Watch This

Let me try to find my voice. I want to share but I just don’t feel like talking today but it’s a Cold (post snow) day and I only did mandatory chores, so let me tackle some of the non-yard related stuff on the list.

As part of our homeschooling adventure we watch documentaries. I was going to do a weekly review of each one, but yeah… not happening. A few weeks in we decided to create a rating system and a brief critique of each so we (I) can potentially post short blog posts highlighting a few at a time.

These are the general questions that the children have to be prepared to answer:

• Title
• Year Released
• Description of Film/Central Message
• 4 “facts” in film that caught your attention
• Anything in film that wasn’t convincing, misleading, weak, or that you disagree with
• Does it appeal to reason or emotion
• Do you recommend? Why or Why not

I believe these are the documentaries we covered this past semester. No particular order. I have added links. I cannot say they are the best link, but enough to get you started on your journey should you want to investigate further.

Rating System:

⭐️= fell asleep   ⭐️⭐️  =boring

⭐️⭐️⭐️ =ok    🌟🌟🌟🌟=pretty good    🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 =great

Park Ave: Money, Power and the American Dream

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 Stars) They recommend it.

I Am Sugarcane

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 Stars) Could have easily been 30min shorter. They appreciated the documentary, but they do not recommend it.

The Black Panthers Vanguard of the Revolution

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5 stars) Informative, good presentation. It was a little long, but feels they needed the full 2 hours.

Requiem For The American Dream

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5 Stars) Recommended (one even decided to tell professor about to possibly use in course). Good info, but boring. Some concepts needed more time to explain further. It was hard to keep up with. Liked the format.

Burt’s Buzz

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 Stars)  We watched this one on accident. I watched and told them about it so they opted to watch it one night. My son wasn’t much into it but since he is a budding beekeeper I insisted.

Ten9Eight: Shoot For The Moon

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 Stars) They liked the concept and what it incites. It makes you want to create and learn new skills. They did not agree with the judge’s decision based on what they were able to see. They do not recommend it, but can see themselves possibly mentioning it in a conversation.

Life and Debt

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5 stars)  Informative, good length, and really appreciated the narration. They said this documentary make them want to go along with my obsession of supporting good brands. My daughter did further research on her own, and it was concluded that until we find a brand they approve of I cannot but bananas. I must admit, I was very happy with their choice, but no more bananas? My other daughter pointed out if we were eating local and in season bananas wouldn’t be on the menu anyway. I simply said, “yes ma’am.” And submitted. I guess they are listening to me.

Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property

“A real revolution is either thorough or its doomed. Real revolutionaries know that.”

⭐️⭐️ (2.5 Stars) This didn’t really capture their attention. They thought the movie parts were horrible. They did like how the producer showed a double narrative during the slavery portion. They felt the producer did what he set out to do which was present what info he had and showed how little info there really is regarding Nat Turner. Mentioned that it was interesting to see people’s moral dilemmas. And of course it left them with the question, “were those really Nat Turner’s confessions?”

Chilsholm ’72: Unbought and Unbossed

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) Good info, but not captivating

Koch Brothers Exposed

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 Stars) A lot of info, captivating, and liked how short it was. However, it was hard to take notes.

South of the Border

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5 Stars) Long but captivating

Fidel

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 Stars) Good info, but didn’t like presentation