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Can We Live Forever is a PBS Nova documentary. Plot: This is yet another excellent PBS Science documentary. There are a number of different avenues of research in this documentary that show various ways that humans might be able to further extend their lives, or possibly live forever. My Take: Not as far-fetched as it sounds at first.  The research presented seems extremely plausible, especially the biotechnological advances.  Also, anything that brings in Star Trek as an example always makes me happy.

The Marines is a 2006 PBS Documentary. Plot: This is a thorough look at the United States Marine Corps from its earliest history, evolution through the decades, and its current place in the armed conflicts across the globe.  Boot camp, officer candidate school, women in the Corps, and specialized training prior to deployment are some of the topics covered. My Take: This is the best all-around look at the Marine Corps that I've ever seen (and I've seen quite a few). While there is the expected look back at the battle history of the Marines, the documentary does not shirk from also talking to Marines wounded in battle, or to older Marine veterans who deplore the use of force and war.  While it is at its very least a fantastic recruiting tool, this documentary also shows the average American citizen why they should be proud of the Marine Corps.

I Have Never Forgotten You is a 2006 documentary. Plot:  Simon Wiesenthal was a Jew living in Nazi Germany before the Second World War.  Imprisoned by the Nazis, Wiesenthal lost dozens of family members and friends in the Holocaust.  After being liberated by the Americans, Wiesenthal volunteered to help them track down and charge Nazi leaders/officers with war crimes.  Wiesenthal evntually was able to help in the apprehension of over 1,000 Nazi war criminals. My take:  This is basically a biography of the life and work of controversial Jewish Nazi Hunter, Simon Wiesenthal.  A very powerful, moving documentary highlighting the cruelty of the Nazis and why many Jews fought for years to capture and imprison their former torturers.

400 Years of the Telescope is a 2009 PBS documentary. Plot: Starting with the earliest spyglasses and ending with the future of telescope development, this documentary covers the past 400 years of the telescope and how it impacted the fields of astronomy, physics, and photography.  Interviews with many of the world's top astronomers help to illuminate where we are, and where the telescope will take us in the future. My Take: Another excellent PBS science documentary.  Most of the topics covered revolve around how telescopes have enabled scientific discoveries and advances in what we believe about the universe.  I found the discussion on the future of telescopes to be particularly interesting, with information about the plans for new gigantic telescopes such as the Giant Magellan Telescope yet to be built.

Dead Like Me is a 2003-2004 fantasy/sci-fi/comedy/drama television series starring Mandy Patinkin, Ellen Muth, and Jasmine Guy. Plot: Grim Reapers walk the earth, harvesting souls when they die so that they can safely proceed to whatever comes next.  Patinkin leads one very quirky group of Reapers that have their own set of issues: how to survive in a world where they are only semi-living. My Take:  Typical Showtime series.  Exceedingly dark, quirky, and funny in every way.  The acting is stellar, and the characters are all distinctly different and so very inappropriate in different ways. This series only went two seasons because creative differences between the writers of the show and Showtime that led to the cancelling of the well-received, and highly watched, series.  Such a shame. Dead Like Me got ratings for original programming on Showtime that took seven years to match.

Searching for Bobby Fischer is a 1993 Drama starring Jo Mategna, Lawrence Fishburne, and  Ben Kingsley. Plot: Based on a true story, a father (Mategna) discovers his young son is a chess prodigy.  Seeking to help him reach his full potential, the Dad hires a crusty, stern chess instructor (Kingsley) and begins to enter him into various chess tournaments.  The pressure soon gets to the young boy, who starts to feel chess isn't all that much fun anymore, and his Dad has to figure out what being a Father really means. My Take:  It had been many years since I last saw this movie, but it holds up surprisingly well over time.  The acting is top-notch, and the writing produces a very engaging, thoughtful film.  You don't have to be knowledgeable about chess to enjoy it, but you'll probably want to pick up the game afterwards.  Ultimately, the core of this movie is a father-son relationship story that is beautifully written and well-executed.