Today's documentaries have the qualities of feature films -- cinematography, suspense, captivating personalities, funny parts, and in some cases, special effects. If you want to learn about a topic, but don't have time to read a book on the issue, a documentary can be a valuable resource, as within one to two hours you can gain almost as much understanding as you would from reading a book. In addition, documentaries are wonderful ways to understand topics that are more audio-visual in nature, such as how animals move, mate, hunt, and act. While you could read about a lion pouncing on it's pray in a book, even looking at pictures of the lion, a documentary lets you see the anticipation in the lion's eye and the frightening majesty of the lion as it growls and pounces on its prey. If you can't be with a lion as it pounces, a documentary is the next best option....

Finally, watching a documentary is a good way to get informed if you have to make a decision, such as who to vote for. Both biased and unbiased documentaries can give you a good idea of the issues surrounding a particular candidate for office and his or her past actions.
So, the next time you go to the video store, you might take a glimpse at the documentary section and see if any titles catch your eye. Because today's documentaries are wrought with Hollywood-style filmmaking techniques, interesting information, and sometimes even celebrities, you're sure to find one that captures your interest. But most importantly, remember that the documentaries of today are not like the documentaries of yesterday. The next time you have to watch one in a class or seminar, try to keep an open mind about what might be awaiting you. You could be surprised.