GMO OMG (2013)

Just perfect...

Brilliant and touching

The acting in this movie is really good.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Like most criticisms of GMOs, this film makes a number of arguments that abuse science and twist economics. I have some concerns about the loss of biodiversity that modern agribusiness begets, the legal framework surrounding engineered seeds, etc., but so far the evidence indicates that GMO crops are safe to consume (which isn't to say that no GMO seed could ever be unsafe) and it's clear that genetic modifications have dramatically increased crop yields, lifting countless people out of poverty and preventing countless people in poverty from experiencing hunger or starvation. The filmmaker didn't seem to understand the benefits of GMOs or the economics of agriculture. On the other hand, he did seem to let the number of farmers that he interviewed, who had a variety of perspectives, speak for themselves. I found their comments, whether pro-GMO, anti-GMO or ambivalent, very worthwhile.I don't think that the filmmaker really got it on the issue and I wouldn't recommend that anyone watch the film as their sole exposure to the GMO issue, but people who are interested in such things could probably, if they're balancing the film out with resources of other perspectives, find value in it.

This is honestly one of the stupidest documentaries I've seen recently.The reporter makes it very clear that he doesn't understand the difference between GMO and organic foods, which is quite worrying when he is presenting his view on GM foods. He also seems to think that if a fish eats GM soy in a fish pellet then the fish itself is genetically modified.He constantly tells us that there are no peer reviewed studies on the safety of GMO foods - although there are, in fact, over 2,000 peer reviewed studies... none of which have found any evidence that GMOs are harmful in anyway to humans.We are told that modifying crops is something we have never done before and the reporter asks a farmer what he thinks God would make of this "new" technology. Leaving aside the God aspect, modifying food is nothing new at all - humans have been doing it since the beginning of agriculture. The only thing that is new is the techniques being used.At one point we are told of a single study that claims organic farming methods can produce higher crop yields than conventional methods, despite this result being contrary to every other piece of research and despite organic not being the same as GMO.This "documentary" is very one-sided and ignores great swathes of evidence. It's said that if all the world's experts agree on a topic then a layman should probably take their word for it. In the case of GMOs health groups across the world agree that GMOs are safe to eat and safe for the environment - this documentary is simple scaremongering.

** Being a documentary, I don't think "spoilers" really apply, this is really just talking about the first few "chapters". ** The first issue brought up is regarding Monsanto seeds, which is a very legitimate complaint - but it's a complaint about the wrong thing. The business around Monsanto seeds is that they are sterile; meaning you have to re-purchase a crop on an annual basis. There is no discussion about whether this seed is superior or inferior, just that it's "bad", "expensive" and "traps farmers".Then they go into a grocery store, and get outraged that some of the pre-packaged foods are *possibly* sourced from GMO ingredients. I turned this awful piece of trash off soon after this - the fatal blow to my sanity was when; while talking to another parent about whether she is concerned about GMOs; her two <5 year-old kids were both grabbing for a piece of icing-topped cake, and the author says "it's making them violent"...? The reality is that humans have been modifying food for as long as agriculture has existed. For example, wheat is not a naturally occurring plant - it's a grass with microscopic seeds. Thru selective breeding, humans have turned this inedible plant into a global food staple. GMO is what is successfully feeding the world.*** Look at the other reviews on this page. The three 10-Star reviews were written by people with ONE review in their library. The two that gave it 1-Star have many diverse reviews in their logs. Who do you believe is giving you an honest answer?

This is a sweet, funny, beautiful, moving, disturbing and uplifting look at one family's search for answers. Jeremy Seifert, the young filmmaker, takes us on a journey across this country and around the world, and allows us to experience for ourselves he and his family's evolving feelings and reactions as they gather more information about GMOS (Genetically Modified Organisms).Go see it! In a time when so many problems bombard us and it is so easy to get discouraged and become apathetic, here is someone willing to take two years out of his life to pursue answers to difficult questions. The sincerity of the filmmaker shines through. This is not a propaganda film, although I am sure Monsanto and co will do their best to discredit it as such. It is a film that comes from the heart and goes to the heart. Thank you, Jeremy, for making this!