Pressure Cooker (Autumn, Elly, Kateri, Symone)
Taking in place in Philadelphia, the 2008 documentary Pressure Cooker follows a high school cooking class as they prepare to compete in a culinary scholarship competition. Three students are spotlighted, each having faced hardships in their lives, with the hopes of achieving life changing scholarships. The documentary shows the difficult aspects of their lives and their determination in the kitchen as they intensely prepare for the competition. The cast features a variety of inner city kids and their dedicated, but tough loving teacher. Overall, it was a good movie and would be recommended for anyone looking for a light-hearted, but predictably happy-ending, movie.
We give this movie a 3 because we thought it was funny at times, cute, and inspirational. It did seem to get a little lengthy though, with some parts that were included not really adding to the story, but just the length of the documentary. It was also confusing at times.
We give this movie a 3 because we thought it was funny at times, cute, and inspirational. It did seem to get a little lengthy though, with some parts that were included not really adding to the story, but just the length of the documentary. It was also confusing at times.
Today's Special (Allie, Katherine, Nicole, Trisha)
A Father & Son Cook Up A Better Relationship
In the movie Today’s Special, Amir, quits his job as a Sous Chef at a high end restaurant in New York and has to take over his father’s sinking ship of a restaurant. Amir wasn’t too proud of being Indian in the first place and to make matters worse, his situation forces him to use his culture and heritage to make his Indian food taste unique and special. With the perfect amount of spices, Amir learns to follow his senses instead of following a cook book word for word. With the help of a goofy taxi driver, he learns to respect his culture more, and in the meantime earns the respect that he has been dying to get from his father.
In this charming and heartwarming movie, Amir not only learns about Indian food, but learns a lot about himself too. If you like movies with a fresh spin on food, then you’ll love Today’s Special. It will leave your mouth watering for something new, exotic, and delightful!
We rate this 2 & 1/2 monkeys!
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In this charming and heartwarming movie, Amir not only learns about Indian food, but learns a lot about himself too. If you like movies with a fresh spin on food, then you’ll love Today’s Special. It will leave your mouth watering for something new, exotic, and delightful!
We rate this 2 & 1/2 monkeys!
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Jiro Dreams of Sushi
The Art of Culinary Perfection
This documentary follows the life of a successful sushi restaurant owner, Jiro. Jiro is a chef at his 10 seater, 3- Star, restaurant on a subway. He began with nothing and sushi became is way of life and survival. Jiro was out on the streets at age 10. At this young age he began to build his legacy of perfecting sushi. He continues his hard work and passion through his life and is still working at the fragile age of 85. Jiro loves his job and lives to work saying "Holidays are too long" he would rather be working with sushi. Also, he will wake during the night literally dreaming of sushi and new ways to perfect it. The success of this restaurant has allowed Jiro to father two sons who followed in his path to become sushi chefs. There is a bit of tension between the sons, as the eldest continues to wait to inherit the restaurant while the youngest has begun his own restaurant, this is due to the Japanese culture. The oldest son is still waiting because of his father undying love for sushi and strive for perfection
This very informational documentary will educate you on how food is more than what you eat, food can become a lifestyle or your way of life each breathing second. You will realize how you must do everything simply to your best, never take the easy way out inorder to receive the best. And that perfection is never reached you can always improve. Jiro's passion will make you wish you could travel the world to try everything else that is out there.
We rate this 2 monkeys.
This very informational documentary will educate you on how food is more than what you eat, food can become a lifestyle or your way of life each breathing second. You will realize how you must do everything simply to your best, never take the easy way out inorder to receive the best. And that perfection is never reached you can always improve. Jiro's passion will make you wish you could travel the world to try everything else that is out there.
We rate this 2 monkeys.
Eat Drink Man Women
(Angie, Kristin, Seth, and Isaac)
The movie "Eat Drink Man Women" was released in 1994. It is about a chef called Chu who works at a huge restaurant in China. His wife has passed away but he has three daughters Jia-Jen, Jia-Chien, and Jia-Ning. All three of his daughters are unmarried in the beginning of the movie and they all live together. Jia-Jen is the oldest and she works as a teacher. The second daughter, Jia-Chien, is a business women and loves to cook but isn't allowed to help her father in the kitchen. The youngest daughter, Jia-Ning, is still in school. During this movie, the only time the family really gets to talk is at dinner. They share announcements about their lives at Sunday night dinners. Also, Mr. Chu is growing old and can't taste anymore. His daughters want to help him but he refuses. Jia-Chien doesn't get along with her father well, and she ends up the last one at home. In the end of the movie, food is what brings everyone together, and creates a bond between Chu and Jia-Chien.
This movie shows how food can bring a family together, even under the craziest circumstances. Food in this movie created relationships between the sisters, their father, their uncle, and even between some family friends. This movie has relationship drama, unexpected events, and comedy! This was a pretty good movie overall.
We gave it 3 monkeys: :(|) :(|) :(|)
This movie shows how food can bring a family together, even under the craziest circumstances. Food in this movie created relationships between the sisters, their father, their uncle, and even between some family friends. This movie has relationship drama, unexpected events, and comedy! This was a pretty good movie overall.
We gave it 3 monkeys: :(|) :(|) :(|)
Soul Food
-Released September 26th 1997
-Takes place in Chicago
-African American family struggling with many family problems.
-The movie’s plot is taken from the viewpoint of Ahmad and is narrated by him as well. His family gets together every Sunday to have dinner with lots of “soul food” prepared by Big mama Joe who is the heart and soul of the family. She has three daughters. Teri, who is a successful lawyer but suffers relationship problems due to a conflict with her younger sister Maxine. Maxine is the second youngest daughter and is responsible for Teri’s relationship issues. Robin(Bird) is the youngest daughter and owns a beauty parlor. Robin is married to Lem, an ex-convict, which the Joseph family is uneasy about. Mother Joe has an accident concerning her health that makes her unable to support the family, and that’s when the family starts to fall apart. Ahmad is concerned about the current state of his family and tries to find a way to bring them all back together.
-Favorite Scene: After the fire in the kitchen, because it was so happy(all the money raining everywhere, everybody smiling)
-Least Favorite: In the hospital, when Teri and Maxine are fighting over their mothers bed. She’s everyone’s mother!!
-Ending: We were very satisfied with the ending! It was a very happy and heartwarming ending.
-Takes place in Chicago
-African American family struggling with many family problems.
-The movie’s plot is taken from the viewpoint of Ahmad and is narrated by him as well. His family gets together every Sunday to have dinner with lots of “soul food” prepared by Big mama Joe who is the heart and soul of the family. She has three daughters. Teri, who is a successful lawyer but suffers relationship problems due to a conflict with her younger sister Maxine. Maxine is the second youngest daughter and is responsible for Teri’s relationship issues. Robin(Bird) is the youngest daughter and owns a beauty parlor. Robin is married to Lem, an ex-convict, which the Joseph family is uneasy about. Mother Joe has an accident concerning her health that makes her unable to support the family, and that’s when the family starts to fall apart. Ahmad is concerned about the current state of his family and tries to find a way to bring them all back together.
-Favorite Scene: After the fire in the kitchen, because it was so happy(all the money raining everywhere, everybody smiling)
-Least Favorite: In the hospital, when Teri and Maxine are fighting over their mothers bed. She’s everyone’s mother!!
-Ending: We were very satisfied with the ending! It was a very happy and heartwarming ending.