The Culture Cup round 8

Next up on the seemingly endless and woefully named Culture Cup is round 8 and the poll for 'Best ever Documentary'.  Personally, I am looking forward to the results on this round as the quality of the field is pretty damn good.  

Round 7 brought us the poll for 'Best film released in the decade of the participants birth'.  This round threw up a shockingly bad choice of winner with Azzy's pick of Die Hard.  How that can be the best or even most cultured film out of this bunch is a mystery.  Still, it means 12 points for Azzy and she moves into 3rd.  Galted and seanmichaels pick up 10 points each with Life of Brian and Jaws respectively, both of which would have been more deserving winners.  Jeff has gained 4 points on his nemesis superfly and edges closer to the top.  Hero and compelling & rich both picked up decent points hauls and maintain a healthy but not unsurpassable lead at the top.  A solid 7 points for Union has seen him pull away from the bottom, not a motion he is used to doing.  The Womble managed to pick up a vote despite his questionable, albeit very funny, choice of Supergirl.  Adam was the big loser, only picking up 2 votes for Halloween.  He really should have picked something better.  Something like Rocky would have surely got more points.

Hero (One flew over the Cuckoos nest): (8) 64
compelling & rich (Empire Strikes Back): (9) 61
Azzy (Die Hard): (12) 56
seanmichaels (Jaws): (10) 55
Galted (Life of Brian): (10) 50
Adam (Halloween): (4) 46
TopHat (Scarface): (6) 45
Rowley (Godfather II): (7) 44
onlytreblewinners (Shawshank Redemption): (7) 43
bhb (Cool Hand Luke): (5) 41
The Womble (Supergirl): (3) 39
superflyweight (Chinatown): (3) 38
The Boss (Pulp Fiction): (6) 37
Dolphin (Rainman): (4) 34
Union (Monty Python and the Holy Grail): (7) 34
JuliusHMarx (The Misfits): (3) 33
ChequeredJersey (Raiders of the Lost Ark): (4) 30
jbeadlesbigrighthand (Lethal Weapon): (4) 27

Round 9 brings us back to literature and the question is thus: Name the best piece of literature with a place or type of building in the title  It can be a town/country/planet/hall/shop/train station etc etc, you get the drift.  So long as it is some sort of place or building then it qualifies.  I will be the sole judge of whether it meets the criteria or not.  PLEASE PM AT LEAST A COUPLE OF CHOICES.

For the poll, you will only be able to vote for ONE CHOICE and vote cancelling will not be allowed.  It stopped the voting scandal that dogged the previous two rounds so we will carry on with it.

REMEMBER, IT IS OPEN FOR THE WHOLE FORUM TO VOTE!

Really struggled with this round. I desperately wanted to vote for Hoop Dreams, World at War, Roger and Me, An Inconvenient Truth and a couple of others are deserving of a mention. Louis Theroux makes me smile as well.

But, seeing as no-one went for Micro Monsters which is quite clearly the best ever documentary about the most prolific, hardy and adaptable species on the planet, then I had to go with Planet Earth. I remember the hype when it came out and it certainly didn’t disappoint and stands up to repeated viewing. It was just a mesmerising series, first ever documentary shot in HD from memory, and it gets my vote.

so glad i got my first choice but also disappointed I didnt get my second choice of Big Fat Gypsy weddings!

Adam D wrote:Big Fat Gypsy weddings!

That was Hero's first choice till I talked him out of it.

I went for An Idiot Abroad, p1ss-threateningly funny as well as an original concept even if Ricky Gervais's laugh makes your nipples bleed (it also ended the agonising over whether I should go for Planet Earth or Blue Planet). Have to congratulate you on your summaries of the previous rounds, Tino, very good reading.

Galted wrote:Have to congratulate you on your summaries of the previous rounds, Tino, very good reading.

Thanks. It's only taken 7 rounds for someone to notice.

Idiot Abroad for me too.

Fair play to you - they have made me chuckle each time too! My work colleagues asked me what I was laughing at today.

It was quite hard to explain how I was laughing at something on a site that I am not supposed to be looking at whilst at work and that it was to do with Rocky Balboa.

Totally different but World at War and Senna top 2 for me. WaW a supreme chronology and information provider, well done and good depth over 30 odd hours (I think). Senna, made to fit into feature film length and more (IMO) to entertain, but simply stunning and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Didn't read and just waded in so tried for 2 votes so no idea which one got it.

Hope someone puts forward a Number 73 annual for the next round. Sandi Toksvig, Neil Buchannen and Dawn of the Roller Skates in gripping drama about a family in a terraced house in Essex adapted from the TV show of the same name. Culture aplenty...

Adam D wrote:Fair play to you - they have made me chuckle each time too! My work colleagues asked me what I was laughing at today.

It was quite hard to explain how I was laughing at something on a site that I am not supposed to be looking at whilst at work and that it was to do with Rocky Balboa.

"A solid 7 points for Union has seen him pull away from the bottom, not a motion he is used to doing." is what did it for me.

Pains me to do it as it almost certainly nominated by my nemesis superfly but hoop dreams wins this for me. Watched it on superfly's recommendation and it is stunningly good, albeit very long.

Screwed up on this round. Should almost certainly have nominated When We Were Kings, guess time will tell if that was a mistake, although it almost certainly is.

Tino, I don't want to be prickly but Dont Look Back shouldn't have an apostrophe in don't.

Rowley wrote:Screwed up on this round. Should almost certainly have nominated When We Were Kings, guess time will tell if that was a mistake, although it almost certainly is.

Someone beat me to that. I doubt my second choice will do well.

I see no-one nominated Shoah.

The Womble wrote:Tino, I don't want to be prickly but Dont Look Back shouldn't have an apostrophe in don't.

All the wit, charm, effort, love, heart and soul I have poured into this and you pick up on a rogue apostrophe. That hurts Womble, that really hurts.

When I push a disabled person down the stairs later, you can blame yourself.

I don't know how to edit a poll so you'll just have to live with it.

Bloody hell Womble, give him a break. You'll be saying next it should be 'Bobby Fischer Against The World", not "vs The World"

JuliusHMarx wrote:Bloody hell Womble, give him a break. You'll be saying next it should be 'Bobby Fischer Against The World", not "vs The World"

Probably not Tina's fault that one.

Rowley wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:Bloody hell Womble, give him a break. You'll be saying next it should be 'Bobby Fischer Against The World", not "vs The World"

Probably not Tina's fault that one.

Due diligence?

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

The Womble wrote:Tino, I don't want to be prickly but Dont Look Back shouldn't have an apostrophe in don't.

All the wit, charm, effort, love, heart and soul I have poured into this and you pick up on a rogue apostrophe.  That hurts Womble, that really hurts.

When I push a disabled person down the stairs later, you can blame yourself.

I don't know how to edit a poll so you'll just have to live with it.

Rogue apostrophes are the scourge of our existence! I'll live with it on this occasion. Don't let it happen again!

JuliusHMarx wrote:Bloody hell Womble, give him a break. You'll be saying next it should be 'Bobby Fischer Against The World", not "vs The World"

 Now that you mention it.............

Rowley wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:Bloody hell Womble, give him a break. You'll be saying next it should be 'Bobby Fischer Against The World", not "vs The World"

Probably not Tina's fault that one.

Thanks Jeff. Fell on your sword there. Man of honour. Always said it.

Rowley eh? Left the bloody '.' off of the end of 'vs' as well. Lack of punctuation? Who do you think you are, D. A. Pennebaker?

Minor complaint is that the title is best ever documentary, not best ever documentary series. So this should exclude half the choices here. I probably didn't read the small print, so I expect the issue lies with me!

bhb001 wrote:Minor complaint is that the title is best ever documentary, not best ever documentary series. So this should exclude half the choices here. I probably didn't read the small print, so I expect the issue lies with me!

Where's the 'Can of Worms' emoticon?

JuliusHMarx wrote:

bhb001 wrote:Minor complaint is that the title is best ever documentary, not best ever documentary series. So this should exclude half the choices here. I probably didn't read the small print, so I expect the issue lies with me!

Where's the 'Can of Worms' emoticon?

Don't push me.

I picked my choice based on it being a one-off documentary as well!

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:

bhb001 wrote:Minor complaint is that the title is best ever documentary, not best ever documentary series. So this should exclude half the choices here. I probably didn't read the small print, so I expect the issue lies with me!

Where's the 'Can of Worms' emoticon?

Don't push me.

Round 10 - best Sly Stallone catchphrase.

I think it's how you define a documentary. I'm not sure one World at War is a documentary as it doesn't really do the justice of documenting the world at war. Thus, it is one long documentary which is separated into parts not due to the documenting but the behest of scheduling. Considering there are books from a time gone by that were released in chapters and volumes, conceivably these could be considered multiple works rather than one book (Dickens comes to mind but I can't remember which text)

Believe Great Expectations was serialised as you describe Dolphin. Same is true of a number of Dumas' works I believe.

I think feature length documentary is best. I don't think you can really compare 30 minute documentaries or single episodes of a series to documentary films. EDIT: Didn't see the options.

JuliusHMarx wrote:

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:

bhb001 wrote:Minor complaint is that the title is best ever documentary, not best ever documentary series. So this should exclude half the choices here. I probably didn't read the small print, so I expect the issue lies with me!

Where's the 'Can of Worms' emoticon?

Don't push me.

Round 10 - best Sly Stallone catchphrase.

Very good!

Can't we just focus on my amusing 'Union likes bottoms' gags and move away from all this nitpicking?

Think Senna is the best feature length one up there, and Planet Earth is possibly the best documentary series ever made.

David Attenborough's Southern Hemisphere
Partly Around The World in 10 Days
The World Just Heading Off To War

Bo11ocks. I will apologise now to Tino for this particular hare!

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:

bhb001 wrote:Minor complaint is that the title is best ever documentary, not best ever documentary series. So this should exclude half the choices here. I probably didn't read the small print, so I expect the issue lies with me!

Where's the 'Can of Worms' emoticon?

Don't push me.

Round 10 - best Sly Stallone catchphrase.

Very good!

am I allowed Rocky this time?

Adam D wrote:

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:

Mind the windows Tino. wrote:

JuliusHMarx wrote:

bhb001 wrote:Minor complaint is that the title is best ever documentary, not best ever documentary series. So this should exclude half the choices here. I probably didn't read the small print, so I expect the issue lies with me!

Where's the 'Can of Worms' emoticon?

Don't push me.

Round 10 - best Sly Stallone catchphrase.

Very good!

am I allowed Rocky this time?

 

I am not a bummer, don't know where this has come from.

Voted for WWWK, as it was my original first choice.

A 'highly commended' rosette for Senna, as it moved me in a strange way I am not used to and I actually found it quite hard to watch, knowing what was going to happen.

Can't see my subtitled documentary on East European robots getting me many votes.

Scottrf wrote:Think Senna is the best feature length one up there, and Planet Earth is possibly the best documentary series ever made.

But you're erring towards Senna with your voting right?

Not being gay or owt but I cried during Senna (including the time I watched it again recently).

Other than Senna there are quite a few documentaries on F1 that are both moving and give an insight in to how dangerous the sport was. This was on BBC a while back - Grand Prix: The Killer Years vimeo.com/51735205

 Also watched this the other night  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0377tb1 (a non Hollywood 'Rush'). James Hunt was such a legend. Story of his first commentating slot with Murray Walker is brilliant - apparently he turned up with a few bottles of Rose for his stint and gradually deteriorated through the broadcast.

Whilst there may well be some wonderful documentaries about it, does not change the fact formula one is dull as dishwater. Is basically scrapheap challenge with a budget.

Extra point for Jeff.

Rowley wrote:Whilst there may well be some wonderful documentaries about it, does not change the fact formula one is dull as dishwater. Is basically scrapheap challenge with a budget.

I accept there are dull seasons - the current being a great example. That said a good race is as good as sport can get in my mind. A couple of years back when Button won the Canadian GP was a great example.

As an aside I did a bit of gardening for a guy who used to race with Button's old man and then engaged in an ill-fated business venture with him - ending with John Button behind bars for fraud. Dodgy as hell was Button's old man..

Jeff picking Hoop Dreams is like Captain Oats wandering off into the freezing cold night.

I've gone for World at War - arguably one of the greatest televisual pieces of work and should really be seen by everyone.

P.S. Union does enjoy man on man fun - I heard strong (sounded really "strong") evidence through my trusty listening glass.

seanmichaels wrote:
Other than Senna there are quite a few documentaries on F1 that are both moving and give an insight in to how dangerous the sport was. This was on BBC a while back - Grand Prix: The Killer Years vimeo.com/51735205

 

Watched that one, the highly-flammable magnesium cars were my favourite. Could do with them now to liven things up.

Galted wrote:

seanmichaels wrote:
Other than Senna there are quite a few documentaries on F1 that are both moving and give an insight in to how dangerous the sport was. This was on BBC a while back - Grand Prix: The Killer Years vimeo.com/51735205

 

Watched that one, the highly-flammable magnesium cars were my favourite.  Could do with them now to liven things up.

Absolutely crackers.

Glad to see my nomination has a couple of votes. A cracking doc on one of musics greatest songwriters.

The Womble wrote:Glad to see my nomination has a couple of votes. A cracking doc on one of musics greatest songwriters.

Michael Palin?

Apologies to whoever nominated it but Supersize Me is proper rubbish. Maybe I missed the point but do we really need a hour and half hour documentary to point out that eating Mcdonalds for pretty much every meal is not very good for you. What is his follow up going to be, that wandering round the Arctic in jeans and a T Shirt will probably lead to you getting cold.

JuliusHMarx wrote:

The Womble wrote:Glad to see my nomination has a couple of votes. A cracking doc on one of musics greatest songwriters.

Michael Palin?

How did you guess?