Documentaries

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Doc Creed

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Two weeks ago I watched a documentary on Adam West. I never knew how humble he was and what a tremendous personality he had. He was very funny. I liked that he knew he wasn't the greatest actor in Hollywood and that he never took himself seriously. When it came to his fans, though, he believed in making each one feel appreciated. I thought this film was both entertaining and touching.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
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Apr 11, 2006
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Dying to Know: Ram Dass and Timothy Leary

Absolutely fascinating viewing. The doc outlined their lives, but this really was about the journey to death.

Quite touching and I was choked up and weepy many times. Some of the interview subjects, commenters, were authors who had books about dying or spirituality that I have read, so that alone pulled me into this documentary.

Also, two men of history, especially Leary, that were at the forefront of drug culture -- the good that is widely ignored, and the bad that is so very dominating in our culture.

I love historical pieces, and this was a snapshot of a time, a way of life and the mindset of people. Ongoing history.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
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Resurface

This is a very quick documentary, 27 minutes?, but it packs a lot of information and emotion into that 27. This is about soldiers suffering PTSD and physical handicaps and how one man started a surfing group to refocus these soldiers, help them feel whole again. Many of them suicidal and self destructive through drugs and alcohol -- this program replaces that and the ocean becomes their savior and drug of choice.

The next damn time someone wants to put us in a war, and you are beating your chest woo hooing about kicking ______ (fill in the blank with the bad guy du jour) azz, take a minute of your arrogant time and watch this documentary, or other documentaries that focus on soldiers coming home different kids than what went over.

We train killing machines and they come home very changed people. And we thank them for their service and go on our merry way. They, on the other hand, take the horrors of war with them everywhere they go and share it daily with loved ones.

Next time you're happy your country is going to war, proud they are going to war, go enlist your proud bad self.

If you have served -- Thank you and I'm sorry for any struggles you may have had or continue to have.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
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Dictator: One Crazy Job

This had to do with people who worked with the world's dictators in different capacities. Tailor, hunting guide, chauffeur, party planner etc.... Pretty humorous and scary. It's really interesting how someone can be in power and surround themselves with yes men who are afraid to call them out on their crap. They are mentally unbalanced.


Do I Sound Gay?

This was a documentary about a man searching to change his "gay" voice. Going to speech coaches and the like. Very interesting.



Chaos on the Bridge

This was a doc written and directed by William Shatner about Star Trek: The Next Generation.

This is the Star Trek that lost me and I never watch another show in any of the series that have come since. I hung in there for 2 seasons and just couldn't take anymore.
Well, there was a real reason for that. There was so much going on behind the scenes that the fans didn't see, crazy stuff. A lot of fighting and arguing and Gene Roddenberry was losing it.
 

morgan

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Jul 11, 2010
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I have Diana: Our Mother, about Princess Diana recorded to watch. But I heard an excerpt from it that I thought was so endearing.

When Diana divorced Charles, she lost the title of Princess. When Prince William saw how sad Diana was, he told her (paraphrasing) don't worry mommy, when I'm King, I will give it back.

He was just a little boy and I have no doubt, that if and when he becomes King, somehow he will reinstate Diana as a princess.
I watched a doc I think it was called

Diana: In Her Own Words.

This was a new one about Princess Diana and drew on the Andrew Morton tapes used to publish his book about Diana. Almost 2 1/2 hours of mainly Diana talking. The majority of the doc was Diana talking. Very interesting to hear her. It makes me wonder what the boys think about Charles's part in this, the royal family's complete lack of concern for Diana and her transition from public life to royal life.

I would recommend this.
Are either of these the two-part docu they aired recently on ABC (I think it was)? Noticed it's on Hulu and want to watch it eventually. I've always been fascinated by Princess Diana, even though I am uninterested in the Royal family otherwise. My mom loves all that stuff.

That part about Prince William is so precious!
 

Dana Jean

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Are either of these the two-part docu they aired recently on ABC (I think it was)? Noticed it's on Hulu and want to watch it eventually. I've always been fascinated by Princess Diana, even though I am uninterested in the Royal family otherwise. My mom loves all that stuff.

That part about Prince William is so precious!
The first one I think was HBO-- a new one. The Diana in her own words, I'm not sure which network had that, I don't think it was ABC. I can't remember Morgan.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
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Apr 11, 2006
53,634
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The High Seas
Are either of these the two-part docu they aired recently on ABC (I think it was)? Noticed it's on Hulu and want to watch it eventually. I've always been fascinated by Princess Diana, even though I am uninterested in the Royal family otherwise. My mom loves all that stuff.

That part about Prince William is so precious!
Diana her Own Words is National Geographic channel.
 

morgan

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Jul 11, 2010
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North Dakota
Watched The Queen of Versailles (2012) last night (re-watch). Is this really a documentary??! I am fascinated by the uber wealthy (not necessarily celebrities either) - the separation between the monetary classes. I don't understand Wall Street, the stock market, etc. It boggles my mind what these billionaires consider bankrupt and "losing it all." And most of them claim to come from such poverty. :umm:
 

Tery

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Apr 12, 2006
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Watched The Queen of Versailles (2012) last night (re-watch). Is this really a documentary??! I am fascinated by the uber wealthy (not necessarily celebrities either) - the separation between the monetary classes. I don't understand Wall Street, the stock market, etc. It boggles my mind what these billionaires consider bankrupt and "losing it all." And most of them claim to come from such poverty. :umm:

Yep. Disgusting, isn't it? :glare:
 

Blake

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Feb 18, 2013
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The only documentaries I have on DVD are some on nuclear tests from the 1950's etc and biographies on famous scientists and also I might look at the one on Britain's greatest inventions. I don't have many as I chucked all them out( I had them on VHS and used them when teaching but can't use VHS anymore) I got the greatest warriors and ancient egypt.
 

morgan

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Jul 11, 2010
29,353
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North Dakota
Watched a documentary about Eliot Spitzer that was very interesting. A few weeks ago I saw a docu on Chris Brown. Don't listen to his music, but knew about his reputation. Thought it seemed very one sided. At the end, I saw that he was the executive producer.
 

Wab

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Oct 29, 2017
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Recently watched Spielberg which was entertaining if a tad long. One of the best I've seen in a long time is 20 Feet from Stardom which also has a killer soundtrack. Last Play at Shea is an oddity that shouldn't work but does. It was marketed as a concert film about Billy Joel playing the last concert before they demolished the old Shea Stadium but is also a bio of Billy and a history of Shea, Long Island and the Mets.
 

FlakeNoir

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Apr 11, 2006
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Recently watched Spielberg which was entertaining if a tad long. One of the best I've seen in a long time is 20 Feet from Stardom which also has a killer soundtrack. Last Play at Shea is an oddity that shouldn't work but does. It was marketed as a concert film about Billy Joel playing the last concert before they demolished the old Shea Stadium but is also a bio of Billy and a history of Shea, Long Island and the Mets.
20 Feet from Stardom was great!