This is my latest DVD obsession which means I begin to compile my wish list of ones to get. So far my list includes:

  • The Day the Earth Stood Still
  • Them!*
  • This Island Earth
  • Invaders from Mars

Nick is helping me with this quest as I got in the mail today to review Earth vs. The Flying Saucers and IT Came from beneath the sea. These are two great films that showcase Ray Harryhausin's work and as a double treat both films are now in glorious color. These DVD's offer you the option to watch in color or b/w and even though I was pleased with the color version I enjoyed the b/w versions better. These films just seem like they were meant to be enjoyed in the way they were originally presented.

*Could have sworn I had this title but my attempt to find it resulted in frustration.

My other DVD obsession are documentaries although that has taken a back seat to Fifties Sci-Fi for the moment. In the documentary field my interests are primarily early American history, religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism), ancient cultures and biography. Most of the DVD's I have are from various series on PBS but I found that with their documentaries you get more than just a brief hour rundown and in some cases the subject matter covered deserves several hours devoted to it.

Titles I would highly recommend for those interested in this sort of stuff:

  • Winston Churchill Put out in 2003 by The History channel this 5-hour documentary is narrated by Churchill's official biographer Martin Gilbert. An in-depth look at the life of the most remarkable statesman of the 20th Century.
  • Eleanor Roosevelt Part of PBS's American Experience collection. Released in 2000 with a running time of 2 1/2 hours this documentary does a terrific job at telling the life story of a remarkable lady.
  • Egypt's Golden Empire Part of PBS's Empires series and released in 2001. This 3-hour documentary is stacked with a wealth of information. So much so I found myself rewatching it several times just to take it all in.
  • Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites Yet another PBS's Empire feature released in 2003. This 4-hour documentary offers some incredible insight into the early years and establishment of Judaism.
  • TR PBS American Experience, released in 1996 and is a terrific feature on one of the most dynamic Presidents Theodore Roosevelt. With a running time of just under 4 hours this documentary provides a detailed biography of someone I would have loved to of met.
  • Decoding the Past: Secrets of the Koran Presented by The History Channel. I did a review of this for CHUD (when I find it I'll post a link) and just like the Kingdom of David documentary this one offers a detailed history of the Islamic faith.
  • FDR PBS's American Experience feature released in 1994. This is by far my favorite documentary on an American President (and who I feel has been our best President so far). This documentary runs for over 4 hours and showcases a President who had his fair share of flaws but in the end got the job done.
  • Abraham and Mary Lincoln, A house divided Yet another PBS American Experience feature that was released in 2001. With a running time of 6 hours this documentary is remarkable.
  • Nixon: A Presidency revealed A History Channel feature released in 2007 and another one I got to review for CHUD. Talk about someone who had some issues! Even still the documentary does a good job at balancing out Nixon's life and troubled career.
  • From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians PBS Frontline feature that was released in 1998 and runs for 4 hours. Outstanding documentary that gives detailed insight into the early days on the lives of the first Christians (they got it right and what I see today in this religion is so far removed from Jesus' teachings it is just sad)