Netflix + documentaries + Amy = ♥

Always late to the party, I have just found the joy that is Netflix.  While I'm not a huge movie fan I LOVE documentaries, but they're not the easiest things to find in Blockbuster and I'm too cheap to buy them (though now that I'm looking at Amazon they aren't that expensive).  Netflix to the rescue!  They are currently running a free month subscription offer and so I jumped on the site to see what they had in the way of documentaries and was extremely excited to see how many they have to offer!  I filled my queue up in no time flat! 

The first one I received the other day is Elizabeth: The Acclaimed Saga of England's Virgin Queen narrated by David Starkey.  This is a 2 Disc DVD, so I'll be watching the first disc this weekend and then the second one whenever it comes to me. 

Documentary reviews will also be a new feature on Passages to the Past, so stay tuned for that! 


SYNOPSIS:  One of the most important rulers in history, Elizabeth I came to the throne at a time when England was under threat of annexation from abroad and collapse from within. When she died after a reign of 45 years, she left behind a nation protected by the greatest navy on earth and in the midst of a cultural explosion she made possible. Hosted by the world-renowned historian David Starkey (author of Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne) ELIZABETH explores the life and rule of the woman who gave her name to an era. A compelling blend of dramatic re-creations and incisive commentary brings alive the courtly intrigues and epic conflicts that shaped her reign, opens a window into the Queen's private struggles and convictions, and examines her monumental legacy. The four volumes in this epic set are From the Prison to the Palace, The Virgin Queen, Heart of a King and Gloriana.

Here are a few of the others I will be watching soon:



SYNOPSIS:  This gripping PBS-produced offering charts the course of this larger-than-life emperor, from his birth on the island of Corsica to his eventual exile on another island, St. Helena. In between, of course, are his military exploits and achievements, his undying love for his muse, Josephine, his marriage to an Austrian royal much younger than him and his impressive failure to conquer Russia in an ill-conceived invasion.

 

SYNOPSIS:  MARIE ANTOINETTE Queen Of Versailles There are few women in history as renowned for glamour and decadence as Marie Antoinette, the French Queen who is alleged to have fueled a Revolution with the immortal line "Let them eat cake." Step back in time to 18th Century France and visit the beautiful Palace of Versailles, where Marie Antoinette was sent, hardly into her teens, to be the bride of the future King Louis XVI. Through the great Hall of Mirrors and the beautiful formal gardens of the Palace, to the lesser-known Petit Trianon and Peasant Village, discover for yourself what really happened to the Austrian Princess. It may be a story that sadly lacks a happy ending, but Marie Antoinette, Queen of Versailles, is still worthy of our attention, telling us of one woman's remarkable courage when an entire nation turned against her. 58 MIN.



SYNOPSIS:  The lives of English sovereigns are exhaustively chronicled in this series, beginning with the rulers of Anglo-Saxon times and ending with Charles II's restoration of the crown in 1660. Featuring David Starkey's compelling narration and dramatizations of events such as the Norman Conquest in 1066 and Queen Elizabeth I's majestic reign, the absorbing documentary illustrates how the monarchs affected the course of British and world history.

If you've seen any of these documentaries or have some to recommend I'd love to hear it!!
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15 comments:

  1. I've gotten a lot of good documentaries from the library as well.

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  2. This is exactly why I love Netflix so much! It's impossible to find a lot of documentaries at video stores (and video stores are starting to go extinct), but Netflix has an awesome selection to choose from. :)

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  3. Amy, you may also like A Man For All Seasons, Lady Jane and Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen. I like Netflix. I have the box where I can watch some movies right through there. I guess they just recently have it where you can watch Netflix shows through your Wii or XBox..

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  4. Yep, my queue is about 80% documentaries. They've got a great selection, don't they?

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  5. I really need to convince the hubby to let me join Netflix!

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  6. Thanks Amy for the great recommendations...I'm going to add them to my que on Netflix...we've been watching alot of great old movies on Netflix as well. We just watched two moving documentaties this week, Food, Inc. and The Cove...both very compelling. I've also got the mini-series "Rome" on my waitig list because we don't have HBO or ShowTime, etc. and it's fun to watch the series on Netflix. Have a great weekend, fondly, Roberta

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  7. uh...jealous!!! :)

    I am so going to take advantage of that Netflix free month! I have looked for documentaries (as well as different film portrayals; I want to see Charles II: The Power and the Passion) on royalty at Blockbuster before and they never have them!

    Look, now you've started a craze and Netflix is going to start being out of all history-related offerings, haha!

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  8. I never thought of getting documentaries through Netflix. What a great idea. We do not subscribe. It just takes me so long to sit down and watch even the ones we buy.

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  9. Sounds like lots of fun.. i am just not a TV person much though but I def like to watch those. I can't wait to hear what you think of Mr Starkey the male chauvinist.

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  10. Netflix is awesome! I hadn't thought about historical documentaries. I'm looking forward to your reviews. I love all things Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria!

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  11. I always enjoy a good documentary, i'll have to keep an eye out for these.
    Netflix rocks!
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  12. Isn't Netflix wonderful?? I am going to have to add some of these to my queue, as I love a good historical documentary as well. Thanks for the ideas!

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  13. Holy Cow I love Netflix!!!!! I am hooked on every BBC mini series they offer. I have seen The Monarchy and loved it. Will have to reserve these other ones.

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  14. Netflix is awesome indeed! The Starkey series looks rather interesting since I get confused with the English monarchs from time to time.
    Happy viewing!

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