Snowboard Movies

09-10 Think Thank Cool Story Review

0
2 years ago
by Chris in

Cool Story is one of this year's must see movies, finally breaking out into the big leagues. Jesse Burtner and the Think Thank crew did a fantastic job with this one, and you should probably go buy it now.

Think Thank videos haven't done particularly well in our reviews previously. Cue the Birds has an Overall Rating of 76%, Thanks Brain 60% and Stack Footy 64%. These scores don't indicate horrible movies, but they're only just above an average rating, and far below a hit status. In my review of Stack Footy last year I gave it a 100% rating on Content, but ranked it low on Editing and Soundtrack, saying "The content of the riding is good, but it's hard to watch because of the editing… let us watch the footage, that's why we've got the dvd in the player."

I must not have been the only viewer to feel that way, because Think Thank definitely switched it up for this years film. Gone are the manic edits, replaced with well timed cuts and smooth transitions. The music fits the video throughout, which is made all the more impressive by how diverse the music is. The locations are new and fresh, and it's fun to see the different visions some of the riders had for the same terrain. The riding never gets stale; the video does a great job, one of the best I can remember actually, of featuring an enormous variety in the types of riding, fusing big backcountry kickers, powder slashes, ultra-tech rails, pillow drop lines, kickflips and other fancy footwork, canoe jibbing, and Pat Milbery dropping off a giant globe, without feeling like too much.

Cool Story has a great storytelling component, executed using a variety of video clips and voice-overs. These story bits keep you intrigued, and helps pull all the various sections together. Bogart's opener is a banger-filled part that's been a long time coming; he has sick style, straight out of AK. Tim Eddy slays some fun urban features, mixing it up with some unorthodox tech-lines. The mini-park grab-fest is great fun too.  Austin's redirection jibs are killer, and super impressive. I think if Tigger were to take up snowboarding, he'd ride like Scott Stevens. Burtner's section is sweet with some great bangers, but he perhaps overdoes it a bit on the one-footed stuff. Spinelli's part is a lot of fun, with his best video part of the past few films. Chris Larson 's closing part is sick, and tells the final piece of the story that wraps the whole thing up; his last hit is sick, and the kid is definitely going somewhere.I can't mention every part in the video, and those were just the sections that stood out to me, but every rider has their highlights.

If it's extras you want, there's plenty of them. The movie clocks in at just over an hour, and there's at least another hour of footage in the extras section.

Cool Story will be the first Think Thank video that stays in my video rotation beyond movie review season, and I expect I'll still be throwing it in for the occasional watch in the spring. Big ups to Think Thank for turning out such a quality movie.

09-10 Jmills Ent Stance Review

0
2 years ago
by Chris in

Free things can be awesome, but simply being free doesn't make this movie better. Stance is an entertaining watch, and is worth seeing while you can download it for free, but I can't recommend it as a regular-priced movie.

The "all girl" snowboard videos can be a mixed bag. I love watching the ladies rip, but too often the videos follow the stereotypes about female riders, rather than letting them shine.

The video starts out with a well-edited high-def nature intro, leaving the impression that this is a big, high-budget film your about to watch. The riding kicks in with Gretchen Bleiler narrating footage from her X-Games wreck. Gretchen's part is strong, although the night session should have been cut, and is followed by Kimmy Fasani, who has one of the stand-out parts film. Jmills Ent picked a great cast, all of the ladies in this video are super high-caliber and I have no doubt any of them could have held a spot in any of the major videos this year.

This brings me to my biggest irritation with this film; they pulled together a cast of stand-out female riders, and then waste my time with posed beauty shots, repeat footage, and too many shots with flailing in the air or awkward landings. All of the girls have some great shots; drops, powder, rails, gaps, you name it, it's in here, but as a whole, the doesn't hold together with any kind of cohesiveness.

As for a video editing and style, this one is all over the place; it tries to do the high-def nature cinematography, it tries to be crazy or funny, other times it takes on the tone of a documentary. Showing a rad trick from two different camera angles is great. Showing the same trick from camera angles that are different by about 10 degrees tells me that JMills Ent didn't get enough footage and are repeating shots as filler. There is also a disturbing amount of off-hue color issues with the film. Either the camera guys screwed up the white-balance, or the editors thought they had a cool HDR (high dynamic range) effect and used it too often. Same goes for the fake snow effect; it was cool once, but it is way overused. And what was with the dual, back-to-back parts for Raewyn Reid?

The video starts out well, and while the girls at the end of the film are great riders, the film itself more sloppy and rushed as time rolled on. By the end of the film I was left wondering why I had spent the time to watch it.

09-10 Think Thank Cool Story Review

0
2 years ago
by Maggie in

Cool Story comes along and totally blows the other Think Thank videos out of the water.

Think Thank has always brought the style of Parkour to snowboarding. For me, it has never been a question about whether or not the Think Thank films have had some of the most creative, progressive urban footage in past years, but with their last few films, the presentation and editing has not done it for me. This year is different.

It takes a while to get used to home-movie type subtitles (they grew on me) and the well-edited, but more down to earth, approach; and at the beginning I found myself wondering if it would be a similar experience to past years. But then, it only gains momentum. Ice blocks, trees, canoes, swing sets, pipes, storage containers, walls, wooden pallets, grocery carts, snowboards, fences, alleys, drainage ditches, TVs, bedroom furniture…whatever they find they jib. And snow helps, but isn’t a major requirement. Rarely have I seen such a wide range in usage of different inanimate objects that are turned into sweet features, and not just in one part, but in each of the rider sections. One of the qualities is the quick switch around between the different jib shots and backcountry, deep pow-pow, one quick steeps part (Matt Edgers), trees, and other stuff. The constant mixing of it all is what held my attention so well.

I also really like the process of it all. You don’t see guys hitting huge kickers and gnarly jib features to then experience in a mass block the conglomeration of their misfortunes in full on wreck scenes. Cool Story takes the time to include some of the practice that then leads up to stomping something. Or, in the case of Gus Engle, he doesn’t even get what he is trying to achieve at the beginning of his part, but it is a crack up to watch him keep trying however many hundred times.

My favorite part is a toss-up, but probably falls to Chris Beresford. Pat Milbery is another really pure example of a strong Think Thank section. And actually, I am just going to stop listing people, because I was impressed with it all. Travels to Japan and Alaska are pretty sweet and tie into it all very well. Music was good. Mixed and sometimes on the slower end, which sometimes made the 1 hour plus movie seem a bit long, but well timed and well matched per part.

I am impressed and hoping to see more of the same, but different, in the Think Thank future.

09-10 Jmills Ent Stance Review

0
2 years ago
by Maggie in

Fresh and motivating, Stance caters to a female crowd that doesn't necessarily need all the pomp or pink to emphasize their ability.

Stance is a great video to start the season off with, male or female. It is short and to the point, coming in at about 30 minutes, but artfully done. . . especially for a female flick. Having seen a large assortment of girl-targeted snowboard movies, I thought this was the most understated and didn't over compensate in effort to make a great movie with girly girl hype. It has big air by strong female riders, like Kimmy Fasani, decent pipe, and some lovely backcountry pow. Most importantly for females, it is a demonstration of what may be attainable. Stance as a title is very appropriate because the girls ride beautifully, even if they are just slashing snow. The lack of pressure displayed for such a kick ass girls' movie makes it especially enjoyable.

I like the soundtrack a lot.Check it all out online for free and decide for yourself.

09-10 Teton Gravity Research Re: Session Review

0
2 years ago
by User Review in

Well worth checking this movie out. Keep in mind that it is primarily a ski movie, and the snowboard sections are pretty minimal compared to all the skiing.

Re:session started off with a voice over with news and media from the past year. We all have heard something about the economy, well here it was again. The voice-over then told us that the die-hard mountain people were the least affected because living the ski bumb lifestyle is priceless, and BLAM there was some sick footage rolling!

I must add the disclaimer that this is a ski movie; nothing wrong with that but if you were looking for a combo of ski and snowboard footage, know that this one is pretty lacking on the snowboard side. The ski footage is however amazing and any die hard mountain person would appriate what this movie has to offer. The film has footage shot from locations like Jackson Hole, Brittish Columbia, Silverton Colorado, Utah, Italy, Slovakia, Poland and on and on. In true fasion the TGR guys really followed the snow this year, and it seemed like it was not an easy task this season with all the variable snow conditions around the world.

A few of the highlights and reasons to check this movie out for yourself: Heli-access switch or backwards skiing (whatever they are calling it in the ski world) down big lines. Ak being showcased not for big gnarly lines but BLOWER POWDER, witness a skier shot himslef a hole in one, Tanner Hall outside of the terrain park, The new young guns of the ski world stepping the game up. As with any good ski or snowboard movie there is the crashes, there is a fair few in this movie too, even one were the skier ends up with no jacket on.

All in all this one is definitely worth checking out.

08-09 Absinthe Films Optimistic? + Flipside Review

0
3 years ago
by Annie in

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

0
3 years ago
by Annie in

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

0
3 years ago
by Annie in

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.

Go to Top