Favorite Documentaries

[Tak0010]

Lately, I've been watching a lot of documentaries of varying types: Religious, historical, science, health, etc.. I like to keep an open-minded approach and each documentary has its own merit. It seems like I've been taking snippets from each one and incorporating them into my own life. I've run out of 'good' one's or one's that intrigue me right off the bat.

I was wondering, if any, what are your favorite documentaries and why.(Title and a quick overveiw)

I'll start with one of my favorites. Although a bit lengthy at just shy of 2hrs, it's titled "The Buddah." It gives an in depth look into the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the meaning of Buddah, and his journey to enlightenment. The first written biography was 500yrs after the death of the man to become Buddha. They even state that it's impossible to know what's true and what's fairy tale. How many other religions admit that??

I think this is one of my favorites because it goes into what Buddhism actual is. I've never been a big fan of the deity worshiping religions. Partly, because choosing one means that you are closing your mind to all other possibilities, on the other hand and at least to me, Buddhism is more about the inward journey to the transendental state, instead of seeking to fill the void. As the documentary states, 'Suffering is universal' and we just kinda have to accept it.

 

[jiva]

some time ago i opened a thread about this:

Documentaries - Music/Art/Literature - Welcome to the DMT-Nexus

in addition to the ones i posted there i would add Planet Earth and Planet Earth 2 (the pictures are just mesmerizing)
Dealt - this is a bout a blind Card Magican
It Might get loud - Music docu - specifically about guitar styles
Silicon Vally - a bit of technology background
You can't unburn the fire - a burning man docu

there are a few i have on my list that i have not watched yet:
tony robbins - i am not your guru (i am not sure what to think about this but i am curious)
Betting on Zero - this one is about the recent economy cricis
Earth One Amazing Day - another Nature docu
The internets own Boy The story of Aaron Swartz
Last hippy standing

 

[DoingKermit]

Just a few I've seen over the last few months...

Meru - Mountain climbing documentary about a first ascent challenge on one of the most intense peaks on earth. Quite emotionally intense.

The Confession Tapes - An eye opener into false confessions in some specific cases in the US. Really good, but also extremely frustrating.

Man on Wire - Incredible story about Philippe Petit's 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers.

Sons of Perdition - This is about exiled teenagers from their families in a mormon community out in Utah.

Icarus - About the Russian doping scandal.


Edit: Favourite documentaries include... Breakfast with hunter, Magic Trip (about Ken Kesey and the famous tour across America), Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Human Planet, Wonders of the Universe, Orange Sunshine, Dirty Pictures, King Corn... all i can think of for now.

 

[Sunnyside]

Thanks for posting these ideas, I look forward to checking them out.

some time ago i opened a thread about this:

Documentaries - Music/Art/Literature - Welcome to the DMT-Nexus

in addition to the ones i posted there i would add Planet Earth and Planet Earth 2 (the pictures are just mesmerizing)

I agree wholeheartedly.

And I don't know if you folks are old enough to remember, but my favorite - probably forever and ever - Attenborough documentary was "Life on Earth".
I'm sure it can't compare technologically to contemporary films, but he just grabbed me with that one, and he's never let me go.

Thanks again for the tips.

 

[Tak0010]

Awesome. That Tony Robbins one does look interesting, Jiva

I've seen multiple docs on burning man. They are always interesting and I love their culture and ideals. I've always wanted to go there for a week.


That Meru one looks like it would be good too. I'm not too sure about The confession taped though. I'm sure it would frustrate me.


I also love all the nature docs. The visuals alone are worth watching them.

 

[dragonrider]

Adam curtis has made some great documentary's for the BBC. 'The freedom trap' is my favorite, i think.

There's a dutch documentary 'een schitterend ongeluk' ('a glorious accident' in english, it's about the evolution of the human mind) that had a huge impact on my education and how i came to view life. It's mostly in english because the persons being interviewed are oliver sacks, stephen jay gould, rupert sheldrake, daniel dennet, freeman dyson and stephen toulmin, but the narration is in dutch.

It's funny....i watched it in the nineties, and the views of people like daniel dennet where considered to be very revolutionary back then. Nowadays they've become almost mainstream.

 

[Loveall]

Cosmos, both the old (Carl Sagan) and new versions.

[YouTube]

 

[jiva]

i saw this one a while back on netflix

Sour Grapes
[youtube]

at first ist was a bit weird seeing the high society wine culture, but it is worth the time


also if you are interested in art "Beltracchi - the art of forgery" is fun to watch
in the docu they show how a forgery is created and he tells the story how he did this for years until he got caught.


"The Naked Brand" is another one on my to do list.
for what i know it is about how the landscape of advertising changed with technology and online reviews where a company can do better advertising by just investing the advertising budged into the product as good reviews have a wider range then traditional ads


one of my favorite David Attenborough documentaries
"david attenborough life that glows"
[Youtube]

here are 2 more i would not consider favorite documentaries but i found them worth watching as they showed me another perspective of a subculture i did not understand before.

Fursonas
[Youtube]

i especially liked this one because it shows the guy how is kind of acting as a leader for a lot of furry community and how odd it is to have such an asshole in charge of a group that claims to be about "being who you are"

Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony
[youtube]

after seeing this one i actually watched some My little Pony and i have to admit i can see why the show has the kind of following it has got. And while high on a lot of weed it can be very "soothing"

 

[Tak0010]

Wow. I can't say I blame you because I want to watch My Little Pony too. Just yo see what its all about. Lol.

Thanks for the replies guys. I have enough to watch for a while, but more are always welcome.


"Beyond Food" is another one I found super interesting. There are a lot of interesting facts and, for the most part, it explores all different types of diets without the fear based bias. It's notone of those docs that's say this is the only way to fuel yourself and if you choose any other way your wrong.

 

[Sunnyside]

Last night my wife and I watched “What Happened, Miss Simone?” It is on Netflix.

Nina Simone was a remarkable artist. I’m not certain this documentary is entirely fair to her, but still am glad I watched it.

Very worthwhile.

 

[dragonrider]

A while ago, someone here posted a link to a short documentary about the mantelbrot set. I'm sure many people here will remember that thread. If you search for 'mantelbrot' on youtube, it's probably there among the first ten or so video's. It realy was fascinating stuff.

 

[JustATourist]

I really liked "Indie Game: The Movie", a documentary about the creators of a few indie games.

[YOUTUBE]

 

[blue.magic]

The Colours of Infinity
Excellent documentary about fractal geometry, its applications and reflections in nature. Narrated by Arthur C. Clarke. Contains an interview with Benoit Mandelbrot.
[youtube]

The Magic of Mushrooms
some BBC documentary I guess about the world of fungi and it's impact on life

Rivers and Tides (2003)
land art, very meditative

The Transcendental Object At The End Of Time (Terence McKenna Movie) (2014)
[youtube]

Terence McKenna's True Hallucinations
[youtube]

Home (2009)
about planet Earth and our relation with it

Samsara (2011)

 

[Loveall]

Also, the TROM documentaries I think are worth watching, warning that they are 14+ hours.

TROM

This project argues that trade is the origin of most problems: from climate change to slavery, waste and pollution, corruption, crime, you name it. And if we understand the cause, we have a chance to come up with realistic solutions. We backup up these claims via documentaries, books and videos...

www.tromsite.com

 

[Tak0010]

Awesome! Thanks for that one Loveall. I watched the intro and as soon as they mentioned the cause/symptom analysis I hit the bookmark.


Also, I think I've seen all the Terrence McKenna videos and lectures already, but definitely worth mentioning. Along with "DMT: The Spirit Molecule"

 

[Sunnyside]

Also, the TROM documentaries I think are worth watching, warning that they are 14+ hours.

TROM

This project argues that trade is the origin of most problems: from climate change to slavery, waste and pollution, corruption, crime, you name it. And if we understand the cause, we have a chance to come up with realistic solutions. We backup up these claims via documentaries, books and videos...

www.tromsite.com

Yes, it looks like I need to commit to these.

Thank you.

 

[ListenPlease]

I love great documentaries. In fact my partner and I watch more documentaries than movies... At least one per week. I can't give a favortie, as there are too many to choose from, but I will recommend Kumare (on Netflix) as I think it would appeal to your inner guru.

Good luck!

 

[hug46]

The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson is a film that confronts our worst nightmares of impending death, confounding expectations and turning them upside down.

[YOUTUBE]

On Any Sunday. Even if you don't like bikes it is a wonderfully shot film by Bruce Brown (who did the surf film Endless Summer).

[YOUTUBE]

 

[jiva]

saw this one recently:
the china hustle

[youtube]

this one shows really well how fucked up the finance market is



also really good if you like Robin Williams:

Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind
[youtube]