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We spout opinion, comment on the current zeitgeist and overanalyze pop culture and mainstream movies. Whether in the form of lists, survey questions or straight editorials, we hope to make thinking deeply about film a fun and stimulating activity for all.

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The Doc Option: Instead of "The Lorax" Watch Dr. Seuss' "Your Job in Germany" and "Our Job in Japan"

  • By Christopher Campbell
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  • February 28, 2012 6:29 PM
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  • 1 Comment
Do you think the new animated feature, "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" is liberal propaganda? Lou Dobbs does, and I'm so sure it has nothing to do with this latest animated Seuss adaptation being at Universal instead of Fox (like the previous one, "Horton Hears a Who"). Regardless, though, if you'll be avoiding this "tree-hugger" cartoon for political reasons, I have some conservative-minded Doc Options for you:
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More: Documentary, Doc Option, Animation

The Doc Option: Instead of "Bullhead" Watch "Bigger Stronger Faster"

  • By Christopher Campbell
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  • February 17, 2012 5:05 PM
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  • 4 Comments
Usually I aim this column at a mainstream studio release, but sadly there are no documentaries about antihero motorcyclists with flaming skull heads or tiny people who live under the floorboards or spies involved in love triangles (That I know of anyway. If I've missed them, please let me know, because those sound like great doc topics). Instad this week I have an alternative to the Oscar-nominated foreign film "Bullhead," which opens in limited release today. If you're wondering if you should see this slow and terribly unsatisfying Belgian crime drama, I have a Doc Option for you.
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More: Doc Option, Documentary, Oscars, Bullhead

The Doc Option: Instead of "Big Miracle" See "The Whale"

  • By Christopher Campbell
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  • February 3, 2012 12:40 PM
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  • 0 Comments
I can understand the appeal of "Big Miracle," the cheesy looking new movie about a whale trapped in Arctic ice. I was once a preteen kid obsessed with marine life and I definitely would have gone to see it. Now I'm a thirtysomething kid obsessed with documentary so I have other films to see. If you're with me on wanting a more grown-up alternative, I've got another Doc Option for you:
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More: Documentary, Doc Option, Ryan Reynolds, Scarlett Johansson, The Whale

The Doc Option: Instead of "Red Tails" Watch "Wings for This Man"

  • By Christopher Campbell
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  • January 20, 2012 11:21 AM
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  • 0 Comments
George Lucas is back with his first non-"Star Wars" or "Indiana Jones" production in nearly 20 years, and it's a World War II actioner about the African American pilots and crewmen known as the Tuskegee Airmen. If you're already familiar with the history of these heroic men, by all means go see the guy behind "The Phantom Menace" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" seem to do for the sky over Europe (with help from Cuba Gooding, Jr.) what Michael Bay did ten years ago for Pearl Harbor (with help from Cuba Gooding, Jr.). If you're not, then I have another Doc Option for you.
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More: Documentary, Doc Option, Short Film, World War II, Ronald Reagan, Red Tails, Full Films

The Doc Option: Instead of "Beauty and the Beast 3D" Watch "Waking Sleeping Beauty"

  • By Christopher Campbell
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  • January 13, 2012 11:03 AM
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  • 0 Comments
The main attraction in theaters this weekend is the 3D re-release of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast." If you're hoping to introduce a new generation to the animated classic, by all means bring your kids. But if you're just a grown up wishing to revisit a childhood favorite, and you can't get off the cinematic nostalgia train running full speed these days, don't fall for it. Instead, I have another Doc Option for you.
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More: Doc Option, Documentary, Animation, Disney

The Doc Option: Instead of "The Iron Lady" Watch "Tracking Down Maggie"

  • By Christopher Campbell
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  • December 30, 2011 12:24 PM
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  • 1 Comment
Is there any reason to see "The Iron Lady" than to watch Meryl Streep knock another one out of the park? Was there any reason to watch the Bulls in the late '80s other than to see Michael Jordan? I don't know. I haven't seen the new Margaret Thatcher biopic, and I don't know anything about basketball. I do know docs, though, and so I have another Doc Option for you.
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More: Documentary, Tracking Down Maggie, Nick Broomfield, The Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, Doc Option, Sarah Palin: You Betcha!, Full Films

The Doc Option: Instead of "War Horse" Watch "The Battle of the Somme"

  • By Christopher Campbell
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  • December 23, 2011 9:41 AM
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  • 2 Comments
Two Doc Option columns in the same week? Hey, if Steven Spielberg can release two movies back to back, it's only fair that I get to provide alternatives for both. So yeah, here's another Doc Option for you:
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More: Documentary, war movies, Doc Option, Silent Films

The Doc Option: Instead of "The Adventures of Tintin" Watch "Tintin and I"

  • By Christopher Campbell
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  • December 21, 2011 12:23 PM
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  • 0 Comments
Two of the most anticipated movies of the holiday season open in theaters today. But if you're thinking of choosing "The Adventures of Tintin," don't. I have a new Doc Option for you instead.
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More: Documentary, Doc Option, Animation

The Doc Option: Instead of "Chipwrecked" Watch "Chumming With Chipmunks"

  • By Christopher Campbell
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  • December 16, 2011 10:12 AM
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  • 0 Comments
I know, you're so excited about the new "Alvin and the Chipmunks" sequel, "Chipwrecked," but the theaters are going to be packed with obnoxious children all weekend so why not wait a bit? In the meantime, I have another Doc Option for you.
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More: Documentary, Doc Option, Animation, Silent Films, Sarah Palin, nature films

The Doc Option: Instead of "W.E." Watch "A King's Story"

  • By Christopher Campbell
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  • December 9, 2011 9:31 AM
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  • 0 Comments
You may not be looking forward to Madonna's new directorial effort, "W.E.," which is supposedly quite terrible. Or, if you are interested, it's actually to see the train wreck -- what Daniel Walber excitedly called "marvelously wretched," "perhaps the most hilariously dreadful period piece ever filmed" and "destined to become a cult classic, with accompanying drinking games galore and even the occasional costume party." But this sort of celebration of camp might have to wait until after the drama opens and presumably bombs at the box office. Out of respect to those with more serious moviegoing intention.
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More: Documentary, Doc Option, Madonna, Full Films

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