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CONSERVATION ISSUES
THE COVE **** A provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery that adds up to an urgent plea for hope. THE COVE begins in Taiji, Japan, where former dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry has come to set things right after a long search for redemption. In the 1960s, it was O'Barry who captured and trained the 5 dolphins who played the title character in the international television sensation "Flipper." But his close relationship with those dolphins - the very dolphins who sparked a global fascination with trained sea mammals that continues to this day -- led O'Barry to a radical change of heart. One fateful day, a heartbroken Barry came to realize that these deeply sensitive, highly intelligent and self-aware creatures so beautifully adapted to life in the open ocean must never be subjected to human captivity again. Read more
JANE'S JOURNEY **** This documentary is the filmed biography of Jane Goodall, who studied chimpanzees for most of her life. Knauer also lets her point out, what made her change her focus or as she puts it: "I was a scientist and turned into an activist." Watching the movie audiences get to know Jane with her sympathetic quirks, her great sense of humor and an incredible amount of energy for a 76-year old woman. Read more
HEALTH AND FITNESS
YOGA WITH HOWARD NAPPER ***** (Also: Dynamic Yoga) Change your life and take control of your body with Howard Napper's fantastic triple set featuring Chillout Yoga, Upper Body Yoga and Lower Body Yoga. The DVDs give you a complete and perfectly balanced practice; you can practice each DVD individually, or use it in conjunction with each other to give you the ideal instruction for evening and morning practices. In Chillout Yoga Howard takes you through a 60 minute sequence of deep and relaxing yoga postures to build strength as well as encourage suppleness and relaxation. The aim of the practice is to improve your core stability and lower stress levels. The Upper Body Yoga offers an intensive 30 minute workout to stretch out and target the shoulders, chest, upper neck, upper back and front up to the head. The Lower body Yoga features a 30 minute routine targeting the lower torso; the majority of exercises are floor based and ideally suited to the Napper's 'Dynamic Yoga'. He takes you through a fluid sequence fo yoga postures that are both challenging and stimulating. The unique sequence combines flowing movements synchronised with the breath. The aim of this practise is to work your internal dynamic structure as core strength. It also offers a range of benefits including increased flexibility and reduced tension.Visit the website: www.agoy.com Yoga enthusiasts in South Africa can also visit www.srisriyoga,co.za or email Lisa Martin at blissfulbeyond@gmail.comhome environment. The teaching is suitable for most levels.
FILM
KING KONG PRODUCTION DIARIES (2 Disc Collector's Edition) ***** A must for any collector. This groundbreaking set will transport you onto the set of 'King Kong' to experience the thrilling intense eight-month production; from the first day of filming to the last shot of this production, you will learn how Peter Jackson and his magnificent crew were able to bring the magic of King Kong to the big screen. It includes 54 individual production diaries; over 3 and a half hours of behind the scenes footage. Including ta deconstruction of the King Kong vs. T-Rex scene. The Post Production diaries are featured on the two-disc King Kong DVD release.
LOST IN LA MANCHA - The Greatest Story Never Told ***** A fantastic 2-disc documentary that offers a frank account of some of the disasters, natural and otherwise, that befell director Terry Gilliam's attempt to film 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote'. Despite an all-star cast including Johnny Depp, Gilliam's ambitious project was forced to shut down after only six days of shooting. Featuring surviving footage from the film, extensive and intimate interviews with Gilliam and his crew, it features over 4 hours of extras, including an interview between Salman Rushdie and Terry Gilliam
THEATRE
LOVESICK *** Filmed over two years and set in Las Vegas during the creation of the cabaret-style production Zumanity - Another Side of Cirque du Soleil, this documentary discloses the shocking reality of the talented and entrancing artists who put their flesh and audacity centre stage to create this edge new show: Alex, a flirtatious Cuban stripper, Joey, a sassy New York City drag artist, Laetitia, an elegant British ballerinaJonel, an audacious debutant, Andrew, the director of the creation, and Spymonkey, the clown quartet. This is a revealing exposes where men dress up as women, brides perform staged orgies, and love affairs are exposed under the show's glaring spotlights.
ADVENTURE
180 DEGREES SOUTH **** Inspired by a 1968 excursion into Patagonia, adventurer Jeff Johnson sets out to retrace the arduous trek as filmmaker Chris Malloy follows with camera in hand. But despite surfing the biggest wave he's ever encountered, Johnson quickly discovers just how treacherous things can get when you decide to challenge Mother Nature. Read more
LONG WAY ROUND (The Complete TV Series) *** Bonded by a unique friendship and love of motorbikes, this documentary features the adventures of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on their extraordinary journey around the world. From London to New York via Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia, U.S.A and Canada, this 2 disc edition contains the entire series as well as a number of extras. Features: Unseen and exclusive interviews with Ewan and Charley
MAN ON WIRE ***** On August 7th 1974, a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between New York's twin towers, then the world's tallest buildings. After nearly an hour dancing on the wire, he was arrested, taken for psychological evaluation, and brought to jail before he was finally released. James Marsh's Oscar-winning documentary brings Petit's extraordinary adventure to life through the testimony of Philippe himself, and some of the co-conspirators who helped him create the unique and magnificent spectacle that became known as "the artistic crime of the century." Go behind the scenes
ANIMALS
MARCH OF THE PENGUINS ***** In the Antarctic, every March since the beginning of time, the quest begins to find the perfect mate and start a family. This courtship will begin with a long journey - a journey that will take them hundreds of miles across the continent by foot, in freezing cold temperatures, in brittle, icy winds and through deep, treacherous waters. They will risk starvation and attack by dangerous predators, under the harshest conditions on earth, all to find true love. Features: A fascinating behind the scenes documentary on the making of, as well as deleted scenes. Read an interview with Luc Jacquet; Go behind the scenes
THE GRIZZLY MAN *****In his mesmerizing new film, acclaimed director Werner Herzog explores the life and death of amateur grizzly bear expert and wildlife preservationist Timothy Treadwell. Treadwell lived unarmed among the bears for thirteen summers, and filmed his adventures in the wild during his final five seasons. In October 2003, Treadwell's remains, along with those of his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, were discovered near their campsite in Alaska's Katmai National Park and Reserve. They had been mauled and devoured by a grizzly, the first known victims of a bear attack in the park. (The bear suspected of the killings was later shot by park officials.) Herzog plumbs not only the mystery of wild nature, but also the mystery of human nature as he chronicles Treadwell's final years in the wilderness. Herzog uses Treadwell's own startling documentary footage to paint a nuanced portrait of a complex and compelling figure while exploring larger questions about the uneasy relationship between man and nature. Go behind the scenes
SUPERNATURAL - The Unseen Powers of Animals ***** This groundbreaking BBC series unravels the extrasensory feats and near-paranormal powers of animals. It journeys to the outer limits of scientific knowledge to find a parallel animal universe where life exists in other realities and has powers that almost defy belief. Here sharks perceive human electric auras and dolphins use ultrasound to 'see' a human foetus in the womb. There are monkey herbalists, frogs that have mastered the art of cryogenics and lizards that walk on water or cry blood. Supernatural not only looks at animal hypnosis and the healing powers of fish and dolphins, it even explains weird phenomena such as animals foretelling earthquake or forecasting the weather and fish that 'rain' from the sky! Produced by John Downer, the series is narrated by Andrew Sachs. The bonus features include a fantastic 'Supernatural Superstars' behind-the-scenes film from the animal's perspective.
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CATS **** This entertaining Discovery Channel documentary features a look at the domestic cat.
MUSIC
FOKOFPOLISIEKAR (fuck-off-police-car) A South African documentary film about 5 young Afrikaans punk rockers that transformed a generation during a unique time in history; in one of the most reluctantly complex and evolving societies of the 21st century. In 2003 an Afrikaans punk band was a laughable idea. Many thought the name crazy; and then the music came and many were enraged - publicly protesting "die bende" (the gang) who had the strength of their own voice and the desire to question And in a place where passion and brandy meet - many thousands became fans for life. The film follows the story of the band over 4 years as they forge a place for themselves and their fans in a new South Africa; in the process challenging the stigmas and expectations placed on them by their Afrikaner heritage, the church and tradition. Through the controversy and chaos, FOKOFPOLISIEKAR rose above their detractors and initiated a change in how the media perceived them and portrayed them. Through the death threats and Christian backlash they stood tall - sentries for the right to identity, freedom of thought, and the raw and often unseemly right to express one's own truth. They unleashed a debate in the nation's Afrikaans community that sought finally to heal the wound or at the very least to acknowledge it. FOKOFPOLISIEKAR is a story of courage, passion and belief that reverberates through the minds and hearts of their fans - a story that transcends language and culture; and bravely faces a truth… that most would've left in darkness. Fokofpolisiekar was formed during April 2003 by a group of friends from Cape Town who decided to produce music in their own way. It would carry strong symbolism of the Fokofpolisiekar lifestyle and their perspective on everyday life: a style of music that they and their generation can relate to. Fokofpolisiekar is currently one of SA`s biggest rock acts. Their explosive performances combined with their distinctive style and fine tuned marketing campaigns have packed out venues nationwide.
LA DIVINA. A PORTRAIT ***** Tony Palmer's entertaining documentary on Maria Callas includes a 16 page booklet.
NATURE
HUMAN PLANET ***** An awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, heart-stopping landmark BBC series that marvels at mankind's incredible relationship with nature in the world today. Each of the 8 episode takes you to the extremes of our planet: the arctic, mountains, oceans, jungles, grasslands, deserts, rivers and even the urban jungle. Planet crews have filmed in around 80 locations. Read more
HOW EARTH MADE US ***** Scottish Professor Iain Stewart tells the captivating story of how geology, geography and climate have influenced mankind in his epic exploration of how the planet has shaped human history with this two-disc BBC series of five episodes.
With spectacular images, surprising stories and a compelling narrative, the series discovers the central role played in human history by four different planetary forces. Following series such as Journeys From the Centre of the Earth, Earth: The Power of the Planet, Hot Rocks, 10 Things You Didn't Know About... and The Climate Wars Stewart looks at how four geological forces - water, deep earth, wind and fire - have shaped human history.
The five part series was shown on BBC Two starting January 2010.
The first episode explores our complex relationship with water. Visiting spectacular locations in Iceland, the Middle East and India, Iain shows how control over water has been central to human existence. He takes a precarious flight in a motorised paraglider to experience the cycle of freshwater that we depend on, discovers how villagers in the foothills of the Himalayas have built a living bridge to cope with the monsoon, and visits Egypt to reveal the secret of the pharaohs' success.Throughout history, success has depended on our ability to adapt to and control constantly shifting sources of water.
In the second episode Stewart explores the relationship between the deep Earth and the development of human civilisation. He visits an extraordinary crystal cave in Mexico, drops down a hole in the Iranian desert and crawls through seven-thousand-year-old tunnels in Israel. His exploration reveals that throughout history, our ancestors were strangely drawn to fault lines, areas which connect the surface with the deep interior of the planet. These fault lines gave access to important resources, but also brought with them great danger.
Next up Stewart looks at how wind has shaped human history. He sets sail on one of the fastest racing boats ever built to explore the story of our turbulent relationship with the wind. Travelling to the Sahara desert, the coast of West Africa and the South Pacific, Iain discovers how people have exploited the power of the wind for thousands of years. The wind is a force which at first sight appears chaotic. But the patterns that lie within the atmosphere have shaped the destiny of continents, and lie at the heart of some of the greatest turning points in human history.
Episode 4 explores man's relationship with fire. Stewart begins by embarking on an extraordinary encounter with this terrifying force of nature - a walk right through the heart of a raging fire. Fire has long been our main source of energy and Iain shows how this meant that the planet played a crucial role in Britain's industrial revolution, whilst holding China's development back. Along the way he dives in a mysterious lake in Oregon, climbs a glacier of salt, crawls through an extraordinary cave in Iran and takes a therapeutic bath in crude oil.
The final episode explores the most recently established force, humans. It's easy to think of the human impact on the planet as a negative one, but as Iain discovers, this isn't always the case. It is clear that humans have unprecedented control over many of the planet's geological cycles; the question is, how will the human race use this power?
Iain Simpson Stewart is a charming Scottish geologist, Professor of Geoscience Communication at the University of Plymouth, notable for his frequent appearances on television to promote the subject. Born in East Kilbride, Scotland, he has two younger brothers, Graeme and Frazer. Iain Stewart was a child actor and holder of an Equity card. In 1978 he appeared in a Scottish series, Huntingtower. Having left acting behind, he studied geology and earth science, and graduated from Strathclyde University (Glasgow, Scotland) in 1986 and obtained his doctorate in 1990 at the University of Bristol on research into earthquakes in Greece and Turkey. He began teaching geology at the West London Institute of Higher Education, and then Brunel University where he stayed for 12 years in total before moving back to Scotland to develop a new career as a science broadcaster. Nostalgic for Brunel, he said "And invariably, you move on to places that for all their benefits, seem surprisingly narrow, and more fallow, in comparison. In short, it was a remarkable place to be".His second television career began when he appeared as an expert academic for Helike - The Real Atlantis, a 2002 BBC Horizon film about the destruction of the Greek city of Helike by earthquake and tidal wave in 373 BC, newly rediscovered in 2001. This, he says, "gave me a hunger to get more geology on telly," and he moved to Glasgow to try to get television projects off the ground. He featured in another Horizon film, Earthquake Storms, in April 2003, before appearing as a team member in the fourth series of Rough Science (shown Jan/Feb 2004), a series where a group of scientists is challenged to solve tasks using only the resources of the local surroundings and a small set of supplies.
EARTH ***** Five billion years ago a massive asteroid crashed into the young earth. The impact was so great that it tilted the entire planet at an angle of twenty-three and a half degrees. But far from being a catastrophe, this cosmic accident was crucial to creating life and the world as we know today. Without the earth's tilt, we wouldn't have such a spectacular variety of landscapes, or such extremes of hot and cold. We wouldn't have the changing seasons and, most importantly, we wouldn't have the perfect conditions for life. When the team behind EARTH set out to tell the story of our planet, they chose the sun as their guide. The journey begins close to the North Pole, where there are 24 hours of darkness during winter .Only in March does the sun rise over the horizon for the first time.
This new BBC-feature film follows 3 animal families as they migrate across the planet. The film shows parts of earth that have never before been captured on film. It was five years in production, filmed in 200 locations featuring 26 countries in the final movie. 40 specialist crews shot 1000s of hours of footage, including 250 days of aerial photography! This striking new film is a celebration of the beauty of our planet, whilst reminding us of the delicate fragility of where we live… Read more
NATURE'S GREAT EVENTS ***** If there's one DVD that will restore your faith in life, it's the BBC's astounding Nature's Great Events, exploring the planet's most breathtaking natural events, and following the dramatic wildlife stories behind them. Combining the epic cinematography of Planet Earth, with all the emotion, intimacy and storytelling of a wildlife diary, this series charts the effects of global climatic phenomena which transform entire landscapes, drawing in thousands of animals and determining their fate. Whereas Planet Earth gave us a global view, Nature's great events delves into the more personal, emotionally engaging approach. Nature's great events, brings us the same high definition quality and "wow factor" images we've come to associate with Planet Earth.
Using state of the art filming technology, Nature's Great Events on BBC One captures the Earth's most dramatic and epic wildlife spectacles and the intimate stories of the animals caught up in them. From the flooding of the Okavango Delta, in Africa, to the great summer melt of ice in the Arctic and the massive annual bloom of plankton in the northern Pacific Ocean, each of the six programmes features a different event set in one of the world's most iconic wildernesses. The characters include tiny grizzly bear cubs emerging from their den in snow-covered mountains; baby elephants struggling to survive against drought and lion attack in Africa; humpback whales hunting as a team; the world's largest concentration of dolphins and sharks gathering off the coast of South Africa; and polar bear families, navigating their precarious way on ever-thinning ice. The world-renowned BBC Natural History Unit uses sophisticated high definition cameras, cutting-edge aerial, underwater and ultra slow-motion filming techniques to capture in intimate detail some of the audience's best-loved wildlife, as their lives become entwined with these dramatic events. As the Earth is rapidly changing, we can no longer take these great natural events for granted. By filming the events and their fluctuations this series takes the pulse of the planet. Nature's Great Events TV firsts include: Aerial footage of the amazing migration of the mysterious Arctic narwhal whale, with its unicorn-like tusk High definition footage of polar bears feeding on seals, struggling to survive as they hunt in broken ice and fall through. The sardine run filmed with three crews in full high definition - underwater, aerial and on the surface Pioneering the boat stabilising mount to film the sardine run - previously only used in Hollywood feature films A shoal of sardines 15 miles long surrounded by thousands of sharks; 10,000 gannets raining down on a shoal of fish and a super-pod of 5,000 common dolphins - all filmed using the high definition helicopter mount Cape fur seals coming ashore to snatch gannet chicks from their colony The eruption of the Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano in the Serengeti - the first eruption since 1964 - filmed in HD from the ground and the air Revealing the epic scale of the wildebeest migration from the air. Bonus Features: Fantastic diaries on each episode showing how the film was made.
THE BLUE PLANET (Special Edition) ***** This first ever comprehensive series on the natural history of the world's oceans, is narrated by David Attenborough. The extraordinary images of the BBC marine epic reveal the sea at its most fearsome and alluring, exposing some of its best kept secrets. You will enter a world of breathtaking beauty and discover new species, visit unseen habitats and witness stories of survival never caught on camera before. Accompanied by a superb soundtrack from the award-winning composer George Fenton, it features four discs. Disc one includes episodes on The Blue Planet, The Deep., Open Ocean and Frozen Seas; Disc Two features the episodes Seasonal Seas, Coral Seas, Tidal Seas and Coasts. On Disc three we go behind the scenes and on disc four we look at The Abyss, Amazon Abyss and Dive to Shark Volcano.
SCIENCE/ RELIGION
FREAKONOMICS *** An amusing and thought provoking documentary based on the bestselling book: Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. The film examines human behaviour from a perspective of incentives and statistics, with provocative and sometimes hilarious case studies. Read more
UNLOCKING DA VINCI'S CODE This 3 DVD box set includes the documentaries Unlocking Da Vinci's Code: Discovering the hidden meaning inside the artwork of one of the greatest masters in history; learning the secrets to the strange riddles and clues within the great masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci; and unlocking Da Vinci's Code to reveal the greatest mysteries of our time and the greatest secrets of our past. Angels and Demons Revealed: this explosive documentary tells the real story of an ancient secret brotherhood, a devastating new weapon of destruction, and a shocking target - the Vatican. It explores the power of the Illuminati and its existence. The Bible Code: a factual, scientific account of the discovery the 3000 year old text and explores the sacred bond between science and religion.
WAR
THE WORLD WAR II COLLECTION This set includes three powerful films depicting a monumental time in world history. In addition to Steven Spielberg's Academy Award-winning 'Saving Private Ryan', this collection also contains two films executive produced by Steven Spielberg: 'Price for Peace' and 'Shooting War',
Price of Peace is a powerful and thought-provoking chronicle of the compelling events in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, from the bombing of Pearl Harbour through the American occupation of Japan in 1945. The features include a film introduction by Steven Spielberg, National D-Day Museum: An Introduction; Stephen Ambrose talks about the war experience; Tom Brokaw presents 'Price for Peace' and there's a WWII dog handler's featurette.
Shooting War takes a special look at the unsung heroes of World War II: the combat photographer. Through the unflinching eye of their camera's lenses, these courageous soldiers continually risked their lives in the brave attempts to capture history. It is hosted by Tom Hanks.
The Commemorative Edition of Saving Private Ryan includes some great features: Steven Spielberg's introduction to the film, looking into the past featurette, boot camp, making Saving Private Ryan, re-creating Omaha Beach, the music and sound, and Parting Thoughts.
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