Film Review: Ethos: A Time For Change

By

Sydney Morris

            Ethos: A Time for Change, from Director Pete McGrain and hosted by Woody Harrelson, is an entrancing documentary that opens viewers’ eyes to the real power they possess as consumers and members of modern society. According to the documentary, we cannot change our system until we know how it works. The system controls virtually all of the everyday aspects of our lives and how we live within in. With this documentary, you learn how to function in peace and justice in a clean environment. Ethos: A Time for Change is a great way for people who may be uninformed about certain topics to learn and become more powerful and responsible decision makers, creating a way for them to fully open their eyes to the world we live in.

            The choice of quotes and people who were interviewed complemented the documentary very well; they supported the purpose of the film and added interesting insight. The facts are undeniable and provide people who watch this with several things to think about. One of the subjects covered is politics and how politicians often completely contradict themselves. McGrain makes an interesting point that we never really know what to believe when politicians do this, and tend to just go along with their ideas, which is another way they control the system and how we live.

            I thoroughly enjoyed the documentary; it was informative and gave an outlook on the world that I would not have been aware of otherwise. I enjoyed the narrative and I would recommend it to others who are curious as to how the corrupt system impacts our lives and how easy it is to change the way it works once you can understand the amount of power you hold as a consumer. This is a great documentary, one that serves as a much needed wake up call, and is well worth the watch!

Film Review: The Raw and the Cooked - A Culinary Journey Through Taiwan

By
Charles A. Smith



The Raw and the Cooked is a foodie's dream documentary. Taiwanese cuisine is the featured food/topic in this DVD, which is a Monika Treut film. Subtitles aside (they don't detract from the film in the least), The Raw and the Cooked is really informative. The farmers of Taiwan give viewers a wealth of information about their vegetables and fruits, including their health benefits. Then, different methods of cooking from different regions of Taiwan are demonstrated by some of the best chefs on the island. Seafood, a mainstay of the people of Taiwan, is cooked many different ways including some which are an amazing display of culinary art, as aboriginal chef Ladibasse cooks inside a tree trunk using hot rocks as the heat source. The grand finale is the shopping trip fusion chef Liu Henh-Hong takes viewers on, after which he cooks the fresh and vegetables at Jindou Restaurant in Pulin. Throughout this trip around the coast of this island country, you will be completely captivated by this well produced DVD. Great scenes of tradition, people and culture. The green movement is alive and growing across the world, and Taiwan is trying hard to keep its grounds and waters clear and clean. See how some in Taiwan are making a difference with respect to carbon wastes; it has a lot to do with awareness of what you are eating and other choices that are made. This foodie trip has something for everyone from the vegetarian to the pork lover. Well done! I highly recommend this major Foodie DVD!!

Film Review: Three Stars

By
Charles A. Smith

Three Stars, a culinary documentary by Lutz Hachmeister, focuses on ten world class chefs, revealing the inner workings of the minds and kitchens of these great cooks -- all of whom have "stars". "Three Stars" includes such notables as Jean-George Vongerichten from Jean Georges, Rene Redzepi from Noma, Sven Elverfeld from Aqua, and many others. Michelin stars in the culinary arts world are the way in which the world's finest restaurants are rated on the very highest level of gastronomic expertise. No one on the outside really knows exactly what the qualifications are to get a 3 star rating, but having them puts a restaurant in a very elite club among the global best. This documentary really gets viewers up close and personal with the thought process of some of the best chefs as they travel the world pursuing the ingredients and techniques of cooking that will make them stand apart. Some care more about the stars than others. But the bottom line is that chefs take the culinary experience very seriously, and want nothing to get in the way of pleasuring your palate. The film showcases fine cuisine from all over the world and insightful tips if you listen carefully. See how Chefs have become scientists in the kitchen, featuring new molecular cuisines, which is the new terminology for what they do.

"Three Stars" is a DVD that is chock full of pleasures and understanding along with the mysterious Michelin Guide, its standards, and the stars awarded by them. If you like food (and who doesn't), you'll definitely enjoy this watch. I highly recommend this very interesting culinary documentary!! 

Please Note: No trailer available.