Surplus - Terrorized Into Being Consumers is the best documentary I've ever seen.

It features John Zerzan prominently. You might think he's a nutball, or you might think he's the most interesting political thinker this side of Karl Marx (I tend toward the latter), but he's entertaining nonetheless.

You can download Surplus from The Pirate Bay (800MB file size):
http://torrents.thepiratebay.org/352300 ... PB.torrent

If you want the DVD version, with English subtitles for the Spanish- and Swedish-speaking parts, it's available here (3GB file size):
http://torrents.thepiratebay.org/375909 ... PB.torrent

Note: This documentary was produced by Swedish National Television and broadcast on the public service networks in Sweden. So downloading it isn't really "piracy" in the strictest sense, if you're worried about that. Consider it a gift from the tax-paying people of Sweden.

Ekkssvvppllott wrote:Also,

Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator by one Helen Stickler.

A fascinating look at the life of Mark 'Gator' Rogowski, a one-time professional skater who lost his way and eventually commited murder (in case you didn't know).

Lot of great interviews in this. Gator's patently ditzy ex-girlfriend provides a lot of (unintentional) comic relief, and Tony Hawk provides a level-headed assesment of Gator and his life. Some nice insights into skate culture and its rise in popularity, too.

Good one, even if you have no interest in skating.

I am a fan of Scratch, Dark Days and was ultimately disturbed by The Bridge; a documentary about people that have killed themselves by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, complete with video of a few attempts.

Jim van Bebber's retelling of the Ricky Kasso Satanic drugburn revenge killing, "My Sweet Satan", is usually supplemented with his weed-dealer documentary "Doper".

ElectricMayhem wrote:I am a fan of Scratch, Dark Days and was ultimately disturbed by The Bridge; a documentary about people that have killed themselves by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, complete with video of a few attempts.

I was just adding The Bridge to my Netflix queue when a guy on a conference call says something like "well if this doesn't work out we'll just have to find a bridge somewhere to jump off of...".

Wierd.

the last poster, "Barndog", reminded me of a documentary I saw on youtube, Animal Passion

http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=eljojo5azf&p=r

I don't think it was the best documentary I have watched, but still...

I love a good documentary... most of my favourites have already been mentioned though. I mentioned on another thread that I recently watched a documentary on the Jonestown Massacre that destroyed me. In fact, one good thing about the BBC is its ability to consistently produce good documentaries (especially the David Attenborough, Storyville and Louis Theroux ones).

Err, I think they've probably all been mentioned but:

* Crumb
* Dig!
* Some Kind of Monster
* Night and Fog
* Planet Earth/Blue Planet

and of course, In The Hands of The Gods - awesome soundtrack (ahem)....

Idi Amin Dada: Autoportrait I thought was really great. It's out on Criterion.

Some favorite scenes:

-Idi Amin Dada telling a croc to back off and then it does.

-Idi Amin Dada's eyes almost popping out when a dude dares to question policy and the sound of his breathing.

-Idi Amin Dada leading his troops, consisting of a Cesna plane and few rusty Russian tanks, in a staged invasion of the West Bank.

-The fatso Idi Amin in a swimming match with two young dudes and they obviously let him win.

Gotta love it.

simmo wrote:I love a good documentary... most of my favourites have already been mentioned though. I mentioned on another thread that I recently watched a documentary on the Jonestown Massacre that destroyed me. In fact, one good thing about the BBC is its ability to consistently produce good documentaries (especially the David Attenborough, Storyville and Louis Theroux ones).

Err, I think they've probably all been mentioned but:

* Crumb
* Dig!
* Some Kind of Monster
* Night and Fog
* Planet Earth/Blue Planet

and of course, In The Hands of The Gods - awesome soundtrack (ahem)....

I've seen Dig! so many times... it's like watching a beautiful car crash over and over.[/b]

I'd add one to this already fine group.

Shoah (1985) by Claude Lanzmann. At nine hours it takes some committment but repays the time invested. The first part is difficult to get through because the doc seems kind of aimless and random but before you know it it has you. It's structure is like a mosaic in that the first disc is like looking at a few random tiles but as it draws you in you begin to see the whole horrifying picture. Lanzmann's techniques can be a bit questionable at times when he hounds a few of the local Poles in the early part of the film, however, his secret filming of Franz Schuomel, SS guard at Treblinka who describes the workings of the gas chambers, is as chilling TV as you'll ever see. Raul Hilberg, author of the masterpiece, The Destruction of the European Jews, is interviewed at key points but mostly the interviews are of the three archetypes; Victims, Perpetrators and bystanders. There is no footage whatsoever from WWII which is also an interesting approach. This is simply the best documentary I've ever seen.