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Post by MightyMichiba on Oct 15, 2006 21:51:57 GMT -5
Iron Chef Japan is far, far better than Iron Chef America IMO. Here are my reasons:
1. The theme ingredient. ICA may have steak, pork chops, etc. ICJ on the other hand, has eel, Octopus, etc. Now, you tell me what would be more exciting to watch a chef prepare into a 4, or 5 dish meal?
2. The culture. I find the Japanese culture absolutely magnetic. The food, the way of life, the history. A friend of mine lives there. He teaches english at an elementary school. If I could speak fluent Japanese as he does, I'd probably do the same. When I ask him how he likes living there, he just says he loves it. I'm envious.
3. The experience. When I watch ICJ, I am completely transported into a realm of master chef's preparing magnificent culinary creations. It's probably the most escapist tv show ever created. With ICA I don't feel that way....at all.
These are just a few reasons I feel ICJ is better than ICA. If you feel the same, and want to add to the list please do so. If you feel ICA is as good, or better than ICJ I'd also like to hear it. Again, this is just my opinion.
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Post by Arrianna on Oct 16, 2006 9:56:34 GMT -5
1. The theme ingredient. ICA may have steak, pork chops, etc. ICJ on the other hand, has eel, Octopus, etc. Now, you tell me what would be more exciting to watch a chef prepare into a 4, or 5 dish meal? Japan is an island nation that eats seafood as some 70% or more of it's diet. The US isn't.
2. The culture... The grass is always greener.
3. The experience. When I watch ICJ, I am completely transported into a realm of master chef's preparing magnificent culinary creations. It's probably the most escapist tv show ever created. With ICA I don't feel that way....at all. ...and I do. I am constantly amazed at the skill of the chefs, especially Batali.
I think much of the perceived "missing" elements of ICA is due to the lack of mystery. A distain for the familiar. However I love to cook and find the familiar just as interesting as the unfamiliar and find the show to not be lacking in any way on that score.
Different, yes, of course. We have a different culture. Face it though, the one thing we will never be able to recreate is Chairman Kaga. I admire them for not trying. I will say it is the only thing in my mind that falls short however.
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Post by mickster on Oct 16, 2006 9:57:08 GMT -5
ICJ is just BETTER, all around. The drama, the design of the stadium, the way the IC's are presented. The food is something I've never seen being prepared, not that I'd have the nerve to eat some of it, but it's truely amazing what they can do. And the players, all of them, are much better than those on ICA.
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Post by Man Alive! on Oct 16, 2006 10:40:37 GMT -5
I've said it before, and I'll say it again- ICJ is just plain better. ICA is missing the drama and flair of ICJ. Culinary-wise, they are equal, taking into account the culinary differences of our countries. However, ICJ had a knack for theatrics, and ICA doesn't.
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Post by allezcuisine on Oct 16, 2006 14:08:52 GMT -5
ICJ is in a league of it's own. ICJ was the original, and you can never, IMHO, out-do the original. There is no show that can truly compare to it. ICA can try, but it is missing so much. Most of this was said already, being that all my reasons are the basic ones- but here they are: ICJ has the classics- the rivalries, that ICA does not have. ICJ has the music, and drama, that ICA does not have. ICJ has the interesting themes, that ICA does not have. Don't get me started on the commentators that ICA has. Kevin Brauch vs. Ohta?
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Post by ironchefcanadian on Oct 18, 2006 23:14:28 GMT -5
OTOH:
Alton does a better job of explaining the process than Hattori.
The chefs do their own promotion, which is better than Fukui reading from a writer's script based on their impressions.
Mario is a lot more gregarious than any of the ICJs.
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Post by Iron Chef Mandy on Oct 19, 2006 0:42:27 GMT -5
The Japanese version of the show had storylines that people could see and become influenced and intrigued (among other terminology) with only the quick biography of the challenger. This American-ized version, on the other hand, only gives a two second background on the challenger and never brings it up again. With me, I'd rather take Fukui and company and let them shove the challenger background down my throat because it's a part of what makes Iron Chef so amazing.
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Post by allezcuisine on Oct 19, 2006 10:27:12 GMT -5
The chefs do their own promotion, which is better than Fukui reading from a writer's script based on their impressions. I disagree. I'd rather hear a scripted version of the dishes than "this....uh dish....uh is....uh.." from Bobby Flay.
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Post by Arrianna on Oct 19, 2006 12:12:20 GMT -5
I would like both, together.
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Post by missteetheironchef on Oct 19, 2006 13:48:14 GMT -5
Mee too!
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