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dvd reviews
 
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passion pop
(Billabong, 2006)
Reviewed by Kat Dawes
What’s in it? Mostly the up-and-coming Billabong talent, some FlowRider footage and Taj trying to launch into waves from a helicopter (he doesn’t make it).
Who rips? Wade Goodall, AI, and the groms are frighteningly good too.
Time before something happens? One quote then into the airs...
Camera quality? Excellent, as you’d expect.
Stupidest comment? They don’t say much.
Sickest manoeuvre? Wade Goodall’s trademark Passion Pop - launch an air, grab board and turn it under you, land so you’re going backwards in switch stance, slide it back round then hop back to normal stance. See it to believe it.
Theme? New school.
Coverlines...truth or hype? Simple and true.
Best bits? All the airs, the FlowRider footage and the Passion Pop waves. Good bonus features.
Worst bit? Hmm, yeah, another lanky boy killing it...can get a little repetitive.
Buy it now >> |
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my eyes wont dry
(Brian Conley, Sea Life Productions, 2006)
Reviewed by Steve England
We get a lot of DVDs coming into the office and, to be honest after a while, it’s a bit like chocolate at Christmas. At first you can’t get enough of them. Then after a while you just can’t be bothered with the whole chocolate thing, you’re over it, you want tangerines...
It’s the same with a DVD overload; there’s just too many cracknells out there. There are just too many shite DVDs to risk opening one and putting yourself through the misery of watching dross. Fight Club on Sky is a much better option, or even Malcolm in the Middle.
So anyway, by the time My Eyes Won’t Dry came in I was thinking, “If this west coast Cal stuff is shite I’m gunna nail me some ass.” To be honest, the cover wasn’t doing it any favours. Nice barrel shot, but with hippy trippy graphics and some guy called Brian Conley who I thought was some game show presenter in the ‘90s?
The intro wasn’t exactly groundbreaking, but then a few half decent tube views popped up and it was just enough to keep me interested. Then on comes Baja, a trancy soundtrack and ‘hello!’ Barrel cam comes into full effect and I’m hooked! This little cam is fixed to the board and as Mr Conley’s pulling in we’re literally riding through the barrel with him. Cool! It puts you right in the spot.
There’s a bit more travel stuff, probably too much, but I forgive him as next minute he’s charging 10 foot Puerto Escondido with barrel cam strapped on. Legend! It’s all set to a soundtrack which adds to the hypnotising effect. Good onya Conley. You’re like an orange Revel! Love your work! PS I forgive you for Family Fortunes.
Buy it now >> |
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creepy fingers
(Volcom Inc., 2006)
Reviewed by Kat Dawes.
What’s in it? Er, surfing. It’s mostly Gavin Beschen being interviewed inbetween lots of Volcom riders doing their stuff.
Who rips? Bruce Irons.
Time before something happens? Pretty much straight off.
Camera quality? Excellent.
Stupidest comment? “We’re going to have to pull him out or something” (after mate has pulled a handbrake turn into the sea).
Sickest manoeuvre? Tyler Smith and
tow partner getting a beating. Plus loads
of sick barrels.
Theme? ‘The general debris of human existence.’
Coverlines...truth or hype? Pure PR speak.
Best bits? Heavy Hawaii.
Worst bit? Surfer’s names often appear for only a split second, you’ve no chance. What’s the f--king point?
Buy it now >> |
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campaign 2
(Poor Specimen Productions, 2005)
Reviewed by Joss, Reubyn, Pete and Sunshine Ash.
Who rips? J: Kelly, Bruce and Andy all have amazing sections. R: Shaun Cansdell, Timmy Curren, Slater.
Time before something happens? J: Pretty much straight into full-blown shredding. R: Yeah, it’s full pelt from the start.
Camera quality? J: Very good quality, Taylor Steele showing that he is on top of his game. R: A1.
Stupidest comment? J: Luke Steddy’s comments. R: “Nice beaver, just got it stuffed.”
Sickest manoeuvre? J: Slater does a huge wheely air. There’s lots of rodeos and flips. R: A Volcom rider (not sure who) does a smooth flip at the start.
Theme? J: Pro surfers acting — to stop Shane Dorian getting the movie part! R: Or to get a role for a Hollywood blockbuster.
Coverlines...truth or hype? J: It’s a must-buy movie — no hype needed.
Best bits? J: The wipeout sections are evil, plus the Donavon, Damo, Slater and Irons sections. R: All of it!
Worst bit? R: None of it!
Buy it now >>
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learn to surf: the fundamentals with andy irons
(Transworld Surf, 2005)
Who rips? S: Andy’s not bad for starters!
Time before something happens? P: Straight off, there’s some sick footage of Andy ripping from when he was a grom to when he became world champ.
Camera quality? S: Good
Stupidest comment? P: “Wax the top of the board!”
Sickest manoeuvre? S: Andy Irons straight-hander then turning right.
Theme: P: Does what it says on the can: “With co-host Chris Cote, Andy teaches you the basics from what equipment to buy to catching a wave.”
Coverlines...truth or hype? S: Truth.
Best bits? P: When the grom shows them how
to surf.
Worst bit? S: None.
Buy it now >> |
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options: surfing dvd magazine
(Matt Gye and Shagga, 2005)
Who rips? R: Everyone including the Harrington Twins, Josh Kerr, Jay Philips, Mick Fanning, Steph Gilmore — there’s stacks of hot surfers.
Time before something happens? J: It’s full on from the start. R: As soon as you put the disc in.
Camera quality? J: It’s good in some places but a bit rough round the edges. R: Okay, but not amazing.
Stupidest comment? J: There’s lots of them everywhere.
Sickest manoeuvre? J: Too many to count. R: The girl in the shower.
Theme: J: It’s a surfing DVD magazine so there’s loads of different sections focussing on surfers, contests, profiles and technique.
Coverlines...truth or hype? R: Bit of both.
Best bits? J: Slater rewind. R: The PipeMasters.
Worst bit? J: There are a couple of lame sections.
Buy it now >> |
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the far shore
(Gregory Schell / Soul Carvers Prod.s)
In 1972 Kevin Naughton and Craig Peterson decided there had to be more to surfing than the California scene and set off on the road with a couple of surfboards and a Super 8 movie camera to look for adventure. Peterson was 16 at the time and already a staff photographer for Surfer Magazine, while Naughton was a writer with incredibly itchy feet. What they did from there on helped shaped the image of the quintessential surf traveller and fired the imaginations of the surfing world. The pair spent the next 10 years doing lengthy trips through Central America, West Africa and Europe. Peterson’s amazing photographs regularly appeared in Surfer, while Naughten’s writing told of surviving on the road, living hand-to-mouth and discovering dream spots (without ever revealing their whereabouts).
The Far Shore combines actual footage shot on their travels with present day interviews and anecdotes from the pair, and the characters they met on the road. The surfing action remains solid and timeless, a testament to a lifetime spent searching for waves. The stories remain incredible, amusing and inspirational. From sleeping on tropical beaches under mosquito nets, to discovering vintage Irish setups; from lying awake with weapons under their pillows, to trying to endear themselves to the female population of Biarritz.
The Far Shore is a must-see video, whether you’re a beginner or a pro. In today’s surfing world — so dominated by marketing, contests, fashion and hype — I was beginning to think I’d seen the future and it was all going horribly ‘MTV’. Then halfway through this video a section popped up that made me realise there was still hope. The Far Shore still awaits those that choose to seek it. |
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