*Edit* These are all the documentaries I've seen over the past year or two, not all the ones I would recommend. The dates are the dates I viewed them. *Edit*
I am a science-fiction, fantasy, and action-movie fan, but for some reason my wife an I have indulged in a number of documentaries lately. Most documentaries are biased to make you feel either:
1 - Guilty so you change your ways or beliefs
2 - Enraged so you write your Congressman or woman
Here is a quick rundown on some of the documentaries we've recently seen to save you some time:
Almost, but not quite
Spellbound (01/05/06) - Spellbound follows a number of children as they train to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The movie is well-made and does an excellent job of remaining impartial. Afterwards you feel entertained, have a better understanding of just how competitive the Scripps Bee is, and more than a little sympathy for some of the children that obsess over the bee.
Amazing
Super Size Me (02/16/06) - This is not a documentary so much as much as an attack on fast food using McDonald's as a proxy; and it does a fantastic job. Everyone will enjoy some aspect of this film, be it the frightening impact eating high quantities of fast food has on the protagonist's body, or the strange people he meets that are obsessed with McDonald's culture. Be sure to watch the extras, which include a mini-documentary of the aging of hamburgers from various establishments. Highly recommended.
Ambitious
March of the Penguins - Penguins are the new puppies, and this movie plays to the "aww" factor of the Emporer Penguin as the viewer follows them through their mating cycle. The movie is entertaining and informative, but ultimately you are unlikely to ever need any of the knowledge it provides unless you are seeking a career involving arctic mammals or birds.
Worth playing
This Film Is Not Yet Rated (03/08/07) - Every Gamespot user that has ever complained about the disparity between game ratings and movie ratings might benefit from this film. The directors focus on movie ratings disparities and prejudices, such as harsher ratings for movies depicting homosexual intimacy than the equivalent heterosexual scene, even something as small as an on-screen kiss. It also discusses the lack of ratings enforcement against violent films. Unfortunately the directors have an obvious axe to grind against the MPAA that detracts from the film, and ends up a rant rather than an editorial. Still, they make many good arguments against the MPAA's current rating system (and a couple bad ones); it is worth viewing by most gamers.
Overrated
An Inconvenient Truth (03/29/07) - If you are under 30, you will not learn anything from Al Gore's movie that you did not learn in high school. That being said, the film makes a solid case that global warming is occurring and that we need to take action now; everyone.
Rent it first
Wordplay (04/18/07) - An entertaining look at the competitive world of crossword puzzlers. Entertaining for my wife and I as avid board gamers, but probably boring to most people. Recommended to people that like puzzles and documentaries about people who like puzzles.
Masterpiece
Jesus Camp (05/09/07) - This film was more frightening than anything I have ever seen, and should be mandatory viewing for U.S. citizens. The directors bias the film through some slick editing, but even through their bias this film is one of the most disturbing accounts of what can be described as no less than child brainwashing en masse. The only caveat is that the film blatantly attacks domestic Christian Evangelicals, which is unfortunate because the problem is religious extremists, not evangelicals, per se. A must-see, in my opinion.
Pretentious
Who Killed the Electric Car? (07/02/07) - This was an extremely slanted view of the destruction of the General_Motors EV1, a completely electric concept car. It was an interesting and educational film, and you will learn a lot about the electric car. Ultimately the film became preachey and aggressive towards General Motors and the auto industry in general, and lost its basic message. I will sum up the important this from this film in one sentence for you, and save you some time: The technology exists to make silent, efficient, and affordable electric cars, but the technology has been repressed by industries dependent on fossil fuels for survival. The End.
Surprisingly good
Born Into Brothels (08/06/07) - A photographer in calcutta teaches the children of brother workers how to use cameras in an attempt to improve their lives. An interesting look at the red light district of Sonagchi, Calcutta. This movie won an Oscar, and I was entertained, but not as moved as I thought I would be prior to viewing.
Instant cIassic
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (09/11/07) - Like Jesus Camp, this should be mandatory viewing for Americans. It borders on the unbelievable that one firm could have so great an impact on the country. Did you know Enron was partly responsible for the California blackouts? That the firm had political ties with the current Presidential administration? While not the most exciting film, it is packed with informative content condensed into an hour and a half. Highly recommended.
Keep an eye out for comments from my wife, Dr_Boz, I'm sure she'll have a couple words to add about the aforementioned if you are interested.