Movie Review: Forks Over Knives

November 16th, 2010 - filed under: Furthermore » Reviews



I recently had the pleasure of catching a sneak preview of the daring new documentary, Forks Over Knives. I’m gonna go ahead and say it right now: I am HELLA biased, so this ‘review’ is going to read more like a ‘rave’, okay? What can I say, I’m a health geek to the core. This is my scene – my rock concert! And when Rip Esselstyn came out in the flesh to introduce the film . . . well, I squealed and just about peed my pants like a fan girl. Okay so maybe I’m exagerating, but seriously people, the dude’s a hottie. Hello, intellectual vegan fireman! *swoon*

Er, so about that movie . . .





I’m sure it comes as no surprise that I loved this film! I found it both informative and entertaining, which are the two key criteria for a successful documentary. It did tend towards repetition, and I found it a little heavy on the back story. And some of the visual data (graphs) could have been better presented (for clarity). But as a whole the message was profound; an engaging, cogent case for a plant-based diet. I’m just thrilled that this info is finally going to be framed for mass consumption. Yes!

But like I said, I’m biased. So I took an omnivorous companion with me, to get an ‘outsiders’ perspective (to be fair, Libs is super open-minded and dating a vegetarian). So what did she have to say?

“Compelling” was the word she kept using. She was very moved by the message, especially by the scientific story. She’s been rethinking her own diet, she says, and also wondering how to share this info with her loved ones. I’d call that an impact!

Forks Over Knives will be hitting theaters on March 11, 2011. SEE THIS MOVIE! And please, take every one you know, ha!

  • MathTutor

    Esselystyn ZOMG!! My dad actually lives just south of Austin (and I’m not that far away). I’m going to have to start a fire next time I’m in the city just so I can see him in the flesh :D

  • Tenise Rae

    Damn…he IS a hottie!!! Wow! ;)

  • http://catnip13.blogspot.com/ Catnip

    I’d like to see this.

  • Laura Louise

    I was also extremely excited when I saw this trailer for the first time, I can’t wait!

  • http://www.windycityvegan.wordpress.com Monika {windycityvegan}

    Looking forward to seeing this movie! As the daughter of a nutritionist (albeit a wayward one), I’m a total health geek, and proud of it!!

  • Christa

    Thanks for the great tip Sayward!

    While none of this information comes as news to me (or most of the readers I’m sure) it’s still nice to hear it again and know that other people out there are doing their best to spread the word! I will definitely have to check this movie out – I hadn’t even heard about it yet so I’m so glad you decided to include a ‘review’ (/’rave’).

    I just finished school with a degree in nutrition and food science and even in a classroom with a bunch of soon-to-be nutritionists and dietitians it’s amazing how many of them don’t accept the power of simple whole-food plant based diets. There was a lot of emphasis on how the “standard American” diet could be modified to be “healthy” instead of how the diet should abandoned completely and replaced with something truly health giving.

  • Angela

    Excellent. I am driving about an hour and 1/2 (each way) tonight to go see this in Grand Rapids, MI and I can’t wait! I’m with you, this is the kind of thing I geek out about.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com Sayward

    Haha, yay for the Esselystyn love! <3

    @ Christa – That’s so crazy about your nutrition classes. I’d be so interested to read about nutrition school from an insiders perspective, comparing what they teach to the actual body of nutritional research. Seems that school is pretty out of date!

    @ Angela – YAY! Let me know what you think!

  • http://www.lavidaveggie.com Sarah

    I saw this a few weeks ago at a screening in Fort Lauderdale. LOVED IT! The China Study is basically what threw me into a plant-based diet. It’s easier to get people to watch a movie than read a book though. I can’t wait for this to officially come out so I can start sharing it with others. Without a doubt, I concur with your rave :)

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