I’m alternating, on Netflix, between TedTalks (this time the Crime and Punishment category), rewatching “Farscape,” and the Bill Moyers on Faith and Reason series which is fascinating.

Ken and I have been watching ESPN films at night. Netflix has added the 30 for 30 film series. If you aren’t into sports these are still really well put together documentaries/biographies of athletes. We watched one on Marion Jones, for example, but others on athletes whom I didn’t know anything about yet the portraits of these people who rise to such great heights and yet it is that height that can be their ultimate downfall. Classic heroes journey? I almost hesitate to type that because why does it seem that our only modern day heroes appear to be athletes or celebrities?

Speaking of athletes I also watched the documentary Spirit of the Marathon.  I have been trying to “run,” but I still don’t think I’d ever even contemplate a marathon. This film documents amateur and professional runners, and why they decide to run a marathon. Another story well told.

Apparently documentaries have really filled my thoughts lately. Maybe because I know the semester is starting, and the first thing we work on in first semester comp is how to tell stories about ourselves as a way to start writing. We are surrounded by narrative, but students (especially those who have had bad experiences with English classes) have to be reminded that they have stories that are valid to tell.

Most of the most recent documentaries that entered my queue have been on the sad side. I’m not sure if that is just what I’m drawn to right now, or if it is the sad story that is told more often than the ones of joy? I know we joked with one of my teacher’s in high school that we never had a “happy” book to read. Some of the other documentaries I watched include Burma VJ, The Suicide Tourist, and Azorian: The Raising of K-129. Although that last one isn’t necessary as sad although knowing that so many sailors, throughout history, have died on sunken vessels. Actually, what was saddest about the last one was just how much money was spent on the Azorian project via government funding. Was it worth it?

On a much happier note I finally watched the 1997 Borrowers film. I loved the “Borrowers”  books when I was a child, but I wasn’t sure about seeing the film. At that point I was still an undergrad and I was very – well, a movie will never be as good of the book. The film was fun though. It had some wonderful slapstick moments, and fun film work which made you wonder – how did they film that? All that being said though I felt I should go back to watch it after the Studio Ghibli film that was made based on the Borrower characters.

I really hate mice, but I still think it would be nice to have the Borrowers (or the Littles) as the reason why my socks, paper clips etc just disappear