Super Size Me
 

I’ve become addicted to documentaries. After watching Spellbound (coverage of the National Spelling Bee in 1999) and Farenhype 9/11 (yes, I do like to hear both sides of the argument), I finally got around to watching Super Size Me.

For those that haven’t seen it, this is a documentary about the dangers of fast food (McDonalds in particular).

Driven by the court case regarding two kids suing McD’s for their obesity, Morgan Spurlock decides to conduct an experiment. He decides to eat nothing but McDonalds for the next 30 days and we get to see his progress.

His rules are simple:

1) He must only eat what appears on the McDonalds Menu

2) He must has three meals a day

3) If he is asked if he wants the meal Super Sized, he has to say yes.

4) He must eat everything listed on the menu at least once.

Now this movie isn’t just watching a guy eat (or throw up after a Super Sized meal), it has some excellent interviews along the way.

The results are staggering and even surprised the doctors who were monitoring his progress.

If you’ve seen this movie in Blockbuster and haven’t tried it, I would recommend it. The humor is entertaining and the facts interesting.

Best of all, the DVD has some good bonus material including an interview with Chris Sell, the owner of The Chip Shop in NYC.

Check out the official Super Size Me web site.

Warning, this movie may put you off of McD’s for at least a couple of days :D

Re: Super Size Me
 

Havent' seen it yet, but keep meaning to, probably be one of those catch on the tele things though, but certainly does look amusing :)

Re: Super Size Me
 

Seriously, it's worth renting. Next time you're in a rental store, grab it.

Re: Super Size Me
 

That's the thing, when I do bother go to one, I get drawn in to getting a cheesy horror flick or a Kuwasawa movie or somin' :)
But it's one of those things I'd like to see, on a list somewhere probably too *l*

Re: Super Size Me
 

If you like that sort of thing you may like this book:

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Fast Food Nation: What the All-American Meal Is Doing to the World
(Eric Schlosser)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...Fencoding=UTF8
----------------------------------

I've got it on order but have heard good reviews.

Re: Super Size Me
 

I thought the book was excellent, I couldn't put it down.

Re: Super Size Me
 

Yep, that's on my Amazon wish list. Eric Schlosser is on the Super Size Me DVD. There is a Bonus 25 minute interview with him and he had some excellent things to say.

Re: Super Size Me
 

Good book then huh...what kind of style is it in?
I've flickered through parts of "No Logo" which is paired with the book, but that one was really rather boring...well I thought.

Re: Super Size Me
 

Watch out Bob - regardless of style, Fast Food Nation has a good chance of making you a vegetarian!

Re: Super Size Me
 

never...well, it probably could...but I like meat to much...half the missus' family are vegs, mainly by doctors orders tho *l*

Re: Super Size Me
 

I've heard all the horror stories and spent some time in an abattoir (work related, not pleasure :) )and I still haven't been put off me red meat. Chicken I could do away with very easily (KFC just isn't what it used to be), but a juicy medium rare sirloin steak is too hard to pass up.

Ground up beef for one patty containing meat from 1000 cattle is not my idea of a good burger though. Give me a fresh burger any day. I want to pick the cow, watch it skinned and minced and then placed on the grill right in front of me (a Simpsons episode I seem to remember). Yummy.

Crazy?? If you can pick a lobster out of the tank, I wanna pick my own cow.

Re: Super Size Me
 

Hehe...that could be taken oh so wrong out of context :D

Re: Super Size Me
 

Like the idea of picking your own cow - cut the horns off, wipe its arse and stick it on a plate!

Re: Super Size Me
 

"Mechanically Recovered Meat" ... you've gotta love that phrase ... mmmm!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1482140.stm

Re: Super Size Me
 

By the way - Fast Food Nation is a very good book - well written in an entertaining style. Still eating the burgers - just try not to remember the details of the book!

Re: Super Size Me
 

Last McD burger I had was at Athens airport, it was 4 o'clock in the morning and I was desperate ... there was just something in me that needed it ... the shame!

The milkshakes are nice though ... not sure about the reports of pig fat being used though ...

Re: Super Size Me
 

Spinal cord in a bap. Mmmmmmmmmmm :D

Re: Super Size Me
 

Ohh, yeah! And not to give this whole bonus thing away, BUT...

...when they put the McD's burgers and fries in the glass containers and watch them over time. They all grow mold failry quickly, but the french fries look like they've JUST been bought even after TEN WEEKS!!! *puke*

Re: Super Size Me
 

yummy indeed :)

Ate Elk meat the other day, must say, was rather nice, but didn't half fart like a beast after tho *l*

Re: Super Size Me
 

Sounds great ... the meat that is ... :D

I've had some Icelandic Pony and Puffin, lovely stuff.

Re: Super Size Me
 

That was cool. Not keen on the fuzzy burgers they were making though :D

Re: Super Size Me
 

I read FFN about three years ago and it is an excellent book. Passed it onto my sis-in-law to read. She and her book club read it too.

I very much want to read the book that Schlosser wrote after Fast Food Nation- "Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market". This is one I'll probably borrow from the library.




NC Penguin

Re: Super Size Me
 

I was going to order that one as well but I don't want to be carting a load of stuff over to Oz, I've lined-up FFN for some in-flight entertainment. :)

If you like stories of deception and intrigue in the fashion industry then "The Beauty Myth" by Naomi Wolf is also worth a read.

Re: Super Size Me
 

Earholes, eyeholes and arseholes, was how it was once described to me....

Remember, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, but you can make a Ginster's cornish pastie.... :rolleyes:

Re: Super Size Me
 

It's the saveloys that get me ... what IS that stuff that's wrapped around em?

Re: Super Size Me
 

As long as I don't know...there lovely :D

Re: Super Size Me
 

No Logo - found that one quite boring...
Fast Food Nation was good though and Supersize Me was FANTASTIC!!! I've vowed never to step inside a McD's again - was always aware of how bad the food can be but didn't realize you'd get so sick so quickly - that's the part that really shocked me....

Re: Super Size Me
 

Tho having said that, I think the food at the KFC in the UK was better than in the US...as bad as it was, it was less greasy and nasty back in blighty...

Re: Super Size Me
 

I know what you mean about No Logo, it was a bit heavy on the statistics and detail but worth ploughing through anyway. It's probably the sort of book that you have to read a few times to get the important stuff to sink in.

Got my copy of FFN today so I'm sorted for in-flight entertainment :)

Re: Super Size Me
 

Not gonna be watching the movies then? :)

Re: Super Size Me
 

I don't tend to, I prefer a book and the entertainment value of listening to synchronised sniggering :)