People are going to fall into one of two camps when it comes to Super Size Me: you'll either think that first time film-maker Morgan Spurlock is a loony or you'll be filled with admiration. Falling into the latter as someone whose attitude to the fast food industry is unreservedly negative, ... Read review
Fans of Morgan Spurlock's engaging documentarySuper Size Mewon't want to miss almost an ... more
hour of extra footage on the DVD. Best of all is a 25-minute one-on-one interview with Eric Schlosser, author ofFast Food Nation, but other interesting moments are...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Fans of Morgan Spurlock's engaging documentarySuper Size Mewon't want to miss almost an ... more
hour of extra footage on the DVD. Best of all is a 25-minute one-on-one interview with Eric Schlosser, author ofFast Food Nation, but other interesting moments are...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Here's a documentary which needs absolutely no introduction. Why is America so fat? This ... more
is the question that Morgan Spurlock wanted to answer. He set out to interview experts in 20 U.S. cities, including Houston - the Fattest City in America - whilst ...
Hey you!!! Why don't you have a bloody big beer from a bloody big beer glass. It holds ... more
1400ml, which helps you stay on the couch a hell of a lot longer! The glass reads 'Super size Me' in big, bold print on the outside of the glass. Have you got what it takes to drink a full 'Super Size' beer?
Postage & Packaging:£3.95 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Its a demonstration that will hopefully help to give people real choices about what they eat Disadvantages: Spurlock getting quite so ill, and it probably making you feel a bit ill at times too
...camps when it comes to Super Size Me: you'll either think that first time film-maker Morgan Spurlock is a loony or you'll be filled with admiration. Falling into the latter as someone whose attitude to the fast food industry is unreservedly negative, I found his film witty, entertaining and refreshing. But, like the stylistically similar Michael Moore films, it's probably a case of preaching to the converted. My only hope is that someone makes it ... ...are eating.
Super Size Me is in effect a reaction to a statement made by MacDonalds after two young women attempted to sue the company for making them obese. Although Spurlock initially thought the litigation was ridiculous, he couldn't believe MacDonalds' statement that the food was healthy and nutritious. As a young man who had been brought up by a mother who cooked wholesome food every evening, he was shocked and thought he would ... more
People are going to fall into one of two camps when it comes to Super Size Me: you'll either think that first time film-maker Morgan Spurlock is a loony or you'll be filled with admiration. Falling into the latter as someone whose attitude to the fast food industry is unreservedly negative, I found his film witty, entertaining and refreshing. But, like the stylistically similar Michael Moore films, it's probably a case of preaching to the converted. My only hope is that someone makes it mandatory for all teenagers to watch this film so that they can make an informed choice about what they are eating.
Super Size Me is in effect a reaction to a statement made by MacDonalds after two young women attempted to sue the company for making them obese. Although Spurlock initially thought the litigation was ridiculous, he couldn't believe MacDonalds' statement that the food was healthy and nutritious. As a young man who had been brought up by a mother who cooked wholesome food every evening, he was shocked and thought he would see if MacDonalds' claim would hold water. He set out with a team of three doctors and a nutritionist to study whether one month of "McDiet" would leave him healthy. The only two rules were: that he would have to eat three square MacDonald meals that covered the entire menu over the course of the month; and that if he was offered a Super Size meal he would have to take it. Nobody thought that he would come out fighting fit at the end of the process even when he was of above average health and fitness, but nobody expected the shocking results.
A great deal of the wit comes from Morgan Spurlock himself. Like Moore he seems to represent the everyman figure of the ordinary American setting out on a journey to learn more - even if he is much slimmer, younger and initially fitter than Moore. His sense of humour is very much bound up in the film, which means that if you don't share his chilled out and strangely gleeful take on things you might not enjoy the film quite as much as those who do.
Even with some of the hilarious sequences, such as the clip where Spurlock's Vegan girlfriend talks about the effect on his libido, a straight day by day diary would be boring. Again like Moore he uses various medium to break up his story: art, animation (although obviously more influenced by budgetary constraints), facts, figures, interviews with experts, lobbyists and ordinary Americans. At one point I was left wondering how the hell he managed to get clearance to use the adverts and logos that also litter the film - I assume the purpose for which they were cleared wasn't mentioned? Or maybe any product placement is seen as good publicity? ...until you view this film that is...
Strangely engaging art punctuates the film accompanied by captions, both of which set up the purpose and atmosphere of each section without breaking up the momentum of the film. These feel like the warped versions of MacDonalds' own campaigns, and it is certainly interesting to hear a short interview by their creator - even if it deviates minutely from the rest of the film. The animation also deserves a mention as it really illustrates the dry facts and figures, giving them life.
Through using this combination of effects he manages to cover a wide range of issues such as the effect of nutritional education including lack of nutritional information needed to make choices in the outlets to the link between junk food school dinners, multinational companies and behavioural problems. He also covers issues such as the worrying product placement that will leave children recognising a picture of Ronald MacDonald before an iconic image of Jesus, and the worrying removal of physical education from schools.
Criticisms have been levelled at the presenter and director regarding his concentration on the iconic golden arches. Some people see it as an unfair, out and out attack on one organisation among many by using an unrealistic diet, but personally I see Spurlock's point. His idea was to concentrate on the biggest organisation and the one that would probably be most likely to have to change their practices whilst raising the general issue of the risk of junk food on our diets. And, change they have - although they would never admit it has anything to do with this film - since screening this film at the Sundance Film Festival they have removed Super Size Meals and started to push their salads. (Despite the fact that their salads containing more fat than a Big Mac!) As regards his diet being unrealistic, people may not eat solely MacDonalds', but a lot of people do eat a form of junk food for every meal. This may be more prevalent in the United States, but it is still going on here in the United Kingdom.
Super Size Me doesn't have the gloss of many documentaries due to its small budget that is easily betrayed by the film stock that is not of the highest quality. Regardless of that it makes its point and makes it well. Obviously some of these issues are specific to the United States, but many are not. Throughout the first world obesity is becoming a rising epidemic that threatens the resources of healthcare whether it be National or otherwise.
My ultimate reaction is 'well done' in a sort of queasy way. In a time when the majority of people sit on their sofas rather than go out there and stand up for what they believe - let alone to go to the kitchen and make a proper meal - Spurlock is making a potent demonstration. He is helping to give people real choices, and if someone changes their diet as a result of watching this film then I'm sure he will be a very a happy man.
Advantages: Makes you think twice about what you are eating Disadvantages: Makes you think twice about what you are eating
...any of those categories.
Super Size Me in short is a documentary about a one mans crusade to prove Mcdonalds wrong in their statement that their food was "healthy and nutritional" after a court case by two teenage American girls who tried to sue McDonalds for making them fat (a case which they later lost) and so Morgan Spurlock takes it upon himself to become the guinea pig of his own documentary as he begins to explore the billion dollar fast food ... ...there are some extra's on Super Size me. The extra's include an extra hours footage with half an hour one-on-one interview with Eric Schlosser, author of the book Fast Food Nation. Morgan also chats with a seemingly odd couple who collect McDonald's memorabilia; and for those who like a bit of foulness a disgusting but funny piece on how McDonald's food rots or how it ends up looking after a few days (and if this doesn't put you off then nothing ...
kappaslappa 28.02.2005 (28.04.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Super Size Me (DVD)
Advantages: thought provoking, funny, scary Disadvantages: some content may make people feel a bit ill
Those of you who don't have any particular affection for America can now freely bask in personal glory upon hearing the information that America is the fattest country in the world. I'm sure many of you knew that, but something that you may not be so sure of is the scope of such claim. Over 60% (that's every three out of five persons) in the United States are either overweight or obese due to one cause or another. That's quite a scary fact. Out of ... ...today, it would be difficult to comprehend that a documentary about a man with a handlebar moustache eating three square meals consisting of fast food a day for thirty days would quench your temptation one way or another. Well it does, after watching "Super Size Me" not only will you have just watched one of the most fascinating and entertaining films of last year, but you will be put off fast food for life.
At the frontline of an invasion of documentary ...
DarkMark 22.01.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Super Size Me (DVD)
Advantages: Interesting facts are revealed Disadvantages: Close-ups of upchucking
...the DVD of the movie Super Size Me. For those of you who have not seen the cover, the director/star of the film glares out with a panicked expression as his mouth is jammed open with hundreds of french fries. After reading the back cover I discovered that this movie is an exposé of the fast food industry. Since I am always up for a bit of controversy, I decided to check this movie out.
The parallels to a Michael Moore film were apparent right off ... ...operations. There were no super stores only a locally owned department store called Gold’s. Groceries were bought at a store called Piggly Wiggly and there was a Safeway. When I visit that same town now, fifteen years later, Piggly Wiggly, Safeway, Gold’s and all but one of the restaurants are gone. However, there is a KFC, Burger King, Appleby’s, Bennigan’s, Chili’s, Starbucks, Taco Bell and of course, a Wal-Mart Super center that has a McDonald’s ...
Scott_Howitt 28.12.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Super Size Me (DVD)
Advantages: Sharp, funny and informative Disadvantages: Made me crave fast food
...was offered the chance to super size his meal, he had to accept.
Thankfully he wasn’t stumbling blindly into this endeavour – he had a back-up team that consisted of a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, a general practitioner and a nutritionist. We are treated to footage of his regular medical check-ups that start with the reassuring news that he is fitter than the average thirty-three year-old and end with all of the experts advising him to give ... ...when he gets his first super size meal, it is a different matter as he forces pounds of food down his gullet only for it to make an unscheduled re-appearance moments later. By the last couple of weeks he is bloated and sluggish and looks fit for the knackers’ yard. And he’s really worried when he wakes up with palpitations in the middle of the night. He always tries to keep his sense of humour intact, though, never allowing his ailing health to get ...
afy9mab 25.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Super Size Me (DVD)
Advantages: Novel idea, quite informative Disadvantages: Vomiting- Not nice viewing
WARNING: Do not eat your dinner while watching this film...
Supersize Me is a documentary following the quest of virgin film director/writer Morgan Spurlock to uncover the truth about the health risks associated with eating fast foods. In particular, he focuses his 'research' on the famous Golden Arches of McDonalds and embarks upon a 30-day binge of their foods where he can eat and drink NOTHING but that found in a McDonalds restaurant (including ... ...the claim by a group of Americans who took the multi-national giant to court for 'endangering their health' and failing to fully explain the dangers of regularly eating McDonalds food.
The film has been marketed as something of a doc-com in a similar vein to Michael Moore' s excellent political offerings. However, I failed to see the humour in the gradual deterioration of a man's health in so many ways. Indeed, by the end of the 30 days, he was ...
thomlafferty 02.02.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Super Size Me (DVD)
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Advantages: Insight into junk food diet, humorous adventure, interesting statistics and information Disadvantages: Can become tedious
as the worlds biggest Big Mac consumer who has eaten over 19,000 Big Macs in his life and a couple who have spent over $30,000 on McDonalds products from toys from the popular Happy Meals to plates, costumes and even paintings.
With the DVD, you get many special features not seen in the cinema, most of which are the same as other DVDs. Along with Directors commentary and interviews with such prominent members of the fast food studies industry including author of Fast Food Nation Eric Schlosser and director Morgan Spurlock, you get deleted scenes including a mini experiemtn to show how long it takes for McDonalds food to break down in your stomach, which produces results which may make you regret that last Value Meal.
Overall, SuperSizeMe is a phenomenal triumph which allows for a real insight into the dangers of junk food ...
An irreverent look at why so many Americans are obese and what happens if you eat nothing but fast food for a month. Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock does exactly this whilst providing a look at the food culture in America's schools, corporations and politics.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
PALISADES TARTAN; FUSION MEDIA SALES
Release date
10/01/2005
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
TVD 3517
Barcode
5023965351722
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Directors Commentary, Director Interview, Deleted Scenes, UK Premiere Voxpops, Q And A With McLibel Two, Original Theatrical Trailer, McLibel Trailer, Phil Lempert, Chewing The Fat Q and A
Aspect Ratio
Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital English
Professional reviews
Review
Hugely Enjoyable. (Empire, )
Very Funny. (Sunday Express, )
DVD Description
In this hilarious yet informative documentary, debut director Morgan Spurlock makes himself the victim of a cruel experiment: he puts himself on a 30-day diet of nothing but McDonald's food. Eating three meals a day exclusively from McDonald's, Spurlock's health quickly deteriorates. The film documents the process from beginning to end, with Spurlock and his doctors making observations and monitoring the changes to his energy level, moods, liver and kidney function, and obviously his weight. As viewers might predict, Spurlock gains weight at an alarming rate, and during this process he offers a shocking lesson about the serious problem of obesity in America. Clearly McDonald's receives the brunt of the blame, as Spurlock shows how the fast-food restaurant directs its advertising at small children, who are converted into faithful consumers of the brand--and its free toy giveaways, bright colors, and Ronald McDonald clown--for life. Spurlock also examines the quality of the food itself, showing the processes by which favorite products like McNuggets are made. He also shows the proliferation of McDonald's chains both in the U.S. and worldwide. Meanwhile, Spurlock's girlfriend--a vegan chef--observes Spurlock's experiment with disgust and disdain, providing one of many comic elements to the film. Educational, fun, and at times downright gross, SUPER SIZE ME takes a different approach to illustrating America's obsession with fast food.
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