Netflix Steaming movie of the Week: Cave of Forgotten Dreams

We continue our month long look at Werner Herzog documentaries that are streaming on Netflix.

This week we are looking at Cave of Forgotten Dreams.

The movie documents some of the oldest cave paintings ever found. The Chauvet Caves in South France have drawings that date back 30,000 years along with fossils and other signs of life. The caves are off limits to the general public and those that are allowed to enter only have a limited time. Herzog was granted permission to bring a 3D camera and film down there.

For a Werner Herzog documentary this is the one that is the most different from the others.  It is still a wonderful film with great philisophical moments by Herzog.  And as a huge fan of Herzog I will watch pretty much anything he narrates. But one of the brilliance of Herzog is his interviewing and getting people to open up.  This movie has very little of that since it mostly about the caves.  I would have loved to see the movie in it's original 3D but I did not get a chance too.  Still the movie is beautifully shot and Herzog does offer his unique observations on things.  

Cave of Forgotten Dreams on Netflix

       

Netflix Steaming movie of the Week: Encounters at the End of the World

We continue our month long look at Werner Herzog documentaries that are streaming on Netflix.

This week we are looking at Encounters at the End of the World the only Herzog movie to be nominated for an Academy Award. 

In this movie Herzog travels to Antarctica to interview the people that live and work there.  His goal was to find out what kind of people go there and he made it very clear he “would not come up with another film about penguins”.   What Herzog finds in Antarctica are a group of fascinating people.  He interviews everyone from maintenance workers to scientists.  As always Herzog uses his unique outlook on things to ask questions that get interesting answers.  Although he does spend time showing us the wonder and beauty of Antarctica Herzog is more fascinated with the contrast of the mini city that has been built.  Lamenting that it “has climate-controlled housing, a bowling alley, and abominations such as an aerobic studio and yoga classes. It even has an ATM machine”.    

At the end of the movie the viewer is left with a feeling of awe for the land and the people that work there.  It takes a special kind of person to want to work there and Herzog is the perfect person to document them. 

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Encounters_at_the_End_of_the_World/70081088?trkid=2361637

Alternative Christmas Movies on Netflix

Hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas.  With lots of new movies in the multiplex’s you might be tempted to take one in. But if you feel like sitting at home and watching some movies on Netflix there are also lots of choices. 

There are the classics White Christmas, Miracle on 34^th Street, The Polar Express, and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.  Or maybe you are going to watch A Christmas Story marathon on TBS.  But maybe you’re like me and are looking for something a little different.  Well here is my list of Alternative Christmas Movie choices. 

1.  Rare Imports: A Christmas Tale – A Finnish horror movie about a killer Santa Claus.  For those that enjoy a little scare on your Christmas day this is the movie for you.  It is not a gory slasher movie like Silent Night, Deadly Night nor a cheesy movie like Santa’s Slay or Jack Frost.  It is just a well-made thriller.  It is definitely worth checking out if you don’t mind reading subtitles. 

http://youtu.be/PwT3wtUCv9Y

2.  Becoming Santa- A wonderful documentary about a guy’s quest to be a Santa Claus for a season.  It is funny and touching.  The funniest parts take place at a Santa school.  Who knew there was a place where they teach you how to be Santa Claus.  I was glad I was able to catch this at the Milwaukee Film Fest a few years ago. 

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3.  Santa Claus Conquers the Martians-  If you like really cheesy old movies this is the one for you.  I have to say I have not seen this whole movie but from what I have seen it is pretty ridiculous.  The premise is that Martians kidnap Santa to bring back to Mars so their kids can have Christmas.  The movie is so bad that it even got its own episode of Mystery Science Theatre 3000.  If you’re in the mood for a double feature you can check out the MST3K episode on you tube.  

  

http://youtu.be/HnEJrwYXXsI

http://youtu.be/kYIl69BHzQM

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