The whole series has so much promise, but has an inaccuracy once every other episode. 1963 has a quote on screen attributed to Bob Dylan, then 2 commercial breaks later, the EXACT same quote attributed to Ella Fitzgerald. Other episodes have non-existent albums credited to various groups or curiously leaving out key details, like again, in the 1963 episode, while covering Sam Cooke, they simply summarize his "untimely death". He was shot to death under conflicting circumstances. The side angle shot of the host reading off cue cards continues throughout the series. It's like they just slapped this series together to get content out as quickly as possible without editing or checking easily verified facts.
Reviews
7 Reviews
War Photographer
(2001)
Farce of a "Documentary" with staged photos.
18 November 2023
Just an absolute joke. Staging photos of people grieving, paying them with cigarettes. I would love to see the unedited footage and audio... "Hey, go over in front of your relative's grave headstone, kneel down, start crying and I'll give you a cigarette after I take your picture. Let's dig up your dead brother and carry him into town and you start crying. Oh, here is your cigarette. I keep noting the cigarettes because every victim is smoking one.
It is one thing to document war with photographs, but this film is mostly photos AFTER war has torn through a region and the victims are wandering aimlessly around town. So many pictures are not candid.
Natchway should be embarrassed selling this as authentic.
It is one thing to document war with photographs, but this film is mostly photos AFTER war has torn through a region and the victims are wandering aimlessly around town. So many pictures are not candid.
Natchway should be embarrassed selling this as authentic.
Go Tigers!
(2001)
Excellent documentary
14 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The editing and balance of this documentary is fantastic. However, it exposes such narrow-sighted and misplaced goals in life. As listed in the trivia, and a simple google search of the main characters, all 3 went on to college, although it looks like at least two of them did not graduate from college. All are now back in Massillon... one working as the Massillon High School Football Strength Coach, another as a car. Salesman, and the third working at the steel mill. All of this investment in football instead of education, and yet the best football players appear unprepared or unable to survive college football or college academia. Like one review said, incredible investment in football, but little emphasis on education, yet the town seems ok with that. Perhaps it is unfair for me to judge if the graduates and residents of Massillon are happy in life. It just makes you wonder about the education the non-football players receive and their prospects for attending and graduating from college if they decide to follow that path.
W.I.S.O.R.
(2001)
Hour & 15 minute documentary that should have been 20 minutes long
9 August 2023
This was such a disappointment. I had watched a documentary on streaming about the history of steam in Manhattan where they touched on the steam hammers that rupture the pipes. When I came across this documentary, I was excited to see the "fix"...What I got instead was a fluff filled waste of time. As I said, this could have been a 20 minute documentary, but instead you have to suffer through the engineers babbling about everything not about the robot.
By far, the most annoying thing is the robot voice that is so painful I had to fast forward the documentary... which, in the end, made this a 20 minute viewing for me, so I guess I win after all.
By far, the most annoying thing is the robot voice that is so painful I had to fast forward the documentary... which, in the end, made this a 20 minute viewing for me, so I guess I win after all.
Genius idea
3 August 2023
What a brilliant idea. The film captures the concert experience so well, from the obvious stage shots, but also buying beer & concessions, restroom breaks, backstage, green room, security (although a surprisingly a bit lacking). It truly gives you the experience of "being there". As for the other reviewers who rate this low and/or say, it's only good if you are a Beastie Boys fan, my question to them would be: If you are not a Beastie Boys fan, why would you watch it in the first place??? Why would anyone watch some band's DVD if you don't like the band?
One of the other cool effects are the DVD extras. Periodically throughout the DVD, an icon appears that you can click on... it takes you to an isolated camera view shot by a fan, labels "Camera (x)" (whatever number that may be). Also, a grid view of all 50 cameras at once is an option but while I found this another great idea in imagination, it isn't the best way to view the DVD, In sum, a truly original concert DVD. We lost a talent in MCA.
One of the other cool effects are the DVD extras. Periodically throughout the DVD, an icon appears that you can click on... it takes you to an isolated camera view shot by a fan, labels "Camera (x)" (whatever number that may be). Also, a grid view of all 50 cameras at once is an option but while I found this another great idea in imagination, it isn't the best way to view the DVD, In sum, a truly original concert DVD. We lost a talent in MCA.
Let's Get Frank
(2003 TV Movie)
Documentary that did not age well.
17 July 2023
I have a completely different view of Barney Frank from positive (mostly because of Dodd-Frank) to negative after viewing this.
The back of the DVD describes it as "an insightfully and hilarious movie about the hypocrisy of politics" in Washington and weaponizing impeachment.
20 years later, this documentary does not age well because the very hypocrisy Frank is criticizing with the Clinton impeachment has been repeated with the impeachments conducted by his own party since this movie was made.
In the interview included in the DVD extras, Frank further rails against Republicans by making fun of them, yet, again, the same behavior he criticizes and jokes about has been exhibited by Democrats of recent.
In fairness, I suppose the documentary does spotlight the hypocrisy of politics, yet fails in this presentation, becoming exposed as just a one sided propaganda piece.
The back of the DVD describes it as "an insightfully and hilarious movie about the hypocrisy of politics" in Washington and weaponizing impeachment.
20 years later, this documentary does not age well because the very hypocrisy Frank is criticizing with the Clinton impeachment has been repeated with the impeachments conducted by his own party since this movie was made.
In the interview included in the DVD extras, Frank further rails against Republicans by making fun of them, yet, again, the same behavior he criticizes and jokes about has been exhibited by Democrats of recent.
In fairness, I suppose the documentary does spotlight the hypocrisy of politics, yet fails in this presentation, becoming exposed as just a one sided propaganda piece.
The Killing of John Lennon
(2006)
Factually accurate docu-drama
31 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The most pleasing aspect of this film is the attention to detail. From filming at actual locations, including Chapman's actual building he worked at and his actual apartment in Hawaii. Also, unlike many bio-pics of recent, the director/writer does not take liberty with the actual facts. Everything unfolds like an encyclopedia on historical events. Words Chapman speaks in the movie are his, taken from his writings and his spoken quotes, police reports, witnesses, etc.
In this format, it is much more enjoyable than a true documentary. It is low budget, with a number of handheld shots, but unless you are a film critic, you won't be bothered.
And updating the "where are they now" at the end, as of 2022, Chapman's parole has now been denied 12 times.
In this format, it is much more enjoyable than a true documentary. It is low budget, with a number of handheld shots, but unless you are a film critic, you won't be bothered.
And updating the "where are they now" at the end, as of 2022, Chapman's parole has now been denied 12 times.
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