jacquiey-1

(2013-05-16 07:18:06)

Easily One of the Worst Films of the Year

Perhaps my expectations were too high but from the moment this filmstarted it did not fail to disappoint me. The quality of filming wasclose to B-grade despite the film boasting several big name actors. Itwas clear the majority of the plot was fictional trying to come acrossas fact and in many cases this just felt like a cheap shot at McDonalds- the message would have better suited a more documentary style filmbased on the real facts, but as it is I came out feeling confusedrather than educated. To top it all off they threw in some graphicshots of a person's leg being ripped off by a machine and cows beingcut up with chain saws just to make your stomach turn. I certainly hopethat they didn't kill those cows just for the sake of a poor qualityfilm. Please do your research before making the decision to watch thisfilm so that you don't come out feeling ripped off.I went to McDonalds after watching this film, but I chose a chickenburger instead.. I guess, at least in part, the film had its desiredeffect.

vesperma-2

(2013-05-15 18:03:51)

Meat Packers Are Not A Cool Business For Your Peta!

Eric Schlosser, a man known in the environmental movement with ties toELF and other radical environmental organizations, wrote a book pushinghis pro vegetarian point of view, Fast Food Nation. Do not takechildren to see this film, it is inappropriate for children. Do nottake adults over the age of 65. In fact I suggest, you just let thismovie stay on the video store shelves. Bruce Willis, Greg Kinnear, andLuiz Guzman all are above the fray in this movie which Linklater usesto show how Mexican workers who work in America are abused by workingin a meat packing plant. I am unsure what the goal is? It seems to me,90% of the people who watch this film will come to the conclusion as Idid. Rich people do not want immigrants working in or around Aspen,Colorado, the end. The film makers purposely focused on a meat packingplant in Colorado, instead of Nebraska, Arkansas, and Kansas, where themajority of Tyson Meats plants are located. Why? Easy, Willis, wholives in Utah and ski's in Colorado wants the whole state free of manythings. No Cows, No Tyson Meats, No Agriculture.

(2013-05-14 22:51:32)

Not worth the rental price

This review is from: Fast Food Nation [HD] (Amazon Instant Video) I like to watch documentaries on the food industry and how our food is processed. Someone told me to watch this one as it gives a look at the meat processing area. I think they movie could have done more to show how the dirty side of the processing plants. This movie was too much about the illegal immigrants and supervisor taking advantage of them. Really didn't feel it was worth the rental price. Have seen much better. Unless it comes up on the free prime list wouldn't spend the money on renting it.

Anthony Carre

(2013-05-14 16:11:01)

Rent the DVD and get the special features

I read some of the comments made about this film. It does stay at avery superficial level and leaves the audience a bit "hungry" at theend (but not hungry for meat!). I would have wished for more insights -going deeper into the subject.I saw some comments about the poor acting and I disagree. I think thatall actors had a part and is was nice to bring some stars like BruceWillis and Ethan Hawke.I rent the DVD and I watched the special features which contain 3episodes of "The Meatrix", starring Moopheus. The folks who createdthis cartoon delivered the same message as "Fast Food Nation" in lessthan 15 minutes - I learned as much and it was fun! I highly recommend.

(2013-05-14 18:22:30)

More relevant than ever!

Fast Food Nation sheds light (as it should do) on several important matters, including: how powerful the Fast Food giants and their associate companies have become, the poor quality of meat and health standards, and how immigrants are being treated and exploited by Americans and other immigrants alike. The film brings to the screen the parallel stories of various people associated with a meat packing plant in Colorado that supplies the patties for a (fictional) fast food chain called Mickey's. Greg Kinnear, Bruce Willis, Kris Kristofferson, Ethan Hawke, Avril Lavigne, Luis Guzman, and the rest of the cast carry out their performances very well.The setting, the plot, and the dialogues are all good and even though it's quite graphic at times it does get the message across loud and clear.In short, Fast Food Nation is a movie definitely worth watching, as it is surely an eye opener. 3.5 Stars

(2013-05-13 21:41:43)

Right idea BUT dreadfully poor presentation; Not for family viewing

When I heard of Fast Food Nation, I immediately wanted to watch it figuring it was a "mocumentary" on the world of fast-food. I expected it to be informative while entertaining. I should have read the back rating and super fine print. It says: "Rated R for disturbing images, strong sexuality, language and drug content." While the idea behind creating this film was noble, the actual presentation is crass, boring, and so random it was tempting not to fast-forward through many parts. This could have been an informative and very entertaining "documentary" style movie without the constant cursing and perfunctory smut. I would NOT recommend Fast Food Nation to ANYONE unless you have 114 minutes to waste on something that could have been presented tastefully and intellectually in 30 minutes. If you are interested in a very entertaining and family-friendly "documentary," try "Super-size Me."

(2013-05-07 12:26:05)

Item in good condition - plays well.

This review is from: Fast Food Nation (DVD) Good movie, good story, good acting! A must see for those who are thinking about being vegetarian. Also recommend "Food Inc." and "Super Size Me".

Lauren Simpson

(2013-05-07 00:39:10)

"Fast Food" Fails to Satisfy or Disgust

"There's sh*t in the meat," says one Mickey's marketing executive toanother in Richard Linklater's "Fast Food Nation." Given that Mickey'sis the fictional stand-in for McDonald's, in a film based on EricSchlosser's non-fiction exposé of the same name, there's definitelycause for concern. But don't get your hopes up. This is as provocativeas "Fast Food Nation" gets.We start off with Greg Kinnear as Don Anderson, one of theaforementioned Mickey's marketing brains. Don is sent to the fictionalUMP meat-packing plant in Colorado to investigate the cause ofcontaminated burger patties and is surprised by the grisly, unpleasantrealities of fast food production. This world is also populated byimmigrant workers who are variously abused and exploited by thecorporation that employs them.Among them is Raul (Wilmer Valderrama, unable to shake the ghost ofMTV's "Yo Momma" in his first serious role). His performance is proppedup by Catalina Sandino Moreno ("Maria Full of Grace") and Ana ClaudiaTalancón ("The Crime of Padre Amaro"), cast as sisters who fall prey tothe sexual appetite of their UMP supervisor (an amusingly deceptiveBobby Cannavale)."Fast Food Nation" also shows what goes on behind the fast foodcounter, trailing a teenage Mickey's employee who promptly quits herjob at the local franchise, joins a group of young activists and findsout that their anti-establishment activities are ultimately pointless.The narratives interweave but most of the characters never meet eachother.This study of the fast food industry from a variety of angles is anattempt to illustrate both the vastness of its influence and theseriousness of its negative effects on society. Unfortunately "FastFood Nation" doesn't execute this strategy with much finesse. Thenarratives are pedestrian, minimally dramatic and never implicate theaudience. Instead of being biting and critical, "Fast Food Nation" istame—even elegiac, suggesting that the damage has already been done. Sowhy should we care?Schlosser's book was bent on exposing the filthy underbelly of the fastfood machine for the purpose stimulating change in America. "Fast FoodNation," the film, is a low-calorie, disposable version of theoriginal—certainly not rabble-rousing fare. While the book wasconsistently compelling, the film's revelations steadily reduce over106 minutes and its characters fade away.Ultimately, it seems the urgency with which it should convey itsunsanitary message has been lost in the meat-grinder of literaryadaptation. "Fast Food Nation" should've been a documentary. Instead,it barely sizzles as fiction.Copyright (c) 2006 by Lauren Simpson

(2013-05-04 02:08:55)

Great Adaptation

I read the book last year and was amazed to see how the book was adapted into this engaging, thought provoking movie. At times the book is heavy on policy and statistics but the movie brought it all to life with just as much power. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who is on the verge of converting to a vegetarian type lifestyle. I have been practicing vegetarianism for the last 6 months and a movie like this helps me to stick to my vegetarian convictions both from an environmental perspective and a animal cruelty perspective. I highly recommend every American watch this film.

george.schmidt

(2013-05-03 19:35:09)

Super Sized guilt trip

FAST FOOD NATION (2006) ** ½ Greg Kinnear, Wilmer Valderrama, CatalinaSandino Moreno, Bobby Cannavale, Luis Guzman, Ana Claudio Talancon,Paul Dano, Patricia Arquette, Esai Morales, Ethan Hawke, KrisKristofferson, Bruce Willis, Avril Lavigne. Absorbing and scathing –yet undercooked – fictional adaptation of Eric Schlosser's (whoco-scripted with filmmaker Richard Linklater) best-selling indictmentof the fast food industry in the United States aims at the economical,social and consequential elements of what goes on behind the scenes ofa franchise under investigation for its less than wholesome demeanorand the scrutiny of its health conscious concerns. However despite itswell-meaning attempts the ungainly pacing and clumsily stagedinterweaving of several story lines don't hold in the long run butstill the acting is excellent (arguably Kinnear's best work and Willis'juicy, unsavory cameo is served with impeccable relish) and the theme,although told in straight-forward, no-screwing around methods seems atad heavy-handed particularly in the climactic ending for those whofeel it may be preaching to the choir to begin with.

marduk

(2013-05-03 06:08:24)

Too preachy

Having watched A Scanner Darkly just previous to this film, I had highexpectations. However, I was let down.Although I agree with some, but not all, of the issues presented in thefilm, I think the film fails to come across to it's audience for coupleof reasons. Probably the most obvious is that it's just too preachy.The "preachiness" of the film is at a level where it gets in the way ofthe story and therefore it comes across more of a sermon thanentertainment. The second reason is I think they really tried to cramtoo much into the film. There are simply too many issues in the span ofthe movie and, even worse, I don't think either story makes it's pointin the end. It's almost like seeing only the first half of 5 or sixmovies. Some of the characters could have been totally disregarded asthey seem to contribute so little to the film.It was a worthy attempt. So I give it 5/10.

(2013-05-02 20:14:07)

Deeply Troubling, Important Narrative

This review is from: Fast Food Nation (DVD) This film dramatizes the many issues surrounding the changes in the food chain across time in the US. It informs the viewer regarding some of the harsh realities and potential hidden dangers in the food we eat. A masterful job is done in portraying how corporate decisions affect the food choices we have and how illegal immigrants are caught up as a part of the big business profitability motives. Strongly recommended for folks seeking the truth regarding the source and quality of US food.

DJJOEINC

(2013-05-02 07:38:00)

Soylent Gang Green

Fast Food Nation Fast Food Nation- Richard Linklater's novelization ofthe best selling Eric Schlosser expose of the fast food industry.A mixof several stories- from the mid-level executive to the clerk to themeat packing illegal workers-this ensemble story is both captivatingand depressing.One of my major beefs with the reward season is when amovie this well done is basically ignored by the academy- I understandit was hard to digest-but I spent the entire afternoon with the movie-watched the movie and then re-watched with it with the informativecommentary by Schlosser & Linklater.The DVD had some good cartoons onit- 3 Meatrix shorts and the Backwards Hamburger.In some ways thismovie played like Schindler's List for cattle-right down to theparallel shower/kill floor sequences.And like other Nazi flicks- youcould see the general populace while complicit where basically goodfolks doing what they needed to do to make rent.There were someterrible characters in the movie(Babby Cannavale was brutal as thetyrannical translator that had to sample every "pretty" illegalimmigrant he was in control of)-but for the most part folks where justcogs in the bigger corporate machine.While this movie has it's comedicmoments and a great cast- it is not light entertainment nor a straightdocumentary- but a well told story meshing fact with fiction. A-

(2013-05-02 02:12:14)

The Special Features Make It Worth Watching

Save yourself the money and get the torrent. This movie is AWFUL. How did they ever get Kris kristofferson to be in this film I have no clue. It's the worst piece of filmmaking trash since Candyman 2. I read the book and the book was excellent. I wish I could give negative stars.

(2013-04-29 22:45:36)

GROSS

Dont watch this is you have a weak stomach. Sick overkill with no real ending. Should have just made a docu. I don't know why at the end the wife went back to the meat plant she despised? I thought illegal immigrants all got free healthcare or at least their anchor babies do?

(2013-04-29 05:12:36)

graphic portrayal

I thought the content of the movie was good except for the graphic sex scenes and vulgar language peppered throughout the film. I wonder why Schlosser, the author, would agree to this. Anyway, I was embarrassed to watch it with my family after really enjoying the book.

FreeMM

(2013-04-26 04:05:00)

Continuing the tradition of fine Linklater films

Richard Linklater's adaptation is a fictional dramatisation of thenon-fiction novel. Playing out more as a narrative on the fast foodindustry than a critique, the film stops short of being ananti-capitalist diatribe in favour of a simple presentation of theconcerns that society shares about such an industry. Following alongsimilar lines to many of Linklater's other works it mixes histraditional free-flowing conversations with tinges of Maria Full OfGrace and Dazed And Confused. Containing some gruesome images thefilm's strength lies in the free-flowing conversations and the all toofamiliar ethical choices that the characters face and it's toLinklater's credit that he places more emphasis on the difficultly ofthese ethical choices than on the emotional impact they have on thecharacters. It is simple, there's little exploration of the biggerpicture and there has been criticism that the character arcs don'tinterlink which I don't think matters, because the characters are justas much the meat going into the machine as the beef itself. Harshlyunderrated by the critics it could have been a three hour multi-layeredepic that might have failed, instead it's a tight, empathic little filmthat's definitely worth a watch.

Brent Trafton

(2013-04-25 11:21:29)

Everybody that eats should see this film

"Fast Food Nation" is a film that is more than entertainment. It is afilm made by vegetarians Richard Linklater and Greg Kinnear thatattempts to open our eyes to the horror of one of our everydayactivities: Eating.While "Fast Food Nation" is a fictionalized and dramatized version ofthe non-fiction book of the same name, it is hard to judge it like anormal movie. It is not quite a docudrama but it is not entirelyfiction.The title makes it seem it is only about fast food but it is reallyabout the entire meat industry, especially in the United States. We goabout our lives blissfully unaware of where our food comes from and howit ends up on our plates. Most people do not really care about how muchsuffering the animals go through before they become our food, but maybethey would care more if they knew how much poison they were consumingwhen they eat these animals.The film has several separate story lines. We see illegal immigrantswho work in the meat packing plant, kids working in the fast foodrestaurant, and a corporate marketing executive."Fast Food Nation" did not do well during it's theatrical run. Mostpeople were afraid to see it. The DVD has excellent extra features thatare just as good as the film. I encourage everyone to see this film andto stop living in ignorance about the food that we eat.

leilapostgrad

(2013-04-21 13:59:37)

Austin Movie Show review - brave, real, nauseating (in a good way!)

Richard Linklater did a tremendous job at turning Eric Schlosser'sbest-selling investigative book "Fast Food Nation" into a shocking andinspiring piece of fiction. "Fast Food Nation" (the movie) has a giantall-star cast and focuses primarily on three intersecting story lines –the corporate executive who investigates claims that there is fecalmatter in their meat patties, the teenage girl who works at a fast-foodrestaurant but becomes an environmental activist, and the illegalMexican immigrants who risk their lives and dignity to work in theheinous slaughter houses and meat-packing plants.Do see this movie, but trust me when I advise you to not eat beforewalking into the theater. There are graphic and nauseating shots ofcows getting killed, skinned, decapitated, having their limbs choppedoff, having their organs pulled off, etc. It's not pretty, but it'sreal, and we all need to be aware of where our food comes from becausewe all need to be more responsible consumers.

Ray

(2013-04-21 01:55:21)

Glad I went; read review it was like "Traffic"

I did'nt read the book, nor was I too aware of the book. This movie made you "see" what we prefer to not see in this world today. This is not "Great Entertainment", but MUST be seen by all whoever eat Fast Food.