Documentary: 40

The movie Under the Sea 3D (2009) presents a captivating journey through one of the most mysterious parts of our planet. Utilizing impressive IMAX technology, this film magnificently displays the wonders of the sea and its captivating inhabitants. With narration by Jim Carrey, viewers are taken on a visually stunning adventure that also aims to shed light on the impact of climate change and emphasize the significance of preserving our oceans for future generations. The film primarily focuses on Australia and features an array of intriguing marine life such as fish, crustaceans, squids, seals, and vibrant coral formations. Overall, Under the Sea offers an essential, ...

Abel Ferrara’s Chelsea on the Rocks (2008) is a documentary that showcases the iconic Hotel Chelsea. Through interviews with current and former residents, as well as reenacted scenes of notable moments, the film honors the unique individuals and their artistic contributions to New York’s legendary Chelsea Hotel. Despite its roots as an impenetrable haven for writers, artists, musicians and nonconformists, this storied residence has now been transformed into a boutique hotel by a management company that fails to recognize its rich history.

Shine a Light (2008), directed by Martin Scorsese, captures the Rolling Stones’ Beacon Theatre performances in 2006 during their A Bigger Bang Tour. Filmed on October 29 and November 1 of that year, the footage used for the film is solely from the second show. The music was recorded, mixed, and co-produced by Bob Clearmountain with David Hewitt operating the audio recording on the Silver Truck. Preceding the concert clips is a brief semi-fictionalized intro depicting the preparations for the shows, along with historical news clips and archival interviews featuring band members. These special shows were ...

The War (2007), a seven-part American television documentary miniseries, offers a unique perspective on World War II through the lens of the United States. Directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, written by Geoffrey Ward, and narrated primarily by Keith David, the program debuted on September 23, 2007. The Palace Theater in Luverne, Minnesota, one of the towns featured in the series, hosted its world premiere. Generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities ...

Deep Sea 3D (2006), a visually stunning IMAX documentary, dives into the world of sea creatures. Directed by renowned filmmaker Howard Hall, known for his captivating underwater films like Into the Deep and Island of the Sharks. The mesmerizing narration is provided by acclaimed actors Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, accompanied by an enchanting score from composer Danny Elfman. Spanning 40 minutes in length, this captivating film offers a glimpse into the fascinating lives of ...

The popular survival television series, Man vs. Wild (2006–2020), goes by many names, including Born Survivor: Bear Grylls, Ultimate Survival, and Survival Game. In the United Kingdom, it is often referred to simply as Bear Grylls. Originally shown on Channel 4 in the UK, the later seasons were broadcast on Discovery Channel UK. Produced by Diverse Bristol, the show premiered on November 10, 2006, following a pilot episode titled The Rockies which aired on March 10, 2006. In addition, Grylls mentioned being approached about directing a Man vs. Wild urban disaster 3D ...

As the title suggests, Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (2005) is a captivating IMAX 3D documentary film that follows the monumental journey of twelve Apollo astronauts as they become the first humans to set foot on the moon. This project features talented filmmaker Mark Cowen at the helm, with assistance from co-writer and producer Tom Hanks. Through stunning visuals and quotes directly from those who experienced it, this film aims to transport viewers to the lunar surface and provide a romantic and inspiring glimpse into the astronauts’ awe-inspiring expedition.

The American documentary film, Aliens of the Deep (2005), was co-directed by James Cameron and Steven Quale in the immersive IMAX 3D format. Cameron embarks on a journey aboard the Russian research vessel Akademik Mstislav Keldysh, alongside NASA scientists and American marine biologists. Together, they explore ten hydrothermal vents in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, each with its own distinct ecosystem. These vents are home to a variety of unique organisms, including giant tube worms, blind white crabs, and shrimp that have adapted to ‘see’ heated ...

No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005) is a documentary by Martin Scorsese that follows the life of iconic musician Bob Dylan and his significant influence on American popular music and culture in the 20th century. The film specifically delves into the years between Dylan’s arrival in New York in January 1961 and his temporary withdrawal from touring after a motorcycle accident in July 1966. During this time, Dylan experienced a meteoric rise as a folk singer and songwriter, sparking a transformative movement in both cultural and musical realms, ultimately leading to debate over his transition to rock music.

The American documentary film, Ghosts of the Abyss (2003), was produced by Walden Media and directed by James Cameron, known for his 1997 film Titanic. In August and September of 2001, Cameron and a team of scientists embarked on an expedition to the RMS Titanic wreckage, utilizing Russian deep-submersibles to capture unprecedented images. The documentary showcases the use of two purpose-built remotely operated vehicles to provide a unique perspective of the shipwreck, and incorporates CGI technology to recreate the original appearance of the Titanic. Narrated by ...

The Blues (2003), a documentary series created by Martin Scorsese, delves into the rich history of blues music. Each of the seven episodes is directed by a different filmmaker, exploring various stages in the evolution of the genre. Originally broadcast on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) in the United States, this project resonates deeply with all involved – including Wim Wenders, Richard Pierce, Charles Barnett, Mike ...

The documentary, Expedition: Bismarck (2002), was created for the Discovery Channel by Andrew Wight and James Cameron, with direction from James Cameron and Gary Johnstone. Narrated by Lance Henriksen, it details an underwater expedition to the German Battleship Bismarck. Using digital reconstruction techniques, the film delves into the events leading up to the ship’s sinking in World War II. Additionally, it received an ...

The Source (1999), a documentary directed by Chuck Workman, follows the lives of influential Beat writers, from their first meeting at Columbia University in 1944 to their deaths. Through dramatic interpretations by three actors, the film delves into their friendships, rise to prominence in American culture, travels, frequent parodies, and eventual passings of Kerouac and Ginsberg. Their movement intersected with bebop music, John Cage’s compositions, abstract expressionism art, and experimental theater. In recent interviews with figures such as Jerry Garcia and Tom Hayden, the likes of Ginsberg, Burroughs, Kesey ...

My Voyage to Italy (1999), a personal documentary directed by the renowned Italian-American filmmaker Martin Scorsese, presents a powerful message. After being influenced by these films himself, Scorsese wishes for others to experience them as well. The documentary features Scorsese’s own family, who reside on Elizabeth Street in New York and share three generations of Italian heritage with roots in Sicily. They have been avid viewers of both TV and theatrical releases of Italian movies since 1949. Through his narration, Scorsese ...

From the Earth to the Moon (1998) is a docudrama series, co-produced by Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Tom Hanks and Michael Bostick in 1998 for HBO. It depicts the Apollo program during the 1960s and early 1970s and is based on Andrew Chaikin’s book A Man on the Moon. The special effects are under visual director Ernest D. Farino and are known for their accuracy. The ...

Forgotten Silver (1995) is a New Zealand mockumentary film that follows the supposed story of pioneering filmmaker, Colin McKenzie. Written and directed by Peter Jackson and Costa Botes, both also make appearances as the filmmakers within the film. According to presenter Peter Jackson, he stumbled upon McKenzie’s lost films in an old shed and claims him as the father of modern cinema. In this ‘discovered’ footage, McKenzie is credited with accidentally inventing the tracking shot, unknowingly creating the ...

In A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995), a British documentary of 225 minutes in length, Scorsese examines his top picks among American films. They are categorized by four types of directors: storytellers, illusionists like D.W. Griffith and F.W. Murnau who revolutionized the use of editing for sound and color, smugglers such as Douglas Sirk, Samuel Fuller, and Vincente Minnelli who subtly wove controversial messages into their works, and iconoclasts like Charles Chaplin, Erich von Stroheim, Orson Welles, Elia Kazan, Nicholas Ray, Stanley Kubrick, Arthur Penn and Sam Peckinpah who ...

Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1987) is an American experimental short biographical film that chronicles the last 17 years of singer Karen Carpenter’s life. It follows her journey from her ‘discovery’ in 1966, through her meteoric rise to fame, and ultimately to her tragic death due to anorexia. The story begins on February 4, 1983 in Karen’s childhood home in Downey, California where her mother, Agnes Carpenter, finds her body in a closet. Through flashbacks, we see key moments in Karen’s life such as signing with A&M records, experiencing success and then decline with her brother Richard as part of the duo The Carpenters, ...

The concert known as The Last Waltz (1978) took place on November 25, 1976 at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. In addition to a title card declaring ‘This film should be played loud!’, the event was captured on film and delved into The Band’s influences and career. The group consisted of Rick Danko on bass, violin, and vocals, Levon Helm on drums, mandolin, and vocals, Garth Hudson on keyboards, saxophone and accordion, songwriter Richard Manuel on keyboards, drums, percussion and vocals, and guitarist-songwriter Robbie Robertson providing vocals. During the concert, Dylan joined the band onstage while various other artists also made appearances ...

The Norwegian documentary Kon-Tiki (1950) follows the journey of Thor Heyerdahl and his team of Scandinavian scientists as they embark on a 101-day expedition from South America to the Polynesian Islands. Their mission was to support Heyerdahl’s belief that the islands were populated from the east (Peru) rather than the west (Asia), which had been commonly accepted for centuries. To prepare for their voyage, Heyerdahl studied Pacific winds and tides and replicated conditions similar to those encountered by Peruvian travelers. They named their wooden raft ‘Kon-Tiki’ and set sail for their destination. ...