Post by 1705total on Nov 21, 2004 7:52:16 GMT -5
Hey folks, 1400total here with a review of BFTO 2003.
Before you ask (whats he know about reviewing) let me say that I have about 100 tapes and dvd's on our sport. I 've wathced them all several times in fact. I think I know a few things about them. I rate each review between a 1 and 5 rating. As an example for training dvd's a 5 represents the best (examples being "unbelievable" and "blood and guts".
Now onto the review:
If Dorian Yates' "Blood and Guts" changed the training dvd industry, then Mitsuru Okabe refined it, and he continues to do so.
His earlier BFTO's were always good but he was also using up to date echnology for VHS footage.
Now with the demand for DVD's he has switched over. There are a few technical difficulties with the new technology (such as sound editing) but I'm sure in time Mits will iron these out.
All in all this is a lengthly dvd. Mits has expaned his coverage of each athlete featured from originally being 10-12 minutes to now being around 30 minutes per athlete. A nice change, because it really gives you a feel for how the athlete trains two weeks out. Which also explains why some of the weights are a little down from what we have grown accustomed to.
Disc One
The dvd starts out with Melvin Anthoy. A decent segmant, as Melvin explains his back routine, his new/old team he is using and what he is trying to improve. We see him train back. My only problem is that just about every dvd with Melvin on it shows his back routine. After seeing him train back on 3 different dvd's its starting to get old.
Troy Alves follows Melvin. Troy's routine is awesome and Troy himself looks incredible. Awesome back training. If only Troy could his back (lats and legs) as sharp as his front he be much more of a force to recon with. Clean clean lines of seperation. Nice muscle shape with just enough size. He also has taken Shawn Rays spot on these tapes for both class and shape as well as how much he talks!! LOL Troy can run off at the mouth, but thats cool cause we get know him so to speak.
Dexter Jackson is up next. Dexter has a new training headquarters. I remember reading about how he had problems at his old gym, and he infirs it in the segmant. He goes onto praise the new gym, which does look very clean and big. But he repeatedly mentions how they treat people with respect. Dex does a shoulder and arm routine, which will make us all green with envy. Why?
Because of the little amount of work he does. I don't know if Dex is a follower of Mike Mentzer's or not, but he certainly doesn't do much volume. Here is the 3rd best bodybuilder in the planet and he does very little training and only diets for like 7 weeks. Thanks for being such a genetic wonder!!
He looks awesome in the footage too!!
Claude Groulx is next. Claude looks awesome, ripped as usual. Unfortunately his belly is already showing a great deal of distension. This really throws his physique off. I personnally would prefer Claude to lay off what ever is causing that and have him come i more streamlined. He looks incredibly blocky.
Darrem Charles shows us his arm routine. Some guys are ripped two weeks out and others really peak for the day of the show. I think Darrem is the later. Not very impressive , but looking very good and classically built.
Art Atwood, aka man mountain! This guy is big!! and Built much like a mountain. He shows you his new store, which looks much improved over his old location. He describes what happend when he tore his quad and his ongoing rehab. Can nothing keep this man down!!!
12 week out from the O he's walking in a cast, two weeks out it looks as if it never happend!! He does a lengthly back and bicep routine and looks incredibly ripped and ready. Looks like he coul step on stage. Regardless of what you might think about his physique he knows how to prepare for a show. His chest and back and legs are all awesome. But his arms and delts are only on par, and with a wide waist he doesn't have a classical build. But never the less he is an awesome specimen.
Rodney St. Cloud, is looking good in the next segmant. He takes around NY and shows us another segmant of Bev and Steve's famous gym in Sysott NY. Good footage of Rodney with that Big smile of his. He is looking good and the segmant is cool.
Disc Two
Ronnie Coleman: Legs. Ronnie at his home gym starts out with front squats. He also does his famous walking lunges, but in the middle of his front street!!
Unbeliavable is the only word to decribe Ronnie!!
The posing segmant is awesome!
Dennis James starts out by saying to MIts "Your late, 15 minutes late, don't apologize, its just 15 minutes less footage." Leg training with a unique twist. Charles Glass has Dennis doing His version of sissy squats with a dumbell. Along with the old school vertical leg press. Which is good for us because Dennis is sooo ripped we see just about every muscle in the human leg!!
Next up Gunter. We seem him train chest and although its evident he doesn't look as good as last year he still look pretty damn good! Its also aparent that Gunter is maturing his new mass gains. He is looking more aesthetic.
Backstage footage of the guys prior to prejudging is next. We see Ronnie getting oiled up, and see Jay posing in the dressing rooms. Jay looked awesome!!!
But the best part is Ronnie walking into the pump up area! Everyone, and I mean everyone, gets out of his way and can't help but stair at this man!!!
We also see some footage of the expo and more backstage action before the night show.
Some highlights are: Ronnie telling Dennis that Jay needs to watch out for Dennis, because Ronnie has heard alot about Dennis this year.
Art Atwood's posing for mits only do have his left pec go into a severe cramp!! You actually see the muscle curl up into a ball. It looked like it hurt!!!
The conversation between Troy Alves, Dexter Jackson, and Dennis James, about what to eat after the show. Pizza from Poppa Johns or Pizza hut!! Pretty funny as these guys show a little of their humans side and general appreciation for each other. (not everybody wears a game face all the time).
Jay Cutlers segmant was filmed the day after the O. He is still looking awesome but tired. A short simple chest and bi workout mainly for us the fans. The highlights being just how ripped he is.
Johnathan Davie is the last athlete profiled. And looks impressive for a guy who finished last in the contest.
He looked god and symetrical and was ripped, just not of the claiber needed to place in this show.
The extra's are pretty neat. Darrem gives you a tour of his house, Dennis Poses in te gym a little. The usual stuff.
All in all the 2 dvd is worth the $39.95 price tag, which I'm sure you can get somewhere else at a cheaper price.
I give it a 4 out of 5.
Before you ask (whats he know about reviewing) let me say that I have about 100 tapes and dvd's on our sport. I 've wathced them all several times in fact. I think I know a few things about them. I rate each review between a 1 and 5 rating. As an example for training dvd's a 5 represents the best (examples being "unbelievable" and "blood and guts".
Now onto the review:
If Dorian Yates' "Blood and Guts" changed the training dvd industry, then Mitsuru Okabe refined it, and he continues to do so.
His earlier BFTO's were always good but he was also using up to date echnology for VHS footage.
Now with the demand for DVD's he has switched over. There are a few technical difficulties with the new technology (such as sound editing) but I'm sure in time Mits will iron these out.
All in all this is a lengthly dvd. Mits has expaned his coverage of each athlete featured from originally being 10-12 minutes to now being around 30 minutes per athlete. A nice change, because it really gives you a feel for how the athlete trains two weeks out. Which also explains why some of the weights are a little down from what we have grown accustomed to.
Disc One
The dvd starts out with Melvin Anthoy. A decent segmant, as Melvin explains his back routine, his new/old team he is using and what he is trying to improve. We see him train back. My only problem is that just about every dvd with Melvin on it shows his back routine. After seeing him train back on 3 different dvd's its starting to get old.
Troy Alves follows Melvin. Troy's routine is awesome and Troy himself looks incredible. Awesome back training. If only Troy could his back (lats and legs) as sharp as his front he be much more of a force to recon with. Clean clean lines of seperation. Nice muscle shape with just enough size. He also has taken Shawn Rays spot on these tapes for both class and shape as well as how much he talks!! LOL Troy can run off at the mouth, but thats cool cause we get know him so to speak.
Dexter Jackson is up next. Dexter has a new training headquarters. I remember reading about how he had problems at his old gym, and he infirs it in the segmant. He goes onto praise the new gym, which does look very clean and big. But he repeatedly mentions how they treat people with respect. Dex does a shoulder and arm routine, which will make us all green with envy. Why?
Because of the little amount of work he does. I don't know if Dex is a follower of Mike Mentzer's or not, but he certainly doesn't do much volume. Here is the 3rd best bodybuilder in the planet and he does very little training and only diets for like 7 weeks. Thanks for being such a genetic wonder!!
He looks awesome in the footage too!!
Claude Groulx is next. Claude looks awesome, ripped as usual. Unfortunately his belly is already showing a great deal of distension. This really throws his physique off. I personnally would prefer Claude to lay off what ever is causing that and have him come i more streamlined. He looks incredibly blocky.
Darrem Charles shows us his arm routine. Some guys are ripped two weeks out and others really peak for the day of the show. I think Darrem is the later. Not very impressive , but looking very good and classically built.
Art Atwood, aka man mountain! This guy is big!! and Built much like a mountain. He shows you his new store, which looks much improved over his old location. He describes what happend when he tore his quad and his ongoing rehab. Can nothing keep this man down!!!
12 week out from the O he's walking in a cast, two weeks out it looks as if it never happend!! He does a lengthly back and bicep routine and looks incredibly ripped and ready. Looks like he coul step on stage. Regardless of what you might think about his physique he knows how to prepare for a show. His chest and back and legs are all awesome. But his arms and delts are only on par, and with a wide waist he doesn't have a classical build. But never the less he is an awesome specimen.
Rodney St. Cloud, is looking good in the next segmant. He takes around NY and shows us another segmant of Bev and Steve's famous gym in Sysott NY. Good footage of Rodney with that Big smile of his. He is looking good and the segmant is cool.
Disc Two
Ronnie Coleman: Legs. Ronnie at his home gym starts out with front squats. He also does his famous walking lunges, but in the middle of his front street!!
Unbeliavable is the only word to decribe Ronnie!!
The posing segmant is awesome!
Dennis James starts out by saying to MIts "Your late, 15 minutes late, don't apologize, its just 15 minutes less footage." Leg training with a unique twist. Charles Glass has Dennis doing His version of sissy squats with a dumbell. Along with the old school vertical leg press. Which is good for us because Dennis is sooo ripped we see just about every muscle in the human leg!!
Next up Gunter. We seem him train chest and although its evident he doesn't look as good as last year he still look pretty damn good! Its also aparent that Gunter is maturing his new mass gains. He is looking more aesthetic.
Backstage footage of the guys prior to prejudging is next. We see Ronnie getting oiled up, and see Jay posing in the dressing rooms. Jay looked awesome!!!
But the best part is Ronnie walking into the pump up area! Everyone, and I mean everyone, gets out of his way and can't help but stair at this man!!!
We also see some footage of the expo and more backstage action before the night show.
Some highlights are: Ronnie telling Dennis that Jay needs to watch out for Dennis, because Ronnie has heard alot about Dennis this year.
Art Atwood's posing for mits only do have his left pec go into a severe cramp!! You actually see the muscle curl up into a ball. It looked like it hurt!!!
The conversation between Troy Alves, Dexter Jackson, and Dennis James, about what to eat after the show. Pizza from Poppa Johns or Pizza hut!! Pretty funny as these guys show a little of their humans side and general appreciation for each other. (not everybody wears a game face all the time).
Jay Cutlers segmant was filmed the day after the O. He is still looking awesome but tired. A short simple chest and bi workout mainly for us the fans. The highlights being just how ripped he is.
Johnathan Davie is the last athlete profiled. And looks impressive for a guy who finished last in the contest.
He looked god and symetrical and was ripped, just not of the claiber needed to place in this show.
The extra's are pretty neat. Darrem gives you a tour of his house, Dennis Poses in te gym a little. The usual stuff.
All in all the 2 dvd is worth the $39.95 price tag, which I'm sure you can get somewhere else at a cheaper price.
I give it a 4 out of 5.
