The Cove [2009] 'The Cove' is a compelling documentary on the whale hunts in Japan and the cruelty to Dolphins in general. It opened my eyes to the plight of the Dolphins, and beyond that was a thrilling viewing experience. It combined high tech technology and middle of the night raids which is good fun no matter what your concern for the Dolphins are. Armed with high tech equipment and enough passion, the group is out to film the cruelty at any cost. This is why it is such a well made documentary. It lays out its agenda, gives you the facts and it entertains you in the process.
Rating: 3/5
Burma VJ[2009] 'Burma VJ' is a thrilling documentary about the violence in Burma. The video taken was all done by video journalists who took the footage illegally on hand held cameras, risking their lives for the footage. The footage they did obtain is gripping, and it makes you wonder how the violence doesn't make bigger news. The documentary never comes across as manipulative, but rather shows events as they happen. With politicaly charged documentaries it is so often the case that it feels like watching propganda. This is not the case with Burma VJ. It may not be the best produced documentary, but the videos speak for themselves.
Rating: 4/5
How to Train Your Dragon[2010] 'How to Train Your Dragon' is absolute entertainment. It takes a simple premise - Dragons are cool - and manages to create a simple, heartfelt and thoroughly entertaining movie. There are no cheesy winks at the audience, pop culture references, or any of the other troupes that make so many CG animated movies lay limp on the screen. It envelopes us in a world that is full of imagination and doesn't shy away from inundating us with its own reality. It brilliantly plays on the near universal appeal of pets and ups the ante by creating the coolest pets imaginable: Dragons. The entire experience was a welcome reprieve and delivered wall to wall fun with just the right amount of heart mixed in.
Rating: 4/5