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For centuries, man has looked beyond the stars to find other signs of life. This came to a fever pitch in the mid 20th century, when the age of space exploration formally began. At the same time, pop culture exploded with space and alien inspired toys, tv shows, movies, comic books and more. And, of course, many began to report sightings of UFOs worldwide. Since the 1950s, there have been numerous reports of pilots witnessing unidentified objects flying beside/near/around them. They either believed they were seeing enemy or Soviet spy technology or a big joke or scam. However, in 2017, the US military released authenticated footage showing an "unidentified aerial phenomenon" (UAP). The US Government then followed and admitted that they have been investigating the existence of aliens and stated, "We confirm that there are unidentified objects and that we don't know who, what, or where they come from." This caused an uproar in the scientific community because previously, the government would permanently deny or downplay sightings. However, it has become harder to hide them and find feasible explanations for the truly unexplainable phenomenon, especially in today's social media age. More credible scientists worldwide are interested in these unexplained sightings, and those trained to observe and shut down these anomalies have noticed things that even they can't explain. For example, the consensus is that these objects are not Russian or Chinese technology. With the number of spies, news of a new weapon would have leaked. There have been no leaks at all. So the US Government and similar agencies in other countries, specifically France, continue to investigate all the footage that captured these UAPs in action. Scientists noticed two sighting patterns. First is that a significant amount of ufo sightings have taken place around old/current nuclear testing sights or areas with A LOT of atomic energy and radiation. The current working theory/hypothesis is that if we on Earth can detect supernovas exploding billions of light-years away, other life forms might have detected the nuclear test bombs detonated in the 1950s and 60s. The second is that the sightings come in clusters of spaced repetition following multiple numbers of years. If this theory is correct, then the next batch of sightings should be on October 2035. Does all of this prove that UFO/UAPs exist? Not expressly, but it does point to a future where scientists and government are now more open. They are willing to consider the possibility that we are not alone and are eager to invest time and tech to prove it. And if we are not, we'll be poised to understand - and benefit - from these new life forms. Directed by: Dominique Filhol Like &Suscribe,comment

The real identity of Jack the Ripper is arguably the most famous unsolved case of all time. He was an unidentified English serial killer that preyed on poor, destitute women who worked as prostitutes around the slums of London's East End, specifically in the Whitechapel district. And while he was only active for ten short weeks, with only five official victims attributed to him, Jack's crimes - and Jack himself - would have a significant impact on the 20th century and beyond. He gave the world a glimpse of humanity's very dark and horrible side, capable of inflicting pain and death by the most gruesome methods. In the late 19th century, East London and specifically the Whitechapel district, was an impoverished section of the city, riddled with disease, crime, murder and death. Many women were forced into prostitution to survive and often left unprotected from beatings and murder. However, in 1888, a string of gruesome killings shocked London and, eventually, the rest of the world. From August 31 to November 10, five women, Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly - also known as the "Canonical Five" victims - were found murdered - and mutilated. They were prostitutes and had their throats stabbed, abdomens cut open and reproductive organs either stabbed or sections of the bladder, vagina and uterus removed and taken, potentially as souvenirs. The mutilations got worse with every murder that his last victim, Mary Jane Kelly, was almost unrecognizable due to the extreme stabbing and evisceration he inflicted. The public was understandably in a state of panic. The police were left clueless because there didn't seem to be any motive for the killings. However, they were sure that one man committed the crime due to the similarities of the killings. An extensive manhunt followed, but he was never caught. Almost everyone was a suspect, the butcher, the baker and candlestick maker - and even the grandson of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert Victor. But none of them was ever proven guilty. So who was Jack the Ripper? And why did the murders suddenly stop, with the Ripper disappearing seemingly into thin air? There were so many unanswered questions about this case back in 1888, and today, 134 years later, there are still no answers. His mystery endures because the unknown truth of his identity tantalizes and draws us in. Not knowing who he is leaves everyone open to speculation. Jack the Ripper was a real – and frightening human being. At the same time, he will remain anonymous, forever an elusive shadow just beyond our reach. Directed by: David Wångstedt Like &Suscribe, comment

In 1911, while on an expedition in Peru, explorer Hiram Bingham famously stumbled into Machu Picchu, rediscovering the ancient city after being forgotten for 500 years. In the mid-1920s, military and commercial pilots flying over the southern part of the country were the first modern men to see the majestic Nazca Lines, thanks to the dawn of flight. These two are top of mind the world over for Peruvian archaeological sites. Thanks to their awe-inspiring and iconic scale and grandeur, they have even been declared UNESCO world heritage sites. However, Peru has many more fascinating historical sites, though less popular with tourists. These include the Kasma lines, the temple fortress of Chanquillo, the geoglyphs of Lima, and Piquillacta, one of the most significant archaeological complexes worldwide. Despite not being as popular with tourists, these other archaeological sites are just as mysterious, awe-inspiring and built at a vast scale that modern architects and engineers are intrigued at how ancient Peruvians made it happen. Though not as impressive as the Nazca lines, the discovery of the Kasma lines hints that at one point in time, this area was a central social and administrative hub, with Sechin Alto, a massive architectural complex built over 1,000 years before the pyramids in Egypt as its centerpiece. While its exact purpose is unclear, there are hints that Sechin Alto might have been a medical or surgical center due to the numerous stone engravings depicting body organs. Chanquillo, on the other hand, is another monumental edifice located in Peru's coastal desert. It consists of a fort and what is believed to be an observatory, identified by the Thirteen Towers. This is a series of granite towers ranging from two to seven meters high, spaced exactly five meters apart, dating from about the 4th century BC. On the eastern outskirts of the bustling capital city of Lima, the Canto Grande geoglyphs were discovered by chance by an airplane. Sadly, rapid urban construction and industrialization have destroyed most of these geoglyphs, and those that remain are located on higher ground. They consist of a trapezoidal-shaped drawing, a solid 135-meter rectangular strip with scattered groupings of single or large stones. And despite using the same construction methods as the Nazca lines, these geoglyphs were created 2000 years before Nazca. Despite the massive effort to build these structures, their primary purpose still needs to be clarified. Finally, no trip to Peru should miss Piquillacta, near Cusco. It was built around 800 AD by the mysterious Wari people and can only be truly appreciated when seen from a great height. Built over an area with extreme differences in elevation, its builders still constructed it perfectly. It contains over 700 rooms, precisely built into each other, using granite and additional labor and materials that match the building of the Great Pyramids. Peru truly holds a wealth of ancient sites beyond Machu Picchu. Hopefully, there will be continuous archaeological efforts to study and unravel their mysteries. Directed by: Igor Aleksejev Like &suscribe, comment

Though they've been ravaged by a history of armed conflict, earthquakes and the natural erosion and desecration of time, the Baalbek ruins continue to incite awe in everyone fortunate to visit them. Located near the Lebanon capital of Beirut, these ruins mark the remains of an ancient Roman temple complex which served as one of the most important holy sites in the history of civilization. Balbeek Megaliths provides a brief, but illuminating tour of the ruins as it attempts to piece together the site's colorful history. Located amongst the remnants is the Temple of Jupiter, the structure that sparks the most boisterous debates within the archeological community. Much is unknown about the origins, design or construction of the temple. The temple is believed to be over 2,000 years old, and its building blocks are composed of large slabs of lime stone; in fact, they are the largest stones ever used for construction with each exceeding over a thousand tons. The film provides a wealth of footage from the site. Viewers are able to soak in the features that make these ruins so awe-inspiring both in their construction and the lingering mysteries surrounding them. The intricate stone carvings, imposing structures and painstaking accuracy of each slab joint aside, the sources of greatest fascination are the heavy blocks that make up the temple's foundations. Archeologists have long debated the practicality of the site. Who ordered their construction? How were they cut? Perhaps most puzzling of all is how these mammoth stones managed to be transported. The film attempts to consider each of these questions, and run through a variety of potential theories. The recorded history of this type of construction is sketchy at best, so many of the conclusions that have been reached over the years have been speculative at best. Still, the film traces other Roman landmarks throughout history that bear similarities to the Baalbek ruins in the hopes of drawing more definitive comparisons. Certainly, Baalbek Megaliths is a treat for fans of Ancient Roman architecture. But it's also a revealing tribute to the pursuit of truth surrounding the histories of the world that have long remained elusive. Directed by: Igor Alekseev Like & Suscribe,comment!

At the opening of the 21st century, a series of exceedingly valuable gold snake-like spiral bracelets made appearances at museums and auction houses across the globe. So rare were these artifacts that many archeologists were unaware of their existence. The Hunt for the Transylvanian Gold chases the clues in an attempt to uncover their origins and the sinister subplots that surround their sudden emergence on the international stage. Some believe these bracelets are the remnants of the vast treasures hidden by a Dacian king nearly 2,000 years ago. Still others believe they are elaborately produced fakes. But even if they authentic, how were they uncovered and by whom? Romanian prosecutor Augustin Lazar operates under the belief that they were illegally procured by members of a fierce mob who specialize in the looting of archeological sites. German antiquities expert Barbara Deppert was presented with two of the bracelets by a young man who claimed he found them in the mountains of Transylvania. Eventually, met with Lazar to contemplate their possible source of origin and authenticity. During the course of their investigations, they discovered that the bracelets also made appearances in New York and London in recent years. The plot thickens with the introduction of Calin Ciota, a car dealer, dog enthusiast and ex-convict who was sold one of the mystery bracelets by a man desperate for a loan. When he attempted to resell the piece, he inadvertently became part of an undercover sting. The film offers the testimonies of all three figures as it weaves a complicated international web of intrigue. Along the way, we are presented with elements of organized crime, scandal, and a high stakes game of cat-and-mouse. The end result could prove to be one of the biggest forgeries in the history of archeology or lead to a complete rethinking of ancient Romanian history. The film also features a touch of the mystical as the interview subjects question whether the artifacts are imbued by an ancient religious curse. The Hunt for the Transylvanian Gold is by no means a bland slice of obscure archeological history. It's paced like a heart-pumping globe-trotting thriller. Directed by: Andrei-Nicolae Teodorescu Like & Suscribe,comment!

This documentary delves into the process of producing meat behind the advertising of the delicious, pink and juicy meal staple so many of us enjoy. The central point is that the ham and some other meats are injected with sodium nitrite which might have adverse incremental effects on the body. We get to see the processing of the meat and hear the perspective of scientists who have studied the effects and who have even protested the use of this substance, but we also get to hear from those who have publicly supported its continued use. Some companies are able to produce sterile meat without including harmful nitrites in the process. So what motivates some of the meat producers to process the meet the way they do, despite the fact that research shows that consumption of nitrites might lead to different forms of cancer? Expert studies are available in some countries like Denmark and even court rulings, but regulations are not implemented to prevent producers from prioritizing public health over profits. Information presented in the documentary spans different countries and institutions. But It seems no matter how close governments come to creating policies to ban nitrites they somehow always fall short of the mark. Researchers who find links between these meats and cancer usually end up discredited or somehow discouraged from continuing along the path of discovery. Looking further into that trend reveals the reasons why some of the industry players have an interest in keeping the meat full of nitrites on the market. It is interesting to see how media collaborates in this process pushing someone's agenda using doubt as a powerful weapon. They show how the very persons who were supposed to look out for the public were somehow convinced to go against their own best interest. It is a comprehensive look at a complex issue, done in a way that sparks insight into a problem that seemingly has a simple solution on the level of the individual buyer, but weighing the individual consumer power against the big media and meat industry shows that it might not be so simple after all. Directed by: Guillaume Coudray, Sandrine Rigaud Like & Suscribe!

From the late 1960s to the late 1990s, Northern Ireland went into a violent period called the Troubles. On one side of the conflict were Roman Catholic (the Republicans) who wanted Northern Ireland to separate from the United Kingdom and become part of the Republic of Ireland, and on the other, Protestants (the Loyalists) who wanted to remain as part of the United Kingdom. It was a chaotic time wherein many died or were injured, with the UK government trying to keep tensions from boiling over - but at the same time authorized numerous undercover operations to undermine the efforts of the Republicans. In 1968, a fresh-faced 25-year-old Northern Irelander named Colin Wallace joined the Ministry of Defence and became an assistant information officer for the British Army. He eventually moved quickly up the corporate ladder and was soon deeply involved in the UK's undercover operations, particularly psychological operations or psyops. He became a master of what we would call the "fake news" today. Wallace would plant stories, some bizarre, some barely credible and some a hair's width away from the truth to the press, designed to question the credibility of the IRA's as well as the nationalist narrative and agenda. These stories included that satanism and terrorism were funded - and spearheaded - by the Vatican and the Soviet Union. He was an expert at spreading misinformation, sowing confusion and muddying the water on purpose, enough to redirect the conversation and undermine the opposition's efforts. However, two things occurred that would have troubling effects on Wallace and his future. The Northern Ireland authorities discovered a group of pedophiles abusing the children in the Kincora Boys Home. It was run by a Protestant/Loyalist organization named Tara, and the authorities hushed it up because it would be a huge propaganda win for the Republicans. Another was Operation Clockwork Orange, where Wallace was asked to implement numerous smear campaigns, targeting democratically elected politicians - including the Prime Minister. Wallace could not consciously and patriotically agree to protect pedophiles or sabotage the democratic process and promptly blew the whistle. He let many know what the government had asked him - and were asking him to do. He was naturally fired but was also accused of killing his lover's husband, convicted and thrown in jail, where he served six years for manslaughter. Eventually, other investigators uncovered evidence that all the charges against him were trumped up, and his conviction was ultimately overturned. Today, Wallace is almost 80 years old, and the government is still trying to keep him quiet. What is extremely interesting about his story is that the psyops strategies he implemented 40-50 years ago are still relevant today. This is especially noteworthy in the light of fake news, conspiracy theories and social media making it even that much easier to confuse, redirect and misinform people on purpose to hide a bigger, more sinister agenda. Directed by: Michael Oswald like&follow,enjoy

The Truth Illusion' is a sobering look at the most challenging issue the USA faces today: The Truth. What is it, what can we prove to be the truth and what is the impact on society and the entire nation when its citizens have polar opposite views or different versions of reality. A different version of reality? Like a parallel universe of what is true and false? Is that even a thing? Isn't reality what happens in front of you, and if you all saw it happen, then it's real? Well, yes, but as it turns out, as seen in American society today, context is key. Your particular context colors reality and when and how these events stand within the bigger framework of history as you understand it. Proof is another aspect of determining what is real or not. Still, in today's world of alternative facts, conspiracy theories and fake news, all efficiently delivered to us via social media, it might not be as clear-cut as expected. A civil war is brewing in the United States, a political divide mainly between Republicans and Democrats over race, sexism, media manipulation, and the spread of misinformation. This split has filtered down to the rest of the country, and a wedge driven between average Americans. The USA has now devolved into a place where shared realities no longer exist, and democracy is threatened by its misconceptions. Traditional, respected authority figures such as politicians, scientists, teachers and journalists are no longer trusted, accused of spewing fake or twisted facts to push forward their agendas. It is George Orwell's dystopian novel "1984" come to life, where the character of Winston is tortured by Big Brother to believe that "2 + 2 = 5", And when he insists that truth is objective, proven by "2 + 2 = 4", the truth has already been manipulated by the State. Americans, it seems, no longer trust anybody, not big business, not education, not family and friends, not science or media. This is directly tied to losing trust in their leaders, from a high 77% trust rate towards the government in the 1960s, dropping sharply to 25% during the 1980s with Reagan and Bush Sr in office. The Watergate scandal in the 1970s didn't help. By the time Obama and Trump rolled around, an all-time trust rate of 15%. So what happens when a society now suddenly only trusts people, many on the internet, who share the same points of view that they do? Democracy is threatened when its population is encouraged to believe lies, leading to increased chaos, violence and disruption. And to quote Ethan Zuckerman, civic media scholar: "That may well be when democracy dies. If we have a sufficiently divergent fact pattern that we can't agree on a single reality to try to govern collectively." It is a bleak view of the future of Western democracy, and hopefully this will change for the better. 2022, CONSPIRACY - 52 MIN Like&Follow!, enjoy

When the topic of spies comes up, we immediately think of James Bond, evil enemy governments, high-tech spy gadgetry, elaborate disguises and the stealing of state secrets. We never equate it with precognition, ESP, and other psychic abilities. But that's precisely what happened from 1975 to 1995. For 20+ years, the US Government, particularly the CIA, studied man's psychic abilities to see how they could apply them to their top-secret spy programs. In the early 1970s, physicist Russell Targ, PhD, studied psychic "remote viewing" at the Stanford Research Institute. Remote viewing is when a person is physically in one location (for example, in an office in New York City) can travel mentally to another location (a sushi restaurant in downtown Tokyo). Once there psychically, they will then record what they can "see" remotely by using words, drawing and sketching, and finally building a clay model. At around this time, the Cold War was still in full swing. The Soviets were now at par with America regarding the number of nuclear weapons on hand; tensions were high as the stakes had gone up. In 1970, intelligence reports claimed that the Soviet Union was spending millions of dollars on "psychotronic" research and that they had produced positive results. Remote viewing then grabbed the attention of the CIA, who had been thinking about setting up a program wherein they could harness psychic powers similar to the Soviet experiments. Other fields of psychic studies, namely ESP, telekinesis and more, were also included under the Stargate Project. Within the next two decades, practical applications of remote viewing included good old identifying and spying on enemy military facilities, finding missing personnel, criminals, and even finding a missing aircraft in the jungles of Zaire. In 1973, one of the most famous remote viewers and co-founder of the initial study with Targ, Ingo Swann, even described the rings around Jupiter in detail a good six years before the Voyager probe got to Jupiter in 1979. In 1995, a CIA oversight committee decided to review the Stargate program. The subsequent report stated that remote viewing was not proven to be psychic and could not be used in practical defense operations - and never was in the 20 years it existed - which is why the CIA defunded and shut Stargate down. Because Stargate was considered classified, none of those involved in the study could talk about it or set the story straight. But in 2017, the CIA declassified the files, so Targ wanted to let the American public know about it since they technically paid for the program with their tax dollars. Today, many of the remote viewers of Stargate conduct lessons and workshops, teaching remote viewing to people who want to develop this psychic skill for other purposes like predicting the outcome of sporting events, private security contractors, and even industrial espionage. Directed by: Lance Mungia 2018 like & follow, enjoy

When asked about the existence of UFOs, Fox Mulder once said, "I Want To Believe". And when it comes to conspiracy theories, many people feel the same way. Conspiracy theories have been around forever. Some of the most common ones of the modern age include aliens from outer space - that they exist and control the planet, the assassination of JFK by some secret cabal of evil, and, more recently, that COVID is not real. "Constantly Wrong: The Case Against Conspiracy Theories" is a humorous yet insightful film that takes a very deep dive into the realm of conspiracy theories and why people believe them, despite how outlandish and fantastic they are, when they are not the truth - but only far fetched theories, unrealistic, and should not be believed. Many people confuse the definitions of "conspiracy" and "conspiracy theory" - they are commonly interchanged online, though they have very different meanings. A "conspiracy" is a crime or criminal plot enacted by a group of people. On the other hand, a "conspiracy theory" claims that hidden groups are committing secret crimes or schemes, and this claim is made by amateurs who are not part of that said group. The fun begins when conspiracy theorists explain their claims. The "secret crimes" that they claim to be real are often fantastical and epic in scope, making reality seem more exciting than it is. When asked to explain their theories, they use abstract or blanket statements without details. In other words, it's fiction. One example was the assassination of American president John F. Kennedy in 1963. Many believe a shadow organization set up a convoluted and labyrinthine plot in motion, plotting his death for nefarious reasons. In reality, however, there is so much evidence, including 3D modeling and reconstruction of the trajectory of the bullet, that points to Lee Harvey Oswald being the actual so-called lone gunman. Believers don't realize that not one person or group can account for all the possible scenarios and outcomes when planning a conspiracy of epic proportions. Too many things can happen and go wrong when setting up a supposed evil plan, and it would be akin to setting up the next 50 billion chess moves in your head. An infinite number of variables would make a grand master plan behind whatever conspiracy theory statistically impossible to happen. And we are not even talking about the plans they needed to lay out to ensure that there will be someone keeping the secret going in 20-30-40-50 years and so on. People will continue to be susceptible to conspiracy theories because they need to feel safe and secure about their beliefs - including those they know are wrong. They seek clarity and certainty about events they can't control and will hold on to false beliefs, strengthened by living in an echo chamber, despite the facts, science, and a little thing called reality.

No single figure has mastered the art of consumerism quite like Jeff Bezos. The wealthiest man in the world, Bezos is the mastermind behind Amazon, the largest marketplace on the planet. The probing feature-length documentary Amazon Empire: The Rise and Reign of Jeff Bezos makes it clear that Bezos' ambitions are not likely to remain earthbound. The film opens by recounting the beginnings of the Bezos empire. Not satisfied with his promising career on Wall Street, he struck out on his own by opening an online bookstore. Even in this early phase, Bezos was obsessed with crafting an ideal customer experience. He relied on reams of data to track their purchasing behaviors. Some viewed these methods as undeniably pro-consumer. Others viewed it as exploitative. These criticisms have become even more urgent today. Amazon currently dominates the world of consumer goods. Users rely on them for their groceries. The company has spread its sphere of influence into the health care and military industries. And recently, they've announced their intentions to colonize the moon. While the rise of Bezos is astronomically impressive, the film is by no means a glowing puff piece. The filmmakers find many cracks and mob-like tactics behind their American success story façade. Amazon's strategies to monopolize markets have sabotaged small businesses throughout the world. The company extended an olive branch to many of these businesses by offering the use of their site to sell products. But this gesture came at a price, and the businesses that take part in this partnership are often victim to rising fees and a lack of operational support. The film features interviews with figures who worked with Bezos during the early days of his business enterprise, entrepreneurs who have felt the sting of extortion while operating their businesses on the platform, and current executives who attempt to explain and excuse the company's strongarm strategies. The conditions under which Amazon warehouse employees must function has been a particular point of controversy in recent times. The film takes us inside these warehouses where the workers must contend with ongoing surveillance, elevating standards, and low wages and benefits. The film does an exceptional job of exploring the abuses that demand stricter regulations and greater scrutiny. Directed by: James Jacoby Like & Follow, Comment! 2020, BIOGRAPHY - 113 MIN

Charlie Sheen was among the most popular actors in the 1980s and 90s. Born into a family of celebrated actors, including his father, Martin Sheen, and brother Emilio Estevez, Charlie has starred in some of the biggest movies and two hit TV sitcoms. However, he is also an actor who has found himself in the limelight for his private life, hitting the headlines for his string of romantic entanglements, sex scandals, excessive alcohol and drug use, and a public mental health breakdown. Born in 1965, Charlie Sheen began acting very early in his father's movie and TV projects. Growing up, he would accompany his father on exotic movie sets worldwide. This was where he was exposed to the wild Hollywood behind-the-scenes lifestyle heavily peppered with booze, drugs, prostitutes, and more at a very young age. He was also living with his father's alcoholism and anger issues. In high school, he was offered a baseball scholarship to the University of Kansas but lost the scholarship and was expelled a week before graduation because he was arrested for credit card fraud at 17. This was when Charlie joined the movies. He starred in the cult classic "Red Dawn" which was followed by bigger roles in critically acclaimed films such as the war drama "Platoon," and "Wall Street" with his dad Martin, "Young Guns" with brother Emilio Estevez, "Major League" and more. In 2000, what was supposed to be a temporary guest spot in the sitcom "Spin City" became a starring role, and he won the 2002 Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy. In 2003, Charlie landed the lead in another sitcom, "Two and a Half Dads", to great financial success, earning a record 1.8 million dollars an episode. But despite the success, Charlie has been struggling with alcohol and narcotics addiction from a very young age. His mental health issues manifested in one scandal after another. He was exposed as a frequent customer of Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss. He repeatedly checked himself into rehab but always fell off the wagon. He's also had tumultuous relationships with many women, falling in love, marrying rather quickly, and breaking up with them. He has also been accused of assault and abuse by some. Things came to a head when in 2011, he was fired from his hit show because he ranted and raved and made derogatory remarks about Chuck Lorre, the show's creator. He would often be seen giving interviews and acting bizarrely, saying he had tiger blood and was a warlock. In 2015, he announced he was HIV positive, having been diagnosed in 2011. He had also paid about $10 million to extortionists to keep his HIV under wraps. He began to focus on his health, claiming sobriety in 2017. Charlie's life is a cautionary tale on how family dysfunction, addiction, and drugs can negatively impact a life, especially in the spotlight. Here's hoping he will continue to heal and enjoy time with his kids. Like & Follow, Comment! 2022, BIOGRAPHY - 149 MIN

"The Story of Super Mario World" is a joyous look back at the development of one of the most beloved games of all time Super Mario World. It was a landmark game, not just because it was fun to play, but it also came with the new Super Nintendo game console, tailored to show off all its features. It redefined and refreshed a classic game (Super Mario) and changed how you played it. While you could still aim to get the highest score, players could now choose to explore Mario's new world, which was riddled with secret levels, hidden paths and shortcuts to reach Bowser. Mario also had a new look, new friends (Yoshi!), new moves and powerups. It gave players a new level of freedom, which is why, despite its development in the 16-bit era, it still has many young and old fans today. But you can't discuss the story of Super Mario World without talking about the SNES or the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. In the late 80s, a console war was brewing between Nintendo, Sega and NEC. Nintendo had been the market leader with its 8-bit Famicom console when the competition announced they would soon be coming out with 16-bit consoles. Hiroshi Yamauchi, Nintendo president, then made the surprise announcement that a 16-bit Super Famicom was developing about a month before Sega released its new MegaDrive. This Super Famicom (which became the SNES) would be more powerful and have more memory and colors and a customized Sony sound chip. It would also have new and exciting games, particularly Super Mario Brothers 4, aka Super Mario World. What followed was a two-year development period for the game. Nintendo's crack team of game developers, led by Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto had just completed the still unreleased "Super Mario Brothers 3". They were exhausted and felt that #3 was the definitive Mario game. There was no time to rest, and the whole team was soon hustling to work on #4, with directions to make it bigger, better, and customized for the still-under-construction SNES. The team had to learn the new hardware quickly to launch the game in time, which was no easy feat. Early studies show that it had too many similarities to #3. They did, however, enjoy the freedom and creativity the new console gave them since it was a more powerful gadget with more colors and such available. The SNES was released in 1990. The game developers' hard work and determination paid off, resulting in what became the best and most fun to play Super Mario game (potentially) ever. It also drove SNES sales because what better way to use a new console than to play an old, dependable favorite game, heavily upgraded with lots of new and exciting features? It became the best-selling console of its time and kept Nintendo competitive in a new era - and century - of video games. Directed by: Norman Caruso Like & Follow! leave a comment! 2022, TECHNOLOGY - 78 MIN

2020, SEXUALITY - 43 MIN This feature delves into the usually unseen, dark side of dating apps, specifically Tinder. Tinder is arguably one of the most popular dating apps around. In this technology era, it has reinvented the way people meet, interact and date. Its 'swipe right' feature makes it beyond simple to get a feel of connection in a time when face-to-face connections may not be so easy to come by. Even their advertising poses a picture of possibility. A simple swipe could mean a happily ever after, who could resist? Still, things are not always what they seem, and they are certainly not always as simple as one would hope. We are able to view different sides of the story when several women share their personal stories of connecting on the app with varying goals for the progression of the relationship. Naturally, some women search for simple connections and not necessarily long-term relationships. However, for the predatory men who make women their victims, the goals of these women do not matter. In most cases, these unsuspecting women fall prey to men who seem otherwise respectable based on their profiles. Whether it is after a single date or several months of courting, the men subject their victims to incidences of rape, humiliation, not to mention the long-term mental health effects. It really delves into how something that is used for connection can be used so irresponsibly and dangerously. It explores some of the features of the app that users can utilize to try to safeguard against others who may want to cause them harm. However, it also assesses the effectiveness of these features and others that make it easy for perpetrators to repeat their crimes. It explores the avenues of redress for the victims and some of the typical consequences for the perpetrators. It raises the question of what the true cost of these connections are, not only in terms of the company's bottom line, but in terms of the cost for victims. It is both an educational feature and an entertaining one. Like & Follow! Enjoy!

In today's highly connected world, children are becoming more and more exposed to pornography at younger ages. Now, all it takes is just a simple click of a mouse or swipe of a screen, and they are exposed to a veritable flood or deluge of pornography - whether they wanted to see it or not. Porn exposure is a cause of concern for parents as they try to protect their children's innocence for as long as possible. Over the years, many studies have shown that the ready accessibility of online pornography is a serious threat to children's mental and sexual health. It has become so pervasive that children as young as six or seven are regularly exposed to porn at least once a week and through online videos. This early exposure to pornography brings about great anxiety for the child. They are afraid, embarrassed, disgusted and angry, curious, excited and of course, shocked and very sad after viewing pornography. But beyond the myriad of conflicting emotions, viewing porn brings even more detrimental and adverse effects to children. Porn exposure distorts how young people view sex and sexuality in general. Since pornography often portrays forced or violent sex scenes, young boys begin to view women as sexual objects that exist purely for their pleasure instead of vibrant human beings worthy of respect. When young girls, on the other hand, watch pornography, it negatively impacts their self-esteem, and not knowing any better, will think it is normal to see themselves as sexual objects and to accept abusive behaviors, including rape. Due to a combination of curiosity and impulse control mechanisms that are not yet fully developed, pornography can also lead to children and adolescents engaging in sexual activities earlier and with more than one partner. More partners, coupled with the lack of knowledge about reproductive health, dramatically increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancy, and even abortion. Finally, the younger you are when exposed to porn, the greater the risk of developing porn addiction. The more children consume porn, the higher the chances that as they grow older, they will become addicted. Brain scans of porn addicts are highly similar to those of drug addicts, and the same brain centers are triggered, and just like being addicted to drugs, it is tough to break the addiction. Porn addicts describe going through withdrawal symptoms if they don't get their porn fix, and what's worse, the porn they consume gets more intense, extreme and even illegal as their brains are always looking for more. When these children get older and get married, chances are it will end in divorce due to extramarital affairs or just general unhappiness due to porn addiction and from keeping it a secret from their significant other. "Raised On Porn" is an eye-opening investigation of what happens when children are exposed to porn. It is definitely worth the watch and pushes society to have these difficult conversations with our children to help protect them. Directed by: Benjamin Nolot 2021 Like & Follow let me know in the comments what types of documentary you want to see more!

In late June of 2013, as United States leaders were publicly labeling him as a "coward" and a "traitor", Edward Snowden was hiding from authorities in Hong Kong. Terminal F: Chasing Edward Snowden dramatizes the pulse pounding moments prior to and in the aftermath of this moment. Just three weeks earlier, he nervously handed over nearly a million top secret documents from the National Security Agency (NSA) to journalists from the world's most renowned newspapers. These classified materials painted a frightening picture of a U.S. government whose surveillance activities far exceeded constitutional boundaries, and whose efforts worked to sabotage the interests of ordinary citizens they were sworn to protect. Once the documents were revealed to the world and Snowden's identity was exposed, a massive global manhunt ensued. Around every corner, Snowden never knew when he might be arrested or even killed. He was an enemy of the state now. The United States government - made weak and hostile from the revelations revealed in the leaked documents - was diligent in their attempts to arrange extradition back to their country so Snowden could face the legal consequences of his actions. In the end, a simple clerical error might have been the only factor that helped him evade harm or capture. Strikingly photographed and sharply edited, Terminal F: Chasing Edward Snowden presents a solid primer on his position at the NSA, his motivations for exposing sensitive and potentially damaging materials, and the reality of living as one of the most notorious whistleblowers in American history. It's well-trodden territory, but the film provides fresh and revealing insights along the way, thanks to interviews with his father, his co-workers, former NSA Director Michael Hayden, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, reporter Glenn Greenwald, and Snowden himself. Whether you believe Snowden to be a sinner or a saint, the film will likely prove most enlightening in its minutia. Benefiting from the moment by moment perspectives of figures from both sides of the story, the narrative plays out like an all-too-real game of cat and mouse. We're given a tangible sense of what it must feel like to be a hunted man. Directed by: John Goetz, Poul-Erik Heilbuth Like & Suscribe!

Square One mounts a full-throated defense of Michael Jackson against the charges of pedophilia that plagued him in the latter part of his life and career. The centerpiece of the film lies in its debunking of the initial allegations made against Jackson in 1993. If those allegations can be disproven, the film seems to be arguing, then the subsequent charges against Jackson must be dismissed as well. To assist in this endeavor, filmmaker Danny Wu has assembled a series of never-before-aired statements from case witnesses, and new interviews with figures in Jackson's inner circle, including his nephew and 3T band member Taj Jackson. The 1993 case never made it to court. Instead, Jackson paid his accuser - Jordan Chandler - a sum of $15 million to stop the case in its tracks. The film suggests that the case originated from a bitter custody battle between Chandler's parents. In an effort to attain full stewardship over his son as well as a hefty payout, the father drummed up false charges against Jackson and worked feverishly to coach his son to verify these allegations through false testimony. The film damns many of the central players in this sad drama, as well as the circus players who roamed on its periphery. The non-stop media coverage of the case led to often misleading, and always sensationalist headlines. A few interviews are offered that support the film's hypothesis that Jackson was wrongfully accused, including conversations with the legal secretary for prosecuting attorney Barry Rothman and, curiously, a series of fans who visited Neverland Ranch. The film also tackles additional controversies related to the tabloid frenzy surrounding Jackson, including the scrutiny he received from his rare skin condition and the findings from the five search warrants that were carried out on his properties. Square One is clearly the work of a fan on a mission, but it's produced with a lot urgency and passion. Viewers will have to decide for themselves if the insights contained in the film effectively disprove the initial accusation from 1993, or build a compelling case for the dismissal of the additional allegations that followed. Directed by: Danny Wu Like & Suscribe!

Demi Lovato's career trajectory has taken her from a Disney darling to a chart-topping pop superstar. Buried beneath the facade of success, however, was a damaged young woman struggling with addiction, mental illness, and overwhelming physical and emotional demands. The YouTube original documentary Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated follows her pursuit to overcome her demons, and illustrates how that painful journey is impacting the maturity and soulfulness of her music. Born in New Mexico in 1992, Lovato was just two years old when her parents divorced. The trauma caused by the abandonment of her birth father, coupled with the onslaught of incessant bullying at school, would continue to resonate as she entered adulthood. From an early age, singing provided a refuge from her pain and insecurity. Bolstered by the encouragement of her mother, she began attending training classes and auditions at every given opportunity. She soon landed roles on children's television, and quickly became one of the Disney Channel's most popular stars. Her career continued to blossom in the recording studio and on touring stages all over the world. The rollercoaster of fame did little to quell the underlying issues she had yet to confront; in fact, it brought them to the forefront. With her life and career hanging in the balance, she made the brave decision to seek treatment for her addictions to food, alcohol and cocaine. Lovato's family, friends and collaborators are on hand throughout the film, and they describe the highs and lows of her life with great compassion and insight. The centerpiece of the film is a brutally honest conversation with the woman herself as she recounts her struggles to find her truest self. Viewers will also savor a behind the scenes look into her recording sessions. A fierce and commanding vocalist, Lovato calls upon her life to deliver potent songs of heartbreak, loss, failed relationships and the rocky road to self-empowerment. At 25, her voice embodies a breadth of experience that's usually only found in singers twice her age. Raw and revealing, Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated is a moving portrait of an assertive young woman coming into her own. Directed by: Hannah Lux Davis Like & Follow, Comment!

It's brutal, it's violent, and yet more and more people are watching the sport that was once banned from television for being too bloody. Now cage fights are prime-time TV events, and mixed martial arts, MMA, is a billion dollar industry, but far from the spotlight of the UFC everyday Americans are stepping onto the mat. What you're going to see over the next several years is guys who were to play baseball, basketball, football will becoming involved in mixed martial arts instead. We meet an all American guy and a female fighter with big expectations, in places you'd expect and in places you wouldn't, including church where cage fighting and the Bible go hand in hand. For some MMA offers a chance at the dream. For others those dreams have been crushed. Savant Young is a professional mixed martial arts fighter, a 13 year veteran of the sport. If you type in his name on YouTube it only takes 15 seconds to see how he earned the fighting name "Black Superman", but now Savant now spends more time teaching other fighters than he does knocking them out. Savant is the co-owner of Fight Academy, a gym in Pasadena, California that specializes in mixed martial arts, or MMA. Gyms like Fight Academy are springing up all over the country, and in 2010 over 2.5 million Americans trained or fought in MMA. Many trained to simply stay in shape, but everyone wants to fight. When guys walk in fresh off the street saying they want to fight, they've got to go through all the prerequisites, go through the training, because at the end of the day it's a pretty serious consequence to being not prepared to do this sport. MMA combines multiple combat sports like wrestling, boxing, and Jiu Jitsu. Because competitions are often held in a cage, it is also known as cage fighting. While fans of MMA love the highly technical side of the sport they also celebrate the raw brutality. Fan made knock out videos routinely go viral online. Like & Follow, Comment!

Mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor is one of the most popular figures in modern sports. Born in Dublin, Ireland, McGregor is a 29-year old phenomenon. He's amassed an amazing number of victories from both the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Cage Warriors organizations, and he's become one of the biggest draws in pay-per-view history. True Life Stories: Conor McGregor looks behind the facade of success to uncover the trials and triumphs that lead the fighter to this peak of his young career. As a youngster, Conor was taught the value of an ardent work ethic from his father Tony. But when it came to following in his father's footsteps in securing a regular blue collar job, Conor chose another life's path. He soon found his bliss in the gym, and stunned audiences with his towering punching power when he entered the world of amateur fighting. There have been moments throughout his life when he has strayed from his ideals, but there have been people along the way who have stood by to remind him of his greater purpose. One of these figures is Dee Devlin, a stunning brunette who has become McGregor's long-term girlfriend. With unwavering support and commitment, Devlin has sparked a renaissance of determination in the fighter, and gifted him with a family of his own. The film contains flashes of McGregor's most consequential bouts, and goes step by step through every victory, road block, injury and comeback. It offers a palpable sense of the demons that drive and suppress him, and the fighting techniques that distinguish him from other fighters on the scene today. More recent events, such as a controversial bus attack that led to McGregor's arrest and his ill-fated entry into professional boxing versus Floyd Mayweather, Jr., are also highlighted in the film's narrative. In the process, we come to learn that defeat can often define the strength of a warrior more than victory. True Life Stories: Conor McGregor is anchored by an exceptionally articulated monologue from a true fan of the fighter. What results is a deeply human and inspiring portrait, even for those viewers who have little interest in mixed martial arts. Directed by: Laurence Mckenna Like & Follow, Comment!

Egomaniacal. Divisive. Provocateur. Genius. Whatever your take on Kanye West, you can't deny his enormous imprint on popular culture. Everyone seems to have an opinion of him, but how many truly know his story? True Life Stories: Kanye West traces his journey from growing up with a single mother on the south side of Chicago to global superstardom. Born in Atlanta in 1977, Kanye was moved to Chicago at the age of three when his newly divorced mother received a teaching position. His mother was a profound influence on his life, and encouraged him to learn, explore and evolve. The young boy began writing poetry by the time he turned five, and found himself consumed by a love for hip hop once he reached the seventh grade. Dropping out of university after a year and moving to New York City, he toiled with his music for a while before establishing a fruitful collaboration with Jay Z. What follows is a play by play of Kanye's monumental rise through the ranks of the music community. Today, he is an industry unto himself, and has transformed much of the music scene in his image. Along the way, viewers will benefit from thoughtful analysis of some of his biggest hits, insights on the many peaks and valleys of his personal life and professional career, and a colorful interpretation of his marriage to reality television icon Kim Kardashian. The commentary in the film is impassioned, informative and informal. The film doesn't shy away from the more provocative incidents that have marked his public persona, including the infamous on-stage spectacle involving himself, Taylor Swift and Beyonce, his unfailing support of President Donald Trump, and his frequent displays of grandiosity on social media and elsewhere. What emerges is a multi-layered portrait of an artist with strong convictions, who possesses a fearlessness in speaking his mind, and an infinite desire to find the truest version of himself. The second episode of True Geordie's biographical documentary series, True Life Stories: Kanye West is an absorbing look at one of the most talented and polarizing artists of our time. Directed by: Laurence Mckenna Like & Follow, Comment! 2018, BIOGRAPHY - 86 MIN

America's transition into a global financial superpower is unthinkable without the contributions of John Pierpont Morgan. J.P. Morgan: How One Man Financed America is a fast-paced and informative portrait of the banking giant whose financial prowess brought the country back from the brink on several occasions throughout history. Though he was a chronically sick child, Morgan was born into great advantage. His father had made a splash as a highly successful businessman in the banking sector. It was through him that Morgan achieved early entry into the family business. But it wasn't until his father's passing that he achieved a degree of stratospheric success he could call his own. The film traces the countless highlights that marked his life. He started his own banking company in 1861, lost his first wife to a tragic illness, and buried himself in work in order to avoid the ensuing grief. He would eventually become the most powerful man in American finance. His most consequential achievements helped to bail out the United States during tumultuous periods. He brokered an agreement between The Pennsylvania and New York Central Railway companies, which in turn saved the U.S. economy. He revived the country's financial prospects once more when he formulated an escape from the gold panic of 1893. Soon after, he made a deal with Andrew Carnegie, which netted him up to 70% control of the entire U.S. steel production market. J.P. Morgan: How One Man Financed America moves at a breakneck speed, and barely allows for a breather to fully absorb the intricacies of such a complicated and storied life. For some, the consistently admiring tone of the film's narration may prove troublesome, especially as it recounts the period in Morgan's life when he weaseled out of serving during the Civil War, paid someone to take his place on the battlefield, and found cunning ways to profit off the ensuing carnage. There is no denying the innovation of the film's presentation, however. What would otherwise be a pedestrian visual landscape of illustrations and photographs are brought to vivid, three-dimensional life. This provides the film with a sense of engagement and forward momentum. Directed by: Mohammed Berraqouche Like & Follow,Comment! 2020, BIOGRAPHY - 40 MIN

The history of Sound City and their huge recording device; exploring how digital change has allowed 'people that have no place' in music to become stars. It follows former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighter Dave Grohl as he attempts to resurrect the studio back to former glories. Directed by Dave Grohl Written by Mark Monroe

Zeitgeist: the Movie is a 2007 documentary film by Peter Joseph examining possible historical and modern conspiracies surrounding Christianity, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the Federal Reserve bank