Flying Monsters 3D, the latest instalment from David Attenborough about pterosaur life, is just as educational as it is dazzling and visually stunning. Did you know, for example, that pterosaurs were once a group of ancient reptiles who took to the air to eat flying insects? Or, that pterosaurs evolved, over millions of years, into more advanced and skilled predators that could adapt to both gliding and walking the earth? Or, that one species of pterosaur, the Quetzalcoatlus, is understood by palaeontologists to have been the size of a giraffe, with a wingspan, tip to tip, of around 40 feet? I didn’t, and part of the fun of watching Flying Monsters is about learning these incredible facts. The other part, and probably the most enjoyable part, is about sitting in front of the IMAX screen and having amazingly life-like pterosaurs gliding around your face.

Attenborough takes us to a world of childlike fantasy, a world before human life, where dinosaurs roamed and pterosaurs graced our skies: a world that is dated back to around 220 million years ago. The documentary’s premise is about uncovering truths and answering questions about the evolution, life span and extinction of pterosaurs: how and why they came to fly, and how they eventually disappeared. The documentary works, I think, because Attenborough learns with us, and we discover the answers to these questions as he does. We become part of the documentary and its simulated world and, as viewers, we observe and question the material like a palaeontologist or scientist would.

The entire film was shot in 3D, and the pterosaurs, brought to life through advanced CGI techniques, seemed so real that is was hard to believe that were artificially created.  The background scenery, shot in 3D, was filmed across the globe in regions such as Germany, New Mexico, England, France and Scotland. The exterior that was shot in these regions, such as vast mountain ranges, hills, and forest land, provided spectacular backdrops for the on-screen flying pterosaurs and were beautifully illuminated on the wide IMAX screen. Attenborough navigates his way through this exterior, meets with renowned palaeontologists, discusses fossils and evidence and, accompanied by a trademark authoritative voice over, works at uncovering the mystery of pterosaur life.

It is not surprising that Flying Monsters has already won a BAFTA in the ‘Specialist Factual’ category. In fact, Flying Monsters is the only 3D film ever to have received a BAFTA. It may even pioneer a new way of documentary filmmaking – in 3D. Have you ever wondered what a pterosaur looks like in full flying motion? Ever wondered what a pterosaur actually is? Attenborough finds answers to these questions, and we are taken on that journey, in which pterosaurs are no longer the stuff of fantasy.

Rating:

Review by Luke Creely

Dave Griffiths

Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me, Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden) has in the past gone after fast food companies and even one of the most prominent terrorists of all time, but this time he has his heart set on something that most people would consider even more evil… advertising in films and television shows. And while he may not expose exactly what he sets out to do he does dig up some pretty scary things about advertising in general.

After seeing the amount of product placement in one of Spurlock’s favourite TV shows, Heroes, he wondered if it was possible to make a film that is completely funded by corporate sponsorship. Pom Wonderful presents The Greatest Movie Ever Sold follows Spurlock as he meets with company executives, advertising experts and Hollywood bigwigs as he attempts to ‘sell’ every aspect of the film.

Spurlock has great intentions, I mean who hasn’t sat in a movie theatre and groaned at the sight of product placement in a movie, but he does slightly miss his mark. He skirts on the issue of product placement and while it is interesting to see how he works with the companies that he gets involved with the docco you don’t exactly see films like Iron Man selling space in their title or having their directors wear a ‘Nascar-style’ suit when they are doing interviews. For most of the film you feel that the execs featured are really just humoring Spurlock… and yes seeing a way to get some cheap advertising space.

What Spurlock does do a great job of is exposing the advertising world and the lows that they will go… and the research that they do to go to those lows. How many people would think that a advertising agency would go as far as putting someone through neurological tests to see how advertising works on them. That is the true power of this docco and something that Spurlock really should have focused more on.

Certainly not the greatest docco of all time but this is certainly worth a look if like so many people advertising annoys you… but you still want to know how it works.

Year: 2011

Director: Morgan Spurlock

Stars: Morgan Spurlock

Classification: M

Runtime: 84 mins

Rating:

Out now on DVD

Dave Griffiths

If you are prepared to just sit back and label new docco Fighting Fear just another extreme-sports-docco then you are certainly in for a rethink. This has actually ended up a docco that has real heart and it is easy to see how it could end up inspiring anyone who happens to see it.

Directed by Macario De Souza (Bra Boys) Fighting Fear follows the lives of two of Maroubra’s Bra Boys who have risen to become the cream of their sports. Narrated by Joel Edgerton (The Thing, Warrior) the docco follows Mark Matthews as he battles an initial fear of the surf and, later on, serious injury as he becomes one of the world’s top big-wave surfers. At the same time we see his best friend, Richie ‘Vas’ Vaculik overcome a violent past to become a mixed martial arts champion.

With insightful interviews with the likes of Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning and vision that you have to see to believe Fighting Fear is a worthy docco that anyone seeking inspiration will want to see over and over again. De Souza really announces himself as one of the best new directors around with this docco. His sensational surf footage and use of new technology to gather some impressive shots of both Matthews and Vaculik doing what they do best makes this a must see on the big screen.

De Souza also doesn’t let the amazing footage get in the way of the human-interest side of the story either. Both Vaculik and Matthews are extremely open about their lives and some member of the audience may find themselves have a deep look at their own lives when they see what these two amazing men have overcome.

Fighting Fear is an interesting docco that certainly won’t disappoint; it is certainly one you have to see on the big screen as the footage won’t look anywhere near as good on DVD. Write off at your own peril, because you’ll be missing out on something really stunning.

Year: 2011

Director: Macario De Souza

Stars: Joel Edgerton, Mark Matthews, Richie ‘Vas’ Vaculick

Classification: M

Runtime: 86 mins

Rating:

Out on DVD/Blu-Ray 1st March 2012

Dave Griffiths

Sometimes you see a docco that you just know is going to stick with you for a long, long time. The Tall Man is one such docco. For any Australian that believes that Aboriginals get equal treatment to white people this is the docco that will put the truth into perspective… it’s certainly one that you will be talking about for ages after the final credits close.

Directed by Tony Krawitz (TV’S All Saints & City Homicide) The Tall Man tells the tragic story of the death of Cameron Doomadgee. The Palm Island resident was arrested by local policeman Christopher Hurley and just forty-five minutes later he lay dead in a Police cell. With evidence linking Hurley to the deaths various investigations have been held over the years. The docco explores the subsequent inquiries and looks at the riot that occurred when the local Aboriginal community stood up and demanded that justice be done.

The way Krawitz has put together this docco is truly sensational. He has been able together intense pieces of footage including police interviews and court recordings. These, grouped together with some gripping achieve footage and some confronting witness interviews show the audience just how injustice can still be done within Australia’s legal system. Krawitz treats the audience like they are a jury piecing together every piece of evidence and then leaving it to them to work out what they believed happened… and trust me you are guaranteed to have a theory by the time the docco is finished.

In some ways The Tall Man can be considered one of the most important doccos to ever be made in Australia. If you have any interest in Aboriginal rights or simply want to see a well-crafted docco, then this is a film you shouldn’t miss.

Year: 2011

Director: Tony Krawitz

Stars: Nil

Classification: TBC

Runtime: 79 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

Sometimes timing is everything. Sitting down to watch Fastest only days after the death of Marco Simoncelli in last weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix makes this docco even more poignant. See, this docco looks at what at takes for a Moto GP rider to become the fastest man on two wheels, and you soon realise that when they say that riders can pay a huge cost… you know they aren’t joking.

Narratored by Ewan McGregor (Perfect Sense, Beginners) Fastest looks at all elements of what it takes a Moto GP to reach the very top… and become World Champion. By focusing on 9 times Moto GP World Champ Valentino Rossi the docco is able to look at his great rivalry with riders such as Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner. It looks at the discipline, the sacrifice and pain that riders endure, it takes a look at just how hard it is for a team to put together that winning formula.

Director, Mark Neale (The Doctor, The Tornado And The Kentucky Kid, Faster) certainly has put together a stunning docco. His mix of interview, archival footage and race cam is the perfect mix and for once a docco maker seems to have gotten into the heads of Moto GP riders in such a way that they appear to be human, not the superheroes that they are normally portrayed as. In many senses Fastest is a docco about human nature as well as motor sport. Although, it is moments like Simoncelli saying how ‘you want to kill the person that is riding beside you on the track, but then sit down and have a beer with him afterwards’ that is likely to linger in your memory. Neale doesn’t hide the fact that this is a dangerous sport, in fact he highlights it. Seeing, Rossi come back from a broken leg is awe-inspiring while tributes to the riders who have died reminds you that tragedy is only ever one second away.

Fastest is a docco that can be enjoyed by people that aren’t even Moto GP fans. The insight it gives into the sport and sporting champions in general is amazing. This high octane docco is certainly a great watch.

Fastest is showing across Australia as a special cinema event for four days only from 10 November at selected cinemas through Hoyts Cinemas, Village Cinemas and Event Cinemas. For more information visit fastestthemovie.com.

Year: 2011

Director: Mark Neale

Stars: Ewan McGregor

Classification: M

Runtime: 106 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

This Is Not A Film is extremely difficult to review. Be too cryptic and nobody in the world will have any idea what you are talking about, but don’t be cryptic enough and you could land a couple of people in trouble with the Iranian Government. So, what you are left with is a fine ‘effort’ that must be seen by anyone that hates injustice.

Iranian film director Jafar Panahi is well known for films such as Crimson Gold and The White Balloon. In March 2010 he spoke out against a rigged Iranian election and as a result finds himself under house arrest, is banned from writing screenplays or making films for 20 years and also has a 6 year jail sentence hanging over his head. Together with director, Mojtaba Mirtahasb (Lady Of The Roses) he decides to document what a typical day is like while under house arrest.

It’s not so much what Panahi does in this docco that makes it a good watch; it’s what he doesn’t do. Panahi reveals how ridiculous his situation is by ‘not’ making his new film, but instead telling the audience what he wanted to make. It makes you realise that if he can speak about it and act it out then why the hell can’t he actually make it. Panahi also shows just how hard it is for anyone who is into the Arts in Iran by interviewing his ‘trash-man’, a man who is studying Art but has no idea what he will do with his degree when he has finished at uni.

While many will argue that nothing major happens in This Is Not A Film this is in fact an important docco that reveals more about modern Iran than you are ever likely to see on a news report.

Year: 2011

Director: Mojtaba Mirtahmasb, Jafar Panahi

Stars: Jafar Panahi

Classification: G

Runtime: 75 mins

Rating:

Out on DVD/Blu-Ray 18th April 2012

Dave Griffiths

After the high-octane thrills of Senna earlier this year it’s hard to imagine another docco that could outclass it – yet that is exactly what you get with TT3D: Closer To The Edge. I’ve always been critical of the use of 3D technology in modern film but this is one docco where it enhances the footage and really makes the audience feel part of the subject matter.

The subject matter at hand just happens to be one of the most dangerous motorcycle races in the world. The Isle Of Man Tourist Trophy is an annual motorcycle race that really does test the nerves and skills of some of the world’s most talented motorcyclists. Year after year challengers travel to The Isle Of Man for this race and each year there are serious crashes that do frequently end in tragedy with death a certain possibility. TT3D: Closer To The Edge follows the race of several riders but mainly focuses on Guy Martin, an outlandish rider who is determined to win his first TT Winner’s Trophy. It goes behind the scenes are really explores why a man like Martin puts his life on the line year-after-year for the privilege to hold a trophy aloft.

Many laughed when the film’s director, Richard De Aragues (mainly known for filming commercials) said he wanted to film TT3D: Closer To The Edge in 3D, but he certainly had the last laugh because it is the 3D shots in this film that make it so special. You first realise just how good it is when a rider’s helmet takes you on a 3D lap of the circuit and you literally feel like you are there holding on for dear life. As far as the rest of the film goes it doesn’t matter whether it is footage of a confronting crash or just the picturesque views of the Isle Of Man, everything is enhanced in 3D.

De Aragues must have also been licking his lips when he first met Guy Martin. Martin is the perfect subject for a docco like this. He’s not your flashy playboy motorcyclist like the Valentino Rossi’s of this world, Martin is the the boy-next-door kind of guy that you have a laugh and a beer with at the pub. His sense of humour makes him interesting and his determination to win at all costs makes you have a deep respect for him. The key to this docco is the fact that the audience cares what happens to Martin. Not only do you want him to win but with when the crashes (and unfortunate deaths) start coming you find yourself really hoping that he gets through unscathed.

While TT3D: Closer To The Edge is a must see for anyone that has a love of motorbikes or motor sport it can also easily be embraced by those who know nothing about either. Visually spectacular and with the perfect subject TT3D: Closer To The Edge is one of the best doccos you will see this year.

Year: 2011

Director: Richard De Aragues

Stars: Guy Martin

Classification: TBC

Runtime: 104 mins

Rating:

Out on DVD/Blu-Ray 14th March, 2012

Dave Griffiths

At a quick glance the new Australian docco The Triangle Wars is really only a film that residents of St Kilda would find interesting, however if you assume that you are very, very wrong. After viewing the film I can say with certainty that this is a very important film indeed, this is a film that shows that ‘people power’ still has some worth in modern society and just goes to show that if a council/government makes a decision it is never the end of the matter.

For those unaware of what happened, basically The Triangle Wars centres around a fight that lasted three years (and is still going in some forms). The then St Kilda council announced that they were looking at a proposal from Citta’s Stephen McMillan which would involve a piece of St Kilda’s heritage being turned into a shopping mall. With the council debating the decision a group of St Kilda residents led by photographer, Serge Thomann decided to fight back. Soon celebrities such as Dave Hughes, Rachel Griffiths and Rod Quantock were also on-side and the fight was really on.

First time director, Rosie Jones does a great job making this docco accessible to everyone (not just St Kilda residents). She manages to show no bias with the docco even having interviews with Cr Dick Gross (a supporter of The Triangle Development) and even with the developer himself, Stephen McMillan. Many filmmakers would never have interviewed these two as they would want the docco to come from the public’s point of view, but by including these interviews she gets her point across really easily. McMillan is extremely unlikeable in his interview – it is clear he has no sympathy for the suburb or people of St Kilda and this speaks to the audience so much.

There are a couple of technical hiccups with the docco, shots out of focus etc, but they are minimal and for the most part you find yourself truly engrossed in the film, and yes you even find yourself barracking for the people of St Kilda in the same way you supported The Kerrigans in The Castle.

The Triangle Wars is a fascinating docco that does a good job providing information while remaining entertaining. If you like doccos that expose government corruption or shows the might of people-power then you’ve got to give The Triangle Wars a look. This is a docco that every Australian must see.

Year: 2011

Director: Rosie Jones

Stars: Rosie Jones, Serge Thomann, Stephen McMillan, Dick Gross, Rachel Griffiths, Rod Quantock, Dave Hughes

Classification: M

Runtime: 90 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

A number of artists have now jumped on the bandwagon of broadcasting concerts live into Cinemas around the world to give their fans a real treat, but now the Red Hot Chili Peppers have joined the game and taken it to a whole new level.

See the Chili Peppers haven’t just recorded a concert they’ve done something completely new. They travelled all the way to Cologne, Germany and recorded live every track from their new I’m With You album, in a way this is the band introducing each one of their new songs to their fans and I have to admit that it makes you listen to the album in a whole new way.

Seeing all new songs by The Chili Peppers (well all new except for the encore which is ‘Give It Away’) had me nervous before seeing the film, I mean when you go to a concert a lot of the times you tune out when the new songs are being played because you don’t really know them yet, but there is something about the way the Red Hot Chili Peppers have done this that has you transfixed to the screen.

The lead-up material is a bit ordinary but the concert is magnificent. New guitarist, Josh Klinghoffer slots into the band like he has been there for 20 years while Flea puts on one of his finest performances ever, perhaps because he knows he has a global audience watching. He leaves you wondering whether he could possibly be the best bassist to ever walk this earth, he even plays with such intensity that he cramps up. Anthony Kiedis is also on fire and you soon find yourself realizing why you love the Peppers so much.

Cynics may say that this is a money-making-scheme by a band rich enough to know better. But it clearly isn’t. The band have done this to show the world their art and that is clear by the fact that they come back to redo a track they believe wasn’t technically correct the first time around. And while all tracks are performed brilliantly I have to say that my faves at the end of the night were ‘The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie’ and ‘Did I Let You Know’.

If you’re a music fan than this is a must for you to go see. At the moment the band is saying it will never be released on DVD so the cinemas are you only shot. This is the kind of concert that you’ll be telling your grandkids about…I’m With You on the big screen is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you shouldn’t miss.

Year: 2011

Director: N/A

Stars: Flea, Anthony Kiedis, Josh Klinghoffer, Chad Smith

Classification: M

Runtime: 120 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

It’s a big call, but Tornado Alley has some of the best visuals you are ever likely to see on the big screen, and the fact that you can view it in IMAX and in 3D only makes it even more spectacular. When nature puts on a show like the storms of the plains of America it takes a brilliant director like Sean Casey to capture it this well.

In Tornado Alley we see the scientific research team known as Vortex 2 as they try to use a massive amount of equipment to gather new research into why Tornadoes form in the area of the United States known as Tornado Alley. At the same time director, Sean Casey is trying is hardest to drive his Interceptor vehicle into the heart of a tornado in a bid to be the first person to ever do so.

For fans of the TV series Storm Chasers this docco is an absolute must-see. In the show Casey regular comes across as the bad-guy but in his own docco you do get to see more about the man of himself and his passion. It’s probably not enough to have you ‘barracking’ for him in Storm Chasers but it is enough to make you admire him. Firstly, for the reason that he has spent eight years making this docco and secondly because he truly has a natural eye as a director. Not only does he capture the heart of a tornado (with footage that has to be seen to be believed) but his stunning footage of storm-cloud patterns is sensational.

Casey has actually created a brilliant docco with Tornado Alley. He provides the spectacular footage and has your heart-in-your-mouth as he and his driver, Marcus Gutierrez race towards tornadoes but the Vortex 2 also provide enough scientific background to make this docco both educational as well as entertaining. Add that to the fact that Bill Paxton’s (Haywire, TV’S Big Love) is interesting without becoming overpowering and you really do have the perfect docco.

Even people that normally find doccos as dull as ditchwater will be amazed by Tornado Alley. This certainly isn’t like the doccos that put you to sleep in school, it’s amazing visuals and heart-racing thrills with have you on the edge of your seat with adrenalin pumping. If you only see one docco this  year…make sure it’s Tornado Alley.

Year: 2011

Director: Sean Casey

Stars: Bill Paxton, Sean Casey

Classification: G

Runtime: 45 mins

Rating:

Dave Griffiths