Your Favorite Documentaries

TheStarTurtle

Just thought I’d start a thread for documentaries because why not?

The Anderson Platoon:
One of the first truly genuine (i.e. not propaganda) docs about troops on the front lines. Be sure to watch the original French version.

The Missiles of October: What the World Didn’t Know:
The story of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Not to be confused with a TV drama of the same name with William Devane and Martin Sheen.

When We Were Kings:
The story of Mohammed Ali’s legendary “Rumble in the Jungle” fight with George Foreman in 1974.

Heroes of Iwo Jima:
The story of the battle of Iwo Jima and the not so well known real story of the legendary photograph taken during it.

Empire of Dreams: The Story of the ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy:
Title says it all.

This Film is Not Yet Rated:
A look at the Motion Picture Association of America and film censorship in the US.

You’ve Been Trumped:
The story of Trump’s Scotland golf course and the people whose homes he destroyed to build it. Highly appropriate given the times.

American Experience: Oklahoma City
The story of the Oklahoma City Bombing.

MikeBrooklyn

Being the rapid, foaming at the mouth cinephile that I am, of course, my favorite documentaries are about the making of other movies.

https://thefilmstage.com/features/the-15-best-documentaries-about-making-a-film/https://www.ranker.com/list/documentaries-about-movies-better-than-actual-movies/jacob-sheltonIf you're talking about non-movie documentaries, I usually go to Michael Moore. I liked his latest, "Where to Invade Next?" Really highlights how backwards America is compared to other countries.

TheStarTurtle

This one’s for you Mike.
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing:
A look at the editing process in filmmaking.

Where to Invade Next:
Credit: MikeBrooklyn

Roger and Me:
The story of the FIRST time the city of Flint, Michigan was screwed. This was Michael Moore’s first doc.

Hearts and Minds:
Retrospective about the Vietnam War made after the US pulled out but the before the North won.

Trekkies:
A look into the Star Trek fandom.

Senna:
The story of Brazilian Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna.

MikeBrooklyn

This one's for you Mike.

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing:

A look at the editing process in filmmaking.

Ha, already saw it!

Another one of Michael Moore's movies would be "Capitalism: A Love Story". Sadly, it is over a decade old, and it's even more relevant today as it was back then!

TheStarTurtle

This one's for you Mike.

The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing:

A look at the editing process in filmmaking.

Ha, already saw it!

Another one of Michael Moore's movies would be "Capitalism: A Love Story". Sadly, it is over a decade old, and it's even more relevant today as it was back then!

For me The Cutting Edge came as part of the Bullitt Two Disc Special Edition DVD since that film won an Oscar for Best Editing. Heard good things about Capitalism: A Love Story and Sicko as well.

TheStarTurtle

Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse:
The story of the filming of Apocalypse Now

Into the Fire: American Women in the Spanish Civil War:
The story of US nurses who volunteered to help out during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s

Man on Wire:
The story of French daredevil Philippe Petit and his death defying tightrope walk between the Twin Towers in 1974

Thrilla in Manila:
Credit: MikeBrooklyn
The story of Mohammed Ali’s greatest rival, Joe Frazier, and their legendary fight in Manila in 1975

The People vs. George Lucas:
A look at the rivalry between Star Wars fans and franchise creator George Lucas (made before the Disney buy out)

Charge: Zero Emissions/Maximum Speed:
The story of the innovators who brought electric powered environmentally friendly motorcycles to the Isle of Man TT, the Grand Prix of motorcycle racing

Red White Black and Blue:
The story of the little known battle to take back the Alaskan island of Attu from the Japanese during WWII

MikeBrooklyn

The People vs. George Lucas:

A look at the rivalry between Star Wars fans and franchise creator George Lucas (made before the Disney buy out)

Add this to my list of favorites. I even own it on DVD. And if you're a fan of the Ninja Turtles, check out "Turtle Power: The Definitive History of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", made right before the awful Michael Bay movies were released.

TheStarTurtle

The Making of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws:
An in depth look at the filmmaking process for one of the greatest movies of all time. Make sure to watch the uncut version.

American Experience: The Battle of Chosin:
The story of one of the most horrific battles of the Korean War.

Whitey: United States of America Vs. James J. Bulger:
The story of the controversial case to bring down notorious Boston gangster “Whitey” Bulger.

American Experience: My Lai:
The story of the infamous My Lai Massacre in Vietnam.

5 Broken Cameras:
An native amature filmmaker’s account of the Israeli occupation of Palestine during the late 2000s.

MikeBrooklyn

And of course, there's Morgan Spurlock's documentaries, such as "Super Size Me", "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold", and "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope".

QBG

All of Peter Joseph's films are among my favorite documentaries:

Zeitgeist

Zeitgeist: Addendum

Zeitgeist: Moving Forward

Additionally, I'm a fan of his episodic six part docu-series, **Culture in Decline**.

In non-political documentary series, I'm very fond of **Wild China and Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey**.

ppfd

If you're American and not already pissed off at our government, these 2 films from Charles Ferguson will help you get there.

TheStarTurtle

**Super Size Me: **
Credit: MikeBrooklyn
Can’t believe I forgot about this. Had to watch this in Middle School health class and then again in High School… and now I work at McDonalds!

National Geographic: Search for the Battleship Bismarck:
The story of the German WWII Battleship Bismarck and explorer Bob Ballard’s 1989 hunt for it’s wreck

Restrepo & Korengal:
The 2 part story of US soldiers stationed at Observation Post Restrepo in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan

Gonchi:
The story of Uruguayan racing driver Gonzalo RodrÃguez

The Day Israel Attacked America:
An Al Jazeera produced doc about the supposedly erroneous Israeli attack on the the USS Liberty, an American Naval surveillance ship during the Six Day War. Can be found in its entirety on Youtube.

TheStarTurtle

Gallipoli (2005 documentary):
A look at one of the most horrific battles of World War I:

Tower:
A partially animated doc about America’s first big mass shooting:

Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price:
A look at just how messed up Walmart really is:

13th:
A Netflix produced look at the history of racial inequality in the US and its prison system in particular:

TheStarTurtle

Jutland: Clash of the Dreadnoughts;
The story of the legendary WWI naval battle and the modern dive to discover the wrecks

The Battle of Long Tan:
The story of Australia’s biggest battle during the Vietnam War

Man On A Mission: Richard Garriott’s Road To The Stars:
A look at video game developer Richard Garriott attempt to get to space

Deepsea Challenge 3D:
A look at filmmaker James Cameron’s deep sea dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench

TheStarTurtle

The Somme (2005):
The story of the build up to and first day of the infamous Battle of the Somme during WWI

National Geographic: Asia’s Titanic:
The story of the collision and sinking of the MV Dona Paz and MV Vector, the deadliest maritime accident in history

1:
The story of the fight for stricter safety regulations in Formula 1

We Steal Secrets: The Founding of WikiLeaks:
The title says it all

Citizenfour:
The story of American whistleblower (and hero) Edward Snowden

MikeBrooklyn

In you're in the mood for a good laugh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC0tAdR_b3UIf you're in the mood for a good cry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhwktRDG_aQ

TheStarTurtle

Churchill’s First World War:
A look at Winston Churchill’s career during World War I

The Bombing of Darwin:
The little known story of Australia’s Pear Harbor

Galahad - The Untold Story:
The story of the Royal Army Welsh Guards and the tragedy of the HMS Sir Galahad during the Falklands War

The True Story of Blackhawk Down:
A look at the famous Battle of Mogadishu

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised:
A look at the 2002 coup attempt to overthrow Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez

Mad as Hell:
The story of Cenk Uygur and the founding of the Young Turks Network

TheStarTurtle

Battle for Dien Bien Phu:
The story of the final battle of the French-Indochina War which set the stage for the US intervention in Vietnam:

Bhutto:
The story of Pakistan’s first female Prime Minister

Fix Bayonets - The Battle for Goose Green
The story of the largest land battle of the Falklands War and two British soldiers who return to the site years later

Knock Down the House:
The story of Alexandra Ocasio Cortez and three other progressive women who ran for national political office in the 2018 US Midterm Elections

Devil Dogs: Hero Marines of WWI
The story of America’s first major battle of WWI and a present day Frenchman’s personal mission to preserve the memory of the US Marines who fought and died there

johnny567smith

This one gave me the feels:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7od_hvrGeHoThis one was pretty cool:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHQ3dTRM6xMA bit sketch now but still enjoyable:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7_3LNjsxhcDisturbing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLOeH-Oq_1YI remembered that we watched this one in middle school and I was baffled by it, but looking back it's pretty cool:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSfFHxyYJJAPretty cool:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTK6MnPa8ZoGood for Disney fans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyeoyRjEiUU

TheStarTurtle

Two Days In October:
The story of a 48 hour period in 1967 that saw both a massive and deadly ambush of US soldiers in Vietnam and the first brutal crackdown of a peaceful anti-war protest back at home.

The Santiago Files:
The story of Leftist Chilean President Salvatore Allende & the US campaign which eventually caused his overthrow.

1533 Km. to Home - The Heroes from Miramar:
The Argentine veterans of the Falklands War tell their story.

The Panama Deception:
The shadier aspects of the 1989 US invasion of Panama that the US establishment doesn’t want you to know about.