Do You Have a Favorite Documentary

Updated on July 18, 2011
G.H. asks from Chicago, IL
15 answers

I am not a t.v. watcher but I do like documentaries, all kinds. I loved Waiting For Superman. Any recommendations?
And I am not a Michael Moore fan, so no need to include him or anyone similar to his views, lol

ETA: We don't have cable nor netflix. I love the idea of having all kinds of access to documentaries from Netflix, so this fall we will look into getting it.

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Thanks for all the great ideas, so much diversity too, love it

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K.T.

answers from Chicago on

Born Into Brothels; Calcutta's Red Light Kids--I watched this one last year and it still stays with me. I followed up on the kids and where they are now (did a google search) and it is amazing to see where they are 6 years later.

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R.B.

answers from Chicago on

I second Boy, Interrupted. It's definitely an emotional one!

I also really want to see the one that's been getting advertised on pampers.com, I think it's called Babies, but it's about 4 different babies born into 4 different cultures and follows them for something like the first year. Sounds neat to see how we truly differ.

(and I agree about Michael Moore. His documentaries end up being political fodder rather than truly following the story wherever it may lead. A true documentarian may have an idea of the story and potential outcome, but they know they can't or shouldn't dictate or spin the story to their own ideas--it's not a documentary then! Best ones are where the director can say "I really didn't expect it to end up like that"!)

3 moms found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Boston on

i just turn on netflix and check out the documentaries.. i really like the food production ones and extreme body documentaries :)

2 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Birmingham on

Documentaries are tied for 1st for my favoritre type of movies! I also came to deplore Michael Moore doc's after I watched Bowling for Columbine. I tend to watch sad ones, so beware! Here are my top picks:

At the Deathhouse Door
Boy, Interrupted
12th and Delaware
The Farm: Angloa, U.S.A.
Section 60

Happy watching! If you watch any, let me know what you think!

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

My favorites lately have been my son's!!!

- Walking with _______ (dinosaurs, prehistoric beasts, monsters)... BBC
- The Universe ... H
- Cosmos ... Carl Saagan
- National Geographic Vesuvius... NGS

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S.H.

answers from Chicago on

King of Corn & The Business of Being Born

Like many other posters have said, Netflix is an excellent source for documentaries. If you have OnDemand, sometimes they will have a plethora on there, too.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.H.

answers from Boston on

Waste Land is amazing; surprisingly uplifting & inspirational.
Food Inc. is good, but it's terribly disturbing. I guess it depends on the kind of mood you're in...

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K.B.

answers from Dallas on

The Devil's Playground and Man On a Wire.

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

You would probably like Our America on OWN. Lisa Ling does a different documentary each week - they are in repeats now, but I really enjoyed those.

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D.V.

answers from Chicago on

There are many documentaries on Netflix. One of my favorites was one on Oragamy. ( paper folding) I believe there were several. The Libraries might have some if you don't get Netflix

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C.A.

answers from Chicago on

PAPERCLIPS!!! ....it is absolutely amazing! have kleenex ready.

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K.J.

answers from Chicago on

Pretty much anything on PBS is worth watching. I love Frontline and Wide Angle! Frontline just recently did an excellent program on the Egyptian Revolution.

I also loved Waiting for Superman and wish I could find more programs in that vein.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.S.

answers from Detroit on

Too many to count. But my favorite since the birth of my two kids is the film documentary Babies by Thomas Balmes. Both my kids love to watch that film with me.

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J.G.

answers from Rockford on

Two of my favorites are The Business of Being Born and Babies.
The Business of Being Born is a really good one about how pregnant mothers are treated and the whole process of birth.
Babies is so cute! I think the tag line is "From first breath to first step" they follow four babies, one in San Fransisco one in Japan one in Mongolia and one in Namibia. All it is is footage taken of these babies, seeing how their first year develops. So cute!

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J.W.

answers from Chicago on

Great question, can't wait to see your responses. The Stoning Of Soraya M. , very sad, makes you think. On a totally different note, Justin Bieber Never Say Never was way better than I thought it would be. Morning Light was also good. Documentry about kids sailing from CA to Hawaii, produced by Disney.

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