Tag Archives: Documentary

A Fond Look Back at REVIVAL69: The Concert That Rocked the World

30 Nov

REVIVAL69

Opens in Select Cinemas across Canada beginning Dec 16, 2022
See Below for British Columbia Screenings
* Mild Spoiler Alert

‘Twas the summer of 69, and while many remember Woodstock as the event that transformed music, there were others, namely Toronto Rock and Roll Revival, where locals praised it as the “…the best show of my life.” The new documentary REVIVAL69: The Concert That Rocked the World by Director Ron Chapman looks at how the idea got started, and all the troubles that went with staging such a production.

I can’t help but wonder if a very young Bryan Adams was at this Canadian show to get inspired to play his six-string till his fingers bled. As for how this film can influence not only his destiny but also those who were there–including Geddy Lee, only time will tell. This frontman of RUSH was interviewed about how this concert changed him. Although some performers had trepidation about being here, they were ready and willing. Others who weren’t too sure took convincing. And as for John Lennon, this event showed to the world he’s “quit” The Beatles in a not so official way. But for him to offer a different style of performance theatre wasn’t without its hurdles either. The backstory is quite compelling, and I was glued to this subplot more than the other narratives.

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Elephant Refugees and Their Ongoing Fight to be Free

14 Nov

Elephant RefugeesComing to VOD/Digital on Nov 18 Worldwide

When a documentary title is simply called Elephant Refugees, it’s easy to realise they have no place to call home and somewhere, humans are mistreating them. In respect to the latter, when Botswana banned elephant poaching in 2014, these gentle mammals knew there’s a haven to flock to and it’s perfectly documented. Their migration was unexpected, and it generated problems and provoked humanity to re-evaluate their accord with the gentle beast.

What’s studied in this documentary by Louise Hogarth goes beyond studying our rapport with this majestic fellow. The last work I reviewed was When Elephants Were Young, which concerned the latter–exploiting them for tourism and labour. With this latest, the focus is on how we can help them. But at what cost? When they proved to be a unexpected boon to a region that’s been opening up to eco-tourism, to move them away is required when they start devestating the area in search for water. In regards to the Moller family’s ironically named camp site and bush lodge, Elephant Sands, the pros and cons about keeping them around or sending them away need to be weighed.

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When Urban Myth Mixes Up Bloodlines in The Jersey Devil Curse….

12 Nov

Bloodlines The Jersey Devil Curse

From 1091 Pictures Beginning November 15

Bloodlines The Jersey Devil Curse gives us some updates on the latest sightings, but whether this creature is from folklore or something else, no one knows. This documentary excellently examines this urban legend throughout the ages.

In the 1800s, maybe it was just some animal no colonist recognised. The legend attached to its creation linked those early sightings to the Leeds family. But not everyone knew they were Quakers, and they were excommunicated due to what Daniel, the patriarch, believed and put in his almanacks. Cursing him did not morph him into the chimaera-like beast. Instead, just how this creature with the head of a horse, body of a kangaroo and wings of a bat came about is still a subject Cryptozoologists are debating over.

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Jack Osbourne’s Haunted Homecoming. He’s Ready to Sing!

27 Oct

Jack Osbourne's Haunted Homecoming

On Discovery Plus

Jack Osbourne is finally returning to his roots, and we get to learn why he’s embarked on a career in searching for ghosts and ufos. It’s not about dealing with sordid family history, but instead in finding answers to why he’s become a magnet of sorts. I’m glad his latest, Haunted Homecoming, gets to explain that past, and it’s very appropriate to catch on All Hallow’s Eve weekend.

It’s the type of show which helps validate why he’s the star behind other programs like Portals to Hell and The Osbournes, We Want to Believe. Unlike these other shows, what’s presented here feels a lot more personal. We’re not dealing with those famously haunted places. Instead, it’s in what lurks at the places he often frequented during his youth. Despite what one reality tv show tried to imply, he’s a lot more normal than we realise. And where he went after school speaks a lot about his character. Although three episodes were only made and five locales are visited, I hope he’ll extend this series to include even more moments of his life.

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It Continues. Mark Cousins’ The Story of Film, A New Generatio

23 Oct

Story of Film Final Poster

On all major streaming platforms Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and Google Play
Coming to Home Video on Nov 22.

Mark Cousins is no stranger to the history of cinema since he’s a producer. And in The Story of Film, A New Generation, what he presents is not only meditative but also entrancing. He updates viewers about movies that were released after his seminal series from 2011.

Although he contrasts modern storytelling with older motion pictures, what he contemplates is in how the narrative has and has not changed over the years. It’s hard to be innovative these days, and what Cousins reveals restores my hope in what filmmakers can do. This Irish filmmaker (and historian) knows his stuff, and the fact he’s very well versed in independent and international cinema shows he’s the right person to host. To follow it all is tough, and my hat is off to him. He manages to track down films even I haven’t heard of, and although my focus is with Asian cinema, he goes further and considers even more harder to find works.

But in terms of popular culture, not only does he talk about Frozen, Joker, but also Midsommner. Finding a list of the works he referenced is easy with the Internet, but to find a copy to watch is harder. We need specialty streaming services or a local video rental shop like Pic-a-flic in my hometown that carries obscure films. Not every work has to be made in the USA. Some come from other territories like Romania or Argentina.

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