Archive for November, 2005
November 30, 2005 at 8:13 pm | Spongercity DVD Reviews, Reviews News
TURMOIL // Liam O’brien & Mark Bunyan.
Liam O’brien & Mark Bunyan first effort. It’s a nice video with good footage, good quality images, good riders and great waves, as usual in Ozzie videos… The skits in between sequences are pretty fun and will definitly keep the viewer entertained while watching the video. The music is rock/punk oriented with a couple hip hop songs as well. I didnt check the timer but it felt like the video was quite short. Good dvd to get pumped before surfing. None of the parts in this dvd is boring which is cool.
November 29, 2005 at 8:10 pm | Spongercity DVD Reviews, Reviews News
RAISED HEIGHTS // Waldron Bros. Prod.
This is the Waldron Bros. second video. Vagues Opportunities was their first effort. This new video is awesome, it’s one of the best i’ve watched in a while, Tension 7 being the other stand out video i got to watch lately. I dont know where to start to review RAISED HEIGHTS. The video’s got everything you want : big waves, talented riders, super good footage quality, nice and smooth editing, good music and even cool bonus stuff ! (you gotta check the QCD shaping demo in the bonus section).
There’s one thing the video did not have : it’s hip hop music, but since i love all rock n’ roll soundtracks that was great. Hip hop fans beware – the music in the video isn’t necesarily fast and furious but it’s more rock n’ roll oriented. The two Hawaii parts and the Ben Player part are amazing.
The rookies part is super nice too, Australia has so many good riders that it’s not worth naming all the guys in the video. All the big names like hardy, virtue, rawlins and the up and comers (who rip just as good as the big names) like crashy or Harry Dixon will show you how to smoke some heavy lips and get pitted on heavy nuggets with no second thoughts. The DK section is nice but way too short. This vdeo is definitly a must see, it’ll get you amped for a whole month and you’ll play it a hundred times in you dvd player – guaranteed.
November 28, 2005 at 8:08 pm | Spongercity DVD Reviews, Reviews News
VISIONS // DVmedia
Visions is a really good aussie video. It’s got good sections of up and comers such as Liam O’Toole, Jono Bruce, Michael Novy and Thomas Robinson who all rip and it’s got sections of other well-none riders : Ryan Hardy, Matt Lackey, and Mitch Rawlins to name a few.
There are a couple cool in-between sections with narration by Mike Stewart and Ryan Hardy which are entertaining and not boring (they could have been boring but they’re all good).
Jono really kills it in his part, he’s got perfect smooth style and a freakin good level. All the guys are good in the vid anyway and the waves they ride are insane, Australia delivers – definitly.
The music is good (Metal/Emo/hardcore/indie stuff), and the editing is clean and simple. The quality of the footage is good too. Nice overall video.
November 27, 2005 at 8:04 pm | Spongercity DVD Reviews, Reviews News
PROFILES // Joe Jordanoff
This is the latest Joe Jordanoff video. It’s original and it’s a cool concept : it’s kind of “a day in a life” sections of a few pros (Matt Lackey, Andrew Lester, Mitch Rawlins and Dave Winchester) it’s refreshing and fun to watch. We get to see what’s up with those guys on a daily basis. The level of riding is really good and the footage is good too.
The quality of the images aint that good sometimes, it’s a bit fuzzy. The titles and music choice could have been better too.
To sum it up, i’d say cool footage, good ideas, entertaining to watch but the editing could’ve been more inventive.
November 26, 2005 at 8:02 pm | Spongercity DVD Reviews, Reviews News
TENSION DIARIES // Chris White
TENSION videos ! Uh ! This is Number 7 and this is the best one so far. There are less Jackass skits and stunts than usual in this one and more surfing than ever. The dvd is absolutly awesome, action packed, really good images and film quality, huge level in the water and nice editing. It’s not a No Friends kind of editing, it’s a whole different thing but it’s freaking good and original. The Diaries concept is that each section is a month in the year. And each month last year was great for the Tension team !
You’ll watch plenty of different spots and waves around the world, lots of Winny, Virtue, Kingy, Benny, Toby, Wong, Brad Hughes, Lackey and Mitch ‘Rocky’ Rawlins. The shark island contest filmed from a chopper is pretty awesome, the mex trip is great, every single section is good. There’s something in this vid that reminds you how fun boogieboarding is and how far you can go with a little sponge both travelling and surfing. A must have, really.
November 25, 2005 at 7:59 pm | Spongercity DVD Reviews, Reviews News
KING OF KINGS // Merlyn Moon
This dvd shows West Oz underground talents and waves and there’s plenty of both out there. Five riders have their own section : Phil Bane, Lee Szczepanski, Paul Iskov, Chris Nelson and Clay Berry. The 5 guys are really good and have solid sections. Makes you wonder how many good underground riders there must be in West Oz…
There’s also a section with the big names like Hardy and Virtue and a ‘world’ section with mixed sessions from Hawaii and Chile etc… The quality of the footage is good and the editing clean. The intro is a bit too long. The music is either hip hop or punk rock. Hip hop doesnt match bodyboarding well i think but it’s just my opinion. Or at least not all songs are good for a video part.
Anyway, it’s a nice video for a first one, the stunts between sections are pretty stupid but worth watching, at least Steeve-o levelled ! The name of the video made us think we were gonna watch a lot of big names and well known riders but it’s not the case so it’s a bit disappointing in a way.
November 24, 2005 at 7:56 pm | Spongercity DVD Reviews, Reviews News
LIQUID MOMENTS // Oceanic Images
This is Ian Stewart’s latest video. Really nice footage, the filming is good and the quality of the footage is good, nice colors and life style / nature footage. The destinations : Hawaii (2003-2004), Tahiti, Australia (E and West) and a couple waves from Chile. The music is from 3 different music labels and lots of bands in the soundtrack have more than just one song, which means the sound track sounds a little bit the same throughout the video. Hip hop music, well, it’s hard to edit exciting footage with this kind of music but… it makes the video mellow and made me sleep well after watching it.
The editing is clean and good. It’s a good idea not to show the name of the riders during the sections, it makes us focus on the images and the riders, not the titles, but it’s a bit frustrating sometimes coz if i recognized 80% of the guys easily i would have liked to know who the other guys are. Only the big names like Hardy, Winny, Rawlins and Virtue have their names shown during their sections. The Chile / The Zone section is cool and the Shark island one as well, with 2 camera angles and good editing. To sum it up, it’s a good video, it’s got a little bit of everything but the previous Oceanic Images videos were a little bit better. If you’re into hip hop music and mellow trip hop sound you wanna get it.
November 23, 2005 at 7:53 pm | Spongercity DVD Reviews, Reviews News
SOCIAL STUDIES // Gravitys Flaw Prod.
This is Gravitys Flaw second video. To sum it up : what would you do if you were traveling around the world with pro bodyboarders, friends and a board under your arm ? You’d film everything.
This is what Jason Bitzer and his buddies did and the result is a fun, enyoyable video that’s gonna make you wanna travel and leave home to go surf the best breaks in the world. The editing and quality of the images aint as pro as a No Friends Video but the level of riding is pretty good and the authenticity of the vid makes it worth watching it. The music choice is cool. A must see for future travellers and travel junkies.
November 22, 2005 at 7:42 pm | Spongercity DVD Reviews, Reviews News
NO FRIENDS 1 & 2 DVD set // No Friends Prod.
This is a re-edition of NF1&2 videos, but on DVD this time. It’s a pretty good idea. For all NF fans out there, this is a must have, specially if you’re over 20 and spent hours back in the days watching NF1 and 2 VHS tapes. 7 years ago ! Already 7 videos and numerous side projects : the least we can say is that No Friends aint kidding with good videos and the first videos they put together with Stoker are what built the myth. I was so amped to see Roach’s parts in NF 1 and 2 again. Not to mention all the good riders, some already famous, some that were gonna be famous soon and the ones we never saw again. The Phil Harnsberger section in South AF’ is all time in NF1 as well as the Ross part and the unmatchable music choice of both videos.
Pretty much like THE INSIDE by Scott Carter, NF1&2 are videos one must have in his dvd collection. The bonus section is alright, a couple interviews, old pictures that are gonna make you feel old if you remember them and when you saw them in the magazines at the time, as well as Stoker’s comments. It’s good stuff. I wish there were more interviews of the riders in the bonus.
November 21, 2005 at 7:37 pm | Spongercity DVD Reviews, Reviews News
CHEAP THRILLS // Ralph Sanchez
Ralph Sanchez’s long awaited video. Ralph’s been filming for No Friends and now he’s back with his own video, and it’s alllllll good. Feels good to watch a video that really shows how it goes when you’re travelling around the world surfing the most crazy breaks and meeting dozens of well known and lesser known rippers. Ralph and Brandon travelled to South Af., Australia, Cali. and Hawaii and came back with a shitload of cool footage. The video is as rock n roll as it gets, the choice of music and the editing (quite simple – semi arty sometimes) are good. The footage quality is good as well, the only things i didnt like were the titles font but this is minor.
It’s a refreshing video that aint copying the standards of today’s bodyboarding videos which are basically a rip off stoker’s unique style and editing. Ralph came up with his own style and ideas and it’s as fresh as it gets.
Some riders have their own parts : Hubb, Skippy, Brandon Foster how’s gonna show you Dking has a bright future and that some Dkers can use their rails and dont fall all the time. Stewy has his own cool part in the bonus as well. Oh, it’s also in the bonus that you might laugh the most…
Playbord note : Check playbord’s quicktime videos in the MEDIA menu and watch the small CA. Video, you’ll notice that playbord.com filmed one of Will George’ snap, the same as in Cheap Thrills – at seaside reef in September 04. Pretty cool uh ? No ? Nevermind.
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