What Is the History of Documentary Films?

Movies have been entertaining audiences for generations. There are many different types of films and many different genres. One such type of film is the documentary. These documentaries, though not often big box-office successes, have become really popular, popular with critic and most audiences. Some have even been deemed some of the greatest films of all time and have endured for years.

Lincoln (2012)

“Do you think we choose the times into which we are born? Or do we fit the times we are born into?” This is a question that was brought up by one of our greatest presidents in his recent biopic, Lincoln.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Superhero movies have certainly grown in popularity these last few years. They no longer have the campy elements they did in the sixties or seventies and have a darker, more relevant tone to them that makes them a good watch for adults as well as kids. The most popular of the latest comic-book superhero movies is Christopher Nolan’s Batman series.

Boys of Baraka (2005)

Boys of Baraka is a film; a documentary about boys trying to find their way out of social poverty that they grew up in and trying to earn an education they rightfully deserve. The film highlights a couple of boys considered “at-risk” from Baltimore, Maryland who get a special opportunity to go to a two year school in Kenya. 

12 Angry Men (1957)

*Part of Prana Films' Great Movies*

It’s a hot, sweltering day in New York City and these men have someone’s life in their hands. The first on our list is one of the most endeared courtroom dramas of all time, Sidney Lumet’s phenomenal debut 12 Angry Men.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Apes learn to use the first weapons.

*Part of Prana Film's Great Movies*

A space adventure. A "trip" of a lifetime. An amazement to behold. One of the most awe-inspiring experiences as a film viewer. 2001 is all of these. 2001 is without a doubt Stanley Kubrick's magnum opus, a pinnacle in his amazing career. The movie's storyline seems to float in space as the characters do, set along to some of the greatest pieces in classical music, particular the famous Blue Danube.

A Deadly Addiction or: How I Learned to Stop Texting & Driving and Learned to Be Safe (in Vermont)

Are there problems enforcing this no texting-while-driving policy? What 'drives' people to do it?

On June 1st, 2010, the Governor of Vermont, Jim Douglas, signed an anti-text bill that makes it illegal to text and drive at the same time. Cell phones are also banned for novice drivers under the age of 18.

The Facebook Ad Bomb: An Opinion On Facebook and the Advertising Formula

This week, Facebook is going public and its value is estimated at around $100 billion dollars. This would be the highest valuation for an initial public offering of a technical company.

An Argument on Film Colorization

Film colorization, though may not be an extremely controversial topic, it has garnered some debate over the years. Film colorization is exactly that, the colorization of black-and-white movies for distribution or to be shown on TV. My argument is against the colorization of classic movies. I am against this because I believe it is ruining the filmmaker’s original intent.

Influence of D.W. Griffith on Modern Cinema

Many films take influence from other films. As John Huston said in Orson Welles’ unfinished film The Other Side of the Wind, “It’s all right if we borrow from each other. What we must never do is borrow from ourselves.” (Welles) By “we”, he was referring to film directors. A film director is the person who controls the production of the film and its visual style. Many filmmakers take inspiration for some of their favorites and many other classics. The earliest influential film director is considered to be D.W. Griffith. Even though the topics of his films covered are not politically correct by today’s standards, D.W. Griffith helped influence modern day cinema by pioneering new cinematic techniques.

Welcome to the Review Spot

Hello there. This is Prana Independent Films. And this is my Review Spot. On this blog, I will view movies, TV shows, music and various albums and etcetera. I hope this blog will be entertaining to my followers and will be a great outlet to voice my opinion on movies.

Enjoy. 

- Matthew Reed