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Favourite documentaries?

Robert

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What're everyone's favourite documentaries?

I'm only just getting into them. I'm starting Life on Earth at the moment, it's excellent!
 

Ogion

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BBCs Planet Earth is a real nice docu with lots of fantastic nature imagery.

Ogion
 

RubberDucky451

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I love documentaries. Learning and being entertained at the same time is incredible.

I agree with Ogion, planet earth is very interesting. I love it when the cute animals are hunted and eaten :beatyou:
 

bananaphallus

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I remember watching 'Hoop Dreams' alone at like 3 AM in the morning on a free movie channel when I was 14 or 15 and almost tearing up towards the end, still not exactly sure why.
 

Ashenstar

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Does March of the Penguins qualify? :o
 

ifelloverboard

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Bukowski: Born Into This, however to compare Bukowski footage The Bukowski Tapes trump Born Into This.
 

Dormouse

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Agreed, Planet Earth is remarquable.

Do movies such as Baraka or Koyaanisqatsi count? They aren't so much documentaries as they lack narration, but the combination of pictures and music can be beautiful.
 

Tunesimah

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This documentary on music by the BBC called How Music Works, is remarkable. Narrated by Howard Goodall, it has 4 episodes on the topics: Melody, Harmony, Rhythm, Bass. It goes into music history, theory, science, and the similarities that all music has.

It's also presented in a non-elitist fashion that approaches all music equally... none of that horrible pretense that is found in stuffy productions about music.

It takes complex musical concepts and distills them in a very approachable way. I feel I could have watched this video and saved myself a lot of time and effort in music theory classes.

Here's part 1 of Melody. The rest is on youtube.
YouTube- How Music Works 1 - Melody - Part 1
 

Robert

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Ah yeah I saw the Howard Goodall one when it was on! Thought it was excellent. He also wrote the Red Dwarf theme, which amuses me.
 

The Frood

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Weapons that made Britain.

Planet earth is my favorite thing to watch, the effort and scale of the project is simply astoundning
 

Ogion

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Ghost1986

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i like documentaries on prostitutes. i don't think its due to my perverted side, for some reason i am just drawn to prostitutes. perhaps i was a whore in a paste life. maybe i have the reverse of the pretty women effect. that being the prostitute who hope to find a charming gentleman to take care of her, with the reverse being the gentleman who wants to take care of the PRO. i think not. or more likely i am a very justice driven person and find that part of society underrepresented and in need of change in order to make the job safer for the women and the few men. some men sell their bodies too you know.

i also like documentaries the provide facts with as little opinion as possible. i also like conspiracy stuff.
 

ktp

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Spinal Tap! Oh wait it says documentaries not mockcumentaries

My favorite would have to be "The King of Kong" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0923752/)

Its about a guy trying to break the record for an old Donkey Kong arcade game. A rivalry begins between him the former record holder. Drama ensues as the former record holder tries to discredit our hero. Now they must face each other and battle it out at a local arcade.

Best part of the documentary was the "kill screen" scene at the end. This documentary is very funny, but sentimental at the same time.
 

Infinite Regress

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When We Were Kings - It's about Muhammad Ali and his fight with George Foreman

Also most things surrounding WWII, I find interesting. The most memorable was about Bletchley Park and their efforts to decode Enigma ciphers.
I remember that they had decoded German Air Force enigma that stated that there would be an attack on Coventry, but the Allied effort had to let it go ahead in fear of the Germans realizing that their code was broken.
Retaliation for that incident was the bombing of Dresden - pity since it was a city renowned for its artwork.
 

cuterebra

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Herzog's The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner is a wonderful documentary about a ski jumper. Herzog is one of the few directors who could actually get me interested in something like skiing.
 

Darby

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I liked "The Bridge" it was about this guy who found out how the golden gate is the largest suicide spot in the world, and he wanted to know more, so he got a bunch of people together and they filmed people jumping off for a year. At first your like "wow, thats really f***ed up. then your like, wow, this is kinda interesting"
 

ktp

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I liked "The Bridge" it was about this guy who found out how the golden gate is the largest suicide spot in the world, and he wanted to know more, so he got a bunch of people together and they filmed people jumping off for a year. At first your like "wow, thats really f***ed up. then your like, wow, this is kinda interesting"

I just watched it yesterday. Very interesting commentary from the families and friends they interviewed, especially from that guy that survived the jump.
 

The Frood

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Connections, and The day the Universe changed. Both are series by James Burke, and can be found in their entirety on youtube
 

Sparrow

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White Light Black Rain
 
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I loved "Devil's playground". It's about the Amish youth going through rumspringa where they explore the "english" way of life. For those that don't know the Amish don't use electricity and have a very strict way of life. During this time they're allowed to wear modern clothes, have sex, use drugs, and do anything they want. They're given this time before they choose to be baptized and stay under their strict religious code. All of their sins are forgiven during rumspringa. This is a great exploration of moral ambiguity and the pressures put on youths in organized religions. Besides where else can you see a crystal meth dealing Amish guy?

Also the soundtrack with aphex twin was my first experience with ambient music. I've fallen in love ever since.
 

Traianus

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Audentia

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Documentaries are great, I also really love learning and being entertained simultaneously. Antarctica: Encounters at the End of the World. Or any about deep ocean exploration, those are awesome.
 

Trebuchet

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Quantum Hoops was good. It is the history of CalTech's basketball team, once great, still relevant even with decades devoid of a single win. The people were fascinating and the history was fun.
 

The Frood

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The Vice travel guide is great.
 

WorkInProgress

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or more likely i am a very justice driven person and find that part of society underrepresented and in need of change in order to make the job safer for the women and the few men. some men sell their bodies too you know.
I was just thinking about this the other day. I decided it's best the way it is.

If prostitution becomes socially acceptable than far more young people will see it as a viable life for themselves. We're taking potentially productive members of society and turning them in the direction that counters values that we depend on. Not much point in striving for more when such an easy alternative is just a street corner away.

Here's what I mean- If it isn't illegal and taboo for a person to pick up a prostitute, where is the pressure to meet a real girlfriend and start a family? And how safe will we be now that even more people are sharing the same partner, making deadly STDs an even larger problem than they already are.

It's one of the oldest occupations in history and if it was going to become a respectable craft, it would have by now.

As for documentaries...hate to join the masses but when I see Planet Earth is on I drop whatever else I was watching. Though if it counted I'd choose This is Spinal Tap.
 

The Frood

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BBC's Time commanders, (full episodes can be found on youtube)
using a modified version of the RTS Rome Total War (awesome game), they take normal people and have them command one side of the ancient battle, with commentary by historians (which the "commanders" cant hear), quite interesting.
 

Alexk

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Does Religulous count?
If not I'd have to say Anarchism in America or Capitalism a Love Story. Can't decide.
 

Jah

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The Life of Mammals with David Attenborough.

In particular episode 10 "Food For Thought", which shows the theory of how we evolved to walk through areas of water, (the Aquatic Ape theory, in part) that may explain our upright walking and lack of fur.
 

unhinged

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Planet Earth of course is one of the best around...

Another amazing one is Life, also by BBC
 

RedLoki

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The last "documentary" I watched I was duped into thinking it was real; Zelig by Woody Allen. It was so interesting until I realized it was fake and died a little inside

I know it's an old topic, but
Here's what I mean- If it isn't illegal and taboo for a person to pick up a prostitute, where is the pressure to meet a real girlfriend and start a family? And how safe will we be now that even more people are sharing the same partner, making deadly STDs an even larger problem than they already are.

If the trade was regulated, then you could easily control the spread of STDs. Why would you pay full price to go to a prostitute without proof she's clean? They could use it as advertising. At the same time, you would have to provide evidence you're clean too. The ones who aren't clean wouldn't get as much money.

I agree the stigma would be lessened, but there would still be social repercussions for not having a girl in your life. I couldn't imagine going out to a family and friends dinner party with an escort or prostitute. Constantly paying for a prostitute isn't a financially viable solution unless your mid+ class wealthy, but then you shouldn't have an issue with getting a girl. But hey, picking up girls isn't that hard either! :angel:
 

telepathink

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Try french documentary: Home (2009)
Stunning pictures that will give you bird-like overview of what's happening on our planet.
 

Keary

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Life After People, it feeds my post-apocalypse side.

Are there any other documentaries like this?
 

Red Devil

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I particularly like the ones on nature. Planet Earth is amazing. Saw 'The 11th Hour' some days back. 'Tis a 2007 documentary film on environmental problems. Pretty good.
 

snafupants

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Ken Burns and - dont make me say it - Michael Moore are not the only doc filmmakers. Werner Herzog is pretty good. :D
 

emptiminded

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BARAKA 1992
KOYAANISQATSI 1982
Man with a movie camera 1929 (with cinematic orchestra)
Berlin:symphony of a great city 1927
Helvetica 2007
 
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