Anyone interested in learning and understanding the timeline of events that has lead us to the modern day conflict in the Middle East, should watch this film created by Marty Callaghan. 'Blood and Oil' is a detailed account about the motivation behind the birth of the Middle Eastern nations and the insatiable greed for oil."

^ Is quite long, but pretty essential for those who'd like to know the finer historical details to reasons why the middle east is the way it is.

 

[Tilbury]

This led me to a whole load of mountaineering documentaries, fascinating subject.

 

[Mustard]

The Act of Killing

Documentary from Josh Oppenheimer (and produced by, amongst others, Errol Morris and Werner Herzog) about the Indonesian coup of 1965. The documentary follows the celebrated mass murderer Anwar Congo, a leading member of one of the anti-communist death squads, in his quest to re-enact his crimes for the creation of a film.
____________________________________________________________________________

Jiro Dreams of Sushi

From David Gelb, Jiro is widely considered the world's greatetest sushi chef who is in constant search of perfecting his craft. Also follows his two sons, the eldest of whom is the heir to his father's restaurant and faces the near impossible of matching him.

 

[Modernist]

I love documentaries, prefer them to movies. The following are the ones that spring to mind, all excellent.

The Thin Blue Line
investigation into the 1976 roadside shooting of a Texas cop and the wrongful conviction of one Randall Adams
Hoop Dreams
One of the greatest sporting documentaries ever.
Harlan County U.S.A.
Oscar-winning documentary film covering the "Brookside Strike",[1] an effort of 180 coal miners and their wives against the Duke Power Company
Brothers keeper
murder trial of Delbert Ward.
Capturing the Friedmans
1980s investigation of Arnold and Jesse Friedman for child molestation.

 

[sl1k]

Modernist I'm like that myself in regards to the preference of a good documentary over movies.

Sticking to the theme of society and government, I'm going to drop another two docs.

The first will explore how post-war American politicians used Sigmund Freud's (the founder of pschoanalysis) ideas about the unconscious mind to try and control the masses. The second, is from a different series of docs but will elaborate on the first in a more modern and relevant context.

The Manufacturing/Engineering of Consent

^ It is the second segment of a series called "The century of the self".

Rule From The Shadows - The Psychology of Power

^ From the YouTube channel "StormCloudsGathering". Alot of interesting stuff there.

"The pursuit for dominance is the primary propellant of history, always has been, always will be. Those who don't identify this assumption are not excused in the grand chess game, but instead are displaced and exploited by forces they do not comprehend."

 

[Gilly?]

97% Owned
In depth look at the monetary system. There's alot of iinformation to take in but it gives you an insight into who really runs the country.

 

[SUTSS]

The Two Escobars is a must watch for anyone with an interest in South America or football.

 

[Aberstone]

The Two Escobars is a must watch for anyone with an interest in South America or football.

Seconded. ESPN's 30-for-30 documentary series I can not recommend highly enough.

 

[SALTIRE]

Always liked the Horizon episode telling the story of how Prof. Andrew Wiles proved Fermat's Last Theorem after it stumping the greatest mathematical minds for 400 years. Not quite as good as Singh's book on the subject, but its still a fine insight into the scientific method, approach, trials and tribulations, and finally success, which must feel tremendous and is what good science is all about.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0074rxx/horizon-19951996-fermats-last-theorem

 

[Benito]

 

[Posh Hammer]

Paradise Lost: The Robin Hood Hills Murders

Phenomenal crime documentary. This is the first of three. I promise you, if you are into crime investigation/death row etc, you have to watch this.

Each one is around two hours long, but all actual court footage is included which is great!

 

[spireite]

David Starkeys 'Monarchy' is brilliant if you're interested in the the history of the British monarchy. Available on Netflix. Once you start watching it you'll realise why I recommend it.

 

[spireite]

This is brilliant by the way. I've watched them all before

 

[Gladders]

Love the nature ones especially Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Frozen Planet. Good to see they are filming a new one called Our Planet too, unfortunately not out till 2019 but will be shown on Netflix which is good news.

Also like the Wonders series with Brian Cox

 

[Gladders]

David Starkeys 'Monarchy' is brilliant if you're interested in the the history of the British monarchy. Available on Netflix. Once you start watching it you'll realise why I recommend it.

Can't find this on Netflix, is it not on the UK one?

 

[spireite]

Can't find this on Netflix, is it not on the UK one?

Try changing to US mate, I used that one. The Chrome add on Hola does the trick

 

[SALTIRE]

David Starkeys 'Monarchy' is brilliant if you're interested in the the history of the British monarchy. Available on Netflix. Once you start watching it you'll realise why I recommend it.

That guys a prick, after what he said about Scotland. I like history docs a lot though, except when they put hammy actors in to play roles of historical characters when the narrator is talking - what is the point of that, it looks cheesy and is patronising.

 

[Gladders]

Try changing to US mate, I used that one. The Chrome add on Hola does the trick

Ok cheers i have a VPN so don't need hola

 

[spireite]

Ok cheers i have a VPN so don't need hola

Okay cool me too, I just thought I'd suggest the free way lol. Give it a go anyway.

 

[Benito]

 

[SUTSS]

That guys a prick, after what he said about Scotland. I like history docs a lot though, except when they put hammy actors in to play roles of historical characters when the narrator is talking - what is the point of that, it looks cheesy and is patronising.

Starkey's just generally a horrible person. He does make pretty good documentaries though.

 

[SALTIRE]

Starkey's just generally a horrible person. He does make pretty good documentaries though.

Yeah I'll begrudgingly give him that, and I used to watch a lot of his stuff when he first started doing the history docs, but then he started spouting pejorative shite on Question Time and in the papers about various things including Scotland, and I vowed never to watch or listen to him again.

 

[Modernist]

Dear Zachary - another incredible documentary.

 

[Nilsson]

Dear Zachary - another incredible documentary.

That one has always stuck in my mind, an absolute whirlwind of a documentary.

I watched 'Going Clear' last night, Alex Gibney's film on Scientology. A good background on L. Ron Hubbard and some interesting accounts from ex-members. Some funny/weird stuff on Cruise and Travolta too. Definitely worth a watch.

 

[SALTIRE]

Pretty thoughtful doc on BBC3 (yes thats BBC3!) tonight about Yank Teen Killers in their own words, and how their actions have affected them, their families and their victims families. The interviewees were very articulate and mostly accepted the pain they and suffering they had caused, and talked about how they had to come to terms with themselves with what they did.

It also had interviews with the perpetrators families showing the shame and grief they themselves had and it was very powerful stuff indeed at times.

Worth a watch.

 

[Womble98]

Pretty thoughtful doc on BBC3 (yes thats BBC3!) tonight about Yank Teen Killers in their own words, and how their actions have affected them, their families and their victims families. The interviewees were very articulate and mostly accepted the pain they and suffering they had caused, and talked about how they had to come to terms with themselves with what they did.

It also had interviews with the perpetrators families showing the shame and grief they themselves had and it was very powerful stuff indeed at times.

Worth a watch.

the videos of them planning it are fucking horrendous.

 

[SALTIRE]

the videos of them planning it are fucking horrendous.

Is that in the first 30 minutes, I missed that and only saw the last 30? The doc makers are covering it all then. I don't think I'd like to watch those planning parts though.

 

[Womble98]

Is that in the first 30 minutes, I missed that and only saw the last 30? The doc makers are covering it all then. I don't think I'd like to watch those planning parts though.

Yep, the two guys sit in the school library making a kill list. They then rationalise her murder by saying sacrifices have to be made. One of the guys originally wanted to do something columbine inspired but was encouraged by the other to do something like 'Scream', never seen it. They laugh about what they are going to do and say the thought of it 'makes me horny'.

Incidentally I won't be getting any sleep tonight.

 

[SALTIRE]

Yep, the two guys sit in the school library making a kill list. They then rationalise her murder by saying sacrifices have to be made. One of the guys originally wanted to do something columbine inspired but was encouraged by the other to do something like 'Scream', never seen it. They laugh about what they are going to do and say the thought of it 'makes me horny'.

Incidentally I won't be getting any sleep tonight.

Glad I missed that.

 

[Nath]

Just watched The Cove.

Excellent documentary. Shocking what still happens in Taiji, even six years after the documentary was made