The Cove on DVD

The Cove: An absolute must see documentary concerning the slaughter of dolphins in Taiji, Japan. The "dolphin entertainment business" such as SeaWorld is a billion dollar industry. It all starts with trainers from all over the world going to Taiji to select a dolphin to put into captivity. This is sad enough, but it is what happens to the dolphins that are not selected that is utterly shocking. It is proven that dolphin meat has extremely high levels of mercury and should not be eaten....but that does not stop Japan from serving it in schools. The movie covers these topics and uncovers so much more. "Uncover" being the key word as the documentary turns into a bit of Ocean's 11 as the filmmakers go on missions of espionage to get the footage they need. This is a rare case where a movie is as informative as it is entertaining!!

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Tyson DVD Review

Tyson: 007 373 5963...This string of ten numbers has a special significance to anyone who grew up in the mid-80's. The number was memorized by kids across America, talked about at inner circles around the lunch tables, and it was all true. This was the code that got little Mac to fight Mike Tyson in one of the greatest video games of all time - Nintendo's: Mike Tyson's Punch Out! I mention this because it gives frame of mind as to just what an icon Mike Tyson was during that era. This documentary directed by James Toback gives you Tyson's complete story. From his rough childhood, to him becoming the youngest heavyweight champion of the world, to his "ear fetish", and finally to his tragic demise. It unfolds in a very unique kind of way- the entire documentary is told in Mike Tyson's own words. It can be best described as a self portrait on film. Cut in between Tyson talking about his life we have footage of his old fights and his old interviews. Some of this footage is very familiar and some of it is very rare, but all of it is very compelling. Tyson's career and even his life for that matter is a Greek tragedy. This is one of the better documentaries I have seen in a long time. Interesting, powerful, and sad, all told in a very distinctive way.....a must rent!

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Chicago 10

Chicago 10: Is one of the more creative and fascinating documentaries that I have ever seen. The subject is that of the Vietnam protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago and the subsequent trial of Abbie Hoffman and seven others who were thought to have incited the riots. The film uses old footage, animation, and a wonderful soundtrack to tell the story. The footage shown is remarkable to see, especially for a Chicagoan who did not grow up during that era (this itself is worth a watch). Animation is used to depict the court scenes with the outrageous dialogue and actions coming straight from court transcripts. The film drives home its point and reminds this generation that we the people have the right to protest and the right to be heard!

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* Certified *

Ry Recommended

The King of Kong Review

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters: A documentary that looks into the world of competitive video game players and their desire to break world records on classic arcade games. Simply put – this movie is hilarious. The humor actually stems from how serious all of the people involved are about playing video games (we meet some truly unique characters). To hear someone analyze a board of Donkey Kong like John Madden at his best is pure joy. Listening to someone breakdown the challenge of avoiding a wild barrel or sketching plays on the screen to show the trajectory of a bouncing spring is very amusing. At the center of the story are 2 competitors - Steve Wiebe (an unknown) & the current Donkey Kong world record holder, Billy Mitchell. Steve Wiebe actually breaks the record on his home Donkey Kong machine and videotapes it for proof. However, his record is not recognized by the current champ nor by Twin Galaxies – the official video game record keepers. This sets up an almost “Rocky” like challenge between the two men to see who can set the high score that will be included in the Guinness Book of World Records. The film transcends the humor aspect and is carried home by the drama of the moment. The King of Kong is an excellent rental….give it a spin!

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Sicko DVD Review

Sicko: Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore opens his mouth to discuss the current healthcare system. Unlike Moore’s last movie Fahrenheit 911, this movie stays away from taking sides politically and stays focused on the issue at hand. Moore himself stays behind the camera for most of the movie allowing the sad and tragic stories do all of the talking. To drive home his point, Moore travels to other countries such as Canada, England, and France to show how a universal heath care system can improve our current situation. The component of the film that I felt was the most powerful and shocking was when Moore focused on “911 rescue workers” and the failure of the health care system to provide them with proper treatment for their 911 inflicted medical conditions. Michael Moore is a master at using delicate humor to showcase sad events - Sicko will make you laugh, yes…….but it will also make you think!!

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