What's your favorite Documentary ?

[goldenryan]

http://www.mun.ca/cinema/image/2008f/man_on_wire.jpg

http://www.lifeafter.org/images/Godmakers3.jpg

http://ringpsychology.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/hitman-hart_wrestling-with-shadows-soundtrack.jpg

i'm sure there's more i'm forgetting.

[Anton Chigurh]

way too many to list off the top of my head. ill update later.

[Knuck the Ficks]

I'll say "Hoop Dreams". "Man on Wire" was good though.

[BankShot]

Who Killed the Electric Car

[Styles p]

cocaine cowboys.

[kentatm]

http://urbanfrontiersman.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/king-of-kong.jpg

[beasly15]

http://www.impawards.com/2000/posters/american_pimp.jpg

[L.Kizzle]

Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues ...
Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy
Some Katie Morgan doc on HBO

[BankShot]

http://urbanfrontiersman.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/king-of-kong.jpg

I changed my mind... THIS is my favorite documentary ever. Awesome call.

:cheers:

[goldenryan]

http://urbanfrontiersman.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/king-of-kong.jpg
had a feeling that one was going to be mentioned. pretty ridiculous how both men spent all that time trying to get the high score.

[oh the horror]

cocaine cowboys.


:applause:





Also, what is Man on a Wire about?

[OneMoreSucka]

Spinal Tap

/thread

[Skywalker]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AolHM43FJhY/Swb9aybMX-I/AAAAAAAAETg/RvzrKg8xxIw/s640/carterdoc.jpg

[BankShot]

had a feeling that one was going to be mentioned. pretty ridiculous how both men spent all that time trying to get the high score.

The only comment you're going to make is about the time each guy spent???

Not going to mention the absolutely unfair treatment bestowed upon the school teacher from the BBQ sauce guy and his loyal peons?? What about some of the most real, unintentional, comedy, I've seen in a long time??

We must have watched different movies. :confusedshrug:

[BankShot]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AolHM43FJhY/Swb9aybMX-I/AAAAAAAAETg/RvzrKg8xxIw/s640/carterdoc.jpg

:rolleyes:

[kentatm]

had a feeling that one was going to be mentioned. pretty ridiculous how both men spent all that time trying to get the high score.


and yet one of your fav docs is about a moron who walked a wire between two buildings and got arrested for it and another is about a completely fake "sport"

:D

[BlazersDozen]

Supersize Me Now

[T.O.RAPS]

sicko

[big baller]

Road to Guantanamo.

[xcesswee]

http://www.truth-tv.com/Union_BusinessBehindGettingHigh.jpg

Really makes you wonder how much the govt. lies to us about any issue.

[The_Walrus]

http://uashome.alaska.edu/~dfgriffin/website/dylan.gif

http://www.exo.net/~ronh/DVD/images/large//51ANS85BCJL.jpg

http://www.alivenotdead.com/attachments/2007/11/40518_20071115190000225.jpg

[iggy>]

http://chopsteakmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/the-game-the-documentary.jpg

[goldenryan]

and yet one of your fav docs is about a moron who walked a wire between two buildings and got arrested for it and another is about a completely fake "sport"

:D

wire walking has alot more high stakes than an 1980's arcade game.
and calling the mormon religion a fake "sport" might offend some some posters here. :D

[Aldridge Fan]

http://www.impawards.com/2004/posters/touching_the_void_verdvd.jpg

http://www.kodoom.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/image_supersizeme1.jpg

[U got Served]

My favorite pseudo-documentary is "Punishment Park"

[CLTHornets4eva]

http://okto1970.com/images/last_waltz_DVD.jpg

[plowking]

Definitely Star Wars.

[ROCSteady]

http://blog.newsok.com/staticblog/files/2009/07/union-dvd.png

This one is very well done. Not exactly the most mind-blowing material but it's certainly one of interest. Very insightful

[DeuceWallaces]

Hearts And Minds (1974) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071604/)

Oscar winner and first critical look at the Vietnam War. It's raw, and hard to watch at times.

[1987_Lakers]

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/51G9JrVb3BL._.jpg

Most depressing documentary ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZmZbv3VzKs&feature=related

[NumeroOcho]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZmZbv3VzKs&feature=related

:eek: that is serious

[momo]

Soul in the hole.

[RedBlackAttack]

Hearts And Minds (1974) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071604/)

Oscar winner and first critical look at the Vietnam War. It's raw, and hard to watch at times.
Fascinating and excruciatingly honest. Definitely one of the best that I have seen.

Fog of War is also an excellent one on Vietnam. Give it a look if you haven't already.

The Thin Blue Line is one of the best that I have seen. Also, The Unforeseen has to get a nod, as well.

EDIT: I saw The Bridge also, 1987_Lakers. Certainly eye opening. I had no idea that this massive problem existed for the Golden Gate Bridge. Incredibly sad.

[kentatm]

wire walking has alot more high stakes than an 1980's arcade game.
and calling the mormon religion a fake "sport" might offend some some posters here. :D


so what if it has "high" stakes? that actually makes it an even more moronic waste of time. Getting killed for something useless? Thats Magnavox smart.


\
Fog of War is also an excellent one on Vietnam. Give it a look if you haven't already.


YES. This was a GREAT movie. It was fascinating to see how he had regrets in some areas and refused to back down in others. It was also scary as hell to see just how much power a man with a misguided world view had.

[BankShot]

http://chopsteakmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/the-game-the-documentary.jpg

Really??

Of all the information-packed, knowledgeable, educational, interesting, documentaries available throughout the 60+ years of filmmaking, your favorite is one featuring The Game??

:rolleyes:

[pete's montreux]

Thread bookmarked. I'm not a huge fan of docs, but most recently "Collapse" blew my mind. Though It's not really a documentary.

[phoenix18]

Really??

Of all the information-packed, knowledgeable, educational, interesting, documentaries available throughout the 60+ years of filmmaking, your favorite is one featuring The Game??

:rolleyes:

This is how we do.

[phelix2000]

Planet Earth anybody?

[Steve Nash]

The Journeymen
its about two guys trying to make a living playing pro tennis

http://www.fivelion.com/posters/journeymen_small.gif

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXN1jaV6UMo

[BankShot]

This is how we do.

Precisely.... thats the worst part. :rolleyes:

[Thugnificent]

This is how we do.

:applause:

my favourite documentary is "What Happened to Kerouac."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXakFbIvXaA

[RedBlackAttack]

Grey Gardens - Bizarre film about Jackie Kennedy's relatives that live in a dilapidated mansion on Long Island. Their house is filled with cats and raccoons... But the two women - a mother and daughter - seem to live in their own world where they reflect on their past lives. I would say it is sad, but the women genuinely don't seem unhappy. They enjoy each others' company and seem oblivious to the house crumbling around them... Really hard to explain this, but definitely worth a watch. 7/10

Gonzo - Movie about the life and times of Hunter S. Thompson, narrated by Johnny Depp. Very interesting and insightful piece on Thompson's life. There was a lot of stuff in this film that I hadn't previously heard, like when Thompson ran for sheriff in Aspen, Colorado and came within a couple of hundred votes of winning. Hilarious and heart-wrenching. However, I would like to have heard a little more detail of Thompson's later years. Most of the time is spent on his 'prime' during the 1970s. He is a fascinating character, nonetheless. 8/10

Bigger, Stronger, Faster - A film done by an aspiring body builder about the effects (or lack thereof) that steroids has on the human body. It is pretty interesting to see just how little we know about steroids and how completely unconnected circumstances are blamed on steroids just to scare the public at-large (Lyle Alzado, Chris Benoit, etc). It really makes you wonder why steroids are illegal. Good stuff. 8/10.

The Thin Blue Line - Interesting film about a man in Texas who was given the death sentence and was later found to be completely innocent while he sat on death row. The film CAUSED Texas to let him out by revealing an interview that it had with the real killer in which HE ADMITTED to being the real killer. It is widely considered one of the great documentaries of all-time and is known as Errol Morris' best work. 9/10

The Fog of War - Robert McNamara, the Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam conflict, basically admits during the course of this interview-style documentary basically admits that the entire war was a mistake and he helped orchestrate the entire thing. It could be a bit dry if you are not as into American history as I am, but it is a must watch for anyone interested in history. This was also done by Errol Morris. 9/10

King of Kong - This focuses on a very odd sub-culture of America that is obsessed with vintage video games... Mainly Donkey Kong. When I say that these 30 and 40-year-olds live for these games, I mean it. Hilarious and completely fascinating, this is one of the best docs that I have seen. 9/10

The Kid Stays in the Picture - Profile of Hollywood producer Robert Evans, this documentary wouldn't be as interesting if it weren't for Evans' narration, which I believe was the reason for the Kid Notorious cartoon that was on Comedy Central a few years ago. Evans is hilarious. 7/10.

Hype! - Documentary about the Seattle music scene in the late-80s and early-90s. It is worth watching this just for the music. Features performances by Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, etc. But, the movie really isn't about the music itself. It is more about how the media hype machine works and how it pretty much destroyed the creativity in the American northwest. 9/10

Jump! - Based on the competitive jump roping circuit, which I had previously not been exposed to. It is pretty incredible. These people do some crazy stuff ... Backflips, somersaults, breakdancing... All while jumping rope. And, they are super competitive about it... There are regionals, nationals, and world championships. 7/10

The Unforeseen - Focuses around the attempts by developers to turn the beautiful natural land around Austin, TX into suburban sprawl. There is a natural aquifer that leads to Barton Springs, a glorious rallying point for the community in and around Austin, that is being poisoned and destroyed by developers. The doc explores the downfall of 'growth' and human interference with nature. Amazing film. And, to top it off, Sigur Ros does part of the soundtrack. 10/10

Zoo - This one is actually about Mr. Hands, the man who became famous after he died following a sexual encounter with a horse. Fascinating and disturbing film. There are many long interviews with other guys that were a part of the bestiality ring in Washington state that was exposed after the incident. 8/10

Trinity and Beyond - Concerns the testing of nuclear weapons by the US government in 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.. The films from the tests have been released to the public and this is basically 2 hours of the most amazing/frightening blasts that have ever taken place on planet earth. It is simply amazing that the citizens of this country and the world allowed the US and Russia to conduct these destructive tests for as long as they did. Shocking videos that will leave you shaking in your shoes. It is also narrated by William Shatner... Always a plus. 9/10

Go Tigers - Film about the crazed fans of a high school football team in a city of Ohio (Massillon). I could relate to this one, because I was born and raised in a similar Ohio city (Steubenville). Outsiders will likely be shocked at how seriously high school football is taken. It is more of a religion than a sport. 8/10

I've seen many, many more... These are just the ones that are sticking out at the moment.

[Wreck Shop]

http://www.djfl.de/entertainment/djfl/1120/bilder/112021p_usa.jpg

amazing.

[pete's montreux]

RBA, you're a wealth of awesomeness.

[Thugnificent]

Gonzo - Movie about the life and times of Hunter S. Thompson, narrated by Johnny Depp. Very interesting and insightful piece on Thompson's life. There was a lot of stuff in this film that I hadn't previously heard, like when Thompson ran for sheriff in Aspen, Colorado and came within a couple of hundred votes of winning. Hilarious and heart-wrenching. However, I would like to have heard a little more detail of Thompson's later years. Most of the time is spent on his 'prime' during the 1970s. He is a fascinating character, nonetheless. 8/10

Bigger, Stronger, Faster - A film done by an aspiring body builder about the effects (or lack thereof) that steroids has on the human body. It is pretty interesting to see just how little we know about steroids and how completely unconnected circumstances are blamed on steroids just to scare the public at-large (Lyle Alzado, Chris Benoit, etc). It really makes you wonder why steroids are illegal. Good stuff. 8/10.



:cheers:

the second one is especially great, I watched it right after Pumping Iron and BSF really put the Schwarzenegger movie in perspective.

[miller-time]

amazing:

http://ees.acadiau.ca/content/envstudents/images/planet_earth.jpg

[RedBlackAttack]

RBA, you're a wealth of awesomeness.
What can I say.... I am a doc nut. :cheers:

I have made it my goal to see every highly thought of documentary ever made. I still have some work to do, but I'm getting there.

Wreck shop,
Riding Giants is really good. Hamilton is amazing... There are a few shots where he is riding the waves with Erik Satie playing in the background that have stuck with me.

It was this song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al5U1WJ48rM

(also the same track used in the soundtrack of Man on Wire)

EDIT: Planet Earth in HD is certainly awe-inspiring. I prefer the BBC versions, though. I like their narrator better than Sigourney Weaver. But, beautiful nonetheless.

[Wreck Shop]

Wreck shop,
Riding Giants is really good. Hamilton is amazing... There are a few shots where he is riding the waves with Erik Satie playing in the background that have stuck with me.



this sh*t makes my balls restrict (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U66qW7kBVnM)

[kentatm]

Oh, I also really like the tour doc Justice: A Cross the Universe.

http://arteknyc.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/justice1.jpg


the only issue I could see some having with it is since they are French, the movie is in both French and English. The version I saw did no subtitling so my weak ass two years of French from high school had to suffice.

The tour manager that gets obsessed with guns is probably my favorite part.

[AtomSmasher]

I love docs and docu-dramas. Here are some of my favorites off the top of my head:

Hoops Dreams - It'd be a disgrace if anyone in the States posting on this site hasn't seen this.

Collapse - Required viewing for every human with a pulse. Details the collapse of modern industrial civilization.

Gladiator Days - About a violent prison inmate called "Troy Kell" on death row who is fighting to be executed by firing squad. Very powerful.

The Rape of Europa - About the amount of art that was seized, destroyed, stolen during Nazi Germany and the great lengths that a lot of masterpieces were hidden from the Nazis.

My Best Fiend - A film chronicling the tumultuous relationship between Klaus Kinski and Warner Herzog - two of the greatest at their respective crafts!

Hearts and Minds - I was forced to watch this at a young age. Should be required viewing for every American student.

Grizzly Man - Herzog's epic masterpiece about a man who lives amongst bears in Alaska.

Dig! - In my opinion the greatest music related documentary of the past 10 years. This chronicles the psychedelic band 'The Brian Jonestown Massacre'.

American Zeitgeist - This doc changed my life. Opened my eyes to lots of ideas and concepts that I had no idea about.

Lessons Of Darkness - Some of the most intense imagery of the Gulf War. Mostly shots of oil tanks burning, very heavy imagery. More Herzog brilliance.

The Decline of Western Civilization - Channels the inner punk in me.

The Weather Underground - Based on the radical group.

The Bridge - San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is the number one suicide destination in the world. A director set up various cameras films different angles for an entire year and captured multiple suicides.

[TheAnchorman]

Collapse - Required viewing for every human with a pulse. Details the collapse of modern industrial civilization.
Yo do you happen to have that link for Collapse again? I missed it.

[Fatal9]

I'm not a big documentary guy but my two favorites are probably...

http://www.icubed.us/files/hoopdreams.jpeg
http://www.wildaboutmovies.com/images_4/MyKidCouldPaintThatMoviePoster.jpg

Rape of Europa sounds interesting, downloading it atm.

[AtomSmasher]

Fatal - You'll enjoy rape of europa, especially because you have more worldly interests than most posters on the board.

That little girl's paintings look like Jackson Pollock pieces.

Speaking of which, another great documentary is "Who the f*ck is Jackson Pollock?"

[RainierBeachPoet]

http://www.icubed.us/files/hoopdreams.jpeg

anyone see "combover"? i laughed SO hard at this documentary!!

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WCsOjyRhpeM/RqisDLUAGNI/AAAAAAAAAck/s_A6mfnpqaE/s400/Combover.jpg

[goldenryan]

this is a good one.


http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb52/The_Playlist/movies/joy-division-documentary.jpg

[AtomSmasher]

this is a good one.


http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb52/The_Playlist/movies/joy-division-documentary.jpg
That is a great one, you'd probably be interested in this:

http://paddyconsidine.co.uk/images/F_24_hour_party_people_cover.jpg

[goldenryan]

oh and this one too.

http://www.laut.de/bilder/lautstark/artikel/cdreview/01941/cover.jpg

[AtomSmasher]

Who the f#ck is Jackson Pollock - A truck driver stumbles upon a Pollock painting that has an estimated value of 25 million dollars. The paintings authenticity is brought into question.

Encounters at the end of the world - Herzog is undoubtedly the best documentary film maker alive/ever. He takes on Alaska in this epic doc.

Street Fight - Chronicles Cory Booker's campaign to become Mayor of Newark New Jersey. Cory Booker is one of the only politicians I actually support/believe in.

Lenny Bruce: Swear to tell the truth - The first man to challenge censorship, he was so ahead of his time.

First Contact - Details the discovery of a native tribe in New Guinea in an area that was thought to be uninhabited.

[BankShot]

First Contact - Details the discovery of a native tribe in New Guinea in an area that was thought to be uninhabited.

Sounds interesting, i may have to check that one out.

[AtomSmasher]

Sounds interesting, i may have to check that one out.
It's quality - pretty sure it won best documentary from the academy in the 80s.

[RedBlackAttack]

It's quality - pretty sure it won best documentary from the academy in the 80s.
Say... What is that doc that you were telling me about months ago that involved people in NYC that lived in the sewers or something? Sounded interesting and I can't recall the name.

[BankShot]

Say... What is that doc that you were telling me about months ago that involved people in NYC that lived in the sewers or something? Sounded interesting and I can't recall the name.

Dark Days???

[RedBlackAttack]

Dark Days???
Hmmm... Not sure. It doesn't ring a bell. Marlo?

[AtomSmasher]

Hmmm... Not sure. It doesn't ring a bell. Marlo?
Yes Dark Days. This is quality too. DJ Shadow provided the soundtrack.

[RedBlackAttack]

Yes Dark Days. This is quality too. DJ Shadow provided the soundtrack.
Ok... Good look, Bank. I'm going to resume my search for that one.

[RedBlackAttack]

A few more recommendations...

Capturing the Friedman's - Involves a family (father and son) who are charged with molesting kids in a computer class that they were teaching. The film never takes a firm stance on their guilt or innocence, but instead deals with the breakdown of their family as the trials go forward. Disturbing and heart-wrenching. 9/10

Touching the Void - About a pair of mountain climbers that run into incredible obstacles while attempting to scale a giant in the Alps. Amazing cinematography and very well done. 9/10

Milking the Rhino - Deals with the new business of attempting to attract tourists by tribes in Kenya. It is about the conflict of those herding cattle and those attempting to attract wildlife (which will ultimately attract rich tourists). Very interesting. 8/10

[BankShot]

A few more recommendations...

Capturing the Friedman's - Involves a family (father and son) who are charged with molesting kids in a computer class that they were teaching. The film never takes a firm stance on their guilt or innocence, but instead deals with the breakdown of their family as the trials go forward. Disturbing and heart-wrenching. 9/10


I saw parts of this at school... although I can't remember which class.

As long as the topic of child molestation doesn't hit too close, its definitely worth watching. Very well done and thought-provoking.

[AtomSmasher]

Huge fan of Touching the Void. I love docs about K2, Everest, all things climbing.

[iggy>]

Really??

Of all the information-packed, knowledgeable, educational, interesting, documentaries available throughout the 60+ years of filmmaking, your favorite is one featuring The Game??

:rolleyes:
its a joke, the album is called "the documentary", actually a pretty good album.

[L.Kizzle]

Really??

Of all the information-packed, knowledgeable, educational, interesting, documentaries available throughout the 60+ years of filmmaking, your favorite is one featuring The Game??

:rolleyes:
I think it was sarcasm, the Documentary is not really a doc, but the name of an album by rapper "The Game."

[BankShot]

I think it was sarcasm, the Documentary is not really a doc, but the name of an album by rapper "The Game."

Yep, got it.

[NYCPG]

does anyone have a link to a torrent site with Gladiator Days?

[AtomSmasher]

does anyone have a link to a torrent site with Gladiator Days?
i wish - i'd love to give that one another spin.

[blasian]

Hoop Dreams
When We Were Kings
Grizzly Man
Tarnation(even though I don't want to watch it ever again)

[wTFaMonkey]

Zeitgeist is my favorite

such a great documentary 10/10

[momo]

"When we were kings" is also amazing.

[Thorpesaurous]

RBA stole mine. Touching the Void is a personal favorite. I do love a good doc.

I'll also throw out Dog Town and Z Boys, and there was one about Christian Hosoi not long ago that were both really well done, and if you have any interest in skateboarding (I grew up with those guys) are definitely worth watching. I hear there's a good one about Mark Gator Gratowski that's really good as well, but I've never seen it.

Not much mention of the Michael Moore stuff? I'm not really a fan, but there are usually some good moments. I question weather those are really documentaries though. They're more like thesis pieces to me.

[AtomSmasher]

RBA stole mine. Touching the Void is a personal favorite. I do love a good doc.

I'll also throw out Dog Town and Z Boys, and there was one about Christian Hosoi not long ago that were both really well done, and if you have any interest in skateboarding (I grew up with those guys) are definitely worth watching. I hear there's a good one about Mark Gator Gratowski that's really good as well, but I've never seen it.

Not much mention of the Michael Moore stuff? I'm not really a fan, but there are usually some good moments. I question weather those are really documentaries though. They're more like thesis pieces to me.
'Stoked' is the one about Gator. Worth checking out.

[Thorpesaurous]

'Stoked' is the one about Gator. Worth checking out.


Cool. Thanks.

[U got Served]

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed is also one of my favorite documentaries.

http://www.trailersforall.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/expelled-no-intelligence-allowed-poster.jpg

A must see.

[Dasher]

When We Were Kings, Eyes On The Prize, and Style Wars are my favorites.

[JtotheIzzo]

Just for Kicks

[goldenryan]

not one of my favorites but still funny and i know it's going to be mentioned here

http://aworldofprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/religulous.jpg

[RedBlackAttack]

I just watched an amazing documentary last night that I don't remember being mentioned in this thread, so I thought it was worth a bump.

God Grew Tired of Us: The Story of Lost Boys of Sudan

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/2263/godgrewtiredofus.jpg


Wow... Pretty riveting.

It involves the situation which has transpired in the Sudan with north and south taking part in a civil war. Caught between the country's two hemispheres are children (referred to as the 'lost boys'). They have lived through the kind of situation that we couldn't even imagine... From genocide to starvation to living in a horrendous refugee camp.

The film follows three of these refugees -- now in their late-20s -- as they are relocated to the United States. These are people that have never experienced electricity and they are suddenly thrust into vast metropolises in a society that doesn't slow down for anyone.

The documentary stays with them and records their lives as they progress for several years in America. I would encourage anyone and everyone on here who has an interest in documentaries or just wants to become more worldly to check this out immediately.

The refugees are such impressive people that it is mind-blowing. It made me think about the opportunities I was lucky enough to be born with and how I probably don't utilize and take advantage of everything that is available to me. It also offers up some pretty telling critiques of the American society in comparison to Sudan.

Anyway, check it out... I think I got it off of Demonoid and I would provide a direct link, but it is currently down for maintenance. It shouldn't be difficult to find.

10/10

Oh yeah... Along with it being an incredible story that is told beautifully, there is also killer traditional African music throughout which just adds to the atmosphere conveyed by the movie.

Here is one of the tracks that is played at the end, which I had to look up after it was over...

http://popup.lala.com/popup/4035506768868959182

[32jazz]

Fascinating and excruciatingly honest. Definitely one of the best that I have seen.

Fog of War is also an excellent one on Vietnam. Give it a look if you haven't already.

The Thin Blue Line is one of the best that I have seen. Also, The Unforeseen has to get a nod, as well.

EDIT: I saw The Bridge also, 1987_Lakers. Certainly eye opening. I had no idea that this massive problem existed for the Golden Gate Bridge. Incredibly sad.



Easily since you are the resident boxing expert RedBlackAttack ,have you seen "Ring Of Fire" documenting the brutal death of Kid Paret at the hands of Emile Griffith on National TV?
Good documentary which documents the death of this guy which was totally unnecessary & the ref was negligent I feel. Griffith was allowed to hit an unconcious Paret (on his feet only held up by the ropes) over a dozen times.

Are there any more Boxing documenatries that you could recommend?

"Ring Of Fire"(Emilie Griffith Story)

"Unforgivable Blackness"(Jack Johnson)

As a JAzz fan I like "Thelonious Monk: Straight No Chaser"

"Jazz" by Ken Burns

I will have to think of more as these are off the top of my head.

[goldenryan]

wire walking has alot more high stakes than an 1980's arcade game.
and calling the mormon religion a fake "sport" might offend some posters here. :D
http://www.filehurricane.com/viewerthumbnails/6102008101926AM_oh.jpg

[Manute for Ever!]

My two favourites:

http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/film/images/stories/gonzo.jpg

http://www.stardustdvd.com/catalog/images/Beyond-mat-unrated.jpg

[golddigger31]

I just have to add that "Man on wire" is about a guy who tighrope walks freely in between the twin towers...not just some buildings, but the tallest buildings around, the movie has some great shots of the building and the city back in the day.

[Gunnin4HoLeS]

to lazy to read the entire thread but the "MOre than a Game" documentary profiling Lebron and his buddies was the best b ball doc i have seen. I loved the part where coach is crying over the impact they had on him .

[RedBlackAttack]

Easily since you are the resident boxing expert RedBlackAttack ,have you seen "Ring Of Fire" documenting the brutal death of Kid Paret at the hands of Emile Griffith on National TV?
Good documentary which documents the death of this guy which was totally unnecessary & the ref was negligent I feel. Griffith was allowed to hit an unconcious Paret (on his feet only held up by the ropes) over a dozen times.

Are there any more Boxing documenatries that you could recommend?

I've seen 'Ring of Fire' and it was very interesting. It amazing to see how tortured Griffith still is all of the years later. It has been years since I've seen it and I sort of forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder.

As for best boxing documentaries, Pete reminded me of one a few days ago that premiered on HBO last year called 'Assault in the Ring.' It is about the bout between Luis Resto and Billy Collins Jr. in which Resto was caught with the padding taken out of his gloves. Panama Lewis was his trainer and they became the first boxer/trainer to be sent to prison over something that happened inside the ring.

The film catches up with Resto all of these years later and he is as tortured as Griffith. They reunite him with Lewis and it is incredibly compelling. If you haven't seen it, I would recommend checking it out.

You've probably seen it, but I thought I would throw 'When We Were Kings' out there. It is probably the most critically acclaimed boxing doc ever made and it is about the Rumble in the Jungle (Ali-Foreman).

Another really good one is 'Thrilla in Manila.' It catches up with Joe Frazier all these years later to talk about his trilogy with Ali. Frazier still despises Ali and it is evident throughout. Definitely worth checking out.

...I'm sure there are more that I have seen, but that is a start.

[32jazz]

^^

Yeah I forgot I did see part of "Assault in The Ring" a few months back on HBO. Resto meekly confronts Panama Lewis(seedy guys in boxing & he is still allowed to train just not enter ring-disgusting) about what he put in his gloves & Panama just dismisses him. I will have to watch it in its enitrety someday.( Resto claims to not to have known what Lewis put in his gloves at the time).

Kind of felt badly for Resto & how his life has turned out ,but I am sure he knew something 'fishy' was going on.


Yeah I did see "Thrilla In Manilla" when Frazier's brother(?) or son Marvis plays Fraziers voicemail greeting where he mocks Ali's Parkinson disease & how the beatings he administered is partly responsible for it.


Frazier is rightfully/justifiably pissed at Ali, but his family feels like he should let finally let it go.

Now Ali is revered & making millions off his name alone & Frazier is living in a room above his gym last I saw. Overall Joe comes off as a good guy & sympathetic character.

[RaininThrees]

http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51F3VTJCQNL._SS500_.jpg

Incredibly sad.

http://www.totalfilm.com/trailers/one-day-in-september

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/12/29/munich1_wideweb__470x335.jpg

[DieHardBullsFan]

Hoop Dreams!

[RedBlackAttack]

I just watched an amazing documentary last night that I don't remember being mentioned in this thread, so I thought it was worth a bump.

God Grew Tired of Us: The Story of Lost Boys of Sudan

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/2263/godgrewtiredofus.jpg


Wow... Pretty riveting.

It involves the situation which has transpired in the Sudan with north and south taking part in a civil war. Caught between the country's two hemispheres are children (referred to as the 'lost boys'). They have lived through the kind of situation that we couldn't even imagine... From genocide to starvation to living in a horrendous refugee camp.

The film follows three of these refugees -- now in their late-20s -- as they are relocated to the United States. These are people that have never experienced electricity and they are suddenly thrust into vast metropolises in a society that doesn't slow down for anyone.

The documentary stays with them and records their lives as they progress for several years in America. I would encourage anyone and everyone on here who has an interest in documentaries or just wants to become more worldly to check this out immediately.

The refugees are such impressive people that it is mind-blowing. It made me think about the opportunities I was lucky enough to be born with and how I probably don't utilize and take advantage of everything that is available to me. It also offers up some pretty telling critiques of the American society in comparison to Sudan.

Anyway, check it out... I think I got it off of Demonoid and I would provide a direct link, but it is currently down for maintenance. It shouldn't be difficult to find.

10/10

Oh yeah... Along with it being an incredible story that is told beautifully, there is also killer traditional African music throughout which just adds to the atmosphere conveyed by the movie.

Here is one of the tracks that is played at the end, which I had to look up after it was over...

http://popup.lala.com/popup/4035506768868959182
Here is the link, people...

http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1465282/9745450/

Go, go, go...

[kentatm]

I've seen 'Ring of Fire' and it was very interesting. It amazing to see how tortured Griffith still is all of the years later. It has been years since I've seen it and I sort of forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder.

As for best boxing documentaries, Pete reminded me of one a few days ago that premiered on HBO last year called 'Assault in the Ring.' It is about the bout between Luis Resto and Billy Collins Jr. in which Resto was caught with the padding taken out of his gloves. Panama Lewis was his trainer and they became the first boxer/trainer to be sent to prison over something that happened inside the ring.

The film catches up with Resto all of these years later and he is as tortured as Griffith. They reunite him with Lewis and it is incredibly compelling. If you haven't seen it, I would recommend checking it out.

You've probably seen it, but I thought I would throw 'When We Were Kings' out there. It is probably the most critically acclaimed boxing doc ever made and it is about the Rumble in the Jungle (Ali-Foreman).

Another really good one is 'Thrilla in Manila.' It catches up with Joe Frazier all these years later to talk about his trilogy with Ali. Frazier still despises Ali and it is evident throughout. Definitely worth checking out.

...I'm sure there are more that I have seen, but that is a start.


Man, Assault in the Ring was great. Heartbreaking, uplifting, disgusting and infuriating all at once.

Panama Lewis should be shot in the knee caps. That dude is manipulative scum.

[RedBlackAttack]

I just watched The Staircase, an eight-part documentary about the death of Kathleen Peterson and the arrest of Michael Peterson. I also checked out The Staircase 2: Last Chance today...

Pretty amazing stuff. I don't want to give anything away for those who haven't seen it.

Anyone else checked this out? Amazing story... gripping film-making and real-life storytelling.

[RightToCensor]

Kobe Bryant's MUSE.

I hope more players put out more things like that when they retire. Two-Three hours of them talking straight to the camera showing nothing but their highlights, lowlights, and personal life.

[outbreak]

tilt: the battle to save pinball

and

special when lit

are both really good docos

[stalkerforlife]

Paradise Lost: Murder at Robin Hood Hills.

And all the West Memphis 3 documentaries.

[insidehoops]

Just remembered, time to start watching more documentaries.

[Wally450]

Honestly, the documentary "At Last" that highlighted the lead up to the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight was put together very well. Kudos to HBO for that piece.

[Meticode]

Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals

https://dtvimages.hs.llnwd.net/e1//db_photos/showcards/v5/AllPhotos/8001246/p8001246_b_v5_aa.jpg

...when Magic talks about how Bird called him after he announced he had HIV...I teared up pretty bad. I love how it went into when Magic retired, Bird lost the love of playing because he felt at the time that was his equal and rival. He did not want to play anymore.

[72-10]

Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals

https://dtvimages.hs.llnwd.net/e1//db_photos/showcards/v5/AllPhotos/8001246/p8001246_b_v5_aa.jpg

...when Magic talks about how Bird called him after he announced he had HIV...I teared up pretty bad. I love how it went into when Magic retired, Bird lost the love of playing because he felt at the time that was his equal and rival. He did not want to play anymore.

I haven't watched it yet, but should. Did it delve into Bird's well-known, nagging, career-ending back issues? They both look like retarded chickens trying to break into the paint for a rebound.

[DoctorP]

The Daily Slaying of Jeff/Mike and his army of alts
by Doctor P

great movie. will watch again. 7/10 IGN

[Axe]

Used to watch mayday/aci documentaries back then. Probably one of my favorites then.

[bladefd]

Cosmos

https://cdn-blogs.tribune.com.pk/2014/03/21497-carl-1396009519.jpg

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/files.catholicworldreport.com/2018/04/3029spitzerjpg_00000002249.jpg

[Axe]

Videos covering basketball from 30 for 30 by espn got me interested.