einezcrespo

OK, it's not Oscar material but this film as Stephen Sommers has said is a homage to 30's Horror films. It's supposed to be fun and campy. Did it hit the mark? I would say yes. Thanks to a lot of campy acting most of it from Richard Roxburgh as Dracula and a hilarious "friar," Carl played by David Wenham you could either cringe at former or laugh at the latter. Still these two guys steal the film from both Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale. Also a standout in my opinion is Elena Anaya's screechy vampire bride Aleera who just can't seem to shut up! Apart from that this movie is fast paced and a bit nerve wracking. The downside is too much CGI effects. It's like the special effects is the star of the movie. Everyone else may be except Roxburgh and Wenham are perhaps along for the fast paced ride.

The real stars in this version is the food. I never cared much for Bobby Flay or Mario Batali. What is annoying is the mainstays seem to win most of the time! Are there other chefs who can participate other then Flay, Batali and Cat Cora? Are some of the judges for real?? I mean the challengers are top class chefs and they get beaten by Food Network celebrities?? Pathetic! It's a gross example of this thing called BIAS. However I do get a kick of finding out what the secret ingredients are and how and what will be the results. That is why I watch the show. It's the challenge of creating dishes the everyday people dream of eating in only one hour. As for the supporting characters are they OK but Mark Dacascos sometimes look like he's buttering up to the Iron Chefs with comments like "Iron Chef it is an honor seeing you work." This show could be better if other chefs not affiliated with the Food Network are given the chance of wearing the mantle of Iron Chef from time to time and the judges be more fair otherwise Iron Chef: America is nothing more than an ego contest of Food Network mainstays against everyone on the outside. What a pity it will stay that way.