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Annie
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Posts by Annie
08-09 Absinthe Films Optimistic? + Flipside Review
03 years ago
by Annie
in Snowboard Movies
The unpredictable winter conditions force these riders to follow the snow, and ultimately deliver some phenomenal footage. The making of the film, included, is also appealing for anyone interested in a behind-the-scenes take on snowboard movies.
This was one of the best snowboard movies I have seen this year. Some of the more competent riders from North America and Europe are showcased; those with a mix of rugged athleticism and … well stupidity: there’s nothing they won’t try. Pair those ingredients and the result is a film that’s not just fun to watch, but they make it look easy.
I appreciate them addressing the changing environment and its affect on winter sports. It’s an issue today that truly touches every aspect of our world. In spite of this, they don’t let it hinder their wintry pursuits. Instead, it becomes the driving force of where they film, and ultimately an opportunity to find the best snow.
Most of the boarders are quite universal riders, able to shred anything. The heli shots are excellent, showing the tremendous skill of both riders and photographers. MFM does some sweet urban riding in his hometown of Denver – he knows all the offbeat places to hit. Mikey LeBlanc even exhibits some expertise on toboggan riding, which he claims his family invented.
Overall, the content is both professional and cohesive. There is a nice variety between the music, styles of riding, and filming locations. Everything from backcountry riding with heaps of powder to gnarly heli drops, and even an interesting documentary-style making of the film in the extras, together make this movie worth seeing.
Absinthe Films put an impressive amount of energy into the creation of the flick. I recommend watching Optimistic? to get in your fix of pure riding, and if you’re interested in learning how its made, the Flipside* is for you.
*Flipside is a separate DVD that has 7 twenty-minute episodes about the making of the film Optimistic?. We were pleasantly surprised at how interesting and educational it was. Among the wintry landscapes of Alaska, interior BC, New York, and Switzerland, you get an accurate sense of the adventure and camaraderie that accompany these filming expeditions. It’s a chance to get to know the personalities behind the riding and see the realities of their nomadic winter lifestyle. They talk about how they think about jibs, the lengths they had to go to get certain shots, and how they paid people to “rent” an urban retaining wall. Although there is not a ton of action clips, there’s enough to draw you in and remind you why you love snowboarding.
08-09 First Tracks Productions Knock on Wood Review
03 years ago
by Annie
in Snowboard Movies
Knock on Wood is another smaller scale snowboard film. It leaves the viewer with a relaxing aura, but its inconsistent cinematography and content pull it down a few notches.
There is obviously a lot of competition as the snowboard industry continues to grow, but as a smaller scale film, I was entertained. The cheery soundtrack and a variety of backdrops provide a pleasant stage for the footage. The content isn’t necessarily A-List worthy, but there is some noteworthy young talent worth a view.
The riders showcased include Roland, Autti, Wynn, Harriman, Bartowski, Lewis, King, Brighton, Nield, Abeliuk, and Williamson. My favorite clip highlights most of them riding in progression, killing a multiple half-pipe simultaneously. The film is definitely a success in creating a relaxing feel. I enjoyed the soundtrack; the audio and visual elements pair well together. The amount of heart involved in making this film is clearly evident.
Overall, however, each element of Knock on Wood is rather inconsistent. There are some great moments of cinematography as well as others that are just plain awkward. Several times, a jump is filmed but the landing is cut out leaving you hanging… did he make it or not? When a shooting mishap like this occurs, in my opinion it ruins the beauty of the riding, disrupting the fluidity of the film.
The highlight of Knock on Wood was the eight-year-old prodigy, Alexis Rogan. I was thrilled to see this little Minnesota native showing off a fearlessness that puts the older professionals to shame. Keep your eye out for this one. I’m sure her generation will redefine snowboarding as we know it. She is absolutely incredible to watch, riding with the effortless grace of a seasoned professional.
The extras are nothing to write home about, just a random mix of clips.
08-09 Think Thank Stack Footy Review
03 years ago
by Annie
in Snowboard Movies
Stack Footy is a compilation of years of collected snowboarding clips. It’s gritty. It’s raw. But the assortment of quick snapshots will entertain you if you want to experiment with unconventional jibs. My only advice, turn down the volume and sub in your own tunes.
Stack Footy is plush with rich, technical riding, but leaves you a bit overwhelmed from the chaotic presentation. Unfortunately, the agitating music and haphazard editing distract from the content of the film. The visual static, inconsistent HD editing, and extremely fast scenes make for a stressful film, but I got to give it to them, the content is good. When I finally turned down the music, I enjoyed the genius of the clips.
This film would appeal to viewers seeking motivation to expand his or her repertoire. Why not try some new urbanscapes or keep one foot free? Or while you’re at it, why strap in at all… these ideas and more are displayed with ease in the creative footage of the film.
It highlights how riding is such an individual sport – you can make it what you want. Snowboarding developed out of experimentation, out of pushing the envelope. The spirit of that approach is evident when you watch these boarders.
It’s pure riding, no dialogue. Among the line up are Jesse Burtner, Chris Beresford, Johnny Miller, and Scott Stevens in backyards, neighborhood playgrounds, and all sorts of unconventional places. This is urban riding in a whole new category. They will inspire you to switch it up and get out of that box.
The many extras are also worth watching.
07-08 Mack Dawg Productions Picture This Review
04 years ago
by Annie
in Snowboard Movies
All in all, it’s relaxing to watch, an ideal way to end the day. The music and presentation elevate this film to a new and beautiful level.
Fabulous. This is a great film. Snowboarding plus a creative presentation and you have some footage that is incredibly inspiring. The starting credits roll to an intruiging slow-motion chase scene and the same idea is echoed in its ending credits as each rider walks by to a moving camera. The cinematography is unique and interesting to watch. It’s artistic and beautiful. As always, the pros rock their unreal talents, leaving you inspired. The footage is even more unreal due to the lighting, slow motion clips, and varying camera lenses. Some dialogue is interspersed to make it more real… you feel like you could be friends with these boys. It’s fun.
07-08 Sandbox Time Well Wasted Review
04 years ago
by Annie
in Snowboard Movies
Overall, it’s fun to watch. It would be best to see this one before hitting the mountain, as it will inspire and pump you up for your day on the hill.
From the short intro through the last scenes of Time Well Wasted, this video starts on a raw, somewhat gritty note and rides the authentic rush of adrenaline that every rider can relate to. There was not as much variety or creative camera angles in this flic; this video is more about capturing the big picture. The footage is good, but it lacks editing and originality… seemed like another typical snowboarding film with the same old content and music. The focus is not on an artistic presentation or original filming techniques, but more on showing what snowboarding is all about… it definitely oozes adrenaline.
07-08 Neu Media Float Review
04 years ago
by Annie
in Snowboard Movies
Overall, I highly recommend this to any girl who is interested in snowboarding. It's very motivational and just an entertaining, fun watch.
This all-women film is laced with great videography and footage. The editing and transitions flow in a beautiful femenine fashion, hand in hand with the music. This is definitely a more professional video. The content is great; I appreciated an all-female video… very motivational. Each section is in a different location and the riders discuss their thoughts along the worldwide snowboarding journey. The section on China was of special interest to me because I just returned from Beijing. It's a fascinating place, and understandably, the communist government hasn't allowed for much of the riding industry to flourish. The girls went to several up-and-coming resorts which may prove to be great publicity for these mountains. Also, the bonus tracks include some great womens surfing footage.
06-07 Bula Matte Review
0These goggles are a lower-quality option that works it need be, but aren’t the best.
I have a petite face and these goggles drown me, they’re huge. The lenses work fine, but are too large for comfort; it was difficult to get these adjusted. Because of the size, they don’t really appeal aesthetically. The elastic band has a non-slip quality which should keep them on your helmet, but it didn’t work very well. These would be best for a young rider with a fuller frame and
face. They are not meant for your everyday rider.
06-07 Bula Underground SKA Review
0In general it works well with square jaw lines, and fits snug and warm. Best for colder days.
This hat is funny. I have the blue one and with my blue eyes it’s kind of cute, but it wouldn’t be a very good fit for many girls, you have to have the right face shape for it. It’s a thicker sweater-type knit with warm ear flaps that have a black and white checkered pattern on the inside.