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Documentary

The World at War (Blu-ray)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 18th, 2010

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They’ve been called The Greatest Generation, and who are we to argue the point? Sitting here writing reviews from my comfortable seat in a state-of-the-art home theater, I’m in no position to lay claim to the title. They fought in the bloodiest conflict in modern human history. Over 20 million were killed. That’s a staggering number. If you’re like me, it’s not even real. I can honestly say that those facts have never really reached home as much as they did while watching this footage.
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Car Bomb

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 18th, 2010

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“My name is Bob Baer. I used to be a CIA agent stationed in Lebanon during the Civil War. It was chaos. Bu, the real threat was always the car bomb.”

For most of us who are old enough to remember the 1980’s, there are a few moments and events that likely still stick in your mind. Lebanon was the scene for two of the biggest events of that era. Both involved car bombs that shook the world. A marine barracks was bombed on October 23rd, 1983, killing 241 American servicemen. Before that, on April 18th of that same year, another truck bomb destroyed the American Embassy in Lebanon
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I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale

Posted in No Huddle by Gino Sassani on November 18th, 2010

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Mention the name John Cazale and most people will shake their heads and answer, “Who?” But mention Fredo from The Godfather and recognition is sudden and complete. Bring up Sal from Dog Day Afternoon and you’re liable to get an “I remember that guy” response. He was known by Stan in both The Conversation and The Deer Hunter. Meryl Streep was impressed enough with him to get involved with the unknown actor. She lived with him up until the day he died.
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Gangland: Complete Season 6 (Blu-ray)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 15th, 2010

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“They rob, kill, and terrorize, and they’ve left their mark on our nation’s history.”

It’s hard for me to believe that Gangland has been on History for six years now and I’ve only recently heard about it. Certainly, there are a ton of shows on every year, what with so many new networks trying to come up with original material. History has found a way to consistently bring out relatively solid programming without having to spend a lot of cash on the production budget. Everybody wants their 15 minutes,
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Dog the Bounty Hunter: Wild Ride Megaset

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 4th, 2010

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In 2004 DOG the Bounty Hunter first took to the airwaves. On the surface it looked like yet another one of those reality cop shows where camera guys followed the men in blue as they took down the bad guys. Dog wasn’t a cop; in fact he’d spent a part of his life on the other side of the law. Still, he was decked out in a Kevlar vest with a badge hanging from a chain around his neck. The cameras followed him around as he kicked in doors and stalked his criminal prey. But this isn’t really quite your typical reality cop show.
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Earth & Space (Blu-ray)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 2nd, 2010

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This impressive A&E Blu-ray release combines two of the network’s better series into one high-definition release. You get the 13-episode first season of How The Earth Was Made and the first season of Universe. Together the episodes explore the most inner depths of planet Earth and the farthest reaches of our own Solar System. It’s all in high- definition Blu-ray. It will make a rather nice gift this holiday season. Here’s what you get:
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World War II 360 (Blu-ray)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 2nd, 2010

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Both Battle 360 and Patton 360 have provided viewers with one of the more interesting looks at two of the most impressive records in World War II. In the Pacific it was the crew of the aircraft carrier Enterprise. In Europe it was the iconic leader, General George S. Patton and his troops. Together they have amassed the most impressive wartime records in American history. World War II was a defining moment for the United States, establishing this nation as a super power with influence on world affairs unequaled. The results might have been dramatically different if not for these two fighting forces. Now A&E has collected them both in one high-definition Blu-ray collection.
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How the Earth Was Made (Blu-ray)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on November 1st, 2010

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“Earth: a unique planet. Restless and dynamic. Continents shift and clash. Volcanoes erupt. Glaciers grow and recede. Titanic forces that are constantly at work, leaving a trail of geological mysteries behind.”

I saw a bumper sticker recently that read; “Geologists dig classic rock”. I should have taken it as an omen that I would be spending some quality time with a few geologists over these last couple of weeks. It started with the excellent BBC mini-series
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Rush: 2112 and Moving Pictures

Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 31st, 2010

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Classic Albums is a television series that airs on VH1. Each episode is basically a short documentary chronicling the genesis and creation of a, you guessed it, classic album. These stories are told through archival footage, video clips, and interviews with the band members, production people, along with fans and notables in the industry. This episode highlights two seminal albums by Canadian prog-rock legends Rush: 2112 and Moving Pictures.
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Disneynature: Crimson Wing – The Mystery of the Flamingo (Blu-ray)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 26th, 2010

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“The flamingo is said to be the inspiration for the crimson-winged Phoenix, the ancient symbol of transformation and rebirth. At the end of its life, the Phoenix is consumed by fire. It is then reborn from the ashes.”

In one of the more specific full-length documentary features that I’ve seen in a long time comes Disney Nature’s The Crimson Wing. Here the focus is on one species of bird.
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Disneynature: Oceans (Blu-ray)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 26th, 2010

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“A boy comes running up, and he asks: ‘what exactly is the ocean?’ ‘What is the sea?’ You could hit him with a lot of statistics and Latin names. But the answer isn’t something you’ll find in a book. To really know what the ocean is, you have to see it for yourself. You have to hear it. And taste it. You have to feel its power. To really know the ocean, you have to live it.”

And live it you will with Disney Nature’s latest entry into their award-winning series of natural documentaries. Walt Disney Studios is no stranger to the world of nature.
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Empires Dvd Megaset

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 26th, 2010

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A&E and History have combined for some of the best educational as well as entertaining programs over the years. Many of those shows have taken close looks at the various civilizations and empires throughout world history. Most of these shows take a look at these civilizations from the inside outward. We’re not talking the litany of facts and accomplishments that we’ve seen on hundreds of documentaries as well as our old high school textbooks. These programs look at the day-to-day life of these cultures and peoples. The accomplishments here are the ones that affected everyday life within these empires.
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Patton 360: The Complete Season 1 (Blu-ray)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on October 4th, 2010

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“General George S. Patton. His bold attacks are legendary. See the war the way he saw it and ride along with his hard-fighting troops as they battle their way through World War II. On this 360-degree battlefield, Patton’s enemies could be anywhere and everywhere. There’s nowhere to run, when the war is all around you.”

Patton 360 does for the European theatre of World War II what Battle 360 did for the fight in the Pacific. Just as in that earlier program, we are brought into somewhat intimate contact with one of the most prolific and successful fighting corps in that part of the war.
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Nostradamus 2012 (Blu-ray)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 30th, 2010

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“For centuries the prophecies of Nostradamus have been part of the historic record. While highly speculative and controversial, their author’s legacy endures.”

Since before I can remember there have been folks warning us that the end is near. Dates of concern have come and gone in the decades of my own life. I remember a planetary alignment in the 1980’s that was supposed to end it all. Of course, all of us remember the huge circus that surrounded the dawning of the current millennium.
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Battle 360: Complete Series (Blu-ray)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 27th, 2010

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“USS Enterprise, aka The Big E, a fighting city of steel. She is the most revered and decorated ship of World War II. On this 360-degree battlefield, where threats loom on the seas, in the skies, and in the ocean depths, The Enterprise’s enemies could be anywhere. Now follow this sea-bound band of brothers through four years of hell. From Pearl Harbor to the doorstep of Japan, there’s nowhere to run, when the war is all around you.”

These are the voyages of the aircraft carrier, Enterprise. Her four-year mission: to explore strange new seas, seek out and destroy the enemy, to boldly go where no carrier has ever gone before.
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America: The Story of Us (Blu-ray)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on September 21st, 2010

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“We are pioneers and trailblazers. We fight for freedom. We transform our dreams into the truth. Our struggles will become a nation.”

I was really looking forward to this release. From the moment I was made aware that it was going to be arriving here for review, I made a mental note to put it at the top of my viewing list. Fact is, I’m a history junkie, particularly American history. I taught the subject in AP and honors classes along with American Government and Law for over seven years. The History Channel is also one of my favorite places on the dial.
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The Lottery (2010)

Posted in Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on September 20th, 2010

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This documentary follows four different families as they await the date for a charter school lottery in Harlem. As the date approaches, we bear witness to the heated debates that go on between those that wish to implement more charter schools (a charter school being one similar to public schools but relies on stringent academic results and standards from its students and operates as an autonomous public school) into a “project” area, and members of the community who believe that their children would be excluded and object to the idea of closing public schools who have failed to produce positive results.
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Jimi Hendrix The Guitar Hero

Posted in Disc Reviews by William O'Donnell on September 18th, 2010

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This documentary is a mainly a sea of praise for the late guitar legend, as it promises to not focus on “drudging up scandal and outworn hypothesis about his lifestyle and ultimate death.” historical footage tells the biographical portions while high-profile interviws with the likes of Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead), Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones), Stephen Stills (Crosby, Stills & Nash) and moany more, plus narration by super-fan Slash (Guns N Roses).
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Pawn Stars: Season Two

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 24th, 2010

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“I’m Rick Harrison, and this is my pawn shop. I work here with my old man and my son, Big Hoss. Everything in here has a story … and a price. One thing I’ve learned after 21 years? You never know what is going to come through that door.”

Remember that PBS show where some old-stuff expert would come to your town and sift through a lot of junk that folks found in their basements or attics? Remember that he would give you a story about the items these people brought in? The idea was that once in a while someone discovered valuable treasure in those dusty rooms. Remember that show? This isn’t that show.
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The Universe: Our Solar System (Blu-ray)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 23rd, 2010

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“In the beginning there was darkness. And then bang, giving birth to an endless expanding existence of time, space, and matter. Now, see further than we’ve ever imagined. Beyond the limits of our existence. In a place we call The Universe.”

Up until now these History releases have been season sets of the documentary series. This release is the first which appears to be a planned series of specific subject titles. It does create a bit of confusion when you see a series called The Universe and all of the episodes on the set deal with our own back yard
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Gangland: Complete Season 5

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 23rd, 2010

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“They rob, kill, and terrorize, and they’ve left their mark on our nation’s history.”

It’s hard for me to believe that Gangland has been on History for five years now and I’ve only recently heard about it. Certainly, there are a ton of shows on every year, what with so many new networks trying to come up with original material. History has found a way to consistently bring out relatively solid programming without having to spend a lot of cash on the production budget. Everybody wants their 15 minutes, and it’s exactly shows like Gangland that manage to take full advantage of that fact.
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The Thorn in the Heart

Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on August 23rd, 2010

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Michel Gondry is a director whose work has been characterized by its originality and personal vision. The likes of Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep have marked him as a filmmaker with a distinct vision. Here he makes what must be his most personal film yet, as it is a documentary about his family. More precisely, it is about his aunt Suzette, a strong-willed, redoubtable matriarch who worked as a schoolteacher in some of the most remote regions of France. Gondry and crew follow Suzette as she revisits her former schools, working her way through the decades and chronicling her life, that of her family, and, along the way, that of France.
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Secrets of Great Barrier Reef

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 19th, 2010

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There have been a ton of specials to come out over the last few years dealing with some of the planet’s extraordinary places and life. From The BBC to National Geographic, these specials have populated the science networks, and have even begun to shine in beautiful high definition. In just this last year I feel like I have been transported to some of the most spectacular sites on Earth and witnessed many of the most extraordinary creatures that inhabit this planet. Few of these places compare to the Great Barrier Reef that lies off the coast of Australia.
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Graphic Sexual Horror (Special Edition)

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 11th, 2010

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“This documentary is about a website that engaged in the commercialization of bondage and sado-masochistic imagery and performances. It in no way represents bondage and sado-masochism as practiced by many adults in their private lives.”

In recent years the horror film industry has created the term torture porn. When you hear the term, it usually applies to that sub-genre of film where there are intense depictions of torture, mutilation, and most often death. Eli Roth’s Hostel films are likely the most cited examples,
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NOVA: Mt St. Helens: Back from the Dead

Posted in Disc Reviews by Gino Sassani on August 3rd, 2010

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NOVA is one of the longest-running series of documentaries in television history. It has been a mainstay on public television since 1974 when the first episode took us behind the scenes of the filming of a nature biography. Since then the series has explored everything from space to mathematics. Episodes have focused on people, places, and things. Classroom curricula have been built around the series. In case you’re keeping track, that’s 37 years that the show has been on television.
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