Could anyone recommend any excellent documentaries?

[gpapag]

Not exactly documentaries, but when they will relase the pre 1998 audio material it will be a good place for intellectual "what's in people minds" entertainment.

BBC - Desert Island Discs - History of the show

Regards
George

[jerryo]

"Closer to the Edge" a new film in 3-D about the TT motorcycle races in the Isle of Man mainly following Guy Martin's exploits. Great fun.

[tunneldiode]

I'm a bit of a documentary fan.
Especially anything science/technology/electronics related.

My recommendations as follows:-

'The Secret War' based on the book by Prof. R.V. Jones.
Nothing else I've watched comes anywhere close.

BBC 'Horizon' especially:-

'Now The Chips are Down'
'Better Mind The Computer'
'Microworld'

There has been a real dumbing-down in documentary making in recent years.

'All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace' has been a breath of fresh air.

[thadman]

I can recommend two philosophical documentaries (presented in the lecture format) I came across on Netflix.

Nietzsche and the Nazis, A Personal View by Stephen Hicks, PhD.

-and-

Joseph Campbell - Sukhavati, A Mythic Journey.

Also, although not necessarily a "documentary" per say, I very much enjoyed a program recently aired on C-SPAN3.

"The Bay of Pigs", A John F. Kennedy Presidential Library panel discussion about the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba by CIA-trained Cuban exiles.

Any thoughts on how to locate more programs like the aforementioned online? or any ones to recommend? I quite enjoy the lecture format.

I really wish programming like this was more popular. If University professors provided a lecture series in the video format (similar to the first two I mentioned) and made those videos easily accessible online, many more people could become familiar with their ideas. If people were impressed with that professor, they may be motivated to purchase a book they have written (simply to support the author, not necessarily because they wanted a physical copy). I know many college students who hold this philosophy with respect to music. They hear the band online and if they like them, they might buy merchandise or purchase their CD. In addition, education in American society could skyrocket.

[Luke352]

Originally Posted by ByronInLawrence

Everyone is just raving about the documentary about one platoon's tour in Afghanistan, "Restrepo", but I've not seen it yet.

.

I've seen that it was quite good, there was also a doco on Foxtel called Inside the Green Berets, National Geographic basically sent a film crew to a remote SF base and they filmed the actions of the soldiers there for a period of time may have been a week which is unheard of. It was very good but you can really tell the difference between the intelligence and professionalism of the regular grunts in Restrepo and the SF soldiers in ITGB.

[JRace]

Originally Posted by ByronInLawrence

I enjoyed "Touching the Void" and "Man on Wire" also.

Forgot about Man on Wire

Great doc that guy is nuts

[danfo098]

BBC docu-drama about the American/Soviet space race in four parts.

Space Race (TV series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[thadman]

these are currently available on netflix, I found them particularly excellent and can recommend them all. very informative. (I found the foreign documentaries in this list, in general, superior.)

History:


Ken Burns - The Civil War (1990)

This documentary masterpiece from Ken Burns depicts the strategies and action of famous Civil War battles, and relates the stories of generals, field soldiers, politicians, heroes and a beleaguered president. The Emmy-winning miniseries begins by looking at the factors that led to the firing on Fort Sumter, and covers specific notable battles, climaxing with Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender and Pres. Abraham Lincoln's assassination.


Russian Revolution in Color (2007)

The Russian Revolution brought about the end of the reign of the czars and saw the rise of communism. This compilation of rarely seen color and colorized footage brings the reality of the civil war vividly to life. Noted historians offer their insights on these events that occurred nearly a century ago, events that paved the way for the formation of the Soviet Union and still resonate today.


Italian Fascism in Color (2007)

Using period letters, secret memos, rare archival footage and expert interviews, this documentary traces the rise of Mussolini's fascist Italian government after World War I to its violent downfall in the throes of World War II. This penetrating exploration of Il Duce's rule reveals why his efficient administration was initially admired across the globe as well as the reasons his growing allegiance with Nazi Germany sealed his fate.

^This is poorly edited so it can be frustrating to watch. However, it does have some interesting footage and a good amount of information.


Triumph of the Will (Triumph des Willens) (1934)

Leni Riefenstahl's infamous propaganda film documenting the Third Reich's 1934 Nuremberg Party Rally features a cast of thousands -- including Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Joseph Goebbels, Rudolf Hess, Hermann Goering and other top officials. Images of cheering crowds, precision marching, military bands, banners lining Nuremberg's streets and Hitler's climactic speech illustrate with chilling clarity how Germany fell under his spell.


The Architecture of Doom (Undergångens Arkitektur) (1991)

This chilling documentary explores how artistic, cultural and historical trends forged the National Socialist aesthetic, which in turn contributed to the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust. Swedish-born filmmaker Peter Cohen, whose parents escaped the Nazis, examines Hitler's failed career as an artist, his fascination with Wagner, the Nazi obsession with cleanliness, the paradoxical link between "beauty" and evil in the Third Reich, and more.


The Goebbels Experiment (Das Goebbels-Experiment) (2005)

Reading from the diaries kept by Third Reich propagandist Joseph Goebbels between 1924 and 1945, Kenneth Branagh brings the infamous Nazi spin doctor to life, all the way up to his suicide at the end of World War II. Using this primary source material as their canvas, filmmakers Lutz Hachmeister and Michael Kloft paint a portrait of a 20th century figure who was sometimes a success, sometimes a failure and always fascinating.


The Sorrow and the Pity (1972)

Directed by Marcel Ophüls, this Oscar-nominated documentary looks at life in Nazi-occupied France, shattering the fable of a unified and universal resistance movement under the Vichy regime in World War II. A tableau of archival footage, newsreels, clips from the anti-Semitic 1940 drama Jew Süss and an extensive assortment of interviews, the film paints an illuminating portrait of French complicity in the Holocaust.


The Eye of Vichy (1993)

Directed by French filmmaker Claude Chabrol, this documentary examines Nazi and Vichy newsreels and propaganda films from World War II meant to turn the French against the Jews and the Allied Forces and into Nazi sympathizers. Chabrol deftly probes how the media was used to manipulate the French, and asks how history's outcome could have been different had the enemies succeeded.


Battle for Warsaw (2004)

The tragic story of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising (in which 250,000 Poles died fighting the occupying Nazi forces) is chronicled in this filmed record of the epic event. With some shocking new footage unearthed from the vaults, this documentary is an indispensable guide to the horrific events that unfolded. Listen to eyewitness accounts and view haunting depictions of mass graves and troops storming into the beleaguered country.


Radio Bikini (1987)

Nominated for an Academy Award, this documentary tells the eye-opening story of Bikini Atoll -- one of the most terrifying tragedies of the nuclear age. The peaceful Pacific island was the unwitting site of atomic bomb tests conducted by the United States in 1946; extraordinary archival footage reveals the stark reality of these tests, which left the island uninhabitable for 40 years and exposed thousands of sailors to heavy doses of radiation.


Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie (1995)

Using jaw-dropping footage that was previously classified by the U.S. government, this fascinating documentary compiled by special effects filmmaker Peter Kuran and narrated by William Shatner chronicles the development of the atomic hydrogen bomb. Highlights include an underwater detonation of an atomic bomb designed to test the effect of the blast on ships at sea, as well as an interview with nuclear weapons developer Edward Teller.


Battle for Dien Bien Phu (1986)

In a gruesome 1953-54 battle, Gen. Giap and his Vietminh army defeated French troops led by Gen. Navarre. This documentary examines the decisive battle from both sides through archival footage and contributions by French and Vietnamese survivors. The program looks at how guerilla tactics employed by the Vietminh at Dien Bien Phu, as well as a false sense of pride on the side of the French, helped to set the course of the Vietnam War.


Winter Soldier (1972)

Banned by network television when released, this daring 1972 documentary examines reports of atrocities committed by U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War. Using the 1971 Detroit Winter Soldier Investigation as its basis, the film features interviews with Vietnam veterans who saw or participated in the crimes paired with footage of the war. The film serves as a permanent reminder of the tragic effects of war and the human capacity for cruelty.


--- --- --- --- ---


Miscellaneous:


Man with the Movie Camera (1929)

Cinema pioneer Dziga Vertov's controversial 1929 film still pulses with energy, innovation and genius. This landmark silent masterpiece from the Soviet avant-garde director stylishly highlights the buzz of everyday city life (shops, traffic, children, coal miners, nature) as seen through the eyes of a roving cameraman. Many filmic devices are used to comment on vision, life, Marxism and modernity in the Soviet Union.


Microcosmos (1996)

Employing unique microscopic cameras and powerful specialized microphones, this highly praised French documentary is a fascinating look at the seldom-explored world of insects and other minute creatures as they go about their daily lives. With footage of ladybugs feasting and snails mating to a mystical score by composer Bruno Coulais, the film won five César Awards, including Best Cinematography and Best Music.

[benb]

In reference to "The Wrecking Crew" there's another one documenting pop music of the era, this one came out a decade ago. I've not seen it but it has to be good: "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown"

Of perhaps more current interest is the life and work of Ray Kurzweil and his thoughts on the future of technology and humanity in "Transcendent Man:"
Transcendent Man
If you've read his book "The Singularity Is Near" (as I have) there won't be much that's a surprise - otherwise it may be a teaser enough to get you to read the book.
ETA: Yep, I already mentioned it in #47. I've seen it on Netflix since then - maybe because I've seen so many online video interviews with him already, but the movie actually seemed a bit "pedestrian" to me.