Favorite documentaries

[Coach McGuirk]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

Riding Giants is fantastic. If you enjoy that one, check out Endless Summer (1 or 2, although 1 is better) and Step Into Liquid, which is great.

My Mom is in Endless Summer 2. She is one of the girls on the beach doing the mash potato(quick scene in B&W). My dad was one of the original locals at Jack's.

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

I recently watched "Wetback," which chronicles the journey of several immigrants from Central America trying to work their way up through Mexico and over the border. It is actually very gripping and parts are sad.

I too watched this about 6-8 months ago. Very moving and shows exactly what they are willing to go through to escape the poverty of their countries. The gangs that prey on these people during their journey are sick.

[SeattleUte]

I think this one they used to show us in school is powerful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRF2BbSRDmg

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by T Blue

I believe it is called Grizzly Man, about that guy that goes into the katmai national park to live with bears and ends up being eaten by the bears, along with his girlfriend.

The guy is obviously a jackmonkey to think he will be able to claim wild brown bears as pets, but the scenery is awesome and in the end you kind of feel a form of connection to his wild ass antics.

I forgot about that one. It is very good. I ended up cheering for the bear in the end.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

If you all want to see a documentary that ranks off the charts on the unintended comedy scale, I refer you to Darkon....a real life wargaming phenomenon that exists across the country. There is a local chapter here in OC.

It is basically all the nerds who played Dungeons and Dragons in junior high, except now they have jobs and can drive themselves around, so they drive to the countryside, dress up like knights, and play Darkon.

Please see this film. And feel GREAT about your life.

Looks interesting. Reminds me of Trekkies.

[mpfunk]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Just finished watching a fascinating documentary on an ill-fated round-the-world solo sailing race in 1969 called Deep Water:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460766/

I have always enjoyed good quality documentaries. Some of my favorites (in no particular order):

1. Fog of War
Robert McNamara looks back on his career
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317910/

2. Touching the Void
Story of hiking disaster in the Andes
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379557/

3. Riding Giants
History of big wave surfing
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0389326/

4. King of Kong
Battle for video game immortality
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923752/

5. Jesus Camp
Camp for kids in midwest
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486358/

Of course, I am not including the various Ken Burns PBS series or any of the Michael Moore movies, since those are all so well known.

So what are some of your favorite documentaries? I am looking for some ideas for my Blockbuster Online queue.

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."

[cougjunkie]

I am interested to the see Spike Lees movie he recently filmed on Kobe Bryant. 18 cameras on Bryant for one game.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by cougjunkie

I am interested to the see Spike Lees movie he recently filmed on Kobe Bryant. 18 cameras on Bryant for one game.

Umm, this movie is officially DEAD LAST on the list of movies I will never see.

[cougjunkie]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Umm, this movie is officially DEAD LAST on the list of movies I will never see.

How about Michael Jordans: Come fly with me?

Is that considered a documentary? I love that movie.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by cougjunkie

I am interested to the see Spike Lees movie he recently filmed on Kobe Bryant. 18 cameras on Bryant for one game.

This one is already getting Oscar buzz.

I have a feeling it will be epic.

Junkie, you should love it because it features your favorite team getting pounded...the Spurs.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by KiteRider

I was going to say 'anything by Errol Morris.' He has a new one coming out about Gitmo in which he lets the camera run on people like Lindy England in the same way he let the camera run on Robert McNamara. Looks very promising.

I liked Sherman's March too. I think this is probably the most interesting example of the documentary sub-genre in which the director abandons objectivity, overtly weaves himself into the material, and lets the film become a personal op-ed meditation on the subject. I like Michael Moore's docs, and think they sort of belong to this sub-genre.

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