Documentary Analysis "Chasing Ice" and "Semper Fi: Always Faithful" were two very touching documentaries that we had the privilege of seeing. Both films focused on serious issues that deserved some light shed on them by the filmmakers. “Chasing Ice” focuses on melting glaciers around the world and is a breathtaking look at humankind's astonishing effects on the environment. Through incredible images, the documentary is able to visually shock audiences and open their eyes to the devastating and real effects of global warming. The film is conceived as a journey, starting with the launch of the Extreme Ice Survey, then traveling across continents, until the final distribution and presentation of James Balog's discoveries. There is an absolute climactic arc in the story, where the audience finds itself hoping that the cameras will work and anxiously awaiting the presentation of the footage at the end. “Semper Fi: Always Faithful” focuses on a smaller-scale problem, but one that continues to affect millions of people across the country. This documentary is an emotionally powerful look at the Camp Lejeune water contamination that affected families and children of families who remained in the camp for several years. While “Chasing Ice” was an observational piece that looked to inform its audience, “Semper Fi” was more of an exploitation piece that looked at the journey to inform the audience of the issue. In conclusion, both films were similar in presenting an urgent issue, however I see “Chasing Ice” as a method of informing the public, and “Semper Fi” as documenting the process of informing the public. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Both films have a central character; James Balog in “Chasing Ice” and Sergeant Major Jerry Ensminger in “Semper Fi.” James Balog is a great character to focus on. His passion is explosive and contagious, and he is clearly devoted to his project. His determination is illustrated by testimonies from his family and comments from his colleagues. He drives the story and I couldn't imagine a different kind of person leading this documentary. “Semper Fi” has a central character, Jerry Ensminger, but also many secondary characters. Jerry's story was driven by the tragic death of his young daughter, who passed away due to water contamination. He is the one who initiates the investigation into the Marines' misconduct regarding the water supply at Camp Lejeune. During his journey to find the truth, he meets Mike. Mike is a man who contracted male breast cancer after being born in the camp. His story has a great impact in the documentary, almost as if he were a secondary central character. His testimony at the meeting where they confront a Marine representative is extremely touching. He starts to cry when he asks the navy representative to help their cause, and I found him to be a very touching character. The audiences addressed by the two films are similar in urgency, but differ in size. “Semper Fi” is geared towards the United States, while “Catching Ice” is more of a globally focused film. The issues discussed in “Semper Fi” concern a governmental injustice involving the Marine Corps, an institution that should be considered steadfast and trustworthy. Their target audience is the country, rather than just veterans and those involved in the Marines, as this is a national issue that everyone needs to know about. When an injustice of this kind occurs without an adequate solution,the country must know. “Chasing Ice” was aimed at the world, because it is a global issue. The entire climate of the Earth we live on has changed dramatically in recent years, and it's not the fault of any particular country or continent. Although the documentary makes clear the need for change, it is not particularly a call to action. It's more of an attempt to raise awareness around the world. The way interviews are implemented in both films contributes to their success in telling their stories. The interviews used in “Chasing Ice” integrate the story of James Balog's passion for seeking the truth about climate change, as well as informing audiences of his journey. Personally I liked the interviews of the two young men who accompany James on his mission. Their stories are lighthearted and I felt more identifiable with them, perhaps because they were younger and had recently studied. I think their interviews were implemented excellently. They really capture the essence of the excitement that comes from a project like this. As previously mentioned, James' family interviews are also very revealing of his clear devotion to his project. They add some emotion to the film, because James had to spend a lot of time away from his family during the several years this project lasted. The interviews used in “Semper Fi” contribute greatly to the profound emotional nature of the film. movie. Most reports come from people directly affected by water contamination, either through their own illness or that of a family member. Like “Chasing Ice,” family interviews are also used. Mike's family members express their concern about the possible return of his illness, but have also expressed their support. You could tell they didn't like the time he had to spend working on the issue and were worried they weren't spending enough time with him. As for the supporting character interviews, I was most impressed by the female veteran who died during the making of the film. His story was like all the others; she lived a normal life serving the Marines, passed through Camp Lejeune during her service and continued to lead her life afterward. When he learned of his illness, he couldn't even bear to read the diagnosis. Something about the way the filmmakers captured his narrative really made me think about how normal these people were. Like many others, cancer seemed like something that happened to other people and not to themselves. But due to water contamination, this was his life, and ultimately death. It really illustrated the power a strong interview can have. Theme-wise, both documentaries are suspenseful in the sense that you needed to know what was going to happen next. Their use of storytelling was very successful in engaging the audience from start to finish. They were also very factual and informative. The way information is gradually discovered in “Semper Fi” is one of the main stimuli for the audience, aside from the emotional factor. I can see why people saw it as a feature film. There is a kind of opaque suspense throughout the film that makes the audience hope that something good will be achieved in the end. The film captures the audience and forces them to go on this journey with Jerry Ensminger. The main suspense in “Chasing Ice” comes from wondering whether or not the cameras will work. Additionally, subsequent suspense is induced by the mystery of seeing how the footage will appear in the end. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Both movies made me.