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Lost & Found: The Legacy of USS Lagarto (2009)
Well done documentary of a WW2 submarine
This documnetary gives a solid description of life aboard an American submarine during WW2. And it takes us through the history of one of the 52 submarines that was sunk during the war. From its construction in Wisconsin to its sinking by depth charge in the Gulf of Thailand, we witness the life, death and rediscovery of the USS Lagarto. The doc includes animated graphics to give you a better idea of happened. When one submariner describes what it's like to be under a depth charge attack, it's just chilling. Anyone interested in naval history or more broadly, the sacrifices made by so many whose names are lost to history, this one-hour doc is well worth your time.
In the Water Behind the Lens (2022)
A Must-Watch for Any Photographer
I caught this 1-hour documentary on PBS. Well worth it! Anyone interested in capturing surfers from the water will want to see what's involved. The doc aptly points out the hazards of trying to capture that "peak moment" of a surfer inside a wave. While most photographers will stay on the beach and use long lenses to capture the action, that doesn't come close to what you can do when you're inches away from a surfer inside the tube. Even if you aren't a photographer but enjoy the sport of surfing, you'll enjoy this inside look of how some incredible moments are captured. Finally, the doc gets a bit into the business of water photography and that the Internet and social media has completely changed the business model. But the bottom line is, these shooters never did it for the money anyway!
The Wild West Uncovered (2007)
Great history about Virginia City
If you're interested about western history, that covers just one specific town, this is a perfect starter documentary. It focuses entirely on Virginia City, Nevada and the silver mines there. The focus of the documentary put a lot of emphasis on saloons and their place in western town society. But the most interesting part is the history and technological innovations of the silver mines that made Virginia City one of the richest areas on the planet. The documentary covers several interesting characters and how they made their fortunes. Overall, this doc would persuade any historian to visit Virginia City.
Vlasik (2015)
A solid 8. Gripping if you like historical dramatizations
First, I'm surprised that I'm the first to review this series. Second, the current 4.1 rating is absolutely ridiculous. This is a terrific series with a great script, high production values and solid acting. It does help if you have a little knowledge about Stalin and early USSR up to WW2. One thing I like is that this is the Russian version of their history and how they see themselves and their past. And their past is chilling. If I have one major complaint is with some editing this could have been knocked down by 2-3 episodes. Some scenes run just too long and others seem unnecessary to keeping the story moving forward. And other times something happens and it really doesn't explain what happened. A person gets a phone call; they make a shocked face for two minutes and then the next scene happens and we have no real clue as to what the call was about. But don't let my complaint dissuade you. Watch the first three episodes and that's enough to tell you if it's worth all 14 episodes. It was for me.
8 Days: To the Moon and Back (2019)
A Must-Watch for Space Buffs
When you've seen as many space docs as I have, you wonder what can I possibly learn that's new. This doc answers that: voice audio between crew members that not even Mission Control heard during their mission. One thing I learned: Armstrong had the least amount of space travel time among the three. So at one point, Buzz refers to Armstrong as "rookie" and the actor portraying Armstrong didn't like hearing that. Now, was that Armstrong's actual response? Hard to tell, except Armstrong said nothing in reply, which you can interpret as speaking volumes. Finally, you get a view of what it must have looked like for Eagle as it landed on the moon. A terrific doc and a must see.
Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee (2016)
Well done doc that holds your interest
I'm a bit hesitant when documentary filmmakers include themselves in the film their making. But in this case filmmaker Nanette Burstein straddles that line nicely, particularly when the subject of her film won't talk to her! But McAfee does..... via email. And near the end of the film when she is able to "corner" her subject, the result is interestingly captured all on camera. Her persistence in tracking down witnesses, friends and associates is admirable and the results speak for themselves. Is John McAfee crazy? a brilliant media provocateur? A computer genius? All three? I won't spoil anything, but let me just say that the interviews with the "girlfriends" was probably one of the most shocking and disgusting things I have ever heard in my life. Let's leave it at that. In conclusion, the documentary held my interest and was well-produced.
Dennis Rodman's Big Bang in PyongYang (2015)
Wow! This is one terrific documentary!
First, I'm shocked to be the first reviewer of this documentary. Second, this is a solid, substantial, entertaining and overall well-made documentary about Dennis Rodman's trip to North Korea to hold a basketball game between former NBA players and the North Korean team on Jan.8, 2014 for Kim Jong-un's birthday. Completely entertaining. The cameras are there for it all so we really get to see "from the inside" all that happened. And you do get to see a side of North Korea that's rarely seen. I mean their ski resort looks first-class. (too bad no one is there to actually get to use it except the party elite). The narration is spot-on, funny and keeps the documentary moving. The big question is: was this entire event a giant propaganda show for the benefit of a ruthless totalitarian dictatorship? The documentary pulls no punches but is quite fair in presenting both sides. I also give kudos the camera team who came off with some terrific shots, most notably when Rodman returns from North Korea the first time and is absolutely mobbed by the press. The camera captures every moment of what I would describe as a media riot. I love a good documentary that entertains and educates me as well as gives me something to think about. This should not be missed!