Best Documentaries - Page 2

A Personal Journey Through American Film With Martin Scorsese is a fascinating and loving tribute to hollywood films and artist they helped to create.

Also, I love Grey Gardens (Criterion), Fast Cheap and Out of Control, Visions of Light!!!

I think this must be the one you mean, DeborahK Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator

Phil Florian - the original Paradise Lost documentary from 1996 is only out on vhs, but the follow-up they did in 2000 is on dvd by New Video

Good subject.

I recently picked up Scorcese's Blues, and while I'm not sure its great, it is noteworthy. I would like to see similar wideranging documentraies on other forms of pop music - country, early R&R, etc.

I only have 2 other documentaries - Chuck Jones LIFE IN ANIMATION, and a bio of LOUISE BROOKS. I had THEREMIN, it was touching but unsatisfying.

I sometimes wish the A&E bios came on DVD, tho the programs tend to be lightweight.

For browsing, you could go to DVD Empire and click on the documentary category.

http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v5_cat...403630&redir=1

Take a look at
"The Day After Trinity"
and
"Brother Can You Spare a Dime".

Both out on DVD

Rick

Docs I've seen recently that I enjoyed a lot:

Balseros
Hell's Highway
Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies
To Be and To Have
Winged Migration
Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns)
A Decade Under the Influence
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
The Kid Stays in the Picture
Spellbound
Lost in La Mancha
The Boys of 2nd Street Park
The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition
Dogtown and Z-Boys
Startup.com

The Last Waltz - Martin Scorsese

Mara,

Thanks for the title!

Deborah

I can't believe that nobody's mentioned some of the classic, hugely influential and highly watchable documentaries:

World at War
The Great War
Salesmen
Nanook of the North

all available on DVD.

And not on DVD, but should be:

The Ascent of Man
Civilisation

Sorry, double post.

I highly recommend Werner Herzog's documentary Little Dieter Needs To Fly (1998).

It's the incredible story of Dieter Dangler, who's love of planes eventually lead to flying in the Vietnam war.
His plane was shot down, he was captured, and the amazing struggle to survive and escape begins.

Incidentally, Herzog is making a feature film based on the story of Dieter Dangler. Can't wait for that.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the greatness that is David Attenborough...

Living Planet
Life of Birds
Life of Mammals (by far the best)
Blue Planet

...I also enjoyed the "Walking With" programs (Dinosaurds, Beasts, etc) althought they are borderline documentaries considering all the footage is CGI.

the best documentary i´ve ever seen is a german production called: "100 jahre". it´s a docu about the 20th century. but not just a docu. it´s amazing. originally over 15hours. with real video material, live videos (starting in 1900). chronological presented year by year with love for history. perfect for everyone who wants to ge to know the 20th century better. but it´s german (the presenter and producer made a lot of docus about the history, most of all the 2nd world war. all very interesting)

besides that:
bowling for columbine
night and fog

and most of all
"One day in september". it´s about the kidnapping and terrorism in germany and at the olympic games 1974 in munich. a masterpice of documentary

2003 was an excellent year for documentaries:

Stevie (by Steve "Hoop Dreams" James, one of the best films of the year)
Tibet: Cry Of The Snow Lion (about the Chinese subjugation of Tibet and destruction of its cultural heritage)
The Weather Underground (on the American terrorist group. Its one of the Oscar nominees, and I think is going to be shown on PBS in March)
Fog Of War: Eleven Lessons From The Life Of Robert S. McNamara
Capturing The Friedman's
Amandla! A Revolution In Four Part Harmony (role of music in the struggle for freedom in South Africa)
Spellbound

Older doc's
Heart's And Minds
A Personal Journey Through American Film With Martin Scorsese
Hoop Dreams
Don't Look Back
Monterrey Pop
Night And Fog
Nanook Of The North
Gimme Shelter
Gates Of Heaven
General Idi Amin Dada
Shoah

Does anyone know if there are any plans to put OT: Our Town out on DVD? This film was made in 2002, but only released to theaters sometime in the last year. It's a documentary about a Compton, CA high school production of Thorton Wilder's Our Town , put on without the benefit of a drama program, a drama teacher, a school theater, or any makeup, sets, etc.

The production was the brain child of an English teacher at the school who thought it had been too long since the school had mounted any sort of theatrical production (20 years), and decided to take this on. The entire amazing process was recorded by her film maker boyfriend and the show was a huge success -- after much difficulty, as you can imagine. The film caused quite a stir and got rave reviews. I was hoping that it might show up on DVD (I missed it in the theater) but so far it has not.

Always hoping ...

Deborah

Andrew,

The Ascent of Man has been out on DVD for years, but I am going to guess you won't like the price:

http://www.documentary-video.com/dis...em.cfm?vid=860

Then again there's always the documentary series that started off the concept of documentaries on television:



For that matter, get Triumph of the Will and its antithesis, Why We Fight.

The Compleat Beatles is my favorite. Unfortunately you need the vhs copy and a dvd recorder to enjoy it.

Cosmos (Carl Sagan series)
Keep The River On Your Right
Scared Straight
Unmade Beds