Movies and TV Late night bullshit: Your favorite documentary. - Page 6

Direckshun · 10-24-2013, 11:10 PM

I've been on a documentary bender the past few days. I've started threads about documentaries I've seen in the past, and I'm on record saying that Planet Earth and WWII in HD are the best things ever put on television.

I've seen a couple documentaries recently that really left a profound impact on me. Maybe you've seen some you'd like to talk about? Or maybe you just want to piddle around late at night. This is your thread.

1. I saw "Crisis: Behind A Presidential Commitment" on some channel called Pivot a few days ago, about John F. Kennedy enforcing the integration of the University of Alabama over the segregationist civil disobedience of its then-governor, George Wallace (almost certainly at the behest of his constituents).

This was pretty okay. The story it told didn't have a lot of chapters to it: the federal court decision that mandated integration isn't discussed, nor is any of the other fallout surrounding school integration in the south. This confrontation was entirely civil; there was no violence or use of force. Here's the entire movie: Kennedy wonders if Wallace is going to stand in the way of school integration at U of A, Wallace does, so Kennedy nationalizes the Alabama Guard and there you have it: school integrated.

What's really awesome about this documentary (and it's really old, made in 1963) is it has almost zero voiceover commentary. You are seeing everything happen as history unfolds, as cameras tape Kennedy sweating bullets in the Oval, and Wallace mouthing off to a federal representative as he stands in front of the entrance to his school, blocking it off.

This happened about 50 years ago. That is absolutely ****ing insane, that we've gone from segregation to total integration in such a small amount of time. A public divided on an issue so important became a public overwhelmingly in support of it. So much can happen in such a small amount of time. These were people that mostly look like us, dress like us, and talk like us. This is not ancient history. And we're at each other's throats over increasing gas mileage standards for cars. These people were talking about treating black people equally. Makes our fights seem small by comparison, if you ask me.

2. I saw "Blackfish" tonight on CNN, after months of wanting to see it at my local arthouse theater but never getting a chance to. This movie's about the gross negligence of aquatic amusement parks (SeaWorld, SeaWorld, and SeaWorld) for their criminally negligent treatment of killer whales.

I think the most amazing thing about this documentary is how ****ing amazing orca are. These are creatures that are the sizes of school buses, the intelligent capacity of humans, and what seems like an emotional capacity that far exceeds humans. It's really stunning, the things this documentary reveals about these gigantic mammals.

Mainly it follows the exploits of this one orca they call "Tillicum" from his capture at sea to his confinement in a tank that's simply impossibly small for a creature of his size. The fact that they store a ton of these things together in the same tank is revealed as absolutely insane: they're a lot like people from all over the world, and when you just cherry pick them, separate them from their families, and throw them into what must feel like a bathtub to them with a bunch of others who they can't talk to, can't understand, and don't trust, bad things happen.

Namely, trainers get attacked, mutilated, and occasionally even killed. And of course you see all the deliberate actions from SeaWorld to keep churning out product even in light of this danger.

Mostly, for me, this film really illustrates what it's like for us to abdicate our responsibility to take stewardship over the earth. Humanity simply does not have the resources to adequately care for these creatures: they span hundreds of miles a day, and require more stimulation and social interaction than we are capable of providing. These are incredibly social creatures apparently, and we are placing them in underwater jail cells.

I'm a religious person, and I can't help but think of this as a sin. I don't think you have to be religious to feel like the animals that share our world deserve moral treatment, and that aquatic amusement parks like SeaWorld are absolutely abdicating this responsibility with killer whales.

Anyway.

That's my rant. What kind of mind-expanding documentaries have you seen recently?

**DaneMcCloud** · 10-25-2013, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

If any of you have any rockumentary recommendations, I'd appreciate hearing them.

"Sound City" and the Foo Fighters "Back and Forth", along with the aforementioned "History of the Eagles".

Frazod · 10-25-2013, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

If you're into music, History of the Eagles Part 1 & 2 is phenomenal.

Not only is the archival footage awesome, it illustrates a time when music was more about artistry, integrity and conviction, not just about the almighty dollar (like today).

Definitely this.

Stewie · 10-25-2013, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

If you're into music, History of the Eagles Part 1 & 2 is phenomenal.

Not only is the archival footage awesome, it illustrates a time when music was more about artistry, integrity and conviction, not just about the almighty dollar (like today).

Well, except for the fact that Don Henley is one litigious MFer, it's not about the money.

ReynardMuldrake · 10-25-2013, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

"Joy Division" was another good rockumentary, but it may not be as interesting to people who are too young to remember the punk/post-punk period of the late 70s and early 80s.

Looking through my Netflix queue, I see a couple that I'm looking forward to seeing in "Lemmy" (Motorhead's lead singer) and "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" (not sure what this one's about but I've had people recommend it to me).

If any of you have any rockumentary recommendations, I'd appreciate hearing them.

Anvil! It's not like most "Aren't I a badass?" rockumentaries, it's actually very bittersweet. If you've seen Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler, it hits some of those same emotional notes. Very true to life and very well done.

patteeu · 10-25-2013, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

"Sound City" and the Foo Fighters "Back and Forth", along with the aforementioned "History of the Eagles".

Thanks for the suggestions. It turns out I already had Sound City in my netflix queue, but I've added the other two.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 10-25-2013, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

"Joy Division" was another good rockumentary, but it may not be as interesting to people who are too young to remember the punk/post-punk period of the late 70s and early 80s.

Looking through my Netflix queue, I see a couple that I'm looking forward to seeing in "Lemmy" (Motorhead's lead singer) and "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" (not sure what this one's about but I've had people recommend it to me).

If any of you have any rockumentary recommendations, I'd appreciate hearing them.

IN.

Have you seen "Closer" yet?

rico · 10-25-2013, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

"Joy Division" was another good rockumentary, but it may not be as interesting to people who are too young to remember the punk/post-punk period of the late 70s and early 80s.

Looking through my Netflix queue, I see a couple that I'm looking forward to seeing in "Lemmy" (Motorhead's lead singer) and "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" (not sure what this one's about but I've had people recommend it to me).

If any of you have any rockumentary recommendations, I'd appreciate hearing them.

LOVE Joy Division and become excited when I meet someone who merely knows who they were...I live in "Guns N' Roses-AC/DC-Metallica-Garth Brooks-Kenny Chesney forever-ville."

I'll have to check that out. I must say though, I hated the movie, "Control."

**DaneMcCloud** · 10-25-2013, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewie

Well, except for the fact that Don Henley is one litigious MFer, it's not about the money.

What do you know about it? I was in Uni's music division when he was suing Geffen, which was owned by Uni.

I'd have sued Geffen, too.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 10-25-2013, 10:51 AM

How the **** do you get a Grammy for "recording your album in a garage", and it sounds nothing like it at all?
If I had Grohl's wallet, I could put some pretty nice shit in a garage too.

patteeu · 10-25-2013, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate

IN.

Have you seen "Closer" yet?

No, do you have a link or a description? Is it a Joy Division doc? I've seen a couple of them but I don't remember a movie by that name.

**DaneMcCloud** · 10-25-2013, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

Thanks for the suggestions. It turns out I already had Sound City in my netflix queue, but I've added the other two.

Sound City is free on Amazon Prime, if you have access to it.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 10-25-2013, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

No, do you have a link or a description? Is it a Joy Division doc?

I'm sorry, I meant "Control".

Movie, primarily centering around Ian Curtis.

**DaneMcCloud** · 10-25-2013, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate

How the **** do you get a Grammy for "recording your album in a garage", and it sounds nothing like it at all?
If I had Grohl's wallet, I could put some pretty nice shit in a garage too.

Yeah, that was silly. $300k in gear AND Butch Vig. Plus, the vocals were clearly tuned and they ran a PT rig simultaneously with the tape machine.

The biggest gaffe is that they show the band members recording their parts individually, not as a band, which pretty much directly conflicts with his claims.

But eh, whatever. If I was worth $250 million, I'd have a $300k studio in my house, too.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 10-25-2013, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Yeah, that was silly. $300k in gear AND Butch Vig. Plus, the vocals were clearly tuned and they ran a PT rig simultaneously with the tape machine.

The biggest gaffe is that they show the band members recording their parts individually, not as a band, which pretty much directly conflicts with his claims.

But eh, whatever. If I was worth $250 million, I'd have a $300k studio in my house, too.

My friend was all "HERMA-GHERD, IT'S A GARAGE RECORD AND GRAMMY DERP-DERP-DERP"!

I was expecting something along the lines of Garage Days, but maybe even dryer. I listened to that shit and just laughed at her.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 10-25-2013, 11:04 AM

Manufacturing Consent
The Corporation
Ghosts of Rwanda
Inside Job
Hoop Dreams
King of Kong
Bush's War
The Age of AIDS
Cosmos
The Journey
CNN's Cold War
Radio Bikini
Koyaanisqatsi

10-24-2013, 11:10 PM
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	Late night bullshit: Your favorite documentary. I've been on a documentary bender the past few days. I've started threads about documentaries I've seen in the past, and I'm on record saying that Planet Earth and WWII in HD are the best things ever put on television. I've seen a couple documentaries recently that really left a profound impact on me. Maybe you've seen some you'd like to talk about? Or maybe you just want to piddle around late at night. This is your thread. 1. I saw "Crisis: Behind A Presidential Commitment" on some channel called Pivot a few days ago, about John F. Kennedy enforcing the integration of the University of Alabama over the segregationist civil disobedience of its then-governor, George Wallace (almost certainly at the behest of his constituents). This was pretty okay. The story it told didn't have a lot of chapters to it: the federal court decision that mandated integration isn't discussed, nor is any of the other fallout surrounding school integration in the south. This confrontation was entirely civil; there was no violence or use of force. Here's the entire movie: Kennedy wonders if Wallace is going to stand in the way of school integration at U of A, Wallace does, so Kennedy nationalizes the Alabama Guard and there you have it: school integrated. What's really awesome about this documentary (and it's really old, made in 1963) is it has almost zero voiceover commentary. You are seeing everything happen as history unfolds, as cameras tape Kennedy sweating bullets in the Oval, and Wallace mouthing off to a federal representative as he stands in front of the entrance to his school, blocking it off. This happened about 50 years ago. That is absolutely **ing insane, that we've gone from segregation to total integration in such a small amount of time. A public divided on an issue so important became a public overwhelmingly in support of it. So much can happen in such a small amount of time. These were people that mostly look like us, dress like us, and talk like us. This is not ancient history. And we're at each other's throats over increasing gas mileage standards for cars. These people were talking about treating black people equally. Makes our fights seem small by comparison, if you ask me. 2. I saw "Blackfish" tonight on CNN, after months of wanting to see it at my local arthouse theater but never getting a chance to. This movie's about the gross negligence of aquatic amusement parks (SeaWorld, SeaWorld, and SeaWorld) for their criminally negligent treatment of killer whales. I think the most amazing thing about this documentary is how **ing amazing orca are. These are creatures that are the sizes of school buses, the intelligent capacity of humans, and what seems like an emotional capacity that far exceeds humans. It's really stunning, the things this documentary reveals about these gigantic mammals. Mainly it follows the exploits of this one orca they call "Tillicum" from his capture at sea to his confinement in a tank that's simply impossibly small for a creature of his size. The fact that they store a ton of these things together in the same tank is revealed as absolutely insane: they're a lot like people from all over the world, and when you just cherry pick them, separate them from their families, and throw them into what must feel like a bathtub to them with a bunch of others who they can't talk to, can't understand, and don't trust, bad things happen. Namely, trainers get attacked, mutilated, and occasionally even killed. And of course you see all the deliberate actions from SeaWorld to keep churning out product even in light of this danger. Mostly, for me, this film really illustrates what it's like for us to abdicate our responsibility to take stewardship over the earth. Humanity simply does not have the resources to adequately care for these creatures: they span hundreds of miles a day, and require more stimulation and social interaction than we are capable of providing. These are incredibly social creatures apparently, and we are placing them in underwater jail cells. I'm a religious person, and I can't help but think of this as a sin. I don't think you have to be religious to feel like the animals that share our world deserve moral treatment, and that aquatic amusement parks like SeaWorld are absolutely abdicating this responsibility with killer whales. Anyway. That's my rant. What kind of mind-expanding documentaries have you seen recently?
Posts: 59,244

10-25-2013, 10:51 AM	#84
Sweet Daddy Hate Unsparing Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	How the ** do you get a Grammy for "recording your album in a garage", and it sounds nothing like it at all? If I had Grohl's wallet, I could put some pretty nice shit in a garage too. __________________ 1. Merciless, severe. 2. Given freely and generously. 100% refusal to overrate 20 year Head Coaches with ZERO ing rings as a Head Coach. CP's Official Professor of 'Dem Blues for 2019/2020!**
Posts: 77,135

10-25-2013, 11:04 AM	#90
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $8019572	Manufacturing Consent The Corporation Ghosts of Rwanda Inside Job Hoop Dreams King of Kong Bush's War The Age of AIDS Cosmos The Journey CNN's Cold War Radio Bikini Koyaanisqatsi __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,820