CATFISH: THRILLER AND A DOCUMENTARY NOT ABOUT FISH
Vince Pierce: They used to tank cod from Alaska all the way to China. They'd keep them in vats in the ship. By the time the codfish reached China, the flesh was mush and tasteless. So this guy came up with the idea that if you put these cods in these big vats, put some catfish in with them and the catfish will keep the cod agile. And there are those people who are catfish in life. And they keep you on your toes. They keep you guessing, they keep you thinking, they keep you fresh. And I thank god for the catfish because we would be droll, boring and dull if we didn't have somebody nipping at our fin.

Who knew a documentary film could be more thrilling than most of the "scary" horror films out on DVD right now. I can't say too much about this film without giving away the part that makes it so unbelievably awesome. This is a documentary that follows a young man (Nev) who practically falls into a rabbit hole of unbelievable circumstance that will literally blow your mind. During the last half an hour or so of this film I could barely remember to breathe and my eyes were glued to the screen. As the events unfolded, and this film became more and more shocking, it then turned a sharp corner and made it a touching testament to grace and forgiveness. This film is a real commentary on the human condition. I could not have enjoyed this film more. There were several times that I had to stop and check that it was indeed real, a documentary, and not a piece of fiction. Make sure to put this on your must-see list.

Note: Just like I'm Still Here was thought to be fake and in the end was, this movie has caught a lot of flak for not being authentic. The filmmakers have admitted to re-enacting some of the scenes, I would believe they took a lot of "creative" license with the whole film... if something is that unbelievable, maybe it is. Either way, I still loved this film and the idea alone is worth the good review.

BABIES: DOCUMENTARY AND NO SUBTITLES NECESSARY

This documentary follows the lives of four babies from their births until their first steps in different parts of the world; Mongolia, Tokyo, Namibia, and San Francisco. I have a friend who hates the use of this word in everyday speech, but I found this movie to be totally awesome. There is no voice over, and no explanation is necessary. The camera is like a fly on the wall recording each baby's development. It is amazing to see personality come through and in essence each cute and cuddly newborn turn into an actual person. I know this happens every day and I know that many people have already seen this occurrence, but to see it happen in comparison to other babies being raised very differently having different ways of living makes it somehow more poignant. Yes, there are the parts of the movie where everyone will say oooh and aaah, how cute, but this movie is more than that. The bonus features in this DVD include a visit to the children three years later. I absolutely loved this movie.

DON'T YOU FORGET ABOUT ME: BUT YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT THIS FILM

I don't think of kids as a lower form of the human species. -John Hughes

After making such a splash with a string of memorable and deeply touching movies that seem to effortlessly unearth the teenage soul and make it visible to the adult eye, John Hughes disappeared off the map. His last work was writing Drillbit Taylor under the pen name Edmond Dantes, a homage to the lead character in the Count of Monte Christo. However, there was a group of people, a very large group of people, who wanted to see John Hughes work again and perform the magic he was known for. This documentary, is about a group of such people. In 2006 a small crew from Canada decided to travel by van to Chicago in order to make some sort of plea to Hughes. I don't think they even knew exactly what they were going to do once they reached his hometown, but along the way they were able to visit some of his trademark spots local hangouts. To me, this only showed a lack of planning and a real naïveté of young film students in awe of the great man's work. What I did enjoy about this documentary were the comments made by Hughes' peers and actors from his more notable works. However well-intentioned fist movie was, it certainly fell flat of my expectations. Since Hughes' death in 2009, there have been many tributes and heartfelt accolades given publicly about the effect that his work had in cinema. While this documentary may have been well intentioned it didn't necessarily offer anything new or different to what I've seen. I suppose that I am glad to have seen this film however it didn't offer any stellar insight or make me appreciate John Hughes anymore than I already do.

WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE: TOP NOTCH DOORS DOCUMENTARY

At first it's odd to adjust to seeing Jim Morrison's face not looking like Val Kilmer. What a difference the truth makes. Johnny Depp narrates this journey of a few guys who just wanted to play some music and expand their consciousness to one of the greatest bands of all time. Please note, this is a documentary about the band, not about Jim Morrison. Moreover, it's a documentary about the music which when pushed up to maximum volume, sounds as clear and sharp and riveting as it did in the beginning. Director, Tom DiCillo presents old material injected with new footage. Watching this documentary is like viewing the band with fresh ears and eyes. It answers many questions and does so simply, no drama. Their performances and albums are synced with historical and cultural events; events that shaped our nation and their music. Jim, of course, has more screen time being the lead singer and focal train wreck and we are shown the creative, created chaos he strategically planned. The bonus features interviews with his since deceased father and his sister, who never seemed to have a voice previous to this project. Depps smooth voice competes with Morrison's throaty mix, but blends in rather than standing out. This may be a "for fans only" bit, except that I think this film could introduce a new generation to another kind of young angst. The good aren't the only ones who die young; so do the over indulged and hard lived. This is an outstanding testament to the band and its members. Fantastic work.