W.T. Morgan Movies

Formed by two childhood friends from San Pedro, CA, D. Boon and Mike Watt, the Minutemen were at once one of the key bands in the Southern California hardcore punk scene of the '80s and a group who flew in the face of all rules, including those of punk rock. Named in part because their early songs usually lasted 60 seconds or less, the Minutemen were a band who stripped their music down to the bone -- short songs with minimal solos and wiry structures -- but at the same time found ways to integrate elements of funk, jazz, and world music into their bubbling aural bouillabaisse. Despite the stark frameworks of their music, no one could argue that the Minutemen couldn't play -- bassist Watt and drummer George Hurley were one of the most potent rhythm sections in underground music, and Boon's guitar work marked the place where Jimi Hendrix and Captain Beefheart's influences met. While many punk bands bellowed harsh political rants, the Minutemen offered pithy but intelligent discourse on the world around them, focusing on how larger issues impacted ordinary folks in a way few people in rock ever managed. And the Minutemen's "econo" philosophy took D.I.Y. to a new level, as they set out to show by example how even the most cash-strapped musicians could bring their music to the people. (Their best album, Double Nickels on the Dime, was a two-record set recorded for less than 2,000 dollars.) The band were critical favorites on the cusp of a new level of popularity following a tour opening for R.E.M. when their career was stopped in its tracks by the tragic death of Boon in a car wreck in late 1985. We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen is a documentary which tells the full story of this unusual and influential group, featuring performance footage of the Minutemen on stage, extensive interviews with Watt and Hurley, and contributions from friends and family members. Interview subjects include Thurston Moore, Ian MacKaye, Flea, Henry Rollins, Keith Morris, Greg Ginn, and many more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Hosted by Kevin Costner and narrated by Gregory Harrison, the historical documentary 500 Nations, Volume 4: Invasion of the Coast - The First English Settlements portrays America's original inhabitants before and after the Europeans arrived. The film begins in the Arctic where the Inuit culture -- during the search for the Northwest Passage -- is examined. Also featured in the film are the stories of Pocahontas, the Pilgrims, Samoset, Captain John Smith, and the Powhatans. Other episodes in the 500 Nations series include 500 Nations: Removal, 500 Nations: Clash of Cultures, 500 Nations: Attack on Culture, 500 Nations: Cauldron of War, 500 Nations: Roads Across the Plains, and 500 Nations: Mexico. ~ Kathleen Wildasin, Rovi

This film is part of an eight-tape series chronicling the history and culture of North and Central American Indians. The series is produced and hosted by Kevin Costner and explores the many cultures that comprise the indigenous heritage of the Americas. In this episode, the subject is the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which forced Native Americans from their ancestral lands. It was another in a long line of broken promises by the U.S. Government to the nation's First Americans. After President Andrew Jackson signed the Act, all tribes were required to relocate westward along the infamous "Trail of Tears." The film uses on-location filming, photographs, reenactments, interviews, and first-person accounts to tell this story of betrayal and hardship. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi

This is the final volume in the set of videos produced by Kevin Costner, star of Dances With Wolves, that chronicles the history of the Native Americans. The many battles waged by the first settlers of this country appeared to never end as host Gregory Harrison recalls the travails of the late 19th century. The lives and battles fought by such figures as Cochise, Geronimo, and Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce are examined. The government's ongoing "war" against the Native Americans and their separate culture continued unchecked, eventually leading to the massacre at Wounded Knee. Many of the events that led up to and contributed to that terrible event at Wounded are reviewed by historians and others. ~ Elizabeth Smith, Rovi

A college student is torn between his friends' active-protest, anti-establishment mentality and the conservative values of his parents in this slow-moving drama. The film is leavened somewhat by a great soundtrack (Pixies, Throwing Muses, Minutemen) and appearances by Fred Schneider from the B-52's and X's John Doe. ~ John Bush, Rovi