Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 6th, 2003
The topic for this documentary are the Shakers, more properly the “United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing.” The Shakers weren’t around that long: they were celibate, which meant no offspring. However, as the film explores, that didn’t stop them from having a profound impact on American life (they were, for instance, feminist and anti-slavery well ahead of the game).
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on June 6th, 2003
A history and a meditation on the American Congress, both at the institutional and at the architectural level -- there are many beautiful shots of the Capitol, and the building becomes as much a character as any of the politicians who strode the stage within its walls. A fascinating documentary, enlivened not only with Burns’ usual fine use of period paintings and photographs,but also with film clips from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and Advise and Consent.
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 24th, 2003
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on April 21st, 2003
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on March 8th, 2003
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on January 5th, 2003
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 12th, 2002
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Posted in: Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 9th, 2002
What Killed the Mega-Beasts?
Wow! This Discovery Channel documentary uses high-end (not quite Monsters Inc., but getting close…) animation to bring to life the out-sized creatures that populated the world between two- and fifty-thousand years ago. Live action and animation are blended smoothly to create truly excellent scenes of monster-sized beavers, and of Native American mammoth hunts – truly a spectacle to be seen and very well executed. These animated sequences are seamlessly blended with the Disc...very Channel’s usual high-quality documentary fare: well-spoken and respected scientists from a variety of fields clearly elucidate both the nature of the mega-beasts and their demise.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by David Annandale on July 24th, 2002
Synopsis
"Diamond Joe" Esposito recalls Elvis Presley's career, from when Esposito first became aware of him, to their shared military service, to the moment he became part of Presley's entourage. The memories go all the way to Presley's death and beyond. The disc's intro is irritatingly self-promotional, and the reverential tone of the piece smacks of an Entertainment Tonight segment stretched to 130 minutes.
Posted in: Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on July 6th, 2002
Film
Walking With Dinosaurs plays out like a National Geographic special, tracking dinosaurs and their kin in the field. Wonderful CGI recreations of some of the more obscure beasts set this special apart from all other dinodocumentaries.
