Documentaries & Biographies > 20 GBP to 30 GBP Documentaries & Biographies

Superb documentary that has never been rivalled

Advantages: Fantastic pooling of archive footage, interviews with eyewitnesses and no sensationalism
Disadvantages: Occasionally, Laurence Olivier's excellent commentary can be a little hard to hear

The World at War was first broadcast in 1973 and ever since then has stood as the benchmark for Second World War documentaries. Composed of archive footage (mostly black and white) and interviews with some of the eyewitnesses from both sides of the conflict, it avoids the annoying modern trend in documentaries of repetition and pointless and/or endless reconstructions that cannot capture meaning or emotion. It will never be bettered in the sense ...
...It is also narrated by the excellent Oscar-winning Laurence Olivier, whose sparse narration has just the right level of sombre gravitas to provide a fitting frame for the events the documentary relates. It's a very thorough, comprehensive series. There are twenty-six original episodes and this box set also includes eight special presentations and a three hour 30th Anniversary disc with includes previously unseen interviews and retrospective interviews ...

Robs86 13.06.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The World At War (Box Set) (DVD)

Planet Earth Blu-Ray - a Mind Blowing Nature Series

Advantages: unbelievable visuals, stunning high definition, best wildlife series by far
Disadvantages: only one - last disc isn't HD

Excellent value for money now you can pick this up for less than £25, I got mine from Play.com but you can find it on most online shops now, Amazon, eBay, etc. Stunning visuals and filmography coupled with David Attenborough's classic and informative narration, all add up to this unbelievably well made and engaging series, possibly the greatest wildlife/nature series ever made. Make sure you have a HDTV to watch this on for the best experience, as ...
...Unfortunately, disc 5 is only a standard definition DVD, which is the only thing stopping this fantastic series getting 5 stars from me. However, don't let this put you off, as disc 5 is only the making of, and similar featurettes, meaning all nature footage is in HD on Blu Ray disc. As a side note, you will obviously need a Blu Ray player (PS3 or standalone) to watch this, whereas an HDTV is not required, though strongly recommended to get the most ...

mrt01983 24.09.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Planet Earth (Blu-Ray)

In Sickness and in Health

Advantages: Interesting and entertaining, Great interview with Tony Benn
Disadvantages: Some subjects are arguably exploited, Does not consider disadvantages of socialised healthcare

"Sicko" (2007) - FILM ONLY REVIEW Writer: Michael Moore Director: Michael Moore Running Time: 123 minutes Certificate: 12A (UK) / PG (Ireland) / PG13 (USA) It has become something of a cliché to describe Michael Moore as a controversial, polarising character. To some, he is the White Knight of the left whose regular-guy approach to discussing uncomfortable subjects should be applauded, while to others he is a man who has exploited vulnerable interview ...
...picture he wants to make his attention-grabbing documentaries a success. An entire industry has grown up attempting to discredit Moore's work and has given his reputation something of a battering over recent years, but while some of the criticism he has received has I think been justified, this has not prevented him producing his highly entertaining 2007 documentary "Sicko" about the American medical industry. In many ways, this has proved to be ...

Collingwood21 13.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Sicko (DVD)

He Was Never Any Good At Hide & Seek

Advantages: sensitive adaptation of the biography of the same name, good acting and character portrayal
Disadvantages: a bit soppy at time, events not in order in which they happen in the book

[Film Only Review] A few weeks ago I wrote about the amazing biography by Brad Cohen, how he overcame the stigma of Tourette syndrome* (TS from herein) and became a teacher and motivational speaker. Today I want to talk about the movie that actually first introduced me to Brad Cohen, who is not just a character in a movie but a real person. Brad Cohen developed TS in early childhood and was stigmatised by most of his peers, as well as some family, ...
...fulfil his ultimate dream, to become a teacher, the teacher he never had when he was at school. *Tourette syndrome (also called Tourette's syndrome, Tourette's disorder, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, GTS or, more commonly, simply Tourette's or TS) is an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by the presence of multiple physical (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic; these tics characteristically ...

Tempus_Fugit 03.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Front of the Class (DVD)

A film of EPIC Proportions

Advantages: A great experiment, interesting
Disadvantages: A bit sick in places

A film of EPIC proportions. Before I start this review I must just firstly say that I like McDonalds, I would probably go so far as to say that I love McDonalds. Sometimes a Big Mac, fries and an diet coke is all that will hit the spot, but only once in a while and certainly not every day, not even every month but unfortunately some people do not seem to understand this and treat McDonald's like their everyday menu. This creates a country full of ...
...sue McDonalds for making them eat burgers everyday and then wonder why they are fat. Why is America so fat? This is the question that Morgan Spurlock sets out to answer in his documentary Supersize me. If you ever want to eat at McDonalds again I would recommend approaching this film with caution as there are some parts that will turn your stomach but saying that I have watched it a few times and yes, do still like the golden arches thankgoodness! ...

Spottydog11 02.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Super Size Me (DVD)