That old saying �If it looks too good to be true, it probably is� hits the mark when it comes to downloading free movies. Yes, you can download some movies; but if you find a site advertising the latest Indiana Jones or Sex in the City Movie for free downloads, it is a scam. More than a scam, actually; these first-run movies have been pirated (stolen) and placed on the internet for others to download.

Not all movies are available in their totality for free download. As a matter of fact, the majority of what you will find free to view consists of trailers, clips, extra footage and information about the shooting, scenes and the actors. Viewing trailers is actually a good way to decide if you�re interested in seeing the entire movie.

You can find many hours of viewing pleasure, if you are willing to �think outside the box� a little bit. If you will consider older movies and documentaries, you can have access to a large selection of free movie downloads. In addition to classic films and documentaries, you will find many sites which offer free trailers, clips, extra-footage and additional information about the films, their shooting schedules, actors, etc.

Documentaries and independent films (also called �Indies�) can be found in abundance � at no charge � on various internet sites. Simply search �free movie downloads� and you will be directed to sites that offer documentaries, independent films and films which belong in the public domain. Moviesfoundonline.com is a great site for documentaries.

Two documentaries which have received rave reviews and can be downloaded for free are �The U.S. vs. John Lennon� and �Battle for Baghdad � 2007�. Both of these are great documentaries � informative and entertaining. Not all documentaries on the site are of a serious nature. You can find documentaries in comedic and musical categories as well. You have absolutely nothing to lose, and potentially a good deal to gain by paying a visit to the site.

There are other movie download sites that do offer free trial periods. Vongo.com offers a fourteen-day free trial period. During that time you can download as many movies as you like. They will not be the very latest movies, but more likely movies that have been out of theaters for a few years. After the trial period expires, Vongo.com charges a $9.99 fee per month.

If you have a family, it is worth considering exposing your children to older films. Many youngsters are only familiar with modern day Cineplex blockbusters. You may introduce them to a whole new world by downloading free classics or documentaries.

Isaiah Henry is a free movie downloads expert writer for Movies and Downloads, which offers movie lovers free tips, reviews and other resources on movie sites. Talk about anything on movies at our Movie Download Forum.