Animal Farm (1954)

An animated version of the George Orwell novel. Which for those who somehow missed it, is an allegory for Communism (especially the Soviet Russian version) where the animals on a farm rise up and take over, chasing away their exploitive master. Its also a surprisingly high quality animated movie, especially given its age. Though for some reason it does add a two minute "happy" ending after the Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss bit. Having all the non-pigs, even ones from neighboring farms rise up AGAIN to throw down Napolean and his underlings. I don't know, maybe the movie makers figured that the "improved" ending would inspire all those poor Commies to get rid of the Party bosses? Watching smuggled versions I guess, since theres no chance ever that ANY version of Animal Farm is going to be allowed to go to the public in any 1950s Communist state...

American Hardcore

A documentary on the hardcore punk movement from 1980-1986. The first ten minutes are spent setting up how the music was a reaction to the new Reagan era and the feel of how something was lacking from the then popular music. And then they spend an hour and a half getting anecdotes from what seems to be every surviving person from the scene. Minor Threat, The Bad Brains, DOA, Black Flag, The Misfits, Gang Green, The Circle Jerks and plenty more. Who, after a while, all start to blend together...

Probably the three most interesting things from the movement only get lightly touched on. Black Flag bassist Kira Roessler briefly touches on how anti-female much of the movement is. Also very lightly mentioned is the popularity of the music genre with skin-head and similar groups. Mostly as a joke about how one of the most popular hardcore groups with skin-heads had a vocally out gay lead. And though the Bad Brains are mentioned by near everyone as a major influence, nothing is said about a movement predominantly white having an all-black band as one of the "founders"...

While I'm a fan of punk in all its incarnations the doc just comes off as light-weight, not really taking a deep look at any part of the scene...