Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow (2006)

Featuring: Hubert Selby Jr, Henry Rollins, Darren Aronofsky, Robert Downey Jr. Directors: Michael W. Dean, Kenneth Shiffrin.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Dec. 1st. Act fast!

The purpose of every documentary is two-fold. First, a documentary is supposed to teach you about something you don't already know. Second, it is supposed to motivate you to do something about that subject. This documentary has educated me on the importance of Hubert Selby Jr. as an interesting figure in the history of American literature and it motivated me to order a copy of Last Exit to Brooklyn.

Selby had a pretty unique outlook on life, and while I haven't as of yet read his writing, he seems like the type of man I would respect. He was wild, intelligent, passionate and did things his own way. I can dig that. This isn't a documentary for everyone, but if you're a Selby fan, curious about the profession of writing, or just into people that see things differently, then this one just might be worth your time.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 12/1/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I had heard of Selby before, but I never got around to reading him. I will remedy that now.

Is it artsy? It's about a not-too-artsy guy who spent his life making art.

What stood out the most to you? What a wild man this frail old man was in his younger days.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking to be inspired to write and find your own path.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars.

I couldn't find the trailer, so here is the entire documentary:

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The Botany of Desire (2009)

Featuring: Michael Pollan. Director: Michael Schwarz.

Warning: This movie is only supposed to be available for streaming until Nov. 20th so act fast!

I really had no idea how fascinated I was by plants until I watched this documentary on the relationship between plants and humans. I actually want to start a garden now. Not that I ever would. I've always been more of a carnivore. Plants leave me alone and I leave them alone.

At least that's what I always thought. Apparently, certain plants have survived and thrived because of their dependence on humans. They focus on the apple, the tulip, marijuana and the potato in this movie and show the drastic impacts we've had on those plants and the impacts they have had on us. It all sounds really bland I know, but if you like learning about random stuff this is a very well made and interesting documentary. I enjoyed it and so will you, even if no one would ever call you Dr. Greenthumb.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 11/20/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I thought it was going to be erotic. It wasn't.

Is it artsy? No, despite how the cover looks it is not artsy. It's just about plants, straight up.

What stood out the most to you? Everything really, I never knew agriculture could be so fascinating. That and the weed pants looked really pretty, not that I do that stuff, anymore.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? A curious one, I really learned a lot.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.

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Floored (2009)

Director: James Allen Smith

Floored is the story of the traders working in Chicago's futures markets. It seemed like it would be interesting because I've always wondered how it worked on the floor as well as what all those guys with yellow jackets walking around downtown did. It also seems like it would be an industry filled with larger than life characters... and it is. Unfortunately, the characters they all seemed to be playing were larger than life scumbags.

There wasn't really a likable one in the bunch. Aside from one woman, they're all a bunch of white, male, self-entitled assholes who do nothing but complain about computers and how good the "good 'ol days" were. There is nothing wrong with this documentary per se, it's more that there is something wrong with the people this documentary is focused on. I guess to some it would be interesting enough, but listening to people who have made and lost millions of dollars doesn't really do anything for me. Especially when they didn't really add anything positive to the world in the process, they were just gamblers. If you have an interest in this sort of thing I guess it's worth checking out, but be prepared to be annoyed.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 4/8/13. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I figured there would be some pretty interesting characters in the floor trading game. Mostly they were just whiners though..

Is it artsy? No.

What stood out the most to you? Every one of them smokes cigars.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? In a mood to learn about liquidity.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 2 Stars.

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The Story of 1 (2005)

Featuring: Terry Jones.

As some of you may know, I at times find some of the most boring sounding things incredibly interesting. Take for example, Between the Folds which is a documentary about origami that I really enjoyed. Sounds exciting right? I'm sure you can imagine how excited I am for Watching Paint Dry: The Series to start streaming on Netflix. From the moment I read the description of The Story of 1, I figured I'd be in for a nice boring good time. The Story of 1 is a documentary about the history of the number 1 and features Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. Naturally I thought this show would be right up my alley.

Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy it much. It was somewhat informative, but I think they tried a little too hard to make it funny and they just missed the mark. The crappy CG didn't help either. I would have rather watched a very dry history of the number 1 that was more informative than something like this that comes off as "cutesy". It's not awful, and if you're really curious about the number 1 then by all means, check it out. If, like me, you're just looking for something boring to watch and maybe teach you a little then there is better PBS programming out there than this for you to watch.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/1/13. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I like watching things that sound boring.

Is it artsy? No.

What stood out the most to you? The weird CG 1's running around everywhere.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? In a high school class room when your teacher has a hangover and is too out of it to teach.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 2 Stars.

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Harlan County, U.S.A. (1976)

Director: Barbara Kopple.

Warning: This will stop streaming on May 26th so act fast!

Yesterday I talked about how much I enjoyed documentaries about mundane topics. This is not one of those documentaries. This is one of those documentaries that slaps you in the face and shows you how f***** up and evil people can be. Harlan County, U.S.A., is about the coal miners strike in, you guessed it, Harlan County, Kentucky.

For those of you unfamiliar with the history of the relationship between mining companies and miners in Harlan County, it's awful, bloody and downright gruesome. In the 30's guerrilla warfare actually broke out between the two factions and while things weren't quite that bad in the 70's, it still wasn't pleasant. The head of the company was actually convicted of murder for ordering the death of a union leader - and his entire family. All of this because the workers wanted to join the United Mine Workers of America so that they might get a contract that included things as luxurious as say, bathrooms and and indoor plumbing at the shacks they had to live in on company property.

These people fought and died for their right to unionize and when you look at that through the lens of our current political climate in an age where corporations are allowed to do anything they want and workers have no representation - it looks like their blood was shed in vain.

This is an important documentary for us all to think of. Just to be reminded of what the profit motive is capable of if left unchecked. Everyone should watch this to see how far we've come, and in some ways, how far we've regressed.

To add this documentary to your Netflix queue click here.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 5/26/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I've heard it's a classic documentary and I can see why.

Is it artsy? No, but it is incredibly confronting.

What stood out the most to you? The depths of depravity the mining company would sink to.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Ready to get a glimpse at the darker side of corporations.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars. 
 

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Dogtown and Z-Boys (2002)

Featuring: Sean Penn. Director: Stacey Peralta

Warning: This documentary will only be streaming until May 18th so act fast!

I never fully realized how much I like watching documentaries on topics I care absolutely nothing about until I started writing this blog. There is something about documentaries that just sucks me in and forces me to watch them. Somehow I become fascinated by topics as mundane as origami and the California bar exam so long as it is presented in a documentary format.

Dogtown and Z-Boys, for example, is a documentary about skateboarding. I've never really given two s**** about skateboarding, I never really hung around with skateboarders much and the only experience I have on a skateboard came when I was about ten years old. I saved up a bunch of sku's from Kool-Aid packets for about a year and then sent them off in exchange for a skateboard. I got on the skateboard, proceeded to fall on my ass, and never used it again. Now, despite having little interest in the sport I will sit down and watch people talk about it for an hour and a half if it's narrated by Sean Penn. All because it's a documentary and I'm compelled to watch them all.

I think it has something to do with my attraction to passionate people and the only way you'll be featured in a documentary is if you're passionate about something. The Z-Boys were definitely a passionate crew. They were basically a bunch of young punks from Venice Beach (when Venice Beach was still a s***hole) who loved surfing, but since they could only surf for a few hours a day they started skateboarding. While they didn't invent the sport, they pioneered the techniques and style we think of when we think of skateboardering today. As you can imagine they have some pretty damn good stories and some of them even became known as the best skateboarders in the world. It made for an entertaining 90 minutes.

If you're into skateboarding this is a must-see. If, like me, you enjoy watching any sort of documentary or learning about counter-culture movements you should probably consider giving this one a look too. I enjoyed myself.

To add this documentary to your Netflix queue click here.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 5/18/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I'll watch any documentary. Plus, if Sean Penn is attached it must be good.

Is it artsy? Nope, just a bunch of punk kids doing what punk kids do best.

What stood out the most to you? The stories of the various forms of mischief these kids would get into.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking to kick back and be a rebel from the comfort of your living room.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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Nature: Wolverine: Chasing the Phantom (2010)

This movie was a complete disappointment! Instead of being filled with non-stop action and cool mutant powers they just followed animals around. However, once I settled down and figured out it was a program about actual wolverines instead my favorite X-Men character I had an enjoyable enough time.

All kidding aside, this was a pretty cool little documentary about the lives of wolverines. Apparently they are rather understudied. I can't ever recall seeing them in a nature program, and I watch a lot of nature programs. They're a pretty interesting animal, if hard to track down. Plus the way they run looks really funny and that makes me smile.

If you enjoy nature programs from time to time you'll probably enjoy this one. It's also kind of funny to laugh at the researchers because they make studying the wolverine sound completely hopeless. If you feel like getting in touch with nature without leaving your couch, queue this baby up.

Click here to add this documentary to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/25/12. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I like nature, even though I never leave the city.

Is it artsy? Nope.

What stood out the most to you? Listening to people who seem to have unhealthy obsessions with wolverines.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Outdoorsy but too lazy to go outside.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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Eyes of the Mothman (2011)

Director: Matthew J. Pellowski.

From time to time it's fun to watch movies and shows about conspiracy theories, strange phenomenons, and other worldly creatures. They titillate the imagination and sometimes even make you question what is real and what isn't. It's entertaining, and at the very least you get a good laugh listening to crazy people give interviews about aliens, moth men and the like.

Eyes of the Mothman is one such documentary. It centers around the small town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia and describes a number of strange events that allegedly occurred in the town including, but not limited to: sightings of a giant mothman, UFO's, telepathy, and men in black harassing the locals. Basically, they could have based a whole season of the X-Files on the events that transpired in Point Pleasant.

If you're into the supernatural, aliens and conspiracy theories you'll probably enjoy this documentary. It wasn't the best made film in the world but the stories are interesting enough. It went on for way too long and felt disjointed, but I still watched the whole thing. Not a bad guilty pleasure flick.

To add this movie to your Netflix queue click here.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 2/15/13. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Sounded weird and quirky.

Is it artsy? Nope, but you may make tin foil hats after wearing it.

What stood out the most to you? That guy who was always looking up, even when he was looking forward. You'll know what I'm talking about if you see it.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Paranoid.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 2 Stars. 

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Herb & Dorothy (2008)

Director: Megumi Sasaki.

My great-grandma was the kind of person that never threw anything out. It got so bad that we eventually had to kidnap her and throw all of her junk out because all she had was little paths running all through her house. Herb and Dorothy Vogel remind me a lot of my great grandma. Only, they didn't collect doilies and spoons from Baskin-Robbins, they collected art. A lot of it.

Herb & Dorothy is a documentary about the Vogels. He was a postal clerk and she was a librarian. They look like they could be anyone's sweet little grandma and grandpa. Like most couples that last as long as they did, they shared a common interest that provided constant excitement: art. When they were still young they realized they weren't exactly the artist types but they loved being surrounded by beauty. They were people of modest means but that didn't stop them from collecting art. They went out and started meeting young artists in the New York area and they would buy their art while it was still cheap. Some of the artists turned out to be huge successes, others you've never heard of. They did this for decades and they were really good at it. Despite living in a small one-bedroom apartment they eventually filled it with 4,000 minimalist paintings. Their collection is valued in the millions, but they've never sold a single piece for profit.

They clearly aren't your stereotypical art collectors. They like it for the beauty, not the money. Now obviously anyone who obsessively amasses a collection of that size has a few issues, but that doesn't stop them from being the cutest little old couple I've ever seen. It's so easy to tell they still really love each other after all of those years. Everything about this documentary made me happy. I don't think I've ever said "awww" so much during a movie. If you have interest in the art world at all or just like smiling at cute little elderly couples you should really give this one a try. It's my feel-good pick of the year.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue. 

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Sounded like a cute documentary, it was.

Is it artsy? It is about a couple of art collectors but I wouldn't call it artsy.

What stood out the most to you? Five semi trucks full of art.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Happy and looking to be even happier.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars. 

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In Search of Beethoven (2009)

Director: Phil Grabsky.

Warning: This documentary will only stream until April 27th so act fast!

Ever since I saw Amadeus, the fascinating movie about the life of Mozart, I've been interested in learning more about the lives of history's great composers. I've always been intrigued by the geniuses that have changed the world. If you can't be one, at least learn to fake it. Since I'm too lazy to do any actual research on Mozart, Beethoven and the like I just scour Netflix for interesting documentaries.

Phil Grabsky is the award winning director of In Search of Mozart, according to Netflix anyway. For some reason Netflix doesn't actually carry In Search of Mozart (even on disc) even though they mention it in the description for this documentary. That annoys me, because while this may not be the most well done documentary I've ever watched, it was still great to learn about the genius of Ludwig van and I would have liked to have done the same with Mozart. Especially considering how closely the story of one impacted the other.

Mozart came first and left a big shadow, one that Beethoven strove to overcome for most of his career. He eventually did surpass Mozart (depending on your opinion) and completely revolutionized the way compositions were structured. What's really incredible is that he did most of it while being either partially or completely deaf. Talk about overcoming a disability. It also made him a very dark person. Imagine not even being able to enjoy the creations you slaved away at? That must have been torture, but he kept going, despite being suicidal. He was a fascinating guy, and while this documentary got a little bogged down at times it is a worthwhile watch just to learn more about the genius of Beethoven.

To add this documentary to your Netflix queue click here. 

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 4/27/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I like learning about geniuses.

Is it artsy? No, but it is about the life of an intense artist.

What stood out the most to you? The contemporary composers they interviewed in this documentary are pretty funny looking people.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? In the mood to hear some great music and learn about how it was created.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe (2009)

Featuring: William Kunstler. Directors: Emily Kunstler, Sarah Kunstler. 

Warning: This movie will only be available for streaming until April 27th so act fast!

We here at Netflix Stream like documentaries and we like people who stand up for what they think is right - even if no one agrees with them. William Kunstler was an example of the latter and his daughters filmed a documentary about their controversial father. William Kunstler was an activist lawyer who never shied away from tough and unpopular cases. He became the prototype ACLU type lawyer that people love to hate.

His career was remarkable. He rose to fame in the 60's after defending the Chicago Seven and seemed to be involved in every controversial case in America up until his death in the 1990's when he was the lawyer for the defendant in the original World Trade Center bombing in 1993. He also, at various points, defended the Cantonsville Nine, the Black Panther Party, the Weather Underground Organization, and was involved early on in the legal battles over segregation in the south. He was also the key negotiator during the Attica Prison riots and the Wounded Knee incident in South Dakota. He eventually even made it before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In this documentary we look at the controversial Kunstler from the perspective of his daughters. These two girls must have had a crazy childhood. Protesters regularly camped out in front of Kunstler's home (which doubled as his office) and he was under constant FBI surveillance. It gave the documentary a personal touch which made the subject seem all that much more fascinating. This was an intriguing documentary and if you have any interest at all in the radicalism of the 60's and 70's or in U.S. legal history you'll enjoy this film. Love him or hate him, it's hard to deny that William Kunstler kept the system honest and for that I admire him.

Click here to add this to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming 4/27/11. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? William Kunstler was a fascinating character.

Is it artsy? No, standard documentary format.

What stood out the most to you? Finding out exactly how many big news stories he was right in the center of.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking to learn a bit about history.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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It Might Get Loud (2008)

Featuring: Jimmy Page, The Edge, Jack White
Director: Davis Guggenheim

Warning: This documentary will only be available for streaming until April 8th so act fast!

The electric guitar is the defining instrument of the last hundred years. The lore behind, and love of the electric guitar has changed the world for the better. There isn't a person in the world that hasn't nodded their head to a song featuring it at least once. The love for the instrument has given us some incredible virtuosos that have given legendary performances.

The documentary It Might Get Loud, pays homage to the electrified ax. It gathers three guitarists, Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin, The Edge from U2, and Jack White from the White Stripes into the same room to basically talk shop. If you aren't a big music fan I can tell you right now you won't appreciate this documentary. If you are, however, you'll probably find it interesting, as I did, to listen to bona fide rock stars talk about their creative process.

The real treat was when they all started jamming though. When Jimmy Page ripped into Whole Lotta Love the look on Edge and White's face was akin to seeing a kid in a candy store. You could see the awe in their eyes from getting to play with one of their obvious heroes.

The coolness of that moment kind of illustrated what I didn't like about this documentary though. While The Edge and Jack White are good guitarists and innovative in their own right, their contributions to the history of music pale in comparison to those of Jimmy Page. Plus, even in his late 60's he's still technically proficient enough to run circles around the both of them. I like Edge and White and they were interesting enough in this documentary but I would have much rather have seen living legends like B.B. King take their place.

I get that selecting The Edge and White was a commercially smart idea for this documentary but I would have liked to have seen some guitarists that can go note for note with Page instead of a couple of admirers. My personal gripes aside, it was still great to see Page play and the other two had some interesting stories to tell as well.

To add this movie to your Netflix queue click here.

According to instantwatcher.com this movie will be streaming on Netflix until 4/6/11.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Jimmy Page is a Rock God.

Is it artsy? No, but it outlines the creative process for a few artists.

What stood out the most to you? Jimmy Page ripping into Whole Lotta Love.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Ready to hear some guitarists talk shop and jam a bit.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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The Vice Guide to Travel (2006)

Most travel shows go to places like Cancun, Paris or Rome. Some of the edgier ones like No Reservations will go to places like Beirut. The Vice Guide to Travel said nuts to all that and went to places like Chernobyl, North Korea and Liberia to make Anthony Bourdain look like a p****. This obviously isn't your mother's travel program.

To be willing to travel to such incredibly dangerous places you have to be a bit crazy. The various hosts of the different episodes are all a bit off-kilter and give you a take on travel that you don't normally get. From the guy who wanted to hunt mutant boars at the site of the Chernobyl disaster to the one who awkwardly became friends with a war criminal named General Butt Naked in Liberia, these quasi-journalists definitely walk to the beat of their own drummers.

I highly recommend this series to anyone with an interest in travel programs or documentaries. You get to see parts of the world where journalists rarely go. Seeing the weirdness of North Korea through the eyes of an American who bribed his way into the country was really a revelation. The Vice Guide to Travel shows you some of the most dangerous places in the world and living vicariously through these nut-jobs can be extremely thrilling.

Click here to add this series to your Netflix queue. 

According to instantwatcher.com this series will stream on Netflix until 12/01/11.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I enjoy some travel shows and the places this one went to really stood out.

Is it artsy? No, it's like Jackass meets serious journalism.

What stood out the most to you? The horror and surrealism you feel listening to General Butt Naked speak.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking for a glimpse at parts of the world most people would rather not see.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars. 

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This American Life: Season 1 & 2 (2007, 2008)

Featuring: Ira Glass.

If you've been following this blog for any length of time you've probably noticed that I love quirky, off the beaten path documentaries. I also really love NPR. Having a knowledge of both allows me to smugly look down upon the unenlightened masses thanks to my superior cultural understanding. Not really, but when I think of people that watch quirky documentaries and listen to NPR I imagine that's how they act so maybe I should work on fitting that stereotype.

This American Life is a Showtime series brought to you by Ira Glass, also known as "that guy from NPR" (I was going crazy for the first few episodes trying to figure out where I knew him from). If you're unfamiliar with Ira Glass, he hosts a radio show on NPR called, coincidentally enough, This American Life. He is always able to find strange, interesting and insightful stories that you wouldn't think would be interesting but end up being totally engrossing. He's essentially a young liberal's Paul Harvey.

This Showtime is series is an extension of his radio show and thanks to new technology, adds moving pictures. I have to admit that once I watched the first episode I was completely hooked and may or may not have watched both seasons in about three days. The stories range from hilarious and thought-provoking to heartbreaking and anger inducing. If you enjoy hearing random stories about random people doing interesting things I cannot recommend this series enough.

To add Season 1 to your Netflix queue click here.

To add Season 2 to your Netflix queue click here.

According to instantwatcher.com this series will be available to stream on Netflix until 7/01/11.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Shelly from Shelly Talks Too Much was twittering about how addictive it was.

Is it artsy? No, unless you think all documentaries are artsy.

What stood out the most to you? There were a lot of great moments but the old man who hangs out at his dead wife's grave was full of aww.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? In the mood to be moved to a number of different emotions.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars. 

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Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)

You absolutely have to watch this movie! Instead of going into some thoughtful paragraph about how cool street art is or how interesting of a character Banksy is, I wanted to hurry up and get your attention because this is easily the most entertaining documentary I have ever seen in my life. It's rare you come across something that is not only thought-provoking but also sends you into bursts of uncontrollable laughter. Even if you don't like art or documentaries you should still watch this because it's so f****** funny.

Now that I'm done gushing over this movie I guess I should tell you a bit of what it is about. Exit Through the Gift Shop tells the story of a number of street artists and how they got started from the lens of an aspiring documentary filmmaker. However, nothing is as it seems with this movie and the filmmaker in question is one of the most incredible characters I have ever come across in my life. There is talk that it's all just a big prank, but in the end it doesn't really even matter because the ride is entertaining and the message is poignant.

I'm uncomfortable telling you too much more because the thrill of finding out what the hell is going to happen next is just way too much fun. Maybe I will just keep on gushing because to be honest I'm ready to queue this movie up and watch it again.

Click here to add this movie to your queue. 

According to instantwatcher.com this movie will stream on Netflix until 12/14/13.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I'm an art fan and it seemed interesting.

Is it artsy? No, but it is about art and is a brilliant critique of the art world. Somehow it doesn't feel artsy though.

What stood out the most to you? The force of nature that is Mr. Brainwash.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Ready to laugh your ass off.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 5 Stars!

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The Story of India (2007)

I think India is a country that is hard for Americans to relate to. I can't imagine what living in a country with so much history would be like. It would take a life time to study the people that came through just one small town there. We're a new country, we rarely look to the past. Even when we do try to look back it's only for 250 years. People have been in India for 3000 years.

I've always been rather curious about India but I've never really gotten more than a cursory knowledge of it's history. I'm really glad I watched this 6-part documentary on Indian history because it really gives you a nice overview and a starting point. There is just so much bursting from the seams of Indian history that I don't envy the editors who had to choose what to cover and what to leave out. It couldn't have been an easy task.

I'm a fan of history. Back before Pawn Stars, and all these new reality shows on The History Channel, I used to watch it all the time. This documentary really reminded me of the early programming they had that I could watch all day. If you like historical documentaries, you should give this one a look and learn a bit about one of the world's great civilizations.

Click here to add this program to your Netflix queue. 

Streaming until 1/15/2012

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I love watching history shows and I'm also curious about India.

Is it artsy? Nope.

Best thing about the movie? Getting an understanding for the depth of Indian culture.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Ready to learn.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 4 Stars.

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Examined Life (2008)

I enjoy philosophy. Debating different ideas is just one of those things that gets me excited and snaps me out of the doldrums of daily life. When I saw a documentary that included a play on words of Socrates'  famous quote "The unexamined life is not worth living." my curiosity was definitely piqued.

Unfortunately, I ended up a bit disappointed. The film gives a number of contemporary philosophers ten minutes each to share the ideas with the camera. While this is an interesting idea to get a sample of contemporary philosophy if you've ever talked to a philosopher you'll know that they can go on for hours about a single topic. There were some interesting ideas discussed in this movie but as soon as I started thinking about them it was time to hear from another philosopher talk about a completely different subject. I would have much rather listened to two philosophers for 45 minutes than the bite sized bits I got here.

I can't really recommend this documentary to anyone. If you're interested in philosophy, chances are you've already heard a lot of these ideas. If you're new to philosophy, everything is too out of context to get a good grasp on what philosophy is. While I encourage the discussion of philosophy I think this is probably the wrong format to do so with.

Click here to add this movie to your Netflix queue.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I enjoy philosophy.

Is it artsy? It's intellectual.

Best thing about the movie? Peter Singer gave a very interesting talk, I think he was the second or third speaker, it's worth just checking that part out.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? In desperate need for a philosophical fix.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 2 Stars.

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Wild China (2008)

I love watching nature/wildlife shows and I have to start this review by saying that the BBC's Wild China might just be the best one I've ever seen. A big problem with nature shows today is that we've seen most of it before. I was blown away by The Blue Planet and Planet Earth but by the time Life got to the discovery channel I felt like I'd been there and done that. Wild China is fascinating because until recently China has been a very closed society that wouldn't dream of allowing a film crew in. Now that China has loosened up a bit we're able to see things that were rarely seen before in this type of program and the results are spectacular.

Another thing that separates Wild China from the rest of the pack is that it focuses not just on the wildlife but the interplay between man and nature that has been going on in China for over a millennium. The documentary spent nearly as much time focusing on the ancient ways of the Chinese people as it did the animals. It gave the documentary a very complete feeling and I feel like I learned quite a bit about China, not just about it's animals.

Sadly, this documentary could not have been more timely. As China's march towards modernity carries on it's natural beauty faces great peril. Hopefully China will recognize the wonderful natural assets it has and adjust it's path accordingly.

If you have any interest in nature shows or just like seeing beautiful vistas I cannot recommend Wild China enough. If that isn't enough to get you to add it to your queue I'll tell you that one of the episodes in this stunning documentary shows a baby panda drinking from a bottle. Awwwww.

Click here to add this show to your Netflix queue.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I love nature shows and I've always been curious about China.

Is it artsy? No, but some of the views could be considered works of art.

Best thing about the movie? The fishing birds.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Ready to be blown away by the majesty of the Chinese wilderness.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 5 Stars! 

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Walt & El Grupo (2008)

Now that Disney is this giant corporation I don't really think of them as having been founded by one guy with a vision. I also never really thought that there was a strong possibility that Walt Disney's brainchild might never have made it. In 1941 the Disney corporation was falling on hard times and the U.S. Government approached Walt about taking a goodwill trip to South America to curb the growing Nazi influence on the continent and in exchange the government would guarantee Disney's next three films. Yes, ladies and gentleman, the Disney corporation received a bail-out.

This documentary tells the story of that southern excursion and how it affected Walt and his staff creatively and from a personal perspective. It was interesting to watch and see the kind of person Walt Disney was and get some insight into how the company evolved. It does however get a little slow at points but I thought there was enough interesting content to keep me watching. If you're curious about the history of the Disney corporation, or just like learning about the past, you'll probably enjoy this documentary.

Click here to add this movie to your queue.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? Walt Disney is a rather fascinating character and I wanted to learn more.

Is it artsy? No, just an informative look at a very specific point of Disney's history.

Best thing about the movie? Hearing Walt talk about his thoughts on the creative process and business.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Looking for some informative programming.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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Inferno: The Making of The Expendables (2010)

I don't generally like watching "the making of" type of movies but I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this one. If you haven't heard of it before The Expendables is a throwback to the old school action movies of the 80's and early 90's directed by Sylvester Stallone and stars pretty much every action star in the history of the universe. It's a lot of fun and I suggest you check it out. Make sure you watch it before you check out this documentary because it shows damn near every major scene from the movie being filmed.

Since 80's style action movies are one of my many guilty pleasures I've liked Stallone movies for a while and have been happy about about his recent career resurgence with The Expendables and the latest Rambo movie (sorry Rocky Balboa, wasn't digging you). That being said, my opinion of him as a person was pretty much that he was a roided out guy who blew shit up in movies. After watching Inferno, I have to admit I have a whole new respect for him as a person and as an artist.

Artist. Yea, I said it. I was blown away with his passion for creating this movie. He literally put his blood, sweat and tears into this film. It seems like every ten minutes this guy was heading back to the ER. Over the course of the filming he suffered a spinal injury, and tendons separated from the bone on two different occasions in his shoulder and leg. One of the risks of continuing filming was paralysis. Not only did this tough S.O.B. continue getting beat up in action scenes but he directed and pretty much wrote the movie on the fly.  If that isn't the passion of an artist I don't know what is. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who is interested in the film making process, because although he kept it simple, his improvisational style led to a movie that a lot of people enjoyed.

Click here to watch this movie.

Stops streaming on Netflix 2/1/11.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I saw on some random website that this was interesting.

Is it artsy? No, but I have a new admiration for Stallone as a filmmaker and artist.

Best thing about the movie? The repeated visits to ER.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? A little insight into the movie making process.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars.

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