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Culinary Cinema #1 – San Diego Film Festival

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This week (Sept 30 – October 4) the San Diego Film Festival had several screenings (and parties) that took place downtown at the Reading Gaslamp Cinemas and at the Arclight Cinemas in La Jolla.

I was so fortunate enough through my work with That’s My E to be able to attend some screenings.
Now, I don’t know if San Diego Film Festival had a culinary track last year, they certainly did this year. I will most certainly attend next year, especially if they have the Culinary Cinema again!

I have been looking forward to this for a few days.

The featured films for the Culinary Cinema were:
King Georges
Cooking up a Tribute

Both amazing documentaries. First, we discuss King Georges:

King Georges is a film about Georges Perrier, a respected, renown French Chef since 1967. Owner of Le Bec Fin, an elegant French restaurant in Philadelphia. Le Bec Fin opened in 1970 and closed its doors in 2010.
Here is a snippet of Erika Frankel at the Traverse City Festival in July 2015

During that time, Georges was (is, honestly) an award winning chef and amazing saucier.
Saucier is one who makes sauces as an art. A quote that sticks with me: “To be a great chef, you must be a great saucier” (quoted from Chef Bernard Guillas of The Marine Room- I do believe he mentioned someone else saying the same thing).
In the film, you see Georges being hard on his staff, not because he enjoyed it. Because, as he said, he wants them to be better. Watching the behind the scenes, creating phenomenal dishes, it is so sure to get your mouth to water. Words like “duck” and “wine sauce”, and learning the term “galette” and to not burn them unless there is butter on them and a very watchful eye. I love to watch a chef’s passion. Hard work, blood, sweat and tears go into running a restaurant.
As a blogger, food lover and consumer, I can only imagine the hard work it takes to create dishes for our tasting. I know that I don’t have the patience, but most certainly appreciate the Chefs who put their passion into their dishes.
In the film, we also learn that his Chef de Cuisine, Nicholas Elmi, became his partner, then when the doors closed, he went on the Bravo TV show, Top Chef and won. He opened his restaurant, Laurel, where Georges consults for him from time to time.
Here is the trailer for the wonderful film we watched today!

I learned about the Chaine des rotisseurs (and wondering why I am not a member!!) one of the oldest group of culinarians. Literally, the first foodies (I am so inspired)!!!
This was an amazing film!

I previously posted a post asking how you (as the reader and consumer) enjoy food. You should take a read to it. It definitely circles to this one.

After the film, there was a Q&A Panel with Chef Yannick Engerran and Chef Bernard Guillas, as well as Fernando Garciola and Tru Miller. The panel discussed food and wine pairings. The wine pairings were from Baja, mainly the Valle de Guadalupe. The winery, Adobe Guadalupe named after archangels. I need to make a visit south of the border. There are 150 wineries in existence. SO MUCH wine!!!
The wine tastings we had were Gabriel and Kerubiel. Beautifully blended reds. Smooth and aromatic.
Here is a photo of the panel after the first film. Chef Yannick came in ten minutes later.

L to R: Fernando Garciola, Tru Miller, Chef Bernard Guillas and Hal Small

Chef Bernard Guillas of The Marine Room

Chef Bernard is 1 of 2 French Masters here in San Diego.
Some great questions were asked: How do the chefs think how true are food shows to the craft?
Chef Bernard felt that the Food Network is a great platform to showcase chefs where Chef Yannick felt that it is good for those who cannot cook, but believes that the smell and flavors in the kitchen needs to stay real.
After the Q&A, we were guided to the hallway where we were able to taste some AMAZING delectables.

Chef Yannick – European Champion Foie Grasa and Maitre Saucier

Chef Bernard

Foie Gras slightly dipped in chocolate

My tasting with Kerubiel to wash it down.
The Foie gras with fig was amazing. It just MELTS in your mouth. I am so glad it is back in San Diego, foie gras that is. The sandwich, chicken with mayonnaise and something added, fantastic!
There was so much food to snack and pair. By the way, the Paoloni, a Chenin Blanc was added. Notes of honey, perfect to pair with foie gras. Both reds: Gabriel and Kerubiel were beautiful. So smooth.
I was so eager to get into the second film, I must have been such a bother to the volunteers.

I hope the Film Festival does something like this again next year. This was amazing and so worth the ticket!!

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Review of “Good Bad Ugly”

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Director: Adhik Ravichandran 

Starring: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Das, Trisha, Simran

Genre: Action / Crime Drama

Rating: 4.5/5


“Good Bad Ugly” centers on Red Dragon (Ajith Kumar), a notorious gangster who chooses to surrender himself in the hopes of turning over a new leaf and reuniting with his estranged son. However, when unforeseen threats emerge, Red Dragon is forced to step back into the dangerous underworld to protect the only family he has left.

“Good Bad Ugly” plays to the strengths of Ajith Kumar, delivering a fan-pleasing portrayal of both his vintage villainy and his matured emotional depth. Ajith’s powerful screen presence, coupled with his iconic voice, shines against Arjun Das’s brooding and intense new-age antagonist, creating an electric old-school versus new-school dynamic. The nostalgic return of Simran is a clever nod to longtime fans, bringing heart and familiarity. Trisha brings a strong, grounded performance as the moral compass in Red Dragon’s life, helping move the emotional threads of the story. The film smartly balances action, comedy, and sentimental fan-service moments.

While the film delivers on fan expectations, its narrative could have benefited from tighter pacing and deeper character development for its supporting cast. Some plot conveniences and an overreliance on nostalgia may limit broader audience appeal beyond the fanbase. Certain dramatic beats felt rushed, leaving little time for emotional resonance to fully land.

The ambition to blend high-octane action with heavy emotional stakes sometimes leads to tonal inconsistencies. At moments, the shift from gritty underworld drama to lighter fan moments feels abrupt. Additionally, though Ajith Kumar’s effort to showcase his dancing skills is commendable and welcomed by fans, it slightly disrupts the otherwise darker tone the film establishes.

“Good Bad Ugly” is a tribute to Ajith Kumar’s enduring legacy, offering vintage thrills while teasing new dimensions to his craft. It’s a solid entertainer that successfully taps into fan nostalgia while hinting at an exciting evolution for AK. While not without its flaws, the film’s heart, energy, and performances make it a must-watch for fans and a compelling action-drama for broader audiences.

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Streaming

Presence: A Horror Movie For People That Don’t Like Horror Movies

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In these uncertain times, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned horror movie. Unfortunately, Presence is not an old-fashioned horror movie. Yet, as I discovered, this is a good thing!

When I heard about the premise of this movie, I was intrigued. The stylishly subtle trailer was, appropriately, haunting.  And was that Lucy Liu? A haunted house movie from the perspective of the ghost? As a seasoned horror movie buff, I was all in!

Like the majority of people I missed the films brief theatrical release. Luckily I was able to catch it on streaming. Visually the film is easy to enjoy from your own home, as it’s rather cosy looking. I never thought I’d be describing a horror movie as ‘cosy’ looking but it’s true! This is not a James Wan type creepy, dusty, decrepit house harbouring a haunting. No, this is a 100 year old jewel toned, oak finished colonial style home. 

Despite this the story follows the beats we are all familiar with: troubled family of four move into a new house. The big deviation from the trope is we, the audience, are seeing events unfold from the POV of the ghost or presence. 

Director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven) chose to film the entire piece using a small (14mm) hand-held digital camera. Soderbergh himself acted as the ‘presence’ following the actors around. From the audiences perspective it is like watching the family through a barrier or pane of glass. Cleverly, windows and mirrors are hugely prominent and integral throughout.

The presence mainly follows and tries to interact with the daughter of the family, Chloe (Callina Liang), who has recently suffered the trauma of her best friend dying suddenly. Through Soderbergh’s experimental filming, we feel the dysphoria and frustration the ‘ghost’ is feeling at trying to affect the world around it, particularly during the anxiety-inducing final scene!

However, in what could be yet another mismarketing of a film, the trailer promised to be the ‘scariest movie you will see this year’ and ‘terrifying’; instead, they delivered this subversive, character-driven, family drama. If you are expecting jump scares and dramatic music stings, this is not your movie. I could understand if someone was disappointed that the only seemingly scary thing is the mother’s and son’s relationship, right up until the gut-punch of the final scene. 

Presence is definitely a slow burn, tension building until the final scene, and the unveiling of the ‘presence’ giving us a new understanding of the whole story. The ending is disturbing and stays with you as you re-analyse earlier scenes. 

My one complaint is that the character Ryan (West Mulholland) with his Chesney Hawkes hair, perhaps needed more subtlety. The rest of the cast was completely solid and believable as a family with so many unspoken issues. 

I wouldn’t recommend this film for everybody but maybe be as so bold to say it’s a horror movie for people that don’t like horror movies. It’s well-lit and cerebral with realistically flawed characters.

Presence is available to stream.

Three and a half stars.

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Streaming

Anime Review: Fog Hill of the Five Elements (Wu Shan Wu Xing)

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Genre: Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Historical
Runtime: Each episode runs approximately 20-30 minutes
Director: Lin Hun (also the Creator)
Studio: Samsara Animation Studio
Main Voice Actors (Chinese Cast):Liu Zhi Shi as Wen Ren Yu Xuan Zhou Qi as Shen Nong Fang Yuan as Xuan


Overview

Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a breathtaking Chinese anime (donghua) that merges traditional Chinese ink-painting aesthetics with high-intensity martial arts action. Created and directed by Lin Hun, this series delivers a spellbinding visual experience that rivals, and in many ways surpasses, mainstream Japanese anime. Produced by Samsara Animation Studio, the anime is a labor of love, known for its hand-drawn animation and meticulous detail.

Set in a mythological world where elemental beasts roam free, the series follows the Five Elemental Envoys tasked with protecting humanity. The story focuses on Wen Ren Yu Xuan, the Fire Envoy, whose actions set off a chain of events threatening the delicate balance between humans and beasts. The tale is steeped in Chinese folklore and myth, weaving a complex narrative of duty, power, and sacrifice.

Without question, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is one of the most visually stunning animated series in recent memory. The blend of traditional Chinese ink wash painting with modern dynamic action scenes is masterful. Every frame looks like a moving scroll painting, with fluid character movements and kinetic fight choreography that puts many mainstream series to shame.

The characters are deeply tied to traditional archetypes found in Chinese legends but are fleshed out with emotional depth and conflict. Voice acting by Liu Zhi Shi, Zhou Qi, and Fang Yuan brings authenticity and gravitas to their respective roles. The dialogue is steeped in poetic language, enhancing the mythic feel of the story.

The soundtrack complements the epic visuals with traditional Chinese instrumentation mixed with modern elements. The sound design heightens the impact of every battle and emotional moment.


Rating: 9/10

Fog Hill of the Five Elements earns a 9 out of 10 for its groundbreaking animation style, deep mythological storytelling, and heart-pounding action. The only downside is its limited number of episodes and slow release schedule, which leaves fans craving more.


Pros

  • Unparalleled hand-drawn animation
  • Unique art direction inspired by traditional Chinese painting
  • Rich mythological lore
  • Epic fight choreography

Cons

  • Sparse episode release
  • Story pacing can be uneven at times

Final Verdict 9/10

If you’re an anime enthusiast or a fan of animation artistry, Fog Hill of the Five Elements is a must-watch. Its fusion of stunning visuals, martial arts action, and mythological storytelling makes it one of the standout titles in modern animation. Whether you’re into Japanese anime or Chinese donghua, this series deserves a spot on your watchlist.

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