Unless you're really into skateboarding (old style--late 70's), you probably will want to pass on this one.
However there are some interesting scenes: The claymation intro cartoon is cute, and I thought the ending cartoon was cool---Pot smoking alien wins race and ends up on a perpetual surf/skateboard planet. (Actually these two cartoons are the best part of the movie). One scene depicting skateboards mounted on mini ice blades is unique.
This movie is more a documentary than anything resembling a plot. Kurt Ledterman plays "Mellow Cat" who is a deadbeat reporter/photographer sent on assignment to get pictures of skateboarding. He encounters four skaters (Stacey Peralta, Kent Senatore, Greg Aires, & Dan Smith) and they tour the country (& Jamaica) in Kurt's convertible skating, surfing, and other unrelated nonsense. Rollerskating sequences in Venice Beach are tacked in; As well as surfing scenes, Surf Punks video, etc. It's definitely a hodgepodge.
One might note that Stacey Peralta has been credited in other movies as skateboard technical adviser and he has also been involved in the skateboard industry in various ways.
I gave this movie a 4 of 10 mostly because it was a very cheap production and could have been a whole lot better even as a documentary although it did have the redeeming features I mentioned.
I have to admit I did enjoy watching this movie---mainly because of the nostalgic element.
Since writing this review, I noticed that a DVD has been released. Unfortunately this DVD version has had material removed. The ending cartoon is missing and there is some re-arrangement of other segments. Why this was done, I have no idea as the original version (which I have on 16mm film) is much nicer. Also the image quality of the DVD is atrocious. The DVD does contain some extra elements (interview with Peralta & Jepsen, and some crappy skateboard footage).
UPDATE: Since writing the above review, my opinion has changed somewhat toward this movie. Normally I am loathe to change my vote, but I'm upping it to a 6 instead of a 4. The reasoning for this is due to the historic value of this movie (I read a recent reviewer's comment and am in agreement also). I still feel however, that had Jepson & Co. worked a little harder on this film it would have been a much better production.
However there are some interesting scenes: The claymation intro cartoon is cute, and I thought the ending cartoon was cool---Pot smoking alien wins race and ends up on a perpetual surf/skateboard planet. (Actually these two cartoons are the best part of the movie). One scene depicting skateboards mounted on mini ice blades is unique.
This movie is more a documentary than anything resembling a plot. Kurt Ledterman plays "Mellow Cat" who is a deadbeat reporter/photographer sent on assignment to get pictures of skateboarding. He encounters four skaters (Stacey Peralta, Kent Senatore, Greg Aires, & Dan Smith) and they tour the country (& Jamaica) in Kurt's convertible skating, surfing, and other unrelated nonsense. Rollerskating sequences in Venice Beach are tacked in; As well as surfing scenes, Surf Punks video, etc. It's definitely a hodgepodge.
One might note that Stacey Peralta has been credited in other movies as skateboard technical adviser and he has also been involved in the skateboard industry in various ways.
I gave this movie a 4 of 10 mostly because it was a very cheap production and could have been a whole lot better even as a documentary although it did have the redeeming features I mentioned.
I have to admit I did enjoy watching this movie---mainly because of the nostalgic element.
Since writing this review, I noticed that a DVD has been released. Unfortunately this DVD version has had material removed. The ending cartoon is missing and there is some re-arrangement of other segments. Why this was done, I have no idea as the original version (which I have on 16mm film) is much nicer. Also the image quality of the DVD is atrocious. The DVD does contain some extra elements (interview with Peralta & Jepsen, and some crappy skateboard footage).
UPDATE: Since writing the above review, my opinion has changed somewhat toward this movie. Normally I am loathe to change my vote, but I'm upping it to a 6 instead of a 4. The reasoning for this is due to the historic value of this movie (I read a recent reviewer's comment and am in agreement also). I still feel however, that had Jepson & Co. worked a little harder on this film it would have been a much better production.