Secret of the Wild Child

This is a documentary about a young girl named Genie who is a feral child. She spent the first 13 years of her life tied to a potty chair. She doesn’t know how to walk or speak and makes very little, to no noise, at all. The doctors working on her case deduced that Genie was beat any time she made any noise at all and therefore she doesn’t speak. When doctors first began to examine Genie, they noticed that when she did learn to walk, she had a type of “bunny” walk which prevented her from walking normally. Social workers said, “She was a victim of one of the most severe cases of social isolation in American History.” Although Genie was in fact 13, she looked like she was around the age of six or seven.

This documentary takes the audience through the struggles Genie went through as a young child and through her years spent trying to learn how to speak and live a normal life. Another part of this documentary that gets looked at is the experiences of another feral child called Victor of Aveyron. Victor grew up in France and was discovered at the age of 12. He was a young boy that grew up living in the woods and lived like and animal. He, like Genie, didn’t know how to speak and he acted as if he were an animal. This is a great documentary to watch because it exposes the audience to the child abuse Genie suffered and Victor and Genie’s struggle to live a normal life.

Below is a picture of Genie’s “bunny walk”

Below is a link to the first part of the documentary on youtube and this is also where the other parts can be found as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEnkY2iaKis

Oceans

The documentary Oceans is a Disney film by Arnaud Le Roch and it explores the world's many oceans and the creatures that inhabit them. This film was released to theaters on Earth Day in 2010 and is produced by Disneynature. Oceans is also narrated by Pierce Brosnan. Oceans was filmed in over 50 different locations and took four years to film. Oceans shows the way human interaction with the world's oceans can negatively affect them and the animals that live in the ocean. This is a great documentary to watch for several reasons. This film broadens the knowledge society has of the world’s oceans. Also we learn about ocean animals that are rarely talked about and rarely seen. Oceans also shows how the way humans treat our planet affects our oceans and ocean life.

Not only is Oceans educational, but it is also a truly interesting movie. The scenes are beautiful and breathtaking and it is really neat to be able to watch something that is rarely seen by human eyes. This film was done in a way that appeals to mass audiences and keeps kids entertained at the same time. There is also a variety of different environment settings. The audience gets a look at the Antarctic and also deep sea creatures. Peirce Brosnan does an excellent job of narrating this film and gives the information in a creative and understandable manner. I really recommend watching this film to not only gain more knowledge about the world's oceans, but to also have a better appreciation for our planet.

Below is the trailer for Oceans:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXLbQrK6cXw

Below are some pictures from the movie Oceans:

Westboro Bapstist Church-World’s Most Famous Calvinists

This is a documentary about the Westboro Baptist Church and the way they worship and spread the news about their faith. They are very well known for their extreme stance against homosexuality, soldiers, and America. Yes, they are against America even though they live in the country. This group is known as a hate group and they do some intense acts in order to get their point across. One of the ways they spread their word is by picketing funerals of soldiers. They are disruptive to the families that are trying to mourn and are flat out disrespectful. Westboro Baptist Church is led by Fred Phelps and a majority of its members are members are of his actual family. The church is located in Topeka, Kansas and the first service the church had was in 1955.

This documentary follows the group and one of its strongest and most devoted members, Shirley Phelps-Roper. This woman has outraged CNN anchors and Tyra Banks, just to name a couple. Shirley claims that God hates America and that Westboro Baptist Church thanks God for things like 9/11. This is a very controversial group and one that has stood out in America. This documentary is not only interesting to watch, but it also has some jaw dropping moments. This is an entertaining documentary and one that is good to watch to become educated about ludicrous groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church.

Here is a link for a video showing Shirley Phelps on CNN:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3PyoUPcobA

Here is a link for the first part of the documentary on youtube and the other parts can be found there as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmIr9P-vkSQ

This is a picture of Fred Phelps the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church:

Here are pictures of the Westboro Baptist Church protesting:

 

Sicko

This is a documentary made by Michael Moore in 2007. This film focuses on health care in America and shows the way health care is handled in other countries such as Canada and in the U.K. Moore also exposes the way health insurance companies try to deliberately find ways to cover a health issue one of their clients has. Moore also goes into the industry of pharmaceutical companies. This film shows the comparisons between the U.S. non-universal health care system that is for profit and the universal non-profit health care systems of France, Canada, U.K. and Cuba.

In this film there were many interviews with people who are uninsured and people that were insured. In most cases those people that were insured were still denied coverage. Moore went to France, Canada, Cuba, and the U.K. and gave the audience a firsthand look at what free universal health care was like. Former employees of these companies and hospitals even came forward and admitted to denying coverage for something that cost someone there life. Another former employee of an insurance company would try to find anything he could, even if it was the smallest detail, in order to prevent giving someone coverage for a medical need.

The topic for this documentary is a heavily debated one and something that causes heated arguments. Right now the U.S. is currently in the middle of the free health care debate. There are two sides to this argument and everyone has their own opinion. I recommend watching this documentary in order to become more educated about the issue of health care. Whether or not anyone has a side on this matter this is still a very interesting documentary to watch and hear the stories of the individuals presented in this film.

Below is the link for the trailer for Sicko:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BJyyyRYbSk

Man On Wire

Man On Wire is a British Documentary made in 2008. It is directed by James Marsh and it is about a man named Philippe Petit and his death defying high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York. This documentary is presented in a unique way with a heist like set up. The film also has reenactments of the preparation of the stunt and there are also present-day interviews of those that were there watching and participated in helping him. One of the things that Philippe Petit thought and said in an interview was that before he stepped on the wire he thought "Death is very close." He took the first step out and was instantly secure and then had a big smile on his face as he performed on the wire. He even went as far to lie down on the wire and he also got on one knee and saluted. In the middle of his walk Police came to arrest him. Petit spent 45 minutes on the wire and did 8 crossings. He was arrested but later released. He was also taken to a mental institution because police thought he was crazy. A doctor declared him sane and he was able to bask in the glory of his infamous stunt. This is a great documentary to watch because it is something that is rare and will never be seen again. Man On Wire also won best documentary at the 81st Academy Awards.

Below is a picture of Philippe Petit's walk between the Twin Towers.



Below is another picture of Philippe Petit getting arrested after his dangerous stunt:



Here is the link for the trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4KOfjIFgz0

This documentary was made in 2010 and directed by Madeleine Sackler. The title of this film makes it sound like it is about winning money, but it is actually about something more precious and that is education. This film follows four families living in various areas of New York. During this time the families are trying to get their kids into the Harlem Success Academy. This would get their kids out of the below standard public schools they are currently in and into a school that can benefit them. The premise of the film is to expose and research the education system and the way it works. This film also concentrates on the teachers’ union and the contest between public school and charter schools for building space. This film expresses heated debates and shows the individual struggles of families as they fight to give their kids a better education. Below is the trailer for The Lottery.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khlm4fa-_cE

I recommend watching this film for several reasons. This will educate individuals about this lottery that kids participate in as well as showing the individual struggles of families as they go through this process. Also this film will make anyone that is currently fortunate enough to have to the opportunity to be educated to appreciate their education more than they maybe already do. This film made me appreciate my education and all of the opportunities that have been presented to me. The Lottery opens our eyes to how the education system works and that it would be beneficial to all for a change. The change is coming, but there are still many children that do not have an equal opportunity that other children have.

Trouble the Water

This documentary was released in 2008 and was an Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary. This was filmed just before, during and after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2006. It stars Kimberly Rivers Roberts, an aspiring rap artist and ex-drug dealer and her husband Scott Roberts. Kimberly and Scott filmed themselves and their neighbors trying to survive the hurricane and the aftermath. They filmed while they were in their attic trying to survive the storm. They lived in the Ninth Ward, which was the area of New Orleans that was hit the hardest by the storm and the brokens levees. Kimberly and Scott continued to film the coming weeks as they struggled to find shelter and help from the government. Their struggle was like so many others in that area. Below is a picture of Kimberly and Scott outside of their home in the Ninth Ward.



There are several reasons to watch this documentary and become more educated about Hurricane Katrina and the mess that is still being cleaned up 5 years later. This film shows people how difficult of a time that was for the citizens of New Orleans and the tragedy that struck their homes. Another issue is that New Orleans continues to suffer from the devastation caused by this storm. The city still needs help, but many have forgotten about their needs. It is important that New Orleans continues to get help and by watching this documentary the audience is able to see why. Below is a link to watch the trailer for Trouble the Water and learn more about the affects Hurricane Katrina left behind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq426VjZD1E

Exit Through the Gift Shop

This is a documentary that was released in 2010 and is about street art and some of its greatest producers. This film is also nominated for an Academy Award this year. This movie was actually directed by one of the most famous street artists’ that goes by the name Banksy. Not only is he the director, but he is also a main character. Another main character in this documentary is Thierry Guetta, also known as Mister Brain Wash. Theirry is a documentary film maker, but he has never actually made a film. All he has ever done is tape people, and he is telling everyone he is making a documentary about street art. He wants more than anything to find Banksy and film him. Once he is introduced to Banksy by another street artist, he is allowed to film him. The fact that he was able to film Banksy was unprecedented because Banksy would never let anyone besides the people he works closely with know who he is in order to protect himself from the law because his street art isn’t always legal. During the film Banksy’s voice is altered and his face is blurred out. Towards the middle of the documentary Thierry starts creating street art and becomes obsessed with it. He wants to open an art show after he was inspired by the large success of Banksy’s show. At this point it seems a few other street artists are annoyed with Theirry because he is obsessed with getting attention for his artwork and not so much the artwork itself which isn’t the goal of most street artists. Theirry’s show was a huge success and he made a good chunk of money selling his paintings at the show. Banksy has created many controversial pieces of art and has also put a spin on famous art pieces, and they all make a clear statement. Here are some of his pieces:

This is a great documentary to watch and can inspire the artist in you. There are great visual pieces in this film and you get an exclusive inside look at what it is like to be a street artist.

Here is the link for the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsnX63KK2y0

The Cove

This is a documentary released in 2009 about the slaughtering of dolphins in a Quasi-National Park in Taiji, Wakayama, in Japan. Activist Ric O’Barry, who used to work on the show Flipper, has been trying to expose Taiji’s actions for years. This film states that 23,000 dolphins are killed every year due to Japan’s whaling industry. The killing of these dolphins takes place in a cove that is surrounded by high cliffs on 3 sides. Some dolphins are bought for entertainment parks for $150,000 each and whichever dolphins are not picked are slaughtered in the cove with spears. Also, dolphin meat is sold to people of Taiji and much of the meat contains extremely high levels of mercury. The meat is also a part of the school lunch program in Taiji. The Taiji government is doing all it can in order to cover up this issue, including paying other countries to back them on this issue.

O’Barry’s goal is to expose the killings and spread the word of what is happening in Taiji. He has a lot of help from others to document and gather evidence of the killings. His team camouflaged cameras in fake rocks and places them all around the cove area to collect proof. The footage they captured is quite disturbing, yet incredibly eye opening and reveals Taiji’s biggest secret. This film is intriguing the entire time it is being watched and can inspire people to do something about this issue. O’Barry’s team took major risks in all that they did to make this film and it shows how time and dedication to an issue can bring about change. Find out how to help by visiting the website: TakePart.com/TheCove

http://www.kreateam.no/myspace/dolphinslaughter_japan.jpg

The Thin Blue Line

The Thin Blue Line is a documentary made in 1988. Not only did this film win several awards, but also brought the release of an innocent man on death row. This movie is hailed as the first mystery movie to actually solve a murder.

This film is about the murder of Dallas police officer, Robert W. Wood, on November 28, 1976. Wood was pulling over a car for not having headlights on. Once Wood walked up to the car, the man driving pulled out a gun and shot Wood to death.

The only information the Dallas Police Department had was the model of the car, and they weren’t able to make an arrest. Then 16 year old David Ray Harris gave the police information. Harris told his friends he was responsible for the crime. Later Harris told police he was just bragging and that he didn’t really commit the murder.

Harris led police to the car that was driven from the scene of the crime and the revolver that he identified as the murder weapon. Harris blamed the murder on a man he spent a little time with during the evening of the murder named Randall Dale Adams who was 28.

Adam’s car ran out of gas and Harris offered to give him a lift. The two parted ways before the murder occurred. Both were questioned about that night and their timelines didn’t match up. Although there wasn’t much evidence against Adams, it was easier to convict him because he was older than Harris and could be given the death penalty for the crime. A few witnesses came forward and claimed to have seen Adams shoot the officer. Adam’s was convicted and given the death penalty.

The film’s investigation showed that five witnesses had committed perjury. Adams had his conviction overturned and the case was returned to Dallas County for a retrial. The case wasn’t prosecuted again and Adams was subsequently ordered released as a result of a habeas corpus hearing in 1989.

Adams was on Death Row before this documentary was released. If this film was never made there is a very good chance Adam’s would have died and been wrongly convicted his entire life. This documentary made a huge impact in the film world and to Randall Dale Adam's.