Favorite documentaries - Page 4 - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

TripletDaddy · 05-07-2008, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

Is it really a documentary if the director makes no attempt to be objective?

I think I went over this one with Rocky before.

A documentary does not have to be objective. In fact, most are not. They all contain some sort of agenda or message, even if it is not political.

A documentary simply documents that which is noteworthy.

Thus, when people complain that Michael Moore's documentaries are biased, they are basically saying, "Hey, I have never taken a basic film studies class."

il Padrino Ute · 05-07-2008, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

I think I went over this one with Rocky before.

A documentary does not have to be objective. In fact, most are not. They all contain some sort of agenda or message, even if it is not political.

A documentary simply documents that which is noteworthy.

Thus, when people complain that Michael Moore's documentaries are biased, they are basically saying, "Hey, I have never taken a basic film studies class."

I don't remember you teaching Rocky this. And I've never studied film.

I've just thought that a documentary tells it like it is, not told how the directer thinks it is.

Jeff Lebowski · 05-07-2008, 02:46 AM

Thanks to everyone for some excellent recommendations.

Jeff Lebowski · 05-07-2008, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelBlue

I own your #2 and thought it was excellent. I have no earthly idea why that was rated R, do you? The entire film is climbing scenes.

Intensity? Who knows.

It's an incredible story.

Jeff Lebowski · 05-07-2008, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

Ha. reading each other;s minds, I see.

Good call on Dogtown and Z Boys.

I LOVE that one. So cool to see the birth of skate culture in SoCal and how it spread.

Directed by Stacy Peralta. I will definitely check it out.

Jeff Lebowski · 05-07-2008, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiteRider

The 'American Experience' series on PBS is consistently excellent.

Definitely agree.

Jeff Lebowski · 05-07-2008, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpfunk

I think leaving Ken Burns out is the right thing to do. I haven't seen his other documentaries but I wouldn't bother after watching the horrible disservice he did to jazz with that piece of crap hack job documentary on jazz. I would have been fine it the documentary was "Jazz According to an Incredibly Narrow Minded View of Reactionary Jackasses."

It's a shame you haven't seen his other documentaries. They are very, very good.

il Padrino Ute · 05-07-2008, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

It's a shame you haven't seen his other documentaries. They are very, very good.

I agree. Jazz was awful but his others have been terrific.

Surfah · 05-07-2008, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cougjunkie

How about Michael Jordans: Come fly with me?

Is that considered a documentary? I love that movie.

I used to watch that one all the time. I think I got it with my subscription to SI or something.

Good call on Hoop Dreams whoever said that. Great movie.

Jennerstein · 05-08-2008, 10:31 AM

Of the documentaries I've seen recently, I enjoyed Spellbound, the King of Kong, and New York Doll. I watched New York Doll in the theater at the UCI Edwards cinema and really liked it how it captured the Mormon experience.

There was also a documentary on Vietnam that I watched for my History of Civ class at BYU. The class had optional movie days on Friday, and most of the class went because the film choices were so interesting (Manon of the Spring, Wings of Desire, etc). I don't remember which Vietnam collection it was. There were a few DVDs, and I snoozed through some of it.

We sat down one Friday to watch one of the later chapters. The first footage we saw was of a Vietcong getting executed pointblank range, the body falling to the floor with blood squirting out of his temple like a fountain.

It was the most disturbing thing that I'd ever seen. All the R-rated shootings, stabbings, beheadings that I'd previously viewed were under the supposition that it was fake Hollywood acting. This was something completely different. It was my first time seeing video of a real human being executed.

As soon as that clip ended, the professor (Professor Keele) immediately stopped the film. He'd forgotten that the beginning of that chapter contained such footage. He apologized profusely for not giving us prior warning of the graphic nature of the video.

Now that I think about it, I'm grateful for the maturity of the students in that class. We accepted the professor's apology and continued withthe rest of class. To my knowledge, there weren't any BYU students that complained about the footage. I've known a few students/members who would have made a big fuss if they'd seen something like that while attending the Y.

There was a lot of good class discussion that day too about war and its effects. It was definitely a memorable college experience.

Below is the closest thing on Amazon I could find. I'm not sure if that's what we watched in class, but based on the users comments, it contains some of the same footage:

http://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Minds-C...f=pd_rhf_p_t_2

05-07-2008, 02:46 AM	#33
Jeff Lebowski Charon Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the heart of darkness (Provo) Posts: 9,564	Thanks to everyone for some excellent recommendations. __________________ "... the arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice." Martin Luther King, Jr.

05-08-2008, 10:31 AM	#40
Jennerstein Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 44	Of the documentaries I've seen recently, I enjoyed Spellbound, the King of Kong, and New York Doll. I watched New York Doll in the theater at the UCI Edwards cinema and really liked it how it captured the Mormon experience. There was also a documentary on Vietnam that I watched for my History of Civ class at BYU. The class had optional movie days on Friday, and most of the class went because the film choices were so interesting (Manon of the Spring, Wings of Desire, etc). I don't remember which Vietnam collection it was. There were a few DVDs, and I snoozed through some of it. We sat down one Friday to watch one of the later chapters. The first footage we saw was of a Vietcong getting executed pointblank range, the body falling to the floor with blood squirting out of his temple like a fountain. It was the most disturbing thing that I'd ever seen. All the R-rated shootings, stabbings, beheadings that I'd previously viewed were under the supposition that it was fake Hollywood acting. This was something completely different. It was my first time seeing video of a real human being executed. As soon as that clip ended, the professor (Professor Keele) immediately stopped the film. He'd forgotten that the beginning of that chapter contained such footage. He apologized profusely for not giving us prior warning of the graphic nature of the video. Now that I think about it, I'm grateful for the maturity of the students in that class. We accepted the professor's apology and continued withthe rest of class. To my knowledge, there weren't any BYU students that complained about the footage. I've known a few students/members who would have made a big fuss if they'd seen something like that while attending the Y. There was a lot of good class discussion that day too about war and its effects. It was definitely a memorable college experience. Below is the closest thing on Amazon I could find. I'm not sure if that's what we watched in class, but based on the users comments, it contains some of the same footage: http://www.amazon.com/Hearts-Minds-C...f=pd_rhf_p_t_2