Documentary Thread

**MASTER PAI MEI** · 02-13-2008, 03:39 PM

I've watched hundreds of documentaries and I'm gonna share the best ones with ya'll in this thread. I'll start off with a Doc. I seen last night

http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/revie...nightmare.html

Another review^

Darwins Nightmare - Documentary (2004) by: Hubert Sauper

The larger scope of the story explores the gun trade to Africa that takes place under the covers -- Russian pilots fly guns into Africa, then fly fish back out to Europe. The hazards and consequences of this trade are explored, including the pan-African violence propagated by constant flow of weapons into the continent. If it is a "survival of the fittest" world, as Darwin concluded, then the capitalist interests that fund the gun runners are climbing the evolutionary ladder on the backs of the Africans in this stark Darwinian example. Much like the foreseeable extinction of the Lake Victoria perch, and death of Lake Victoria itself, the Africans are in grave jeopardy, even as they survive in the only ways they know how. Written by Erin Willis {[email protected]}

In the 1950s or 1960s, the Nile perch was released into the Lake Victoria. In just a few decades, the large, voracious predator has all but eliminated the other species of fish, turning the lake into an ecological wasteland. "But economically, it's good" -- and indeed, perch fillet is Tanzania's best selling export to Europe. Fishermen, factory workers, civil servants, pilots of cargo aircrafts, delegates of the European Commission, communities living around Lake Victoria: plenty of people are involved in some way in this new industry. But if Africa exports hundreds of tons of premium-priced fish each day, what exactly do Africans get in return? Written by Eduardo Casais {[email protected]}

Author: Pedro Ferreira from Germany
There are no spoilers on this one, not even a hint about what you'll find in this movie. If you ask me, I would tell you to read on to the end of this text. You'll know how I felt, but not what the movie is about: you should see it unknowingly. Let it take you by surprise. For a very long time, no movie made me feel like leaving the theatre. But, having this policy of always giving the director a chance to either create a last-minute surprise effect or to prove himself ridiculous to an unspoken degree, I usually stay - even if I would vote zero for some. "Darwin's Nightmare" had me moving in my seat, sweating, swallowing nonexistent saliva, squeezing my hands into each other, thinking about all and nothing. Two times I simply had to close my eyes, many times I thought I had to get up and go - not that the documentary film was bad. Quite the opposite. Formally, it was too good. That's why it was so bothering. Maybe an overly emotional reaction, but we will all have different ones. Personally, this is the type of story I cannot dissociate of, and view as a spectator. This is the world, and this is tragic. Now: we all know it. We just didn't see it like this before. Not with this cutting-edge cruelty.
I could feel the tension around me, the tension inside the theatre, the discomfort that it rose. Yet, the laughter that a few purpose-made cynical scenes originated hurt like knives. I couldn't believe people laughed in such a movie (and then again, I heard people laughing during "Schindler's List"!!).
There is no reason to laugh. A few times, actually, there are plentiful reasons to cry. This movie hurts. It's poignant to the point of being unbearable. Sad. Tragic. Violent - the story is cruel, and Hubert is cruel as well. Or realistic. He does not make it one bit easier for the viewer. Rather is the viewer allowed to suffer, to sink in shame, to open his/her mouth in awe, to see reality, the dark reality of many places exactly as it is. Besides all, presented in a very intelligent format, and with a cunning sense of fairness and discipline. It was painful. It worked on me, and I only wished it would be over. Personally, this was no film, this was a severe blow in my stomach. I wonder how will it feel to those who actually have no idea about life... 10 out of 10. How could I give it less...?

**MASTER PAI MEI** · 02-14-2008, 10:37 AM

Born into Brothels - (2004) Directed by: Zana Briski
Ross Kauffman

This is a beautifully conceived and directed film. I knew little about the red light district of Calcutta and certainly nothing of the amazing children whose photographs are not only dramatic but also a tool of empowerment, albeit not entirely successful. One of the best documentaries of 2004. There certainly have been several excellent movies about the misery and hopeless nature of life in red light districts throughout the world, particularly southeast Asia. But this film's decision to focus on the children who not only are born in the brothels, but essentially live their entire lives within this damp and dismal walls. Director/photographer Zana Briski is to commended for bringing this to light. Several of my friends had deep empathy for her frustrating experiences with the Indian bureaucracy as she tries to get the children's art work noticed. Great film.

Author: Howard Schumann from Vancouver, B.C.

In India, red light districts are booming in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Calcutta where millions of transient men live and work far away from their homes and wives. The oldest and the largest of these is Sonagachi in Calcutta where the women have organized into a sex trade union of more than 5,000 active workers and have spread awareness about AIDS and HIV, making Sonagachi one of the few red light districts in the country that does not accept clients without condoms. Subject to a class system that puts them on the lowest rung of Indian society, the mostly illegitimate children of the sex workers are also expected to "join the line" when they reach a certain age. Minor girls are the most sought after in the brothels and secure the highest price, making it very difficult for the parents to let them leave, especially when the only other alternative may be the starvation of their entire family.

In 1997, photographer Zana Briski was assigned to capture images of Sonagachi. While the women were reluctant to let her into their lives, the children quickly responded and Briski became a resident of the brothel for five years. During that time, she provided the children with point and shoot cameras, set up classes in photography, and trained them to document the harsh reality of their daily lives. The result is the Oscar nominated documentary Born Into Brothels, a film that takes us inside the squalid brothels and allows us to see the world through the eyes of some of its most vulnerable residents, five girls and three boys, ages ten to fourteen. Shot in dazzling color using a digital camera, we get to know the children through their photos.

There is Kochi, age 10, who is strong, resilient, tough, and sensitive. Avijit, age 12, seems to be the most talented of the group. He draws, paints, takes pictures and, through Briski's patient efforts, was able to obtain a passport to be a part of a photo-editing panel in Amsterdam. Shanti, age 11, is most eager to learn but is troubled and often feuds with her brother Manik. The others: Gour, Puja, Tapasi, and Suchitra all show a unique ability to find beauty in their ugly environment. The film documents Briski's uphill efforts to place the children in boarding schools to escape the cycle of poverty and exploitation. Some manage to find places in the schools but the biggest obstacle is shown to be the children's own mothers and guardians, often protective out of the sheer necessity for survival.

Born Into Brothels is a testimony to the transforming power of art and of one individual's ability to make a difference. Showing the children's art to Western audiences has helped to raise money for the Sonagachi children's education. It may also serve to make people more aware of the potential talent of millions of other third world children who struggle daily for existence on the streets, the orphanages, and the refugee camps of our teeming world.

**TAURO** · 02-14-2008, 10:59 AM

^^I've seen that born into brothels doc. To be honest I found it to be very tedious, the actual situation of the life these kids were born into is an interesting and sad premise, but I found the doc could not maintain it's feature length running time. It got very stale midway through and I found myself drifting off.

**MASTER PAI MEI** · 02-14-2008, 11:26 AM

I found it to be very engaging^ We all have our own opinions. PEACECAEP

**MASTER PAI MEI** · 02-14-2008, 11:34 AM

MAXED OUT - (2006) Directed by James D. Scurlock

Synopsis Maxed Out takes viewers on a journey deep inside the American style of debt, where things seem fine as long as the minimum monthly payment arrives on time. With coverage from small American towns all the way to the white house, the film shows how the modern financial agency really works, explains the true definition of "preferred customer" and tells us why the poor are getting poorer while the rich keep getting richer. Hilarious, shocking and incisive, Maxed Out paints a picture of a national nightmare that is all too real for most of us.

THE FILM
"Maxed Out" is going to make you furious. It's a viewing experience specifically designed to get the angry juices flowing, forcing anyone who sits down with it to confront their financial lifestyle and how they recognize monetary difficulty.
James Scurlock's toxic-shock documentary has the yearning to change the way people view the credit card culture of American society. That's an ambitious goal, but worth every moment the filmmaker can devote to the topic. Just addressing such a crucial subject is half of the battle for "Maxed Out." The rest of the film simply has to locate great arguments to help sell the idea of taking personal financial responsibility seriously.
Scurlock does come with a parade of stunning information and teary testimonials, and "Maxed Out" benefits from his homework and careful planning. The picture starts off lightly, using the Enron business model to explain how many of the rich are paying for their expensive living spaces. After that, the film tears off on a bumpy journey that drills to the core theme of the film: the credit card, and how it's killing America.
I wouldn't call witnessing how the credit card companies rake in their money exactly shocking, but it is alarming. "Maxed Out" paints a vivid picture of how these predatory corporations swoop in and "save" the poor and the needy, hiding insane interest rates and assorted rules and violations in the small print trusting (hoping) that the individual will eventually trip up. It's legal, but increasingly devious in intention, especially compared to the calmer credit seas of 30 years ago.
Scurlock wants the viewer to see the ravages of credit card debt on the faces of the average American. Unable to keep up with their bills, the interviewees are stuck in a whirlpool of debt; unable to achieve the slightest bit of hope. For many, the situation will take years to recover from. For others, suicide is the answer. If there's anything "Maxed Out" is especially crafty at, it would be painting a portrait of confusion and despair, and the picture milks this mood for every sympathetic moment it can find.
The documentary also examines college campus credit sign-up practices, the efforts of the government to keep America in debt and the vice-like grip lobbyists have on Washington, Suze Orman and her deceptions, increasingly whorish ways some younger people are considering to pay off their debts, and the plight of the pawn shop owner, who has seen the business change from one of desire to one of feverish need in the last few years.
The best venom is saved for the debt collectors. To be fair, these men and women of cubical power are justified in their purpose - you borrow money, you should pay back money - but how these smug idiots go about their business is enough to make you snap the DVD in half. Arrogant, deceptive, and celebratory with their practices of humiliation, these bottom feeders of the industry deserve an entire movie of their own.
THE DVD
Visual:
"Maxed Out" is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1 aspect ratio). An HD documentary, the DVD has trouble with fleshtones, which tend to register in the cherry and pink ranges. The image is stable with little in the way of defects.
Audio:
The 2.0 Dolby Digital sound mix for "Maxed Out" is given very little to do. Interviews are clearly recorded, leaving only the occasional soundtrack cue to burst into the soundscape. A modest effort, but an acceptable one.
Extras:
The supplements on the "Maxed Out" DVD further the theme of the film, either through deleted moments or a straight-up commercial. No true investigation of the documentary is found here, but this modest round-up of supplements should satisfy the curious viewer.
"The Wise Use of Credit" (running 11 minutes) is a B&W short from 1960. With only snippets used during the film, it's interesting to see this short, hosted by "Mr. Money," in its entirety. Granted, the lack of Mike, Tom Servo, and Crow in the corner of the screen is unsettling. However, the short reveals a forward-thinking attitude even 47 years ago when it came to the responsible usage of credit.
"What Is a Credit Report?" (7 minutes) is a dry deleted scene with consumer advocate attorney David Szwak explaining how reports work and how they can be exploited.
"Bankruptcy: A Life-Changing Experience" (5 minutes) is a second deleted scene, this time featuring lawyer Elizabeth Warren as she discusses the psychological devastation that follows the declaration of bankruptcy.
"Dave Ramsey on Personal Responsibility" (5 minutes) is a wild burst of info from the radio personality on how to shape up your money troubles. Some interesting info here, but from a guy who seems too slick and polished for his own good.
"Americans for Fairness in Lending" (5 minutes) is a commercial for the cause.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
When it comes time to expose the benefits of fiscal responsibility, "Maxed Out" isn't the strongest tool to show a potential credit care nightmare customer. The film is more comfortable telling sob stories than getting uncomfortably tough on borrowers, but I can understand the desire to pull back on the venom to make a distinctive point. "Maxed Out" is sharp documentary on a vicious topic, and if it fails to encapsulate an entire argument into 85 minutes, it lets enough trouble out of bag to make a vivid point about the crumbling of America's financial health.

Author: WebGuyTV from United States
Maxed Out is an eye opening documentary that is long, long overdue. Over the last few decades the credit industry has only become bolder and more aggressive. Maxed Out begs the question: Have they gone too far? Seeing this movie will make you think twice about filling out another credit card application.

As one of the characters early on in the film, I was aware of a lot of the dirty tricks and tactics used by creditors, bill collectors, 'professional debt collectors' and the like. I truly thought I knew about the level of greed this film would expose in the credit industry. I was a debt collector for nearly a decade but left the industry because of the many 'slime balls' indigenous to the profession. It takes a certain kind of person to remain in this industry for the long haul.

What I did not know, was the depths at which some creditors would be willing to sink. Even I was appalled at the actions of some of the biggest names in the lending business, and I thought I had seen every dirty trick in the book. Without going into detail as to how Maxed Out reveals the atrocities committed by the credit industry as a whole, I can only say that you will likely leave the theater totally amazed yet possibly disgusted in the aftermath of Maxed Out's revelations. You'll likely be very surprised to see who has their hands deeply submerged in the proverbial cookie jar.

Although the inevitable comparisons between Maxed Out and Super Size Me will be drawn, one must realize that not everybody eats at McDonald's but everyone has debt. Even if it's just your share of the national debt. Everyone is affected by debt.

A lot has changed since my bankruptcy ten years ago. Thanks to a new change in the bankruptcy laws it's virtually impossible to obtain the level of bankruptcy protection today that I relied on in 1996. The public needs to know what's happening before these modern day loan sharks end up trying to take over the world and turning us all into eternal debt slaves. James Scurlock should be applauded for doing this film. This story would have been very easy 'not to do.'

The most unexpected thing about Maxed Out is its breathtaking resolution on the big screen. A lot of the footage shot for Maxed Out looks spectacular thanks to the genius of Jon Aaron Aaseng. It's almost inconceivable that a documentary about America's credit card debt can be this entertaining, this provocative and this easy to watch all at the same time. See it.

**SickSide** · 02-21-2008, 03:21 PM

some good docu sites,

http://freedocumentaries.org/index.php?ct=13
http://www.moviesfoundonline.com/documentaries.php

North Korea Undercover, interesting doc
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=1

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=8
The Secret, which is described as a self-help film, [2][3] uses a documentary format to present the "Law of Attraction." This law is the "secret" that, according to the tagline, "has traveled through centuries to reach you." The film features short dramatized experiences and interviews of a team of "personal transformation specialists", "spiritual messengers", "feng shui masters", and moneymaking "experts".[4] As put forth in the film, the "Law of Attraction" principle posits that people's feelings and thoughts attract real events in the world into their lives; from the workings of the cosmos to interactions among individuals in their physical, emotional, and professional affairs. The film also suggests that there has been a strong tendency by those in positions of power to keep this central principle hidden from the public. The previews or "clues" to the film, show men who "uncovered the Secret...".

My Fake Baby, This is just like the doc Guys and Dolls. But insted its with women that get realistic baby dolls (some are made to breath and have heart beats), then they treat them like their real babys. One flew from England to pick hers up in america because she didnt what it to be stuck in a box for that long.

part 1 http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=6
part 2 http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=0
part 3 http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=2
part 4 http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=3
part 5 http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...arch&plindex=4

Short Documentary about people who's lives were changed by the Karate Kid...
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xltJGnzOdA8
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fELLiNOSGKM
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iogdYnBbrYk
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qmOg3Oa18Y
Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBjsG45Oi44

**SickSide** · 02-21-2008, 03:22 PM

**MASTER PAI MEI** · 02-21-2008, 03:25 PM

I watched "The Secret" this week end and though I agree with some of it it comes as a promotional video I don't know why I felt like that when I watched but there is some good stuff you can learn from it.

**SickSide** · 02-21-2008, 03:25 PM

Ben you seen Dark Days

In the pitch black of the tunnel, rats swarm through piles of garbage as high-speed trains leaving Penn Station tear through the darkness. For some of those who have gone underground, it has been home for as long as twenty-five years.

Deeply moving and surprisingly entertaining, Dark Days is an eye-opening experience that shatters the myths of homelessness by revealing a thriving community living in tunnels beneath New York City and honestly capturing their resilience and strength in their struggle to survive.

With a haunting soundtrack by DJ Shadow.

**SickSide** · 02-21-2008, 05:00 PM

Capturing The Friedmans
Crumb (artist Robert Crumb)
The Bridge

**SickSide** · 02-21-2008, 05:50 PM

SCARFACE 4 LIFE - RIKERS ISLAND

Part 1
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance...-1-of_politics

Part 3
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance...-3-of_politics

part 2 is on there somewhere, cant find it at the min, Daily Motion wont load properly