papamalo

Beautiful, emotional, insightful, and evocative, the second season, has really refined and expanded on this theme and the emotionalism of the first season. The locations and their unexpected beauty, provide a beautiful, palate cleansing counterpoint, to what, in the hands of a lesser producer and director, could descend into a foodie travelogue. Not here. History, culture, and family, are at the heart of this series and heart is the operative word here I highly recommend this to any and all who want another look at our De facto global language, food.

Note: one critique I have here, is the stark and noticeable absence of African, African-American, and Middle Eastern chefs. This is something that the chefs interviews themselves reveal as a shortcoming, (in their own words), our commercialized (American and European) culinary biases, about what is delicious, or finely crafted.

I find the said absence of African, African-American, and middle Eastern chefs, strange, since the entire internationalist narrative of this series, is so advanced and inclusive. Season three: I'm counting on you! Bring Africa, Black America, and the Middle east to the chef's table! I Implore you!

Piero Amadeo Infante

A revelation for those in the entertainment industry, this film, as a two-fisted, all-action approach chronicling the rise, of an unlikely group, of glam rockers, from New Jersey. While many laughed at the band from afar, Twisted Sister, through a war of attrition, a James Brownlike work ethic, and absolutely brilliant gameplay, by master strategist and lead vocalist Dee Snider, not only conquered and ruled the club scene for over a decade on the East Coast, but also, rubbed the snobbery of metal traditionalists in their own faces. nearly mythical-sounding true stories, of weasel-y record executives, total club destruction, (literally) and a take no prisoners attitude, make this one of the most entertaining documentaries I have ever watched. As someone who spent three decades playing in nightclubs, I related every part of this movie, even though I've never been in New Jersey, and I'm not particularly a fan of heavy metal.

If you like music on any level, or the politics of music, I highly recommend this film!

This movie, in my opinion was among some of the first movies in popular western culture to provide fodder for westerns, and action films, which shamelessly stole from traditional Japanese themes and stories. It's touching, deep, and yet whimsical. it has a gravity of it's own.

NOTE: if ANYONE can tell me where I can the find the sound track to this film done by Akira Ifukube, I would be really grateful. especially the music that comes in at exactly 20:00 of the film. it is one of the greatest passages of movie music I have ever heard, as Ichi describes his lost love. does anyone know what the piece itself is called?

thanks!