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In the early 1970s, a group of young surfers from a tough neighbourhood south of Santa Monica took up skateboards and off-handedly changed the world. At least it appears so after watching Dogtown and Z-Boys, a documentary about how twelve "Z-Boys" (including one girl) resuscitated a dead sport and created a lifestyle that spread infectiously to become a worldwide counterculture phenomenon, namely high-flying "vert" (i.e. vertical) skateboarding and punk rock abandon. Director Stacy Peralta, one of the original Z-Boys, and Craig Steyck, the photographer whose publicity first made them famous, would have you believe that with empty pools as their springboard, the clan single-handedly carved a niche that grew into what is now referred to as "extreme sports" (snowboarding seems particularly implicated). Degrees of accuracy aside, the hoard of original footage Peralta and Steyck have access to makes for an engaging portrait of "accidental revolutionaries" whose mythology as expressed by themselves (all but one of the original crew give extensive interviews) and those they influenced (including Henry Rollins, Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam, and Sean Penn, who narrates) is far more entertaining than any evenhanded version could ever hope to be. --Fionn Meade
Synopsis
Sean Penn narrates this documentary about skateboarding.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
No skaterboarder could possibly feel complete without having viewed this DVD. DogTown and Z-Boys is the foundation on which skateboarding was built.
I had no interest in skateboarding before I viewed this masterpiece, and only purchased it to provide some background for an interview I had to conduct with a skateboarder. Wow!! It is one of the most inspiring documentaries I have ever seen. The culture they created is arguably more powerful than Rock 'n' Roll. The creativity, energy and self-confidence these guys enthuse is volcanic. This should be compulsory viewing - a must for all to see. Yeah!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
watch an average street and the trend in skating and skateboard fashion is obvious. Its just cool. but theres so much more depth to the sport than that. this film makes it clear exactly when skating crossed the line from athletic aftersurf balance training to a life of its own, to the speed and agression that inspires us today. You see, Alva, Adams, Peralta and the like didnt just start modern skating. they started modern youth culture.And they did it without trying, or even realising. After watching this film, you'll believe that a handfull of men can redirect music, fashion and the minds of generations. Sure they're arrogant, loud, crude and aggressive. So's the world today. They're also something that everyone wants to be- new, fresh, cool and very, very talented. Watch the film, get on board. And to those kids who are already on boards, watch it too. Itll teach you about your roots and it'll teach you about style. Its simply a very thought-provoking, downright cool film.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Once the shortboard revolution in surfing had become firmly established as the new status quo in the mid 70's, the Zepher Surf Team of Venice, CA began to experiment with taking the radical new carving approach from the glassy walls of their beloved home breaks and onto the concrete surfaces of local school banks and empty swimming pools.
In 1977 they blew out of California and became the unruly face of a craze that was quickly killed by commercial exploitation.
All of the elements that have survived skateboarding's chaotic history were put in place by the original Dogtown gang: the urban aesthetic, the heavy-rock soundtrack, the radical lifestyle, the camaraderie, the dedication to pushing limits. If it hadn't been for the Z-Boys, skateboarding would never have become associated with youthful rebellion and probably wouldn't have survived.
The film combines original footage with contemporary interviews with pioneers such as Tony Alva and Jay Adams, in such a way as to make it interesting enough for those who are too young to remember the seventies and pure gold for those of us who aren't.
In 1977 they blew out of California and became the unruly face of a craze that was quickly killed by commercial exploitation.
All of the elements that have survived skateboarding's chaotic history were put in place by the original Dogtown gang: the urban aesthetic, the heavy-rock soundtrack, the radical lifestyle, the camaraderie, the dedication to pushing limits. If it hadn't been for the Z-Boys, skateboarding would never have become associated with youthful rebellion and probably wouldn't have survived.
The film combines original footage with contemporary interviews with pioneers such as Tony Alva and Jay Adams, in such a way as to make it interesting enough for those who are too young to remember the seventies and pure gold for those of us who aren't.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great window to Venice Beach
I bought this excellent documentary after seeing the movie "The Lords of Dogtown".
I intended to buy the movie, as a gift, and while researching I found this documentary that... Read more
I intended to buy the movie, as a gift, and while researching I found this documentary that... Read more
Published on 19 Nov 2009 by Pedro Vasconcelos
Who needs Lords?
I bought this having seen "The Lords of Dogtown" and having read the Dogtown articles (Craig Stesyk). Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2009 by Bboy Balu
Quality documentary
This was really interesting stuff, and I know WAY more about skateboarding now. It was cool to see how it all started, and then very quickly became mainstream, commercialised and... Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2007 by shpadoinkle
Inspirational stuff.
I just wish I could skate and/or surf like these fellas. There is some amazing footage in this film, and some excellent photography. Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2006 by Neil
A must see documentary.
There's little point in me going over the details of the film, as other reviewers have done a fine job. Read more
Published on 14 Jun 2006 by Doh
A fascinating documentary
It doesnt matter if you are into surfing or scateboarding ..this documentary is a unique insight to the transitional world from surfing to scateboarding... Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2004
Dude!!!!
This is an intresting documentry unlike all the rest where you are taken back to the old skool days were skateboarding was introduced by a crazy crew called the zephar boys after... Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2004 by "andrew_porter"
Dude!
This film has got to be the best skateboarding films/documentary, taking you back to the old skool America where the zephar boys introduce the new sport "Skateboarding" and tell... Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2004
More than a genre documentary
The mere mention of documentary conjures up images of dusty professors mumbling under their moustaches about a subject you have no interest in and they do not have the capacity to... Read more
Published on 13 April 2003
Fantastic Flick
Although I am not into the skating scene, I thoroughly enjoyed this film which tells the story of the birth of extreme skate boarding. Superbly shot and an interesting story. Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2002 by "dfur"
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