FILMS - Documentaries

Say what you will about Moore but this is a great documentary/mission. I say mission because it's not as straight forward as most documentaries. Michael Moore promotes his films like presidential campaigns, many dislike him for that reason but I believe him to be a selfless guy who's out to do his bit to make the world (well, America) a better place. His attack on Charlton Heston was totally justified I believe, although I think it cost him a lot of respect. The only way to improve the future is to question the decisions of the past. Remember how he got booed receiving his Oscar after he said 'Shame on W. Bush for attacking Iraq'? People changed their minds a few years later, so just think how different things could have been if they'd just listened before! Important filmmaking!

I think it's wrong to call this film a documentary due to what it set out to and what it actually did achieve. It had a huge impact on the fast food industry and how a lot of people now eat, for that, Morgan Spurlock has to be congratulated!

I love some of the American reviews on this very page; "Michael Moore is an idiot. You might not like Bush, but you respect him because of the office he holds" That was written a couple of year ago now, when W was still in office but it goes to show the ridiculous and frightening 'Brainwashing' America undergoes all in the name of patriotism. My only concern with this film is the fact Moore holds back, I realise why he had/has to but it meant he focussed too much on one point and not on the whole story. Still, another great doc from Mr. Moore.

A nice simple documentary following some interesting kids. I can?t help but think that maybe it?s all a little sugar coated though, some of the parents seem to get away with being very pushy, verging on child abuse at times!

A good DVD extra but not a great documentary in its own right.

Julien Temple is a great music documentarian. This is one of my favourite documentaries but I guess you have to like the pistols to really get into it!

I found it a bit dull really, it?s certainly not the best doc I?ve ever seen but the stories are good. A film version or even a TV series would have been better!

A million Comedians. One joke. No laughs.

Good film, very insightful into the life of journalists on the front line. Al-Jazeera opens its doors to the cameras and shows us what they really stand for (and what?s really going on, bare in mind, half of the staff are westerners who have worked for Fox, BBC etc). Probably a little more of an eye opener to an American audience. Might make them think twice about switching on Fox News from now on!

Informative and funny. It?s an important film but it does drag a bit towards the end!

Jules and Gedeon Naudet were there with their cameras the day the world changed. As film makers, they got the biggest break of their lives and although it would be better 9/11 never happened, we have been given the most amazing documentary ever filmed. This is historically very important and should be watched by the whole world!

This is a very sweet and gentle documentary. A window into the lives of a very normal but lovely group of kids and their teacher. It's better than it sounds, honestly!

I can see why people feel let down by this film but I can?t help but think they have missed the point. The documentary is about the man and not about the bear! If you want to see a man killed by a grizzly, watch Grizzly Man. Although both are brilliant character studies, this one is very funny.

Very touching and frighteningly real! The documentary consists of 50% interviews and 50% reconstructions, which doesn?t make for an original doc by any means but the story itself grabs you which is more to the point.

An astonishing insight into a troubled human being who sought and found comfort living with wild bears before being killed by one. Watching Treadwell's videos and knowing what eventually happens to him can make for uncomfortable viewing but with Werner Herzog's realistic and unbiased approach and choice of real footage makes this one of the most amazing and incredible documentaries I?ve ever seen!

Shocking documentary, filmed almost by mistake as Andrew Jarecki was doing a film about kids entertainers at the time. Don't watch alone as you will want someone to talk about it with straight after!

A good informative slide-show. The documentary side was really about Al Gore though which I found a little strange but I guess there are a lot of people out there who don't believe in Global Warming and will think he has an ulterior motive. I personally believe something should be done about global warming asap, along with better standards of numerical education in Florida.

A rather boring film about a really damaged girl. Uncomfortable viewing.

Watched this film then watched it again straight away. I can understand peoples fixation with this film, its dream like qualities are mesmerising but I have to say it?s not my favourite Herzog film. Inspired and an inspiration, this film is a turning point in the history of cinema, I just don't like it as much as Lessons of Darkness, Man with a movie camera (which came before) or Koyaanisquatsi (which came after).

Just like 'Blaxploitation' films, this doc seems to come and then go. It?s not a great insight into the movement but it does have some great interviews. Less Tarantino would have been better though as he takes over the last 15 minutes. For fans of the movement only!

Amir Bar-Lev strikes gold with this documentary. A very capable film maker gets his break when a twist in the story he is covering reveals a compelling mystery. This is a doc about so much more than a little girls paintings and its text book perfect film making!

A fantastic compilation of silent cinema. Absolutely amazing film making and really funny too!

A fantastic documentary full of twists and turns. It never gives anything away too soon and never slows down. Everyone gets their fair say and all storeys and angles are investigated thoroughly but who are you going to believe?

Very informative documentary that highlights the influence Lewton has had in cinema since his untimely death in the early 50's. Some things I knew, many I didn't and all misconceptions are laid to rest. Val Lewton was a revolutionary of the silver screen and many film makers, and film lovers, owe him a lot of gratitude! Now stop reading my silly little review and go watch his films! ;o)

A fantastic documentary by the master of cinema, Werner Herzog. It?s an honest, unbelievable and amazing story told by Dieter himself. A must see film alongside Rescue Dawn, it?s just brilliant!

A fantastic insight into the history, storeys and interesting characters of my new favourite sport! Highly recommended!

It?s not the greatest film ever made but the music is well worth watching it for. Had expected more from a Wenders documentary though.

You've got to hand it to him, he's a man of his word! There is more to it than just a guy eating a shoe though, it?s a form of encouragement. I will make a film one day Mr Herzog, really i will! 5 stars, because I think Werner is brilliant!

Short but sweet doc about one of the greatest sportsman of our time, Walter Steiner. Even though this is a bit rough around the edges, bad editing doesn't really bother as a wave of euphoria takes over. I could watch those slow motion shots all day!

A shocking and sad documentary about the child solders of the Miskito Indian rebel army in the early 80's. Herzog is accompanied by Denis Reichle who also adds his own wisdom to the events. The bit where the children are putting live mortars into rockets is one of the most disturbing and edge-of-the-seat scenes I've ever seen

This shouldn't be as entertaining as it is but Herzog always finds the most interesting characters to watch. Don't watch this too loud as it will annoy your neighbours!

There is no denying that Herzog will go to great lengths to document the wired and wonderful events that occur on our little planet, even a volcano won?t stop him! Another fantastic documentary by Herzog who sets up his camera when everyone else has run!

Herzog always picks fascinating characters for his documentaries but in this case the main character is majorly flawed. He is a lost soul who can't keep still and doesn't really understand himself why he risks life and limb to climb mountains. He doesn't even seem to enjoy it much! Good old Herzog though, telling it how it is. When the climber reveals that on his last expedition with his brother, tragedy struck and he came down alone. "How did you explain that to your mother?" Werner asks. Brutal but a good question and that's what makes Herzog's documentaries so compelling. The scenery is amazing too. I did miss Herzog's voice though as the version I've seen has a cheesy American voice over that can't match Herzog's monotone yet smooth sounding voice. Christ, sounds like I'm in love with the man, I'm certainly in love with his films though! ;o)

Another fantastic doc from Herzog. The only difference here is that instead of the often emotional characters Herzog usually focuses on, we follow Juliane Koepcke who is almost like a robot. This is what saved her life i guess! I didn't know Herzog himself was due to fly on the same plane! Another fascinating tale about the human condition. Great stuff!

Tough one to rate this! I have to say i was expecting it to be better after a few recommendations from friends who assured me that it didn't matter that I'm not much of a football fan. They were right and wrong really. I think that if you a football fan you will love this film, I could only really enjoy it's 'cinematography', for want of a better word. Its, at times, beautifully shot with some real magic moments, like when Zidane cuts his mouth after a header. I can't really put my finger on it but it was at times, just mesmerising. The build up music was a nice touch too but I found it irritating and overused by the end. In fact, I got a little tired of the film after about 40 minutes. It starts off as an intense, real life, ground level experience and then, after a random 'Here's what else happened in the world today' moment, it descended into some kind of overlong wanky Nike advert. You can't fault the passion, but at 90 minutes, its painfully long (and just a little dull)!

James Mason should have travelled the world making documentaries like this one, they would have been classics! I really enjoyed this, how about a sequel for posterity? Who would be the new Mason though? hmmmm

This is one of the funniest films I've seen in a long time. It?s also very touching and quite moving at times. For me this is a big apology from Chris Waitt, for all the pain and annoyance he's caused an alarming amount of girls. The tables really do turn on him though as the film gets gut-wrenchingly personal and we see his true regret regarding the only girl he's ever really loved. For me this is top notch film making, or very close to it anyway. If it weren't for certain staged moments and moments where he try's a little too hard to get a laugh and looses focus of what he really wants to achieve, it would be a 5 star film. I think it?s a you either love it or you hate it movie, personally, I love it!

This is a great documentary! It?s got drama, comedy, corruption! It?s a classic tale of good vs. evil. It?s like starwars but with geeks and nerds. Steve Wiebe is great hero character but Billy Mitchell has to be one of the greatest villains in cinematic history! He's like the wicked witch of the west, surrounded by his flying monkeys. This is an ace film, you should watch it this evening! :o)

The most successful collaboration of actor and director of all time? I think so. Putting the record straight, Herzog shows us the truth behind his best friend who also happened to be an egotistical maniac (and possibly the greatest actor of all time). A beautiful and heartfelt documentary.

Werner Herzog takes us to an Alien planet, where fairytale characters behave in bizarre and often cruel ways, cause harm to each other and basically behave illogically. Then, sledgehammer to the face, wake up and smell the coffee, its planet earth man, we're the ridiculous species, capable of unbelievable cruelty and destruction. War has never been so beautiful, typical Herzog greatness. I found it to be much better than his other similar films, The wild blue yonder and Fata Morgana.

Dziga Vertov invented cinema with this one film. He knew the potential way before anyone else, even Eisenstein was a couple of years behind. The pair of them defined cinema and to be honest, few film since have matched Man with a Movie Camera as far as originality, importance and joyfulness goes. I love this film, I could watch it over and over again. The BFI DVD realise has 3 fantastic soundtracks to choose from too, so if you're going to buy it, buy that version, its glorious!

A well rounded documentary about the birth of cult movies in the 70's but to be honest, if you've got the movies on DVD, you'll have all this and more in the extras. Good for people who are totally new to midnight movies but not so much for existing fans, who already know all the storeys etc.

A slow starting documentary that unexpectedly becomes quite captivating.

Encounters at the End of the World is more a study of people rather than a documentary about Antarctica. Typically it's visually stunning and avoids any kind of cliché, this is not another film about Penguins! (Although suicidal gay penguins do get a mention). A must for Herzog/Documentary fans.

A very sweet documentary (sort of) about penguins. It doesn?t really go into any real scientism, why the penguins do what they do etc, instead it humanises them, in the way only a Disney produced film can. Don?t despair though, it?s filmed beautifully and the penguins are the real stars here. Sometimes they fall over! Everyone loves watching penguins fall over right? How can I rate it any less than 4 stars. The baby one?s are so cute. And they fall over! :oD

An interesting historical piece. I say that because it's basically pure speculation from 1982. Some directors get it right, some get it wrong, it's fascinating to see who has 'Made it' since and who has disappeared into nothingness. Highlights include Godard's mumbled wisdom, Herzog taking his shoes off, Spielberg being right on the money and Paul Morrissey getting it completely wrong and showing himself up for what he is. A great insight for real film fans!

This now infamous documentary is both fascinating and appalling. Edith Sr and Edith Jr are beyond eccentric and the fact they were exploited this way is actually quite shocking and extremely sad. It's fascinating viewing thought, nothing like a bit of rubbernecking along life's highway!

This documentary works well because a) It is a valid question from someone who is knowledgeable on the subject and b) Yoav Shamir gets some really lucky footage. A compelling and slightly disturbing documentary that manages to be impartial, well balanced and extremely entertaining.

À propos de Nice is a kind of travelogue that starts in the style of Vertov's Man with a Movie Camera and ends in a Jean Cocteauesque political swing at the wealthy. I don't like this as much as Vertov's or Cocteau's work of the early 30's but it was his first film and some of the compositionswere trulyoriginal and spectacular of the time. Jean Vigo's greatest trick though was the way he left the camera running just that little longer than his counterparts did, adding a real sense of importance, sometimes hatred and often loathing. Beautiful and historically important cinema!

An outstanding achievement of its time, this beautiful yet simple portrait of a Swimming Champion is believed to be the first ever film to use underwater photography. It's both stylish and charming and is a great reminder of a bygone age of productive film making. I love it!

It's heart is in the right place and most importantly it's as entertaining as it is informative, it's just a little too smug at times. I knew about most of the content but some of it was a surprise. Compulsory viewing for our sad society.

Ozploitation rules! So many new films for me to seek out, it's going to keep me busy for a while. An informative, entertaining and quite funny documentary. Bonza!

A short but sweet short film about the famous Tour de France. I particularly enjoyed the bit where the riders raid the bars along route, stealing as much beer and wine as they can hold.

Michael Moore just can't seem to win. After his previous documentaries he has been accused of inciting paranoia, manipulating the truth for his own gain, tastelessly using gimmicks to get his points across, lying, being pretentious, being unpatriotic, amongst other negative comments, the list goes on but he seems to be a 'You either like him or you don't' kind of guy. I think it comes down to this, you either agree with what he is saying and believe something should be done about it or you trust everything that governments and large corporations tell you. I know which side of the fence I stand on and when you want to communicate with the masses, sometimes you need to get their attention by being a little different, if that means turning the tables or using easy to understand gimmicks then so be it. Do you think he's ever gone after a totally innocent politician or corporate executive. If you do I'm guessing your on the other side of the fence. Capitalism: A Love Story I believe is his best film to date. The gimmicks are pretty much gone, the facts are straight forward and unsensational, it sometimes feels as if he's grown tired of not being listened to but I think this is actually because the subject matter is so important to him, it should be important to all of us! I didn't need Mr. Moore to tell me half the stuff I heard here, I know about it already and have read many books on the subject, books most people haven't heard of and are not in every library or book shop. Micheal Moore is getting the message out to the people and that is the most important thing I can think of. Is anybody listening? Maybe the government and big corporations have already won. Would you rather bury your head in the sand? I'm beginning to rant. Reading the utter rubbish people have written on the subject annoys me because people generally don't know what they're talking about. But then why should you listen to me? Well, you shouldn't, you should find out the truth for yourselves, Capitalism: A Love Story is a good place to start though. I predict that Mr. Moore will be long dead before everyone will eventually agree with him, I also believe he's holding back for his own good. It will be too late then though. I'm beginning to rant again so I shall stop. Watch this film!

Anvil is like a cross between Spinal Tap and The Wrestler but in real life. It's funny, it's sad, it's uplifting and it's probably the most inspiring documentary I've ever seen and one of the best films of the last few years. It's absolutely brilliant and I thoroughly loved it!

In 'Love the Beast' two things are going on; 1) Eric Bana is learning how to make a film 2) Eric Bana is trying to be a racing driver. He doesn't really do a brilliant job at either. This feels like a real sickly buddy movie but without the buddy, or at least the buddy is a 1974 Ford Falcon coupe (A big red car). An anti-climax then when the buddy dies and Bana doesn't seem to give a toss, but then no one can stand up against the biggest display of egotism I've ever seen on screen, that and all the pointless interviews and moody shots of Bana 'Concentrating' make this a film that could have easily just have been a fairly decent 30 minute TV documentary. Not all of it is bad, it's nice to listen to passionate people, no matter what their passion and even though I'm not a 'Petrol-head', I quite like cars, American Muscle cars in particular, which helped, but in the end you know a film isn't up to much when Jeremy Clarkson pops up at the end and basically says 'This is a stupid film, based on a stupid idea, you (Bana) are stupid'. Quiet frankly you know a film isn't up to much when Jeremy Clarkson pops full stop! Although it is a good indication that this is actually a Top Gear production, so if that is your cup of tea and you are open-minded enough to watch a different ego act like a five year old instead of the usual three (Clarkson, May, Hammond) then this film is for you!

I'm a fan of Blur and I'm interested in them as a band but I found this film interesting to a point. Their getting together again gig last year was nice but having seen them at Hyde park was also disappointing, expensive and over-hyped. Lets just say they made a lot of money and this film helped the cause. Last time I saw them previous to that was only about 7 years ago, not that big a deal I don't think, I found it all to be a bit same old, same old to be honest. Still, this film ain't bad, if anything you can have a good laugh at how stupid Damon is (Although musically, he's a genius) especially when coming up with things such as; 'I never fit into the politics of the place' when referring to himself as a 10 year old boy who just moved to Essex. Graham Coxon comes of well though, in a 'I was a twat but at least I can admit it and I'm not anymore' kind of way. Sooo, yeah, it's ok but I would suggest this one is for fans only.

Half documentary and half reconstruction, Manson really does feel convincing and if you're interested in the history of the Manson family, this is a pretty good starting point, without ever glorifying their actions.

Double take is quite indulgent of Youssef Britel, a big Hitchcock fan and not the first time he's subjected his late hero to celluloid. He's very respectful in his handling of his borrowed footage though and is acknowledgeably mischievous with it also. Double take is quite haunting at times, heightened by the excellent Bernard Herman soundtrack but also by the narrative that is actually more fact than it is fiction. A great bit of original cinema, compelling, frightening and quite astonishing at times. Recommended.

Pasolini highlights societies divide in post war Italy by asking members of the public about sex. In many ways it is ahead of its time and at certain times Pasolini is positively brave. Unfortunately most of the time the questions are unfairly structured, Pasolini puts words into peoples mouths to achieve the results he wants, possibly sub-consciously but it still undermines the whole experiment in my opinion. That said, Its still a fairly fascinating exercise and well worth a watch.

I'm So-so is a very short documentary/Interview with/about the director Krzysztof Kieslowski. It's nothing out of the ordinary, there are no special effects, he's just a fascinating character. I found this film, which is essentially a DVD extra, to be utterly fascinating and completely compelling. A must for fans of Kieslowski's films, and indeed fans of film in general! It is piratically poignant seeing as he sadly passed away soon after it was made.

Loose Change 2nd edition (I've not seen the first) asks a lot of compelling, intelligent and important questions. Many have been answered and are believable, some have been answered and are less believable but the most important questions have not been answered at all. Anyone who just dismisses this line of questioning as absurd, unpatriotic or as just stupid 'conspiracies theories' are helping the powers that be in controlling societies in a state of narrow-mindedness and blind trust. There is much I admire about America, it's culture and it's people but there is no denying that its government is, and always has been, the best at manipulation and propaganda. Why did buildings that were not on fire, nor were hit by the planes, fall? Why are there no pictures of anything hitting the pentagon and quite frankly, do you really believe that not one, but 4 planes were hijacked by men with manicure scissors? A real patriot would question what is happening to and who is (mis)leading his country. Although, much like the UK, were all f*cked in the end and have little clout. I've heard more unconvincing arguments as to why Loose Change is floored than I have serious and believable answers to its questions. Yes it's dramatised in places, 'TOP SECRET' has been added to files that are widely available but that is just nit-picking. It is all a conspiracy, step back and look, Bush shouldn't have even been in power, it was a rigged election with a 4 year plan and it worked beautifully. You might want to question who Mark Fenster and his friends work for too and as exciting as conspiracy theory's are - people generally want to hear that everything is good in our world and that our government wants the best for us without personal gain. Good news sells too! Cup of coffee - No sugar!

koyaanisqatsi highlights our subconscious obsession with capitalism and is a propaganda film / koyaanisqatsi is a sinister yet sarcastic comment on the destructive nature of the human race and highlights their constant delusions of self-importance / koyaanisqatsi is a collection of beautifully photographed shots accompanied by a beautifully composed score / koyaanisqatsi is Man With A Movie Camera Circa 1982 *Please delete according to preference*

Powaqqatsi is not a great follow up to Koyaanisqatsi but it's not all bad. At times It feels like it's trying to imitate his superior older brother too much, never quite catching up and never quite hitting the mark. It deals more with the developing world this time round but never very convincingly. This is covered ground thanks to its predecessor. It is as beautiful as Koyaanisqatsi and this time the camera focuses and lingers a little more, which is welcome to start with but is overused before we reach the end of the film. The music is beautiful but lacks the impact of the first film. A nice film but an unnecessary one, destined to live in the shadows of its older sibling.

I understand that Naqoyqatsi is a premonition of the future and that is why it is so synthetic but that is also the reason why I didn't like it as much as the others, its pretty soulless. I've said that Powaqqatsi was an imitation of Koyaanisqatsi, Naqoyqatsi is it's bastard child. Aesthetically, it's brilliant, or at least to begin with, after a while it does start to resemble a cross between a Yes (the prog rock band) video and something from the early 90's acid house movement. Why didn't they update the music to match? With its limitless subject matter, there was so much missed out too, where was all the post 9/11 footage? Steven Soderbergh's grubby mitts are all over this, it could and should have been brilliant but it is way off the mark, ahead of its time or past its sell by date, either way, it just doesn't work. That said, I would love to see a proper post 9/11 Qatsi film!

I love Werner Herzog and I really love his documentaries. The White Diamond has been on my list of films to watch for a while now but it's not what I expected. It's very good and typical of Herzog's greatness for the most part but cracks do appear. His usual method of continuing to film the people after they have said what they wanted to say feels really awkward here. He puts words into peoples mouths, Marc Anthony Yhap was already an interesting character, putting the camera in his face only smothered him. There is still some Herzog greatness here though, no one else makes films like this and no one else could. Anyone else spot where he got the iguana idea for Bad Lieutenant?

A fantastic story, the first 20 minutes or so were very intriguing but then we get to know the man. Doug Bruce is (or should that be was) a bit of an annoying guy and unfortunately that took away a lot of my interest in his story. Lots of aspects of his memory loss are not addressed either, at times I did wonder if it was a hoax and I'm still not entirely sure it isn't. Too much about the unlikable man and not enough about the condition for my liking but worth a watch.

A trick of light is part documentary and part reenactment although in this film, the two cross paths - Instantly making this a standout film. It focuses on the Skladanowsky brothers, with the brilliant Udo Kier playing Max Skladanowsky and then switches to a real interview with Max Skladanowsky's real daughter, 91 your old Lucie who still remembers even the smallest details of the birth of the moving picture, thanks to her father and two uncles. It's full of anecdotes and factual references to other film pioneers of the time that occasionally jump into the present day interview in the cheeky style the brothers were famous for. It's a little self congratulatory with a 19 minute credit reel but it's forgivable considering that this film almost feels like a gift to film fans and those interested in the history of cinema. Outstanding!

Rodney Bingenheimer is more of a 'lucky charm to the stars' rather than a 'fame-fucker' like the detestable sexual vampire that is Pamela Des Barres or the egomaniac with a questionable past that is Kim Fowley - Although I quite like Fowley, he's just not as nice as Bingenheimer. Bingenheimer has both the temperament and mannerisms of Andy Warhol and he also is the epitome of Warhol's philosophy, 'famous for 15 minutes' if you will. This is an interesting look into the world of a man who hung around with music legends and possibly influenced them to a degree. It's hard not to like the film because Bingenheimer himself is just so likable.

I'm sorry but what is so 'typical' of Banksy playing tricks? He's not really a trickster is he, he is playful and inventive in his art work and keeps his identity a secret because what he does is illegal and he doesn't want to be arrested. Sneaking his work into galleries was a logical progression of street art but he's not exactly the next Jeremy Beadle, or Chris Morris for that matter! (Get googling my none British friends). Sure he has made a statement here, like he does with all his work, but I don't think any of it is particularly unbelievable. Thierry Guetta is one of many Frankenstein street artists out there, he's not exactly alone. Galleries are full of pretenders these days, many of them are getting recognition, not to mention rich - as are the galleries. Guetta presented the perfect opportunity in showing this, thanks to his tapes and his documented spiral into an egotistical funfair. Look at how he originally made money, buying old clothes cheap and then selling them for thousands of dollars by labelling them 'Vintage'. There is something very Warhol about him, he would see that as a complement, when if fact Warhol did something that was new and innovative but could only be done once. Guetta is a charlatan, a pretender and an egomaniac, a lovable one but still a fraud. These things happen, here it is on film. Banksy can't exactly choose who likes his work, I remember a couple of years ago, I was outside Waterloo station in London and a group of WI ladies came up to me and asked me where the nearest banksy was, I was a little taken aback and a little upset, as I'm a fan of his work. I got over it fairly quickly, it doesn't bother me at all that he makes lots of money and has work in galleries, at least he is the real deal. Anyway, this film is really good, enjoy it for what it is though and stop looking for something that just isn't there, contrary to popular belief, intelligence and deviancy don't always have to go hand in hand!

The Cove is a heartbreaking documentary. Heartbreaking documentaries are a dime a dozen but The Cove is also uplifting, inspiring and above all exciting. Richard O'Barry's story needs to be told, spread the word before it's too late. The only criticism I have for this awesome documentary is that it could have done with issuing instructions on how to support the cause. Many documentaries pull at the heartstrings and ask for support, but this is the only one so far that has got me to put my hand in my pocket and donate! A must see education.

Big river man is like a comedy Werner Herzog documentary. The comedy never seems staged either, Martin Strel is a larger than life character with peculiar mannerisms and a slightly unhinged group of followers who you just couldn't make up. You can't fake the swimming either. It's not just a comedy though, it deals quite seriously with the dangers of obsession and the descent into madness. It's got a very appropriate amateur feel about it (probably because it is amateur) but it does loose a few points for trying to be clever at the end. It all gets a little expressionist, a little existential and dabbles in a bit of symbolism - something that just doesn't work with constant narration. Still, it is just a minor criticism, I haven't enjoyed a documentary this much in a long time and I highly recommend it!

At first, Cat Dancers seemed to be just an interesting yet tragic love story of sorts about the Cat Dancers group told by a very honest Ron Holiday. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also couldn't stop thinking about it, it's quite haunting and that is one of its strengths. After a while you will realise that not all that happened makes sense. Ron Holiday is a very colourful and entertaining character but I'm starting to wonder how honest he was really being. This film raises more questions than it answers but it is brilliant in its subtlety. This documentary reminded me of the excellent Capturing the Friedmans, its subtle, compelling and extremely haunting. Expertly edited and thought provoking, highly recommended!

Uncle Boonmee was a self-indulgent and very personal film for Apichatpong Weerasethakul. It is like a child to him, born unto him by broken memories and strong influences. Here, he acknowledges his heroes, influences and Uncle Boonmee himself. It is exactly what the title suggests, it is a love letter to classic Hollywood, the novel that inspired him as a child (that he can't remember the name of), people he has met, albeit briefly in his lifetime that left an impression on him, It's a love letter to Thailand, its a love letter to love itself! All shot in the same haunting and beautiful style of the main feature. A great companion piece.

There isn't really much else to Mark Hogancamp's after the first 10 minutes of this film but that said, something interesting always seems to happen just before you start to loose interest. I don't want to spoil it but the last 'revelation' is treated as much more of a big deal than it really is. I liked this film for the models to be honest, I love the idea and I thought the photos were brilliant. I think the best moments for me are missed by Jeff Malmberg though and I hope that not too much was lost in the editing room. I really liked his best friends interviews and he summed up the situation brilliantly when he said 'Some guy said 'I'm not interested in fake war, I want to see real War' and I said 'This is a real War man''. He should have had far more screen time in my opinion and it does suffer from a certain documentary structure cliche that is becoming a little too familiar of late, especially in American documentaries but overall a good and original documentary.

I'm not sure I'd call it a documentary as such but catfish does live up to its hype. I'd like to think it wasn't a set up but I'm not so sure but aside from that, the excruciating anticipation is very real and makes for uncomfortable but exciting viewing. It's quite a sad story really but even if it was a set up, they achieved something that benefited everyone I feel. It's certainly one of a kind and well worth checking out!

I can't believe this is from the same man that gave us Etre et Avoir! Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère looks like a great film but hardly anyone has seen it as it was never widely distributed. This isn't even a making of! This may be one of the most pointless and boring 'Documentaries' of all time. It isn't intriguing or interesting like the critics say, only the film links the incredibly normal people together and seeing as no one has seen it, who cares? Only one man is vaguely interested and he is Nicolas Philibert who obviously made it for himself but thought he'd try and get some money for it. Oh, and showing the slaughter of Pigs completely unnecessarily was stupid and pointless and I didn't like it. When killing a pig is the best you can do for filler, you should reassess the situation me thinks! Etre et Avoir was a fluke, avoid unless you want to be bored out of your mind!!

Life in a day is Koyaanisqatsi for the YouTube generation. The main difference between Life in a day and the qatsi trilogy though is that Life in a day is more groundbreaking. All the footage featured took place in one day, so everything you see is more or less taking place simultaneously around the world. That is an awesome concept. The other thing that holds Life in a day higher than the qatsi trilogy and other films of its ilk, is that it is more human. There is human involvement, this is where the YouTube element comes in and is probably the best way I have seen the Internet used in a very long time. Life in a day is funny, touching, infuriating at times, tragic and real. It also feels unifying and quite humbling at times. It deserves to be seen on the big screen too, as some of the footage is quite amazing. This isn't just a groundbreaking film though, this is an important historical document that I believe will be talked about for years to come. I know I'll be watching it again, maybe at decade-long intervals and maybe one day my children and then my grandchildren will watch it in the class-room. I kid you not, it's that important and that inspirational. Joe Walker should give himself a big pat on the back for the monumental task of editing tens of thousands of hours of footage into just 90 mins, he kept out all the show offs and unfunny entries too thankfully, the only thing I was really worried about. An amazing film, highly recommended!!!

Right from the beginning Google Baby is fairly uncomfortable viewing. On one hand you have the really kind people who are giving the greatest gift that one could give, the gift of life, whether it be through sperm or egg donation or being a surrogate mother for a couple who just can't conceive. At its core, the idea behind it is good but the reality is that it's kind of like prostitution. In Google Baby we see the people involved in one such company that uses American Eggs and Indian Surrogates but unfortunately the good is often overshadowed by the greed. Compelling documentary but not particularly uplifting, accomplished all the same.

On the Ecstasy of Ski-Flying: Werner Herzog in conversation with Karen Beckman isn't going to tell most Herzog fans anything they didn't already know other than the fact Karen Beckman isn't a particularly good interviewer. I for one though am a big fan of Herzog and he could be talking absolute rubbish (he isn't) but his voice is so interesting, almost soothing, that it's very easy to watch/listen to.

I didn't learn that much from this documentary about Lemmy but I still found it very entertaining. Lemmy is so unbelievably cool that he is just very easy to watch. Best line: "When the Apocalypse comes, the only things left will be Cockroaches and Lemmy". No nonsense, funny and the music is great. Me and my beloved wanted to drink JD & coke and go to a gig after watching it but it was 11.30pm so we couldn't but I will be seeing Motorhead next time they're in town, that's for sure!

A tricky subject in many ways, Chris Rock charms his way around 'The big question' quite well and it all turns into a bit of fun. Probably for the best really and I don't think there is a big horrible answer either. Its main strength is that it is universally amusing, considering I'm balding quite rapidly, I quite enjoyed it!

If you're 'not interested' you really should be! The knock on affect from the stupid discussions made by the stupid, greedy idiots in this film is shocking. I know and understand the basics of the current global financial situation but I learnt so much more from this perfectly executed documentary. The shocking 'where are they now' ending will make your skin crawl! The inside job could be categorised as a horror film, the real horror being that it's all real! Rent or buy it now while you still have a job!

I don't know that much about Joan Rivers, I know she's a comedian, I know she's had lots of plastic surgery and I know her humour. I didn't really learn anything from this film, other than her raging ego does take a 5 minute break once and a while but not very often. At times I felt sorry for her, she probably doesn't get the recognition she deserves but for all the times she has to defend her risky jokes, she comes across as pretty naive and resorts to being the victim and her tiring ego fuelled defence mechanism kicks in, and this is what people think of when they think of her. More CV/resume than fly on the wall documentary, she doesn't even seem to shy away from this fact either, she needs the work. I was never bored but it was only just a little more than mildly interesting, for the record though, I quite like her.

One day in September is gripping, intense and astonishing. I thought I knew all there was to know about the '72 Munich Olympics disaster but I hadn't realised just how chaotic and dumbfounding it really was. This documentary tells you everything you need to know, with a thorough collection of TV clips, photos and interviews with people who were there, including an exclusive with the last surviving terrorist. See this if you enjoyed Bus 174, it works as a great companion piece to the also very excellent Munich. Documentaries don't get much better.

A fantastic film with amazing animation. This could have been an interesting documentary but instead, Folman had the insight and the originality to produce what is one of the truly brilliant contemporary films of the last few years. Highly recommended!

A sometimes sweet and sometimes sad documentary, no real twists like we've come to expect from docs these days but it's not worse off for it. Flora the Elephant is just as much a character than the larger than live circus owners who brought her up. I suppose the situation isn't particularly ordinary in the sense that this happens all the time with house-hold pets, it's just that most house-hold pets aren't as big as your house. Recommended, especially if like me you love Elephants!

An exciting documentary/recreation of one of the best stunts ever performed by a rag-tag bunch of colourful characters. It's all made poignant by the fact it was all performed between the twin towers of New York's World Trade Centre. The film is full of great photos and films taken at the time and of the construction of the towers. Philippe Petit is also quite a fascinating and infectious character, his narration keeps the film going with intrigue and humour. It's one of the best documentaries I've seen in a long time and is now among my favourites, I highly recommend it.

"The documentary is as much a meditation by the director on the meaning of documentaries and information in the age of electronic data and computerised images as it is about the skill, dedication, philosophy and work of the fashion designer" - yeah, I get that but for me Wenders gets caught up in the words rather than in their meanings. I did like the method he used in recording a recording while also filming the city (usually in a car). It was a clever idea and one example why he is a director I admire. Unfortunately, I had and still have, no interest in the work of Yohji Yamamoto or the philosophies of either men. Wenders often gets it right but unfortunately not so here. This is dreadfully boring I'm afraid!

I can't say I learnt anything I didn't already know about Creation Records from this film and they left a hell of a lot out. The interviews are pretty good though and the truths regarding many myths are put to rest or straightened out. Having worked for a popular independent label myself, I was pretty interested throughout and became quite nostalgic. Those were the days!

Lightning over Water is a fascinating documentary of sorts, it's an interesting project I've not seen before or since anyway. Nicholas Ray was a charismatic director and also a bit of a workaholic, only really truly happy when working on a film. That is where it's hard to say if it was all planned or if wenders took advantage, as at times it is quite an uncomfortable film to watch, even for the more hardened voyeur. I think only two filmmakers such as Wenders and Ray could have actually pulled it off to be honest and it's a pleasure to be able to watch what is a very personally film for both of them. The last interview with Ray is something that stayed with me for days but then so was the image of the old sailing ship floating in New York bay. Not for everyone but for fans of either Ray and/or Wenders it's a must.

The most interesting thing about this film is knowing what happened afterwards in retrospect. Nick Broomfield had no choice but to mock Eugene Terreblanche because quite frankly at that time it was hard to take him and his 'Dads army or Nazis' seriously. Unfortunately he does come across as a little bit arrogant at times but it must have been frustrating for at the same time so he did show great strength by biting his tongue for so long. Best part for me though was the drivers wife, the simplest of people and so stupidly honest. Hats of to Broomfield for inventing a new technique but Louis Theroux does it so much better.

My biggest criticism of The Leader, His Driver and the Driver's Wife was that for all it's light-hearted piss taking, it never really explained the situation in South Africa at the time. Here, several years later, Broomfield makes amends and it obvious he realises that he owes that to the audience and everyone involved. It's fascinating to see what has happened since and what at first sounded like a crap idea for a documentary, really turns into something quite unique and historically important. *The flixster description is totally wrong as is the date*

Yikes! Where do i start with this one? Ok, so the brief was to 'pay homage to classic porn and deconstruct the concepts of obscenity, voyeurism, the porn industry' .....blah blah blah. The first film has a man (with a Turnip up his arse) rub is manhood up against a JCB that is hanging from a crane. Another has a man masturbating in the middle of a desert (although he fails). Another is just an old recording of an 80's porn film, another is of a man shagging a sex doll and a girl doing something to a teddy bear that you really should do to a teddy bear....and you get the picture. So, to answer the question you really want to ask...no, so pull up your trousers and let the dog back in the room, this is not a porn film! As many other reviewers have said, Larry Clark's segment is quite interesting but I wouldn't say it was worth watching for, it is for want of a better phrase, a load of wank.

Interesting in places and educational for those who want to be film makers but ultimately its quite a dull film to watch. I really hope they get to make the real thing!

No one makes a documentary like Werner Herzog. I'm a fan. Listening to his voice alone is enough to hypnotise me but so as to give this film a fair rating, I shall put that to one side. First off, I knew nothing of this cave, it's existence or discovery. That really surprised me, as I'm into my art, history and art history, so thank you Mr. Herzog for that. To be honest, even if I had seen it on a typical history channel/channel 4 hour long documentary, I probably would have missed or forgotten it because as well as the detail and facts involved, you also always get a poetic and human perspective from Werner that no one else even tries to achieve. It's not just the cave paintings themselves that are explored but the other details within the cave that I found fascinating. This could have been your average boring 'School lesson' documentary but what Herzog gives us is quite a profound insight into our own existence and what we are, what we've come from and what we will become. When did you last hear anyone ask 'When was the birth of the human soul' or 'Will albino crocodiles ever make it to the caves and wonder what they mean'? You've got to love Werner.

Simple, informative, fascinating and quite wonderful. Watching the 'Happy people' of Taiga training their dogs, building their boats and setting their traps is both hypnotic and humbling. For people who appreciate the simple things in life and seek a little more warmth than you get with your typical National Geographic produced program - this is the feel good documentary for you. For Werner Herzog fans it's also a must.

I knew nothing about Pina Bausch before this film and had pretty much no interest in Dance. That has now changed thanks to a) Wim Wender's fantastic approach to documentaries - particularly his tributes and b) Pina Bausch's dances are a little bit more interesting than a bunch of skeletons in false smiles and tutus. The visuals here are stunning, even if some of the dances are unintentionally quite amusing, there is always something new and exciting to look at. I found the film to be interesting, informative and quite relaxing. If a Pina Bausch production was to pop up in London any time soon I would definitely buy a ticket!

An interesting made-for-TV documentary on the life of Gesualdo, Prince, composer, madman. I don't care much for his music but I can appreciate its complexities and Werner does explain exactly why he was regarded as ahead of his time which was useful to a non-classically minded music lover. Herzog's usual flare is slightly absent in my opinion but the stories of murder and madness kept me entertained enough. A biopic starring the late Klinski is probably the greatest film never made.

Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse is a great insight and document of one of the most notorious film shoots in the history of cinema. It exposes the madness and obsession throughout the history of the story from the people who wanted to make it, the crew that eventually made it and the cast who went mad and nearly died making it. Some of it I found exaggerated. When all your money is in a project that is rapidly falling apart, the safest way to get a return is to make sure people see the film by making it 'notorious' and that is exactly what Coppola did. This film exposes him as a great marketing man but a bad director. You have to wonder if it is the big budgets and great actors alone that have made his career and not necessarily his 'Artist input'. I found him and his wife to be extremely annoying, naive and stupid throughout this documentary, Apocalypse Now is great film but it's a shame it couldn't of happened to a nicer man. This is essential viewing for anyone seeking a career in film making but as more of a how not to do it guide but then again, all you really need is a lot of luck and a lot of money, this film is proof of that. Fascinating watching all the same.

Religulous is more comedy than documentary, it's almost as much of a documentary as Borat was but without the fake characters (excluding the guy who thinks he's Jesus). Anyway, I'm an Atheist, so guess what - I thought it was funny. Bill Maher, a comedian I wasn't familiar with, was preaching to the converted as far as I was concerned. Did he pray on easy targets? I suppose he did in a way, the people he interviewed were pretty much all ignorant and weren't even sure of the teachings, history or scriptures of the religions they were following. However, these weren't people minding their own business, these were people either making a living from religion or standing on soap boxes preaching about their religion making them more than fair game. Bill Maher doesn't respect other peoples beliefs! No, and why should he - I'm with him on that one. He asked good questions, intelligent questions but all the answers where ridiculous. Like him, I can no more respect an adult that believes in Santa than an adult who believes in God, virgin birth, taking snakes etc etc. To be fair, for all the anti -Christianisums going on here, it's the two interviewed priests that came off best with no joking around just intelligent and interesting conversation. It's actually the US senator that comes off worst and you can't say he was an easy target (or maybe you can). He has also been criticised for concentrating mainly on Christians but like he says in the film, it's pretty hard to infiltrate certain religions - especially when he looks so Jewish and certain religions are antisemitic. He still gives it a good go and the three big religions get a look in. Larry Charles is a clever guy too, a sneaky guy but someone who has mastered the art of satire quite well. The editing of the film is hilarious, I laughed throughout. Richard Dawkins represents us on an intellectual level but he's just not very funny, he also gets (understandably) worked up when actually giving the other side a little more than they deserve. Bill Maher on the other-hand says, you know what, you've been shoving this crap down our throats for long enough, religion should not be used by the higher power for control and in order for us to evolve as a race we need to grow up and stop looking for fairies. Everyone is fair game, we've heard your opinions again and again, now it's our turn. Now he could have done this the nice way or the nasty way and I can't say I saw anything nasty here. If you're offended, chances are you're religious. Didn't like it? Well now you know how we feel.

James Marsh is fast becoming the documenterian to look out for, Project Nim is a fantastic follow up to his brilliant man on Wire. Project Nim is a very compelling story, not just because of its main attraction, a charismatic Chimp called Nim Chimpsky (Get it? Noam Chomsky/Nim Chimpsky?) but also because of the humans he encounters, such as the new-age mother who lets him drink and is fascinated by his masturbatory habits, the egocentric lothario scientist (complete with seductive 70's moustache) who seems to be busier bedding the researchers and getting his picture taken rather than getting on with the project and this hippy best friend, who likes nothing better than, playing, picking wild berries and sharing a joint with the young simian. Welcome to the 70's. Yes, Nim smokes weed from time to time, this and other wacky storeys emerge from this often humorous but also heartbreaking tale. It's that old cliche of us humans learning more from animals than they could ever learn from us but brilliantly done with all key players giving their side of the story. Highly recommended.

I received this tape for my 12th Birthday and have only just watched it on my old VHS machine I recently discovered in the cupboard. It's quite good. National Geographic used to mean something though, now they have their own TV channel is seems standards have slipped. I like modern nature films with clever visuals and camera work etc but you can't beat these old-school docs, the ones where you just know the cameraman had to walk 100 miles, climb a mountain and poo in a snake infested pit in the rain to get the footage. If you can find it, watch it.

This film seems to have upset a lot of people. I'm not sure how it can be accused of being biased/unbalanced though. It is challenging what many believe as truth but it points out exactly what the reasoning's are behind every statement it makes, not that it actually makes that many statements, as it generally and quite fairly encourages the audience to research and make up it's own mind. Many will and many won't, but this is the first time I've ever seen a documentary that comes with a comprehensive companion guide. The truths can be harsh, reality often is though, to shy away from it is to neglect ourselves and our fellow man. This film was preaching to the converted as far as I was concerned but it did so better than Loose Change did regarding 9/11 and consolidated what I've read from the likes of Richard Dawkins etc pretty conclusively. For anything it misses out my only answer is that being a film, there is always going to be limited time, hence the companion guide. It does annoy me though the way people use the term Conspiracy Theory in a negative way. By definition, the plot by supposedly orchestrated by Osama bin Laden is a conspiracy theory, I challenge anyone to say the have absolute evidence to say he was responsible. I have a family member fighting in Afghanistan and I just wish he would have sat down and watched this film before signing up, maybe he wouldn't be over there risking his life unnecessarily. The fact of the matter is that he is over there because he's uneducated, he scared, he loves his country even though his government and media have lied to him but most of all because he has a heart of gold but that heart has been manipulated by others for their own gain and that just isn't fair. Maybe the world has gone beyond that point of reasoning or self-though, maybe the governments or the powers that be have already won, if you can get away with 9/11 maybe you can get away with anything, maybe the public just don't want to know but for me 9and hopefully others) the words of Howard Beale ring true 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore'. Seriously though, you believe everything the American Government and the world media tell you? Really? oh, and PS. Comparing this film to other 'conspiracy theorists' who talk of Alien landings and Elvis sightings are only showing their own ignorance. Wake up world or do you not believe, again to quote Howard Beale, your life has value? Question everything, question you president, question your prime minister, question you teachers, parents, governments, authors and friends, question me and get in touch, debate is what separates us from the animals! Also, before you accuse people who agree with and might have had their opinions changed by this film of being weak minded or gullible, we're not the ones who believe in Virgin Birth/Resurrection/The fact that 4 aeroplanes can be hijacked with nail scissors/Anything that W. Bush says/Everything the Media says/buildings that were never hit fall down anyway among many other issues. maybe if we were given believable answers (or any answers at all in some points) we'd be complacent and would go away. Anyway, rant over - at least give this film a try, for what it's worth I think it's spot on.

The Arbor is a real one off. Andrea Dunbar is a name synonymous with Bradford, 'The grim North', the song 'We're having a gang bang, we're having a ball' and heartfelt literature. I remember when she died, not so long after Rita, Sue and Bob too came out - the film itself was talk of the playground at school with many of pretending we'd seen it so as not to sound uncool. It can be grim up North, it's pretty grim in places down South but there was always something different about the Estates and the people living there written about by Dunbar. As popular as her work was/is, she was another victim of her environment - although this brilliant documentary shows that as well as being another cog, she wasn't without blame for the way she bought up her three children - her eldest suffering the most. This is a documentary and re-enactment all in one, with a few performances from her plays thrown in - it works brilliantly, maybe it took a 'visual artist' instead of a normal film director to pull it off (although personally I'm not sure of the fundamental difference). Believe the hype, it is utterly spellbinding and something quite unique.

The Interrupters blends the 'fly on the wall' documentary style with the history lesson perfectly. This is a very intelligent, unbiased and pretty unique documentary about gangs, youth and violence of the deteriorating suburbs of Chicago. The Interrupters capture real people and real events quite exceptionally, there is always the argument that as soon as you start documenting something or filming it, it has changed from what it was/is/will become. This doesn't seem to be the case here, people reactions seem completely natural, when you see the desperation, anger and frustration from so many of the people involved, you just know it's not for the camera. It's not just the 'easy' or more obvious things we see here either, typically when you point a camera you can get arguments, fights, tears etc but here we see remorse, apology and regret - and not because it makes them look self righteous either. Many of the scenes are shocking to people who live outside this world but there is a lot of heart in this film, a real inside view amids the often sensationalised and inaccurate tabloid news stories. The Interrupters are an amazing group of people, maybe the cure the area needs and maybe a formula every problem area could learn from as long as it's not exploited. A great documentary.

Jesus Camp isn't a groundbreaking documentary in the sense that it uncovers something that is completely unknown or that it openly challenges its subject. Everyone in the film seemed to be quite happy to contribute to the filming so this must have been a pretty easy day in the office for Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady, Mike Papantonio etc. Not that I'm taking anything away from them, their obvious restraint must have taken a lot of will power and it the most effective part of the film - but then you'd have to be one of the deluded not to see the delusion for yourself - this is the film's real strength. I also liked the fact that the opposing 'voice of reason' was from a Christian, one that goes to a real church and believes religion and politics are two very different things. I'm an atheist and against all religion - I don't have a soapbox to stand on and I have friends of all faiths, it's just something I don't agree with. We atheists don't 'high-five' each other each time one of these documentaries comes out. It's fair to say this film was never going to reveal to me anything I didn't already know, it's preaching to the converted - However, being raised a Catholic, I know a little bit about the Bible and I had often wondered how these middle-American (there are some in the UK too) Evangelical churches work, how they have twisted the Bible's words and to what extent the delusion goes. I was still shocked and appalled and I think it's a good thing that this film is out there. When you make a racist homophobic ex-Nazi look good you just know you've backed the wrong horse. Should I add this film to my greatest horrors list too I wonder?

Kidnapping, magic underwear, religious cultism, the British Press, a sex scandal, a police investigation and the cloning of a dog called Booger. Errol Morris reads between the lines in this funny and fascinating and unbelievably true story of eccentricity at it's most glorious. It takes all sorts to make a world, here is the proof! Highly recommended.

For my birthday my Wife to be took me to the premier of How to Re-Establish a Vodka Empire. Not only was this the grand premier, it was also a chance to meet the director Daniel Edelstyn for a Q&A session and also a chance to taste the Vodka in question. The premier was in one of London's trendiest galleries, the ICA. We were the first in and so grabbed the best seats. By the time the film started only 4 other people had entered the cinema. Firstly, I did enjoy the film but only to a point. For most of it I was desperately trying to think of pleasant, maybe witty but most importantly intelligent questions to ask the director at the end of the showing. Poor guy, only 6 people turned up to his premiere, I'll have to spare his and also my own embarrassment when it gets to the Q&A. Complete silence would be too much to bare. The film was good, a little misleading if I was going to be honest though. I really liked the dramatisations of his Grandmother (played by his wife) but I didn't really warm to them in real life. I actually found them annoying but maybe that's what made them watchable. It was a win win situation for him really, if the Vodka sells then he wins as a businessman, whether the Vodka sells or not, he's a film maker, the memory of his Grandmother - his primary mission, has been achieved. Then you look into his career as a 'Film maker' and nothing really pops up. The film does have the whiff of a clever marketing campaign about it, all the best bits are non-scripted and by the end of the film I really wanted a sip of Vodka, and I don't even like Vodka! So anyway, I had a really good idea for a question to ask, I had this long conversation I wanted to have with him about romanticism vs. realism all planned out. When the film ended, I was ready. One of the six darted out as fast as he could, damn it, he looked like a journalist and the only other person likely to ask a question, I just knew it would be up to me know. Except, and it's a big except, the bastard didn't show up. We all hung around a bit and then we all marched to the help desk only to be told he cancelled at the last minute due to unforeseen issues. Yeah, like only 6 people turned up to my film premier and I'm too embarrassed to show my face. He could have at least left some Vodka behind. It was a load of crap anyway because I saw him outside the cinema just before we went in. The spineless twerp isn't going to sell much Vodka if that is his attitude but flixster friends, it pains me somewhat to report that the film is still worth watching but please, for me, don't buy his Vodka, I'm looking forward to his follow up film, How to Re-Establish a Vodka Empire and loose everything in the process and fail miserably. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

One of the most haunting films I've ever seen. A lot of relationship, community and social issues are raised here as peoples emotions, reactions and memories are all laid bare. The reconstruction of the clearing out of the flat, littered with memories is very effective amid recreations of Joyce Vincent singing as a child and wrapping Christmas gifts the night before she died. The interviews of Joyce Vincent's friends are quite telling of the sort of person she was, all of them speak about her in a positive light but it is her ex-boyfriend Martin who is the most compelling - a really nice guy full of frustration, guilt and sadness that makes for one of the saddest endings to film ever. Powerful and emotional but never dwelling on how she died but very much telling a story of who the person was and why she shouldn't have died, which is a much better way of being remembered and is a life lesson for all of us. A must see.

An interesting viewpoint from an early 60's perspective, interesting in retrospect but also interesting as it's not a viewpoint I would have thought popular. It's pretty ahead of it's time, the regeneration of the industrial landscape and seeing beauty in what is regarded as ugly. Recommended for architects, sociologist, film makers and day dreamers in general.

Probably one of the most shocking, frightening and astonishing documentaries ever made. Having been on a Jury twice I'm not surprised by certain problems in the judicial system but I just couldn't believe my eyes and ears watching this case. I'm not that naive that I don't believe that Courts, Defence/Prosecutors and the media aren't always on top form but the display of ignorance, stupidity and dishonesty on show here boils the blood as well as chills to the bone. Bruce Sinofsky and Joe Berlinger really hit the jackpot with this one. It has to be seen to be believed.

It was always going to be hard to match the impact that the first film had but then this is more of an update of events. The real problem the film makers had was that far less people were willing to talk to them and they were banned from filming inside the courts. Instead, they concentrate on the West Memphis 3 supporters and the only parent of the decided willing to participate, John Mark Byers. It actually turns into the John Mark Byers show for most of the film, but then he is probably one of the most fascinating (not to mention disturbing) people ever to appear on screen. His involvement into the murders is questioned but now with hindsight, you can see how he was suspected and accused with the same lack of evidence and discrimination as the WM3. I suppose the only issue with this film is that it is now out of date as a lot has happened and I've read about the case and what has happened since. It's still a great reference though, as is the first film. The third and final instalment will be coming out soon, I don't want to spoil the story for anyone, so I'll just recommended you see these two films first and then do some research. For me though, the best moment was when the Free the 3 members calmly and intelligently ripped the media to pieces. I don't want to spoil it for anyone that hasn't seen it, so I'll leave it at that. See these films soon if you haven't already!

Beautifully filmed, it must have been painstaking to film!
Its rather good but it will help if you are interested in insects as there is no dialogue/Story, just insects! Slow and boring for some, mesmerising for others. Worth checking out!