Inspirational films/documentaries

[hound dog]

I'm a huge documentary watcher. History and nature being the two categories that draw my attention, primarily. For nature, anything the great David Attenborough associated with will do just fine.
But to get back on topic, specifically, inspirational/moving. In Ken Burns' documentary series "The Civil War", he reads a letter from a married soldier, Sullivan Bellew. I'ts a letter he wrote to his wife, appologising for leaving her to fight in the war, saying why he felt it was important to do so, assuring her of his love, thanking her for returning that love, asking her not to dwell long in mourning him should he fall, and that god permitting, he would always, always be with her, even in death. He was killed the next day in battle. It's the most beautiful letter I've ever heard read. And always brings tears to my eyes.

[rotobott]

Originally Posted by hound dog

I'm a huge documentary watcher. History and nature being the two categories that draw my attention, primarily. For nature, anything the late, great, David Attenborough associated with will do just fine.
But to get back on topic, specifically, inspirational/moving. In Ken Burns' documentary series "The Civil War", he reads a letter from a married soldier, Sullivan Bellew. I'ts a letter he wrote to his wife, appologising for leaving her to fight in the war, saying why he felt it was important to do so, assuring her of his love, thanking her for returning that love, asking her not to dwell long in mourning him should he fall, and that god permitting, he would always, always be with her, even in death. He was killed the next day in battle. It's the most beautiful letter I've ever heard read. And always brings tears to my eyes.

David's not dead,is he?

[hound dog]

I thought that I had heard he had passed, but a quick look on google and I see no mention of it. My mistake, and sincere best wishes for Sir David, with profound thanks for the wonderful documentaries he made, produced, narrated, etc. I'll ammend my previous post.

[Nobody1]

What is the difference between a today's corporation and a deadly psychopath?
I don't know anymore.A few years ago i've seen the canadian docu 'The Corporation' wich opened my eyes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Corporation

I can only encourage anyone to watch that film because it explains so many signs of our time.Imo it is particularly valuable for poeple with a political mind.
You can watch this brilliant documentation online, the link is below.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...0067177891440#

[haldane4]

Originally Posted by Nobody1

I'm not a political fanatic but i don't like opportunists or people who sell their souls for personal benefits.The imprisoned characters sell their faith in justice not for one second and none of us should do this because it's always the beginning of the end.That made me this case aware.
Very impressive was the father-son relationship that only seems to grow by the external pressure.

A much more moving and inspirational telling of the story was made for UK TV in the late 80s -

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0189464/

Unfortunately the film seems to have disappeared without trace. I had a copy on VHS that I'd recorded from TV but I loaned it to a friend and never got it back.

[hoyya]

The fog of war, a documentary with Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of defense ‘61 –‘68
gives great insight into the cuba crisis and the vietnam war.
McNamara served in WW2 under Air Force General Curtis LeMay, later he was his boss. LeMay was good for statements like” The big red dog is digging in our backyard. Let’s nuke’em out”. I think without Kennedy and McNamara we all would not live anymore.

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by hoyya

McNamara served in WW2 under Air Force General Curtis LeMay, later he was his boss. LeMay was good for statements like” The big red dog is digging in our backyard. Let’s nuke’em out”. I think without Kennedy and McNamara we all would not live anymore.

General Buck Turgidson in Dr Strangelove, superbly played by George C Scott, was a parody of General Curtis LeMay in his role as founder and CinC of Strategic Air Command.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgyjlqhiTV8

I particularly relish "modest and acceptable civilian casualties", which becomes "no more than ten to twenty million people killed, tops...depending on the breaks."

[Tmee2020]

Originally Posted by graftzig

The most inspiring biography/documentary I've seen in my entire life is "John Adams".
It's about our founding fathers John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
In our time, it is almost unbelievable that men of this stature have once lived.
Wonderful story (because it is true) and wonderful actors. Can't wait to watch it again.

This was shown here on SBS at the end of last year, and I thought of you, graftzig. It increased my knowledge of this period of American history by a fair amount, although starting from a low base, i.e. close to 0.
I didn't catch it all, but the relationship between Adams and Jefferson is central to the story. Wonderful.
It has a great music theme to introduce each episode, and uses those curious serpent flags that took off during the Revolutionary War. I couldn't wait for the show to start.

[graftzig]

Hey tmee2000,
here is a wonderful book that you will like: John Adams by David McCollough, available at Amazon. Very good read.

[Estreeter]

Known Universe on the National Geographic channel. I've never had any interest in space till I started watching this series........well worth an hour on the couch each week.