DVD Reviews

Lords of Dogtown

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Emile Hirsch
• Details: US, 107 mins, 12A.

After the sheer energy, originality and exuberance of Dogtown and Z-Boys - Stacy Peralta's gritty and graceful documentary about the origins of the pioneering 1970s Zephyr skateboarding team - this fictional recounting of the same story seems rather rigid and self-indulgent in comparison. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke of 13, Lords of Dogtown focuses on the friendships and rivalry of 3 members of the Zephyr skating posse - Stacy Peralta, Jay Adams and Tony Alva. It quickly becomes the typical rags to riches tale of youngsters making it, breaking it and going their separate ways. Dude.
While not a patch on the documentary version, LoD is not without some charm. Doing its utmost to retain the essence of the main characters (though many of the Zephyr team criminally don't even get a mention) as they were hurtled into a world of commercial pressure, the young cast are battling with portraying legends in a mediocre scripted film. That said, the authentic appearance of the film and the impressive recreations of Venice Beach Pier are magnificently shot and Heath Ledger comes off as a delightful parody on Val Kilmer's Jim Morrison portrayal. So basically, a fluffy and self-indulgent outing with some insightful extras and a promising young cast doing their best. The soundtrack is pretty good too.

Extras: Making Of, Cameos, Featurettes, Gag Reel, Storyboard Comparisons, Music Video.

Review by Elaine Reilly