MartinHafer The famous director, Peter Jackson, created a very dry and realistic mockumentary about a fictional movie pioneer from New Zealand. And, since he filmed it in such a serious manner, audiences who saw it didn't realize it was all a put-on. My oldest daughter says this is because the viewers were stupid, but frankly considering how realistic it all appeared, I can understand their confusion. He does not at any time relent to humor--always keeping the illusion that it's a real documentary. Even the wonderful "Zelig" is obviously a put-on (unless you are, like my daughter say, a 'total idiot'). Now this creates a bit of a problem. While this dry and realistic approach makes the film more remarkable for folks like me to watch, it also makes it pretty boring and unwatchable for the average viewer. I mean, I understood it was a put-on because I am a huge student of silent movies--but how many people today are?! And how many will even appreciate this? Not many, I assume. If you are a total film nut, then this is your film--otherwise, you'll probably find it tough going.By the way, what's wrong with Leonard Maltin's voice in this film? It sounds barely like him--was he sick?

rkj-3 Maybe i have become a biased Peter Jackson fan. The LOTR movies i consider the greatest achievement in the history of film. But this little gem is just so well crafted. I was lucky to just stumble upon it while zapping through the channels some 8-9 years ago. Thinking this was an interesting documentary about a person i had never heard of before (always been a great fan of documentaries). I guess this is an unlikely, but perfect, situation to watch it in. Thinking it is for real. As the movie went along, i frequently was going "incredible - why have i not heard of this man before" .. and a few times i went "this cant be true". But at exactly those moments a famous person (like Sam Neil) pops up and explain about this person as if he did exist, which kept me believe the story. I have to admit .. i believed the story till the very end. This was one of the great moments in my movie watching "career". I was lucky i saw it as if it was real. Knowing that it is fake i guess makes it at lot less interesting.

Spuzzlightyear Colin Mckenzie was a brilliant New Zealand filmmaker who FINALLY got his due from Peter Jackson's brilliant documentary, "Forgotten Silver". Mckenzie seems to have inspired Jackson quite amusingly, because you can totally see some of the elements used from his 'Salome', (Which I attended the world premiere of it's restoration) in his Lord Of The Rings Trilogy. In Forgotten Silver, Jackson intertwines footage from Griffiths' early movies and his masterpiece Salome, with interviews and a fascinating trek into New Zealand wilderness to try to find the sets used in 'Salome'. It's all quite interesting and absorbing. I admire Jackson for unearthing this silent movie master (which actually I knew about before this movie came out), and await when Salome comes out on DVD!ps Yes, I did get the joke ;)

FoneBone-3 I had never heard about this "documentary" before, so I saw it with an open mind.. So when the footage of the first flight around 31 of mars 1903 came, I thought; "Wow, is this for real, is what I was thought in school just bull"... Then I remembered that the documentary was made in 1995, and this I would have heard of... Anyway, it is a mindblower in a way, it makes ppl think how much you are influenced by these socalled serious documentaries.. Allways remember that movies, news and documentaries are made in the eyes of it`s maker..