Morgan Spurlock of Super Size Me and Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold is the host of a new series on Current called “50 Documentaries to See Before You Die.”  He quotes Alfred Hitchcock: “In feature films, the director is God.  In documentaries, God is the director.” He will discuss the list with fellow documentarians and film experts and catch up with some of the people and stories

The shows will count down from fifty to one, eventually revealing what our panel of preeminent film critics, academics and industry insiders has chosen as the most entertaining, powerful and influential modern documentary. However, this is not your average list show. Renowned documentarian Morgan Spurlock will embark on a road trip to track down the filmmakers and characters behind some of the most remarkable moments in contemporary cinema. Along the way, he’ll meet maverick directors and eccentric contributors, travel to iconic locations and explore the impact that the documentaries have made on both their subjects and society, all the while counting down to number one.

Current will also be running some of the documentaries he recommends.

50 Documentaries to See Before You Die Part 1

In honor of this week’s release of the new “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” prequel, I have something really spectacular — one copy of the 40th anniversary Blu-Ray box set of the classic Apes series: “Planet of the Apes,” “Beneath the Planet of the Apes,” “Escape From the Planet of the Apes,” “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes,” and “Battle for the Planet of the Apes.”  The first disc has commentary by actors Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter and Natalie Trundy, and makeup artist John Chambers.  Extras include make-up tests, costume design sketches, trailers, and backstage footage.  You’ll even get a close-up look at props like the Apes newspapers to see what they were reading.

Send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with “Apes” in the subject line and tell me your favorite character in the series.  Don’t forget your address!  I’ll pick one lucky winner August 8, 2011.

Brilliantly funny Joe Queenan has a great piece in The Guardian about how today’s technology would have saved some classic movie characters a lot of misery — and eliminated the plots for the movies and the enjoyment for the audiences.

Imagine Janet Leigh, driving around with that stolen money, looking for a place to spend the night.  She’d check Trip Advisor on her iPhone and end up bypassing the Bates Motel.  And Clint Eastwood could use caller ID to block those “Play Misty for Me” calls from Jessica Walter.  The mistaken identity in “North by Northwest?”  Not after Google!

You’ll think of some of your own examples when you read his list.  “Casablanca?”  You could print out fake letters of transit using Photoshop.  “Citizen Kane?”  He wouldn’t have to spend all that money on the newspaper; he could be a blogger!

Could Shark Week get any better?  Yes!  This year, the Discovery Channel has dubbed SNL’s Andy Samberg its “Chief Shark Officer.”  Samberg told CNN it was a dream come true.

Well, it was a childhood dream, obviously. Even though I’m the first ever Chief Shark Officer, I assumed that someday they would invent that role and that when they did, I would be there and be completely qualified to be named it. It was one of those once in a lifetime things you get asked to do something that you never to be expected.

He says he even got up close and personal with some sharks.

I actually got into the water in chain mail and was floating on a surf board. Somewhere between 15 and 30 pretty sizable reef sharks were all eating around me and splashing around, and bumping into me.

Discovery is also premiering an “interactive co-viewing experience” starting tonight at 8 pm, with three hours of “exclusive, interactive content programmed to complement and enhance your Shark Week TV viewing.  Shark Week Live is also available on iTunes for iPhones and iPads.  You can upload your own photos and vote for your favorite videos on the Shark Week bracket.

Happy chomping!

“A Dolphin Tale” comes out next month with Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, and Harry Connick, Jr. in a story of a dolphin named Winter whose tail is damaged in a crab trap.  It’s a heartwarming film based on an extraordinary true story.

I have two adorable stuffed plush dolphins to give away.  Send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with “Dolphin” in the title and tell me why you love dolphins.  Don’t forget your address. I’ll pick two lucky winners at random a week from today.  Good luck!