UP THE YANGTZE

UP THE YANGTZE - 2007

RATED - NR but PG in other countries. Might get PG-13 rating here due to fair number of 'f' words by one of the main characters. Since he is Chinese speaking the word appears in the subtitle each time. Otherwise, very family friendly. Subtitles are only used for Chinese speaking characters, roughly half the dialogue.

RATINGS - 6 Amazon (4.5/5), 28,675 Netflix (3.5/5), 891 IMDB (7.4/10).

AWARDS - Won or was nominated for many awards at various film festivals including Sundance.

STORY - The film is a documentary primarily about a Chinese family living in the town of Fengdu on the Yangtze River. The world's largest dam project, The Three Gorges Dam, will displace about two million people who live along the river when it is completed. Is this progress or destruction? The film does not attempt to answer the question. It simply tells the story of this family and several others whose lives are affected by the new dam. Yu Shui, the 16 year old daughter, wants to be the first to go on to higher education after finishing middle school. The family, however, knows their future is changing as their home (shack really) on the river will soon be underwater when the dam is completed. That means they will have to rent somewhere and will no longer be able to grow their own food. Yu will have to go to work and earn money to go to school. The film follows this shy, young girl and another, outgoing, young man as they are hired by a luxury cruise ship on the Yangtze catering to wealthy European and North American tourists. They must both learn how to please (cater to) these visitors. Her parents also must cope with the changes happening in their lives. This is a film about real people whose lives are being changed by forces beyond their control and they must adapt to a lifestyle that is both unfamiliar and uncomfortable. The contrast between these people and the 'westernized' Chinese of the larger cities that they visit on the ship's itinerary is also portrayed. As China's economy grows and they gain access to more and more of the world's goods and services, the people, whether they want to or not, are being forced to change. The film doesn't judge the merits, it simply tells the stories. One more opportunity to get acquainted with people from this giant country that has come on to the world stage with such great force. Like it or not, we need to know as much as we can about the people we are joined with at the hip in so many ways. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/28/2010.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

CRUDE

CRUDE - 2009

RATED - NR but probably PG-13 for several uses of the 'f' word.

RATINGS - 3 Amazon (5/5), 1,700 Netflix (3.5/5), 136 IMDB (8.0/10).

THEME - Justice

AWARDS - Many awards and nominations at various film festivals.

STORY - I watched this video with high hopes after reading the reviews. It did not live up to the reviews. After all that Wall Street and other 'too big to fail' corporations have done to our country, I really wanted to see a story where a big corporation got what was coming to them for raping the environment and leaving a trail of destruction in the country where they made their fortune. While the film skillfully plays on your emotions with the editing of scenes back and forth between sick babies and sludge filled ponds and rivers where the people live, eat and drink, it is short on facts. It is clearly told from the plaintiffs point of view and that's fine (every 'objective' documentary has a story to tell) but you need to make your case. This was billed as a kind of 'legal thriller' documentary. I tried to look at it from a perspective juror's standpoint. As much as I felt emotionally for the people I don't know if I would be able to convict Chevron based on this film. It is woefully short on medical documentation connecting the dots between what Chevron did to their environment and the cancer outbreaks. There were no statistics of before and after cancer cases or how the environment contributed to the cancer. Also, it would be foolish, based on history, to think the government of Ecuador was an innocent player. Clearly, bribery and payoffs are the way business is done in third world countries, and the film did nothing to reveal the relationship between PetroEcuador and Chevron. Who in the government benefited from all this? What is their responsibility? While I have absolutely no sympathy for Chevron, they are all too easy of a target and it does not seem likely they could have pulled this off without a lot of inside help from government officials. It was also not made clear how much the plaintiff attorneys will benefit from this lawsuit. They are asking for $27 Billion. Are they doing it pro bono? If not, what is their take? As they say, 'follow the money'. Lastly, at the end of the film, they brought in a celebrity activist who contributed nothing to the overall story, just took credit for donating some water purification devices. As they used to say on Dragnet, 'just the facts, ma'am'. I wanted to really like this film but give me the facts, not just an emotional appeal for what seems to be a worthy cause. Watch it to be better informed about how multinational corporations and corrupt third world governments rape their countries and leave the citizens to live with the destruction but if you're on the jury and you vote with your head, I don't think you'll be convinced. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 02-27-2010.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

GATES OF HEAVEN

GATES OF HEAVEN - 1978

RATED - NR but probably PG. Nothing offensive but the subject matter is mostly adult oriented.

RATINGS - 26 Amazon (4.5/5), 20,232 Netflix (3.4/5), 1,640 IMDB (7.7/10), Roger Ebert (4/4)

STARRING - Academy Award-winning Erroll Morris (THE THIN BLUE LINE) is the film maker. The pet owners and pet cemetery owners are themselves in this documentary.

STORY - Roger Ebert calls this documentary 'A masterpiece...one of the top ten films of all time...They say you can make a great documentary about almost anything, if you see it well enough and truly, and this film proves it.' While on the surface, this might seem to be a film about people and their pets, it's really a study in human nature and psychology. It is people opening up to the camera about their dreams, hopes and disappointments. It initially is centered around the developer of a pet cemetery in Southern California that ultimately went bankrupt and how the 450 buried pets had to be dug up and transferred to another cemetery. The film then shifts to the owners of the new cemetery, a family run business, and the dynamics of the father and two sons as they share their 'success' strategies for life. Interspersed are interviews with owners whose pets had to be transferred and the trauma that goes along with that experience. This might have been a good candidate for 'reality TV' if that had existed. Not your everyday documentary but fascinating in its own way. Read Roger Ebert's fascinating review at the link below. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/10/09.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT

POWER, PASSION & GLORY

POWER, PASSION & GLORY - The real story of Texas football madness. (2004)

RATED - PG Very family friendly.

RATINGS - 6 Amazon (4.5/5), 694 Netflix (3/5), 9 IMDB (7.6/10)

STORY - Celina, Texas (30 miles north of Dallas) is a small community of about 2,000 people with a big reputation for its high school football program. They were riding the crest of 57 straight victories and 4 state championships in their division, 2A and then lightning struck during the summer before the 2002 season. Their legendary coach, G.A. Moore, resigned, seemingly for no reason, and moved down the road to their biggest rival, Pilot Point, along with 3 of the nine coaches. Their enrollment for the coming school year also put them over the 2A limit by three students and they were bumped up to 3A where they would compete as the smallest school in the division. Can they continue their streak under new coach Butch Ford, who coached under Moore for 25 seasons but had never been a head coach and handle the bigger schools? Narrated by NFL great Pat Summerall, the documentary takes you behind the scenes with the players, coaches, parents and fans as well as highlights from the season. In Texas, football is life, whether the NFL or the smallest communities. As one of the former players summed it up, 'the season lasts about eleven and half months in Celina". If you love football, high school sports and small town America, this is for you. It is fun, lots of good football action and a look behind the scenes at the winningest football program in Texas history. Hollywood could not have crafted a better ending to a film. Enjoy!! Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/26/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, WIKIPEDIA

UNCONSTITUTIONAL: THE WAR ON OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES

UNCONSTITUTIONAL: THE WAR ON OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES - 2004

RATED - NR but probably PG

RATINGS - 29 Amazon (4.5/5), 24,746 Netflix (3.9/5), 223 IMDB (8.2/10).

STARRING - A cast of political characters as themselves.

STORY - Our country has been here before. During WWII, we put innocent Japanese citizens in internment camps because they were all considered to be security threats to our nation. In retrospect, most people can see what a horrible decision that was. Maybe it was not so clear at the time given the state of the world. When the horrible attacks of 9/11 occurred, it seems that same mindset reappeared and certain people are paying the price again for the evil deeds of others. Is it right to take away the liberties of people who happen to have a skin color or name similar to the terrorists? How far do we go in balancing security and individual freedom? Is the USA PATRIOT Act really making us safer? Was there enough thought and discussion before passing this bill that was rewritten during the wee hours of the morning and not one member of Congress read it through before voting? These and other controversial issues are discussed in this documentary as well as interviews with people whose lives have been affected by the PATRIOT Act such as a US Olympian whose name has made him a target. This is not a partisan issue as you see Bob Barr and Barney Frank teaming up in challenging the administration's actions. These past few weeks have shown us once again how politicians can 'use' a 'crisis' to push through governmental controls and once our freedoms are gone, they don't ever come back. The film makers have tried to present a balanced story although I'm sure not everyone will agree. It is a very difficult job trying to balance security versus freedom and one worthy of every one's involvement. How much freedom are you and I willing to give up to feel secure? Is this what our founding fathers had in mind? A worthwhile investment of your time. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/17/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, WIKIPEDIA

LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN

LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN - 2004

RATED - NR but probably G

RATINGS - 4 Amazon (5/5), 362 Netflix (2.6/5), 24 IMDB (6.1/10).

STARRING - The church members themselves and directed by Academy Award-nominated David Petersen.

AWARDS - OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2004 Sundance Film Festival other film festival awards.

THEMES - Spirituality, reconciliation, hope, justice.

STORY - This highly acclaimed documentary takes place in a small, storefront Black Pentecostal Church in Washington, D.C. in the shadow of the Capitol. While geographically close, the worlds of these two institutions are light years apart. This week our government has proposed hundreds of billions of bailout funds for Wall Street. In the film, church members pass the 'plate' to raise $200 so one of the members can repair their car to get to work. The film follows four members of the church for a year as they pursue their dreams and hopes. Each one faces significant challenges, both of the external variety and those of the self-imposed consequences. It also shows the church going into the community. While they are most of very modest, perhaps even impoverished means, they care as much for others in the community as they do for themselves. They offer free clothes, food shelves, shelter, medical care and counseling and, of course, spiritual healing to everyone regardless of whether they join the church or not. There is nothing subtle about their faith, that it is Jesus who has changed their lives and gives them strength for living each day. Whether you agree with them, you can't help but love these people who are so authentic and genuine in their care for each other and their community. They don't play church. They live it in a way most of haven't experienced who live in nice, neat suburban areas. Director David Petersen does a great job of letting them tell their own story without either glamorizing or putting it down. Perhaps our legislators should visit this church instead of the big cathedrals. It might help to keep life in perspective. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 09/20/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, NETFLIX, IMDB, CT REVIEW, THE FILM MOVEMENT.

THE REICH UNDERGROUND

THE REICH UNDERGROUND - 2004

RATED - NR - Two scenes of animals being gassed in a test lab.

RATINGS - 2 Amazon (4.5/5), 1,022 Netflix (2.8/5)

STORY - This is a documentary about Germany's attempt to place many of their weapons manufacturing plants underground later in the war as the Allies relentlessly bombed their cities and armament operations. It was a last ditch attempt to pull out victory from what was becoming certain defeat. It is also the story of the degree which Hitler would go to grasp for victory. Humans were nothing more than disposable tools (like worn out saw blades or broken down vehicles) in the building of these amazing underground facilities. Thousands of lives (many of them were POW's) were lost in this effort. After being closed to the public for many decades, they have been reopened to show the world. There always is the question of 'what if' they had succeeded in building plants that were safe from the Allies' bombs. We will never know. A more pertinent question today might be 'where' could this be going on in the world with rogue nations building secret weapons or other potentially lethal or illegal operations. Even our country has deep underground facilities connected with the military and critical defense operations. A fascinating world to think about and explore. This film is a beginning and very interesting although it could have been pared down to a shorter version (the main reason for the lower ratings on Netflix I believe) but nevertheless a worthwhile venture. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/19/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON

PLANET EARTH

PLANET EARTH - 2007

RATED - NR. Very family friendly. Occasional animals attacking each other.

RATINGS - 403 Amazon (4.5/5), 235,168 Netflix (4.6/5), 6,787 IMDB (9.8/10)

STARRING - David Attenborough narrating, an incredible film crew and our planet earth.

STORY - This is the BBC series consisting of five discs that had a budget of $25 million, was five years in the making using 40 cameramen spending over 2000 days in the field. There is absolutely nothing else like this. It is some of the most amazing film you will ever watch. I don't think there is any way to overstate the magnificence of this production. A lot of the areas covered have never been filmed before or certainly not in the way filmed in this series. One of the best parts is the filmed diary at the end of each segment that shows the behind the scenes work that went into filming that particular show. Watching the incredible episodes along with the outstanding music score, you don't think about what it took to get that footage. Seeing them getting their camera gear into the deepest caves on earth, sitting in a claustrophobic shelter for weeks to get a few minutes footage of the snow leopard or loading up two months supplies of food, water, gas and supplies to film camels in the Gobi Desert make you appreciate the unbelievable effort that went into producing this series. You will not be disappointed. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/11/2008.

PERSONAL - Watching this amazing film of our planet brings up a couple fundamental questions. How did this incredible planet and the diversity of life all come about? Seeing how everything is so interdependent and complex and with so little room for error in keeping it all going, is it possible that this is all a matter of chance and came from nothing or is there a master creator behind this planet called Earth and all the living things that inhabit it? While there is no absolute proof for either position, I believe I would have to put my belief in a creator. And if there is a creator who has created the phenomenal variety of life I would like to know and understand this creator because we live on a planet that is beyond description. The second question is what is our responsibility as humans for the stewardship of our planet. If all this is chance, then we are only the result of random selection and, stewardship, while certainly good, doesn't seem to have much purpose in a random world. If, however, we are part of a master plan of creation with a beginning and a future ending, then the stewardship of this planet takes on added meaning and responsibility for each of us. Something to think about.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER

TRIUMPH OF THE WILL

TRIUMPH OF THE WILL - 1934

RATED - NR

RATINGS - 34 Amazon (4.5/5), 29,604 Netflix (3.6/5), 3,828 IMDB (7.9/10).

THEME - Propaganda

STORY - This is the infamous documentary produced by Leni Riefenstahl of the 1934 Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg, Germany. Working with an unlimited budget, she created the almost perfect propaganda film to promote the Nazi Party in Germany. Fascinating today, just for the historical interest, it has been the model over the decades for others wanting to understand the power of propaganda film. It was a powerful influence in establishing Hitler as the messiah for Germany. It was shown in part or whole in every theater throughout Germany during WWII. Of course, today we see it thru the lens of history and the unspeakable evil that was committed by Hitler and his regime but the people watching in 1934 did not have that insight. At the very least, it is a powerful warning to those of us who have the benefit of history to be more discerning in our falling for those who would seek to use this same kind of propaganda to push a cause, no matter how noble or good it might seem and the Nazi Party certainly seemed to be a noble cause for the German people. Riefenstahl used 30 cameras and 120 technicians during the filming. Hitler was always filmed separately so he could be edited in and out of the crowd pictures for maximum manipulation of imagery and seduction of the mind. While it runs a little long and is a little repetitive in places, this is an amazing piece of history and very much worthwhile of your time. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06/07/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB