I mean, its really a fringe sport at best, a public nuisance at worst. We're not seeing any earnest, self-important films about the origins of hackeysack or lawn jarts are we? Watching this film, I got confused sometimes over whether I was watching a film about a bunch of aimless teens who lucked into a fad, or the founding fathers of the United States.
shareI know it's a stretch but you could say that the young men portrayed in the film were the founding fathers of america...but it's their own america. They mostly came from low income families, didn't have a whole lot going for them but then found something that brought them together, drew them apart, helped them grow and live. I would say in this version of the "history" of z-boys and dogtown, the skateboarding is just the backdrop to more personal and intimate action. The story is universal and isn't so much a self-righteos retelling of their history as a story of growing up, and seeing what decisions and life-direction can be taken from similar circumstances.
I'm not a skater, but it's huge that there was a cultural movement coming from what is a prominent social class in real life, which often gets forgotten and overlooked especially by hollywood who would rather portray more glamourous and aristocratic quality of lives...
They may not be the founding fathers of the country but they were the founding fathers of Skateboarding. If this group of boys hadn't ever picked up a board then it would have never grown to the popularity that it has. They revolutionized a sport that has grown so much over the short time it's been around that it is unbelievable. More teenagers around the world know who Ryan Sheckler or Bam Margera or Tony Hawk is then they do Tony Romo. You can't go to a mall or walk the streets in the US without seeing someone wearing skateboard shoes or wearing a shirt with skateboard company's logo on it.
share[deleted]
"We're not seeing any earnest, self-important films about the origins of hackeysack or lawn jarts are we?" - maybe that's because the fans of hackeysack or lawn yarts haven't decided to make a movie, huh?
"Watching this film, I got confused sometimes over whether I was watching a film about a bunch of aimless teens who lucked into a fad, or the founding fathers of the United States. "
FOUNDING FATHERS? These people just loved skateboarding, this film is for such people. You will fully appreciate this picture only if you love/like skateboarding.
Your thread is all about expressing your personal opinion and stating it as a fact. It is not.
"I mean, its really a fringe sport at best"
Are we tinkning of a different sport, I'm not even argueing with your main point, but it is some thing that brings in HUGE numbers and HUGE amounts of money, so maybe you should get your facts straight first.
at first, the OP seemed wrong. But after reading some of these responses and the way they talk about skating it fits perfectly into his point. Skateboarding is a mostly useless skill. It's a time waster. It's not feeding the needy or stabalizing goverments anywhere in the world. They should apply the same amount of focus on mathmatics, sciences or electrical engineering if they really want to be heros.
Despite that fact, this movie was obviosly catering to peope who like skating and so it can be forgiven for being a little overly-dramatic about it.
"at first, the OP seemed wrong. But after reading some of these responses and the way they talk about skating it fits perfectly into his point. Skateboarding is a mostly useless skill. It's a time waster. It's not feeding the needy or stabalizing goverments anywhere in the world. They should apply the same amount of focus on mathmatics, sciences or electrical engineering if they really want to be heros."
Lke every other sport and every othr pass time?
"Lke every other sport and every other pass time? "
Good point. Having fun is indeed useful and important to an individual.
Ok you can go back to your country/golf club now. NOT everything has to be about saving the world. It's ok to be passionate about HOBBIES. And some hobbies require more skill than others. Just because it's not a cure for cancer the skills are useless. Even the "needy" ones can find some means of escape and some form of happiness away from problems at home, thanks to skateboarding, which don't require that much money to enjoy. Don't you get that not everything that people do have to be about saving lives or bringing democracy to countries that don't want it.
shareLoved it as a kid growing up in HB, Ca. We were doing long before these guys were and better. But now that I'm older I'm paying the price for it physically. if I could go back knowing what I know now I would have stayed on the surf only and off the pavement altogether. These young kids doing it today will soon find out one day when mother nature rears it's ugly head. It starts to show itself in the 30's then it's a constant battle.
sharestacy wrote it for sid, 29 May 2006
8/10
Author: libfredumb from United States
if you remember the documentary...sid was not a z-boy....but if it wasn't for him this movie nor the x-games would not be possible....yes embellishment was everywhere in the story...but stacy was as it was shown, the outsider... and he wrote as an outsider...the only thing he truly captured, and the only thing that matters....was the personalities of the z-boys...and he was modest when writing himself...a little too much....he wrote himself as being incredibly modest...and unaware...like a doubting thomas...but he held the importance of the characters true...and from his skewed perspective..as being apart of the movement he created..he wrote a darn good flick...remember if it wasn't for jay skating wouldn't be thrash...if it wasn't for tony alva...there'd never be skating superstars...and without stacy there'd obviously be no movie...or a TONY....and without sid everyone would still be skating on hardwood basketball courts----------8 out of 10
Well there are also several documentaries about Breakdancing which many consider to be just spinning around and a fad. But just like skateboarding it's here to stay. It's important because it has changed the lives of youth and shaped their future, that's right, to them skateboarding/b-boying are the most important thing in the world and people that would have ended up in jail or dead are enjoying life to the fullest while inspiring others, and that's what counts!
share[deleted]
[deleted]
I have no interest in Skateboarding either OP, and I think skaters can be pricks no offence..., even the guys in this movie,
but you gotta admit these guys were talented.
I wish I could skate like that, but I can barely stay on...
THIs movie could used a better script...
good everything else.
6/10
A "fringe sport", you are seriously uninformed. Skateboarding is one of the most popular sports in the world. Not only that, it has generated billions of $ to the economy worldwide. The X games are more popular than ever. You can't go anywhere without seeing someone wearing skate logo clothing. It would be pointless to try to explain to you the talent it takes to skate at the level these people did. I'd love to see you get on a board, ROFLMFAO!
"This is the west sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."