Change Your Image
labradors
Reviews
Extreme Chef (2011)
An insult to chefs and viewers
Although the following review does not reveal any outcomes, it does mention a few actual scenes from the show which some people may (in the most strict sense) consider spoilers.
"Extreme Chef" is what you might get if "Chopped" and "The Amazing Race" (or maybe the X Games) had a son.
The one and only part for which "Extreme Chef" is barely watchable is to see what the chefs do cook. The rest of the show's format, however, is a grievous insult to the abilities and credentials of the chefs and to the intelligence of the viewers.
In the show, accomplished chefs (even some with Michelin stars) are required to swim across pools or lakes (sometimes in their chef's whites), stumble through obstacle courses, run up stairs, hike through mountain paths and otherwise make fools of themselves in order to obtain their ingredients and equipment or get to their cooking venues. Once they are in place and have their ingredients and equipment, they must cook something that the judges have assigned them. While the chefs are cooking, the show's host announces, "Oh, yeah, there are also going to be some X factors" which present additional problems for the chefs to overcome and/or additional dishes that the chefs must cook.
The obstacles and the "X factors" are things such as staged, artificially produced rain, hail or sand storms or having to milk their own cows or having to chip through large blocks of ice to retrieve additional ingredients they'll be required to use.
Although some of the ideas are somewhat interesting, the show further insults viewers by telling them what they are supposed to find exciting. This is done by cheesy, unimpressive and distracting text on the screen (such as in commercials for Ford pick-up trucks), often just displaying something asinine or banal that one of the chef's has said. For example, a chef may have faced the difficulty of using a donkey to transport the ingredients and then says, "I love you, little donkey," and that appears on the screen in letters of increasing size.
Probably the best concept in the show (though not really done very well) is that the final two chefs must create a "single bite" on a silver spoon (well, one bite for each judge) that must use certain ingredients. While it is an interesting idea, it would be much better suited to a more serious show, such as "Chopped," "Iron Chef" or "Masterchef."
Thus, "Extreme Chef" is just another way to try to cash in on the success of shows such as "Chopped" by attempting to add elements that will appeal to a different segment of viewers. It does not do so very well, though, and shouldn't be allowed to advance beyond however many episodes they have already taped.
Sleuth (2007)
A rather sterile remake
Although some have commented that the original was "corny," this remake - although having great performances - lacks the charm and character of the original. In the original, one could see Tindle's being drawn in to Wyke's plan and his gradual acceptance of it. This one makes the jump from his being somewhat credulous to his full participation so relatively abruptly that it just doesn't "feel" genuine. In addition, this remake has replaced Wyke's games and toys with modern "toys" (sophisticated security cameras, automated walls and ladders, etc.) in a manner tantamount to whitewashing over the Sistine Chapel, and doesn't cause one to have as much feeling for Wyke or Tindle as the original did. Furthermore, the removal of Wyke's games removes the very notion that he would even refer to his actions as being part of a "game," as well as one of the excuses he may offer Tindle for participating. The ending left me far less satisfied than the original's, as well, but I won't reveal any of those details.
Is this worth seeing? Yes. Be prepared for a couple of outstanding performances, but also be prepared for something with far less charm (including far more obscenity) than the original.
Great Performances: A Carnegie Hall Christmas (1991)
This has become a family tradition
With a wonderful blend of Classical, Jazz, and Contemporary renditions of Christmas carols, this concert has become a family tradition for us. When it first aired on PBS, we recorded it onto VHS tape, and we have played that tape near Christmastime every year since, and we dearly wish it were available on DVD.
Quite simply, this concert features opera singers Kathleen Battle and Frederica Von Stade along with the only two people ever to win Grammy Awards for both Classical AND Jazz: Andre Previn and Wynton Marsalis. The result is absolutely unforgettable.
Unlike many opera singers (e.g. Pavarotti), Battle and Von Stade are able to sing non-opera material without sounding stuffed into it. In fact, they accomplish it quite beautifully.
Previn and Marsalis are both equally at home with Jazz and Classical, and perform marvelously.
In addition, some pieces include a full choir AND a full boys' choir, especially a one-of-a-kind version of the "Twelve Days of Christmas" in which something that can be a tired, old Christmas cliché is transformed into something sublime.
The Tale of Sweeney Todd (1997)
Disgusting trash
Okay. Okay. I know the general STORY of Sweeney Todd is a tad bizarre. However, it's not the STORY to which my summary line above applies, but to this 1998, perverted Hollywood treatment of it. The 1982 filming of the Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical of this story was classy and a classic. THIS version, on the other hand, nauseated me - not by the nature of the plan the Mrs. Lovett and Mr. Todd cooked up (pardon the pun) to dispose of the bodies of the people Mr. Todd murdered, but because of the way it was presented to the viewers. In addition, the darkly humorous element of the play seemed absent. Unfortunately (or, perhaps, fortunately), it was more than a year ago that I saw this, and I cannot recall specific examples. Suffice it to say, fans of the Broadway version will probably be very disappointed with this version.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1982)
Brilliant!
Not having seen the 1936 version of this story, I cannot offer any comparison there. I can, however, state that Stephen Sondheim's musical treatment of this story is absolutely genius. Only Sondheim could come up with music and lyrics that are stellar in their own right, yet perfectly suited to the very bizarre subject matter. If anyone needs an explanation of what a dark comedy is, they should see this (and "Dr. Strangelove" as well). When Mrs. Lovett goes from having the "worst pies in London" to a booming business with high acclaim, we aren't talking "Soylent Green," - but the ingredients are similar. Particularly brilliant is the song where Mrs. Lovett pitches her idea to Mr. Todd. Even in the introductory number, the line "...they went to their Maker impeccably shaved..." gives a great indication of the premise, the drama, AND the comedy to come. Outstanding!
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976)
When will it be on DVD?
After years of trying to find this on VHS, I now find that it IS available. The problem is, now I have a DVD player, and would prefer to have this series on DVD.
This was one of my favorite Britcoms, although I haven't seen it in quite a while. Having two great Britcom actors: Leonard Rossiter ("Rising Damp") and Geoffrey Palmer ("Butterflies"), this series was bound to be a winner. Rossiter, of course, as the title character, really is almost a one-man show with everyone else supporting him rather than having major roles. When Perrin, talking to himself after his failed (or, some would say, faked) suicide attempt, realizes he cannot go back home, and decides that he will use, as his new name, the first thing he sees as he looks over a fence, then realizes that "cow pat" would NOT be a good name, one knows that the series is just getting started, and will really take off from there.
PLEASE make this available on DVD!
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1988)
A kids movie that's also great for adults
Having read some of the negative comments directed toward this movie, I am absolutely flabbergasted at the nature of the criticisms. For crying out loud, this is a kids' movie that also works well for adults who are willing to suspend their jadedness for a romp through the mystical world of Narnia. If you are the type of person who MUST have intense action heightened by superlative (and superfluous) special effects, then this movie will not be for you. On the other hand, if you are the type who honestly gives each movie its own, individual chance without condemning it in comparison to other (and even unrelated) movies, then you will see the charm of this entire Wonderworks series. I'm almost 40, and I can still watch this series again and again without tiring of it (in fact, I discovered all of these comments when I was looking to see if it were on DVD yet). Now, consider that the series was really aimed at a MUCH younger audience, and you will realize that it accomplishes its aim quite well.
Are the effects less than spectacular, even Dr. Who-ish? Absolutely. The point, however, to watching such a movie is to enter the world it has created and to experience the story. This series successfully allows one to do just that, and does not eliminate the Christian significance of many of the scenes.
That brings up another point: if one is not familiar with or does not understand the fact that Aslan is an allegorical reference to Christ, and that this movie portrays the death and resurrection of Christ and even such things [waxing theological for a moment] as the substitutionary atonement, then one will miss the point of the movie entirely and attempt to critique it as one would any other kids' adventure movie.
In other words, this movie (indeed, the whole series) operates on more than just the surface level of being entertainment. If ALL the factors are considered, this movie deserves an 8 or 9 out of 10 rating. It is not perfect, but it is not intended to be a megabuck blockbuster either.
One final comment by way of a paraphrase of a line from a comedian (I think it was Paula Poundstone, but I'm not sure): the people who summarily pan this movie probably talk in their sleep - when they see something unrealistic in a dream, they probably say, "Yeah. Right." [in a cynical way, that is].