Arvostelua:
http://www.musclemayhem.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29170
"I hadn't seen a full review of BFTO 2004 yet here so I got bored at work and thought i'd contribute now that I finally gotten through all 7 hours of it over the holiday. Overall it's a pretty good DVD, give it 4 out of 5 stars. I typically get bored with most bodybuilding videos but this one actually held my attention. And the 7 hours of footage more than makes up for the price tag
THE BEST PARTS:
RONNIE COLEMAN:
Workout: Ronnie's session was by far the best of the tape if for no other reason that he appeared to be the only guy in this video who is truly having fun. From the minute he rolls up to the gym in his Mercedes S55 AMG, rims, loud music, `Mr. O' license plates, wearing bright red tights and sun glasses. He gets out turns to Mits and asks in his high-pitch texas drawl ``Is it road to the Olympia time already? Well alright! Welcome to the party then.''
Yes Ronnie, it's that time again. God bless you man.
There is a decent crowd of people doing nothing but standing around and watching him train. Personally that would annoy the shit out of me, but Ronnie takes it in stride, after all I guess he's gotten used to being stared at.
He kills several sets of barbell rows working up to 405 for 10 reps, dumbbell rows with 200 lb dumbell (pretty funny to see his two helpers struggle to put the dumbell back on the rack) and t-bar rows with 10 plates for 10 reps I believe. No broken handle this time. Watching ronnie do cable curls with his arms out is just mind boggling. He finishes off by posing in the mirrors on the floor. Inhuman. Sorry jay, but this guy had you beat before he even stepped on stage.
Interview: there is really no interview. Though not sure 1 was even needed. He barely talks other than to kick his sets off with each kicked off with a `light weight' or `yea buddy,' I think he threw in a `aint nothing but a peanut' once or twice. This guy is just all confidence all the time, you can just feel it coming through the screen. He knows he can't be beat and every rep he does just distances himself from the rest of the pack. He will be Mr. O until he decides its over.
Gym: Of course he trains at Metroflex, I think enough has been written about this gym to last a lifetime.
Misc: this guy clearly enjoys himself. He's having the time of his life. And his segment is by far the highlight of the dvd.
JOHNNIE O. JACKSON:
Workout: Being a powerlifter, the second best session on the video in my opinion was Johnnie Jackson and Jay Moore who trained back. Johnnie trains powerlifting style, and it was quite impressive that a week after doing the GNC and a week out from the Olympia he's deadlifting 495 for I believe 5 or 6 reps and it looked like he could have gone up another 90 pounds. jay moore, who looked a bit fuller and rested, locks out a 675 dead for a double. Johnnie also does barbell rows with 405 for 11 reps and some pretty heavy dumbbell rows though couldn't make out the numbers. Also johnnie is one of the few people I've ever seen do pull ups correctly keeping the elbows steady and pulling with the back and not his arms. Poses in the aerobics room.
Interview: ``I got my prettiness from my momma.'' Other than talking about his beauty he also talks a lot about his family, belief in God and gives a pretty comprehensive run down of both his competitive bodybuilding and powerlifting career. Makes some interesting comments about the balance between strength and conditioning. Johnnie has a heavy texas accent, I'm a northerner, so to me its hilarious y'all.
Gym: The gym he works out is Kirk Strouds gym in Hurst Texas - very hardcore setup for the powerlifting crowd. It has a nice set up in the back for deadlifting and what appears to be a monolift. If I ever have an excuse to go down to that area of texas it'll definitely be on the list of places to go.
Misc: Johnnie challenges Ronnie to a strength competition ``if I can't beat you in bodybuilding then I'll beat you at powerlifting.'' Gives what appears to be the obligatory shout out to muscletech -- ``awesome products'' -- never saw him actually using any of those fine products though. Works out early 7 a.m. or so. His uncle nicknamed him ``wimpy'' because of his love of burgers.
JAY CUTLER:
Workout: Jay Cutler's session was interesting. He seemed a bit tired but wanted to put on a show for Mits. He even talks about how everyone ragged him for half assin it in BFTO 2003. In this year's version we quickly learn that he's one of those dicks that puts his towel and water bottle on the empty bench next to him so no one else can use it. Anyway he works back with reverse grip rows maxing out with 315 for 10 reps. Does a lot of cable work. Dumbell rows maxing out with what appeared to be 125s for 10 reps. Also did t-bar rows, works up to 6 plates for 10 reps I believe. Overall an impressive workout, plus Jay is a beast to look at. Mits does some close up shots of his arm (unflexed) and its just amazing. Poses in the mirrors on the floor. Looks big and ripped. Works out alone.
Gym: He trains at Golds in East Vegas. Nice looking gym, big, open 24 hours. Looks like a good atmosphere to train, I'll probably check it out next time I'm in vegas.
Interview: Didn't talk a whole lot but makes a few jokes about chasing ronnie, ``I guess im used to being no. 2'' he says when he finds out he's the second guy that Mits filmed for the DVD. talks about how he's trying to bring up his back.
Misc: Shamelessly plugs muscletech/cell tech as well as bodybuilding.com. overall though he came across as being a charismatic guy. Nice car, all white BMW SUV.
VIC MARTINEZ:
Interview: Vic Martinez's segment was good but not for the training. His workout wasn't spectacular but he was the most talkative of all the bodybuilders. First he showed off his gym in Manhattan, which ironically would go out of business a couple weeks after the filming so a lot of the comments he makes about his ``business mind'' and how he started the gym with no money are a little funny in hindsight. Not to mention the banner on the front door advertising the membership fee. Also apparently all the supplement drinks he sells in the gym he steals off a truck, just fyi.
Workout: for whatever reason, rather than train at his own gym, he drives out to Syosset to train at Bev Francis' golds gym. (I guess he was lining up his new workout location). Bev's gym is nice looking place. I lived in NY for 4 years but unfortunately never went out there. Victor sort of goes through the motions on shoulder workout using moderate to heavy weights. Poses in the bathroom.
Misc: Double parks his Yukon on the street.
GUNTER SCHLIERKAMP:
Workout: Gunter's workout was interesting if for no other reason it showed how much these guys' bodies can change in just a few days. In the DVD he really looks great but fast forward a couple days to the Olympia where he really looked off. Not sure what happened in those 72 hours but something clearly went wrong with his diet. Gunter is absolutely huge and its funny to see the woman hitting on him the gym as well.
Gym: Golds venice
Interview: not a whole lot of talking. He looked like he was he was pretty tired. Talks about how he's going to eat fired calamari and chicken strips at the cheesecake factory after the show. Funny accent makes it somewhat entertaining.
PRESS CONFERENCE:
Press conference was funny only because of Ronnie. Jay, Dex and the other were taking things way too seriously. Ronnie was relaxed and appeared to be the only competitor in the room having fun. Bob Chic and Triple H kept trying to stir up some controversy without much luck. You could tell everybody there was annoyed with the whole Ronnie vs. Jay promotion. Cormier seemed ticked off, as did Dennis James. Jay looked like he was ready to go back to bed.
DON LONG:
It was pretty short clip but Don Long gave a little talk into the camera telling everybody he was healthy, feeling good and talked how bodybuilding helped him cope with his illness. They only showed him from the neck up but he looked to be in decent health and good spirits. Nice feel good moment.
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THE WORST PARTS:
DARREM CHARLES:
Workout: watching him train put me to sleep. I'm sure the guy was tired but it was obvious he would rather be someplace else. Best lift was barbell military presses with what looked to be 355 for reps. Also Mits was late to the shoot, (how do I know, because we get to watch 5 minutes of footage of Mits stuck in traffic!). Darrem looked decent. He poses in the parking lot, doesn't talk much.
Gym: Darrem works out at Fitness First in Florida, can't remember the town. They didn't show much of the gym, but from what the camera picked up it just looked like a run of the mill gym. Nothing fancy.
Misc: Unless you're a huge Darrem fan I would recommend just skipping over his segment altogether. The extra's section of the DVD has some nice footage of his house. He's obviously doing well financially. Very big house in upscale neighborhood, viper and Mercedes S Class in the driveway. Pretty wife, distracted teenage son who was too busy playing video games to acknowledge the camera, pool in the backyard. Little fluffy dog. Appears to be living the American dream. Good to see.
TROY ALVES:
Workout: was pretty boring, basically sleepwalked through his entire workout, though in his defense he looked worn down having competed in the GNC a week before the filming. Though it should be pointed out Johnnie O competed in the same show and he looked much sharper in the weight room. Alves' wife shows up and sits around, does nothing intriguing. He poses. Nothing riveting. You can fast forward through a lot of it.
Interview: While his workout was uninspiring he does give a decent interview. After saying some nice things about his wife he talked about how he wanted to bring a ``better quality'' and more appealing physique that is ``attainable'' to the stage. While he didn't mention ronnie specifically he was clearly directing his comments at some of the monsters in the sport who sacrifice aesthetics in order to pack on more mass. It was kind of sad though because you got this sense from Troy as well as some of the other competitors on the DVD that they knew they would never be Mr. O under the types of standards for mass that exist now.
Gym: Fitness 1 somewhere near in Phoenix. I think it was called Glenwood or Glendale. Can't remember. Run of the mill type of gym.
CLAUDE GROULX:
This segment was a complete snoozer. By far the worst segment on the DVD. I felt myself get weaker just watching him muddle through his routine. Not sure what else to say about this guy. He looked very tired. Used a lot of cables and machines. Works out alone at Golds in Sunny Isles, Florida. Looked like a so-so gym. Nothing special.
AHMAD HAIDAR:
Nothing really special here either. Gym looked nice, Powerhouse in West Palm Beach. Overall though the workout was pretty basic. Incline bench with smith machine with 3 plates and a quarter on each side was the heaviest he went. Flat dumbell presses with 120s. He talks a lot about his show placings and his diet. Got a speeding ticket on the way to the gym. Mits will pay for it.
MUSTAFA MOHAMMAD, PAVOL JABLONICKY:
Mustafa Mohammad, Pavol Jablonicky were a bit of a let down. they appear together and they do a nice little pose down together in front of the mirrors. Pavol wears jeans to gym, Mustafa wears a white doo rag. I have no idea why that's relevant other than it was probably the most interesting thing about their segment. Some guy in the background ruins every shot by walking right up behind Mustafa every other second and staring into the camera. Wasn't sure if he was with the group or just some random weirdo. Was good for a few laughs though.
NO MARKUS RUHL OR GUSTAVO ON THE DVD: I assume that's because they live overseas, but still disappointing none the less.
MITSURU'S DRIVING:
Mitsuru is obsessed with showing himself driving. I swear if you cut out the parts of Mits on the highway, Mits in a rainstorm, Mits on a side street, Mits in a parking lot, Mits on a cul de sac, Mits in an airport, Mits at the toll booth, Mits in a hail storm, Mits whacking off, Mits robbing a bank, well you see where im going with this. Anyway cut all that out and this DVD would have been 4 hours instead of 7. enough already!
IRIS KYLE IS SCAAAAAARRY! I don't want to re-ignite the debate on female bodybuilders but Mits was panning the camera around gold's and showed a shot of Iris working and my girlfriend practically blew up her cheerios. There's more footage of iris at Golds Vegas as well as from the press conference if you're a fan of that sort of thing.
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THE SO-SO PARTS:
RICHARD JONES:
Workout: just ok. He trained alone. didn't push himself that hard. None of the lifts were particularly impressive. Heaviest set was hammer strength behind the neck press with 3 plates a side for 5 or 6 reps. Goes upstairs and poses in the mirror. Nice separation on the guy.
Interview: Seemed to lack a bit of confidence and you could tell from his comments he's still a rookie. Hopefully he'll get that fire in his eyes like Ronnie and jay have because he certainly has the potential to go far. Seemed like a decent guy overall.
Gym: Trains at Golds in Long Beach. Decent looking place, more of a health club atmosphere though from what the camera shows.
KRIS DIM:
Workout: uninspiring. Nothing fancy. Just a basic back workout. He maxed out on dumbell rows with 170s for 8 reps. Poses later in the aerobics room.
Interview: He did talk a lot, which is a plus considering a lot of these bodybuilders act like deaf mutes, and Dim made some interesting comments about being the first Asian on cover of flex mag and how he wanted to be an example for Asians getting into bodybuilding, which I thought was cool for him to say.
Gym: Muscle Systems in Sacramento. looked decent though the camera didn't show a lot of it. Trains early at about 8 a.m. He said he's been training there for 12 or 15 years if I recall correctly. Used to work there as well.
Misc: Drives a black hummer. Owns a max muscle store - showed some footage of him at the store carry boxes! Married. Came across as a mild mannered guy who has his head on straight.
CRAIG RICHARDSON:
Workout: I have to confess I never really even heard of this guy until the Olympia last year and I haven't really paid attention to him since. This DVD made me take a closer look, he has a pretty thick upper body and was moving some impressive weight, I believe he inclined pressed either 175 or 180 dumbbells for 6 reps, though not with a complete full range of motion. Not bad for a week from the Mr. O. Has a few years of work ahead of him before he can be a serious Olympia contender.
Gym: works out at Diamond Gym, one of my old haunts from a few years back. Small space but great atmosphere. If you're ever in Maplewood please stop by and support these guys, it's a great gym. Richardson's training partner was interesting.
DEXTER JACKSON:
Workout: First time I've ever seen workout video footage of him. He benched that day, max was 365 on the flat bench for 8 reps. Looked pretty easy for him. I'm sure in the offseason he's probably good for a 455 to 475 for a couple reps. strong guy. Workout was pretty basic. Didn't really work up a sweat. Wears a sun visor while training indoors. Cloudy outside. Not a bottle of cell tech in sight?
Interview: Dexter Jackson doesn't talk apparently. Very low key guy. I believe he's only 1 of 2 guys in the video where they showed his house though. Nice little house in what looked to be an upper middle class neighborhood in Jacksonville. Saw a couple BMW's in the garage, said he has a Lexus coupe as well. appears to be doing well financially. Sort of came across as a pretty boy type though.
Gym: World Gym in Jacksonville. was large and pretty well equipped. Very polished and clean looking place. Don't know much more about it.
DENNIS JAMES:
Workout: was ok, he was obviously holding back. Not much to say. did chest with a variety of hammer strength machines. ``not trying to get bigger, just more detailed.'' Posed. Looked thick and rested. Kept the workout simple and light.
Interview: ``you got to think positive no matter what you do. Smile.'' Pretty talkative, comes across as a good natured type of guy. Thanked muscletech, took a swig of crystal light for the camera. Reminded the kids to take their vitamins.
Gym: They filmed at Golds Venice.
Misc: Has an encounter with Jim Manion and Charles Glass. Dennis is another guy who looks like something happened with his diet in those last 48-72 hours. Looked great on the dvd but appears to have lost a bit once he got on stage.
EXTRAS:
The pre athlete's meeting was just basically Mits walking through the hall of the hotel and filming all the competitors as they sat around waiting to go into the meeting. None of them were all that talkative. Get to see some of the wives. Cormier's son. Big Ron was one of the last to show up, looking confident relaxed. It's good to be king.
Overall 4 out of 5 stars. And that's coming from a guy who typically hates bodybuilding videos.
As a side note: It would've have been nice to use the dvd to give the women a bit more exposure. Everyone talks about how women's BB is dead, but it never seems that the IFBB makes an effort to keep it alive. With 7+ hours of footage I don't see why someone couldn't have talked Mits into doing one or two shorter segments on a couple of the Ms. O competitors. You don't really think about them at all until the press conference when they're all lined up silent in the back while the men are being interviewed and then it kind of hits you how they are really the forgotten competitors."
