Thursday, June 02, 2022
Where to Invade Next
- Commentary: Although it's good enough for me to own, this is not my favorite Michael Moore movie. It's funny and satirical, it's involving and I felt I owed it to my collection of his movies to own it. Maybe it's because I already knew all this stuff and, for the others of his I always learned something. Not sure, but, well, we'll just leave it at not being one of my favorites of his.
Update 6/2/2022: This post was originally published on 8/14/16 but disappeared from public view. I am now reinstating it.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2015
Directed by Michael Moore.
Labels: documentary1, michael-moore, political2, satire1
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
The Blue Planet
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: This is another excellent series produced by the same people who brought us Planet Earth. I have a preference for nature shows that explore water environments and this one stacks up very well. Unlike March of the Penguins, it lives up to its hype, even if you're a regular watcher of the variety of channels that frequently host animal and geographical specials. While I have tended, over the years, to become a bit jaded in the company of Animal-Vegetable-Mineral programs, seeing as how we view so many of them, this one, like Planet Earth, engages me, every episode, every time, and, because of my sub- and unconscious veering toward water videos, adds an extra "dreamy" dimension for me.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2001
Alistair Fothergill is listed as a director for one episode. No other directors are listed.
Labels: documentary1, dream1, film-art1, political3, science, shared-favorite, TV1
Earth: The Biography
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: This is another spectacular BBC series that charts the evolution of the earth. Fascinating. We watched it when it broke on TV then decided we had to have it for re-viewing. We watched it, in its entirety, a couple of times before Mom died.
Update: 7/31/21: This series came out, originally, within the year just previous to my mother's death. Since, it has been renamed "Earth: The Power of the Planet". From what I can tell, without actually watching it before writing this update, it is the same program, just a different name. As well, an overall director (although I'm sure there must have been one) has yet to be named in any of the material on the show. The closest I can get to someone who probably had editorial and directoral control over this product would be D. Iain Stewart, referred to as the "presenter" of this program.
Update 5/24/22: Yet another post published on 4/09/09 that "disappeared" and I had to recapture.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2007-2008
Directed by: Different Directors for different episodes; 5 directors in all.
Labels: audio-visual, documentary1, popcorn-and-soda3, science
The Corporation
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: I purchased this DVD while Mom was in rehab in 2008, so it's definitely a late-comer to our library. I'd rented it and was so pleased with the movie and the accompanying website (linked above to the title) that I decided to purchase it. I was sure that Mom wouldn't be interested in watching it and hadn't planned to run it for her but I'd accidentally left the jacket on the coffee table next to her rocker. When she came home she noticed and asked about it. I gave her a little enthusiastic review, than told her I wasn't sure she'd be interested in it, but she wanted to "give it a try". Much to my surprise, she really enjoyed it. It was one of those videos which we occasionally paused to discuss points and issues. She never watched it more than once, it wasn't one of those for her, but, well, suffice it to say this movie taught me never to underestimate my mother's interest in anything, always check, first.
Here's a link to Roger Ebert's review of this movie. Frankly, I was surprised he reviewed it. He even gave it three starts.
Narrated by Mikela J. Mikael.
Update 5/24/22: Yet another post published on 4/09/09 that "disappeared" and I had to recapture.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Mark Achbar & Jennifer Abbott.
Labels: documentary1, political3
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Fahrenheit 9/11
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I've watched this a couple of times: Once in depth and then speed watched through it. When I purchased the dvd the book was offered free. I've consulted the book more than the movie.
My mother doesn't seem fazed by this kind of documentary. I gather she's heard it all before. We don't watch any of Micheal Moore's movies for pleasure. Well, that's not strictly true. I love the comedy of all his movies. It strikes me as George Carlin doing performance comedy.
Update 2/7/18: I had to change the original link I had to this movie in the title, above, and, as I'm doing with most of the movies, chose to plunder Wikipedia. As I was searching for the movie I came across what looks like a second (very interesting) link about the movie, Fahrenheit 911 controversies. I've included it in case you find its title as intriguing as I. The references for the second Wiki article includes, under references, Michael Moore's response to the criticisms, but that link no longer works. This one does: Factual Back-Up for Fahrenheit 9/11.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Michael Moore.
Labels: documentary1, michael-moore, political5
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
The God Who Wasn't There
- Who's watched: Watched this movie with Mom before Mom died; bought it AMD.
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: I like watching this movie every once in awhile to remind me of why the life of Jesus upon which Christianity is based is more myth than reality. It doesn't make a difference to me, actually, since I'm not a Christian, but I don't shy away from religious discussions and the information in this movie helps ground me. It works well as a resource, too, as it features interviews with several well-known, self-identified atheists and Nones (a person who neither believes nor disbelieves in the existence or non-existence of a god).
I could not resist linking the title of this post to one of the many refutations of this movie. This one is less rabid than most I found. It actually tries to make sense.
Narrated by Brian Flemming.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2005
Directed by Brian Flemming.
Labels: audio-visual, documentary1, jesus-dvds
Inside Job
- Who's watched: Watched and bought this movie AMD
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I can't tell you how many times I've watched this movie. Although it has a clear political point, it also contains an explanation of the financial crisis that I understand and the special features never fail to remind me of aspects of the financial crisis I continue to feel the need to research, as more and more opinion is added to the expanding conversation about what happened then and what's happening now as a result. It's like a class outline for me.
Update 2/7/18: Surprisingly, the commercial site for this movie, to which the title is linked, is still fully active. It still contains a lot of material that would be of interest to people intrigued by this movie. You have to click links to go deeper into the website, but it's worth it. Just in case, though, here is the link for the Wikipedia page on this movie.
Update 4/25/21: Well, the website for this movie still exists, but it no longer contains anything, links or information, about the movie, other than the trailer. Interesting how here we are, in Pandemic Land 2020/2021, with oligarchs reportedly become richer and richer, beyond their wildest dreams, and ordinary citizens are becoming poorer and poorer, despite their meager, day-to-day, wanting-to-simply-live-without-hassles dreams. Conspiracy theory, anyone? Anyway, I'm replacing the link to Sony's web page for this movie with Roger Ebert's review. However, just out of curiosity, here's the Sony link to it's own movie. Let's see how long it'll be before they take it down. You can bet I'll be checking back, occasionally.
Narrated by Matt Damon.
Release Date: 2010
Directed by Charles Ferguson.
Labels: audio-visual, documentary1, interview, political2
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Capitalism: A Love Story
- Who's watched: Watched and bought this movie AMD
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Well, of course I own this movie! I watched it in the theater when it was first released, then bought a copy. I regularly force watchings upon relatives and friends. Much has been written and said about this movie which doesn't need repeating. I can tell you, though, that one moment I found the scariest was observing the slight smile on President George W. Bush's face when he announced the economic "global meltdown"; as though the plutocrats had not only orchestrated it but were rubbing their hands together with glee when it happened, knowing it would lead to a government bailout of the plutocracy and a startling, one time transfer of even more wealth into their rarefied percent of the population. As it happens, the financial reform that is now being wrangled over in the Legislature will likely not prevent another economic meltdown (although it's debatable whether any more bailouts will be okayed, at least in the near future). I want to mention that I found some of the special features on the DVD as, if not more, interesting than the movie. Two in particular, Commie Taxi Drivers and The Socialist Bank of — North Dakota? are especially hopeful. The movie can be relatively discouraging, so I have to be careful about repeat watchings. However, I have to say, Michael Moore's last line, "I refuse to live in a country like this — and I'm not leaving," more than makes up for the discouragement this movie and the some of special features dish out.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2009
Directed by Michael Moore.
Labels: documentary1, economic, historical2, michael-moore, political2, tragedy1
Friday, April 10, 2009
Sister Wendy Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
Mentions: *1*
Commentary: Aside from the comments in the Mention, above, you should know that the theme for the series casts a spell over me, as well. My mother never tired of watching these videos. Neither do I.
Update 8/2/21: I've been trying hard, on and off, over the years, to figure out a way to upload the musical theme from the Sister Wendy shows to this post, without success. Blogger doesn't want to recognize it as uploadable, even though it is an mp3 that can play on a video application. So, finally, today, I searched the web for a place where you, dear reader, can hear it. All the sites I found do the tune the indignity of cutting short it by a few seconds. The copy I downloaded in 2014 does the same. But, I can tell you, when I played it on my computer, today, I teared up, as I always do when I hear it. It is an indescribably tender piece of music. Download it. Put it on your player. Right now.
Our collection consists of the following:
- The Complete Collection (European)
Sister Wendy's Odyssey - Release Date: 1992
Sister Wendy's Grand Tour - Release Date: 1994
Sister Wendy's Pains of Glass - Release Date: 1995
Sister Wendy's Story of Painting - Release Date: 1996
Multiple directors, a few women - Sister Wendy's American Collection
Unsure of directors, probably multiple
Release Date: 2001 - Sister Wendy at the Norton Simon Museum
Release Date: 2002
Directed by David Willcock
Labels: documentary1, female-director3, shared-favorite
Sicko
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: I keep this movie as reference. I think it will come in particularly handy in the next few years. Mom and I both watched it. I think it bored Mom, especially since I insisted on watching all the special features which were, in many cases, more interesting than the movie. I care about this movie because I am one of Uninsured America. Since I was 22, I have had medical insurance for only nine months out of my entire adult life. In addition, I earned my fighting chops defending my fully insured mother against the USA Medical-Industrial Complex, including the insurance industry. Shouldn't surprise you that I'm a fan of this movie.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2007
Directed by Michael Moore.
Labels: documentary1, michael-moore
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Planet Earth
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Don't tell me you're suprised we purchased this series! Thank the gods, the version with David Attenborough narrating was available. Although we watched the series on TV when it aired on Discovery at the beginning of April (and immediately pre-ordered it), both of us had problems with Sigourney Weaver's narration. I didn't say anything until Mom spoke up and said, "That woman sounds like an old-time school marm! Couldn't they get someone better?!?"
Yes, they could and did.
Even if you're a veteran of animal and nature shows, as many Ancient Ones and their caregivers are, this series is a stunner. The addition of the three episode "Planet Earth-The Future" is oddly intriguing, since it involves interviews with died in the wool Greens and those who take issue with all the propositions included in the current global warming hysteria (yes, it is an hysteria, even if it turns out to be reliable), as a well as a smattering of people who are depressed by the realities inherent in trying to get humans to cooperate across the board in changing the ways we live on our planet.
I noticed that the script is, first, a little contradictory. In one place it mentions that glacial movement is the most devastating eroder of landscape. Then, in another episode, it states that moving water is. Granted, they both states of H2O, but their different states and properties have vastly different impacts upon the land. I vote for glacial movement. As well, I'm not sure how long this series was in development from the very beginning, but it inaccurately states, in the forest section, that a redwood is the largest living organism on Earth. A few years ago it was discovered that a mushroom was, in fact, the largest living organism. Truth is, we'll probably discover something that's even larger, one of these days.
Nonetheless, this series is a stunner. We watched it again tonight (which is last night, now). I know we'll watch it again. And again.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2006
The series was co-directed by Alastair Fothergill & Mark Linfield.
Labels: documentary1, film-art1, interview, mom-favorite1, political3, popcorn-and-soda3, science, sigourney-weaver, spectacle2, TV1
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Why We Fight
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I think my "mention" says it all. We have, by the way, seen this movie twice since purchasing it. The second time I cued it immediately after we sat through a viewing of The Fog of War, using it as a painlessly painful history reminder.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2005
Directed by Eugene Jarecki.
Labels: documentary1, war2
Friday, February 10, 2006
March of the Penguins
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I think I covered everything in the "mention" above. Despite this, I've kept it. Although we haven't seen it again, I'll bet, one of these days when Animal Planet, Discovery and National Geographic all have shit on them and Mom's not interested in anything but animal stuff, it'll come in handy. I think it's the only animal special we have on DVD. Well, besides The Planet of the Apes movies, which I'm sure Mom considers the best of animal specials.
Update: 7/31/21: Well, dear reader, this one went in the library bin. I don't remember when, but it was probably during the first library dump after Mom died.
Narrated by Morgan Freeman.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2005
Directed by Luc Jacquet.
Labels: animal, documentary1, mom-favorite2, morgan-freeman, science
Monday, November 14, 2005
Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Mom and I have caught this at least three times when it's showed on PBS during their funds drives. For both of us it's the Cosmos of philosophy/spirituality.
However, if I may, I don't know how my mother felt about this issue, but I have always found it disturbing that Campbell's Mythology Universe was so male centric that women are reduced to tools along the hero's path. I haven't given this much thought, until recently (starting, maybe, in 2019). Today (8/14/21), however, while refurbishing this post, I decided to see if I could find some critiques of Campbell's premises, possibly feminist critiques.
- First exhibit: a general critique of this broadcast interview between Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell that does, indeed, touch, lightly, on the problem of women in Campbell's mythological universe, and, more heavily, on the morality and practicality of "the hero's journey" thinking.
- Second exhibit: Thoughts on the Legacy of Joseph Campbell, Feminist Reaction, and the Study of Myth. Long paper. Excellent read. Can be gleaned for further resources. Absolutely spot on in it's critique of Campbell's androcentricity, even as he speaks about "The Goddess".
- Third Exhibit: Here is a reddit post entitled Joseph Campbell and 'Women Don't Need To Make The Journey' which lead me to a profoundly informative and active site addressing the problem of Joseph Campbell, heroes and women, in the next link exhibit:
- Fourth Exhibit: There is, in fact, an entire website devoted to The Heroine Journeys project, in contradistinction to Campbell. It's full of wonderfully thoughtful material.
- Final Exhibit: Craig Chalquist, PhD writes on Why I Seldom Teach The Hero's Journey Anymore -- And What I Teach Instead. He even outlines his reimagining of Campbell's syllabus, which I find fascinating.
Release Date: 1988
No apparent director acknowledged, although Bill Moyers edited the conversations.
Update 2/8/18: I watched this, again, a few months ago. I've done a lot of reading and studying in mythology since Mom and I watched this series and I'm completely underwhelmed, now. Many sources do it better and more thoroughly. This will probably, eventually, be donated to the library or handed off to someone I know.
Update 2/10/18: I know, peculiar to attach the label "super-hero" to this series, but Campbell talks about the hero myth and, well, that's what generates super-heroes, agreed?
Update 8/14/21: No, I haven't donated this to my local library, yet. I think I'm keeping it because it continues to provide a valuable annoyance function for me. As I age, I am becoming more and more aware of the disgusting status of women in society. It always helps to have provocative and supportive material around, as that happens.
Update 5/13/2022: If you've ever watched an episode, or two, or all of this series and need to wash your mind out with a strong, effective soap, pick up a copy of Mary Daly's Gyn/Ecology.
Labels: documentary1, shared-favorite, spiritual1, super-hero2
The Question of God - Sigmund Freud & C. S. Lewis
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I bought this because we never caught the entire show on PBS and it intrigued both Mom and me. We haven't had it very long but have watched it twice. After the second watching I ordered the book. I'm sure it will be one that she and I will read aloud together. Although my mother considers herself a Christian and has a grounding in and much respect for C. S. Lewis' theology and little familiarity with Sigmund Freud's work, both times we've watched this, during some of the explanation of Freud's thought journey to atheism, my mother has said, "You know, he's got a point, there." I can guarantee that she never lost her belief and faith in [a G]od. She was born into a deeply Methodist family that included preachers, deaconesses and an organist who specialized in religious music. She was, however, always game for a contentious consideration of religious beliefs, including, and especially, the ones with which she was raised and that she "accepted". For instance, she and I spent a year of evenings reading The Seth Material out loud to one another and discussed it with meticulous determination. She was as happy doing this as she was when she took her Kerygma course.
Update 7/31/21: Much to my surprise, the Question of God Guide still exists on the internet, at the immediately previous link.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Peter Eyre Sigmund Freud Erika Deutschova Martha Freud Simon Jones C.S. Lewis Martina Vachalova Joy Davidman
Astonishingly, Wikipedia does not have a page about this series. I'm baffled. However, IMDb has an informative page on this series that also lists actors, crew and technical details.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Catherine Tatge.
Labels: documentary1, religion1, shared-favorite, spiritual1
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Spellbound
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is a ditty of a movie, and this little ditty is a delight. This is my idea of a cartoon, even though it's a docu-drama in the best sense of the word.
It is this type of movie that is responsible for turning my idea of what movies are for and can do for me. There are, for instance, movies that one would want to have in one's own collection for pure enjoyment. My mother and I, for instance, spell the words along with the participants (we've seen the movie twice).
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2002
Directed by Jeffrey Blitz.
Labels: documentary1, mom-favorite2
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
The Spencer Tracy Legacy
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Both my mother and I found Kathryn Hepburn's participation in this project especially revealing, and the letter she wrote to "Spence" after his death especially touching.
Please note, in order to access the article linked to the title of this post you will have to click into TCM's title link. It seems impossible to directly link to articles on TCM's website.
The top image, by the way, is a copy of the cover of the collection. The second image is of the cover of the individual dvd.
As of 8/17/21, there is no Wikipedia write-up for this documentary.
Release Date: 1986
This video is a part of the Tracy & Hepburn The Signature Collection.
Labels: biography2, documentary1, popcorn-and-soda5, spencer-tracy, tracy-hepburn
Cosmos: The Entire 1980 Carl Sagan Series
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This series is our church. We watch episodes of it often, reverently and with maximum alertness. The music has a tendency to blur the experience for Mom, but the stories and cosmopolitan view snap her out of it. We have been known to lose entire afternoons and evenings to episodes of this series. In a way, I consider it the essence of the spirit that keeps Mom around.
Take note, readers. The review of this series that I've linked to the title of this post is written by an actual scientist/science writer who was motivated into the science field by this series. Not that I don't want to you check out every link in every one of my posts, but this link is especially delicious. Check it out.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1980
Directed by Adrian Malone and other of its producers, none, apparently, female.
Labels: documentary1, dream1, science, spectacle2, TV3
Monday, February 07, 2005
The Fog of War
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: I'm sure you'll be surprised to know that my mother (and, thus, me) had a very successful experience with this movie. I continue to use it as a meditation on conflict. Often, when I'm using it for this, Mom will sit down and watch it from wherever it is when she notices I'm playing it.
By the way, Roger Ebert also wrote of a letter he received from Errol Morrs expressing unpleasant surprise at the controversy surrounding not only this movie, but many of his other movies. It's a thoughtful response. Check it out.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Errol Morris.
Labels: documentary1, haunting2, historical4, me-favorite3, war2
That's Entertainment! The Complete Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I supposedly got these for my mother. She haunts cable looking for replays of the That's Entertainment series. I have to admit, though, I really enjoy them. They are especially good for generating energy. My mother and I both sing along to them. Sometimes, I dance along to them, too. Just for your info, the 4th disc, "Treasures from the Vault", is repetitious and boring. Don't bother.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the series. This write-up primarily covers the 1974 production. Links to the other two are attached to their respective release dates, below.
Release Date: 1974, 1976, 1994
Part One is directed by Jack Haley, Jr. Part Two is directed by Gene Kelly. Part Three is directed by Bud Friedgen and Michael Sheridan. No indication anywhere of who is responsible for direction on "Treasures from the Vault".
Labels: dance, documentary1, fred-astaire, historical4, mom-favorite2, musical2, popcorn-and-soda6
