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jazzman927
Reviews
Iron Chef USA: Showdown in Las Vegas (2001)
False Version of "Iron Chef America"
Be warned. William Shatner does NOT know how to run Iron Chef shows. This is "Iron Chef USA." The real show to watch (American version) is "Iron Chef America!" Still, the Japanese "Iron Chef" beats them both with little effort. The real Iron Chefs are Chen Kenichi, Hiroyuki Sakai, Masaharu Morimoto, Masahiko Kobe, and Komei Nakamura. When I saw "Iron Chef America", I thought the show could use an Iron Chef Chinese in Ming Tsai. I just love how he prepared the duck dishes. I think he should become Iron Chef Chinese in "Iron Chef America." I also agree with Bobby Flay's comment that cooking can become an athletic sport and it should be on ESPN2. I hope that "Iron Chef America" can serve to make people forget the atrocities of "Iron Chef USA", which is NOT the same as "Iron Chef America." Also, "Iron Chef America" should let Morimoto speak English.
So You Think You Can Dance (2005)
Not as good as "American Idol", but its okay
A long time ago, I dreamed that there would be a competition that would pit every dance style against each other much like martial arts competitions. This year, that dream has come true. Break dancers, hip-hop dancers, ballet dancers, and many other dancers have finally come together to prove they are the best. I LOVE IT!!! However, the show falls prey to the formula of "American Idol" to a 'T.' I love audition processes. The major problem is that it tries to be edgy about some dancers and some cheap jokes about masculinity and going on to appearing in Las Vegas entertainment shows to make a living. While I do love a good dance competition, this show will NOT make my cut until it learns to be itself and not come off as a blatant "American Idol" rip-off in the form of dancing.
Ray (2004)
Great Movie
Jamie Foxx becomes Ray Charles in "Ray", the best biopic I have seen in recent years. Foxx reminds me of Ray Charles as was in his younger years. Notably, the performances in this movie were uncanny. Particularly, Aretha Warren (Mrs. Robinson) had short, but memorable moments as Ray's mother. Also worth mentioning are Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell, Regina King, Larenz Tate, Richard Schiff, Curtis Armstrong, and Aunjanue Ellis.
I agree with filmbuff-36 that we do not get all the details of Ray Charles' life. However, to try and squeeze all of the minute details in his life would be nothing more than a documentary of Ray Charles that you would normally watch on the History Channel. The movie is far different than any other biopic because it tells a story that slowly evolves, but hooks the audience with the exuberance of Ray's life. The movie never tries to cover-up his past mistakes. Ray had a wonderful music career and life. The last half of his years that the movie covered were cautionary tales of what not to do in a personal life (drugs, cheating, etc.). I truly felt that Jamie Foxx earned his Oscar this year and I have never been any prouder of him since his time in "In Living Color." Following up on filmbuff-36, the movie tells only what is required to capture the essence of Ray's early life. His early life was both great and not-so-great. The movie not only captures Ray's greatness, but his humanity. He is no perfect being. Ray is a legendary musician who had his demons like any other human. I will not write any further, as I will be giving away too much. For those who are not familiar with the great musician, "Ray" is a wonderful way to spend three hours familiarizing about the legend.