Saturday, 15 November 2008

That's It, That's All - review

That's It, That's All is possibly the first snowboard movie ever to be released on Blu Ray. You could get it from iTunes but make no mistake, this movie is meant to be viewed on the biggest screen possible and in HD. 
















Prepare to globetrot as you have never globetrotted before through scenary so beautiful you could be watching a BBC natural history documentary. New Zealand, Jackson Hole, Alaska, Japan and er Munchner.... all captured in stunning lingering fly-bys, often at sunset.

Two years in the making, this is a high definition movie with high production values and a big budget. The helicopters have custom paint jobs (I notice that Absinthe Films had one this year too). There are even shots of the helicopters taken by other helicopters ...unless they have a superhero on the payroll. I try not to count Travis Rice as a superhero, even though he wears a cape sometimes, because I'm guessing he pretty much owns this movie and as such won't actually be on the payroll.
















Usually when I watch snowboard films, I sit there wishing there was a bit more personal footage of the snowboarders. I always want to get to know the riders and hear their story. But be careful what you wish for, sometimes a bit of mystery can be a good thing. That's It, That's All could easily have been called the Travis Rice Hour. You definitely get the feeling you have met one of your heroes after watching it, and that my friend, is something they say you should never do. 

This is as much a biopic as a snowboard movie. So much so that I was beginning to worry Travis might announce his retirement as the credits roll, or that it would pan out to reveal him in a prison cell, like the dude in Dogtown & Z Boys. Even when the other snowboarders appear, they provide testimonials as to what an awesome dude Travis is. 

And to be fair, he does come across as a bit of a dude and a nice guy and there are times that you wish you were up there on screen telling everyone what a great guy your buddy Travis is.















Travis wears his signature Egyptian Pharoesque designer snowboard clothing range without one iota of irony. However, as we see from the close up podium footage, these snowboarders live like kings so who are we to judge when they dress like them? I mean look at the huge crowds they draw in this movie. 
















One thing that is beyond dispute is the quality of the riding on display and Travis' love of snowboarding. When it comes to big air tricks, whether it's in competition or on the mountain, Travis rules and if you need evidence, there's plenty here. 

















But the truly jaw dropping moment is when he narrowly escapes an avalanche in Alaska. If you think this is just for laughs, watch a bloodied Jeremy Jones, one of the best back country riders in the world, break his arm on the same trip.

 













For most of us, That's It, That's All is a must see, for many it will be a must own. 















A Brain Farm Production directed, edited and produced by Curt Morgan. 

Riders include Travis Rice, Mark Landvik, Nicolas Muller, Terje Haakonsen, Jeremy Jones, Scotty Lago, John Jackson and Pat Moore. 

Additonal riders - Brian Iguchi, Kyle Clancy, Jake Blauvelt, Sammy Leubke, Danny Kass, Eddie Wall, Shandy Campos, Mark Carter, Lonnie Kauk, Dan Brisse, Dustin Craven.

Download the trailer from: thatsit-thatsall.com


Stoked - Xbox 360 screen shots

Absinthe Films have been kind enough to send me a clutch of screen shots from their forthcoming collaboration with games developer Bongfish for Xbox 360. It's a snowboarding video game called Stoked with a US release date currently pinned on the end of December 2008.