Lords of Dogtown

Lords of Dogtown

83% Liked It
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Lords of Dogtown

Emile Hirsch, Rebecca De Mornay, Johnny Knoxville, Nikki Reed, Heath Ledger, Victor Rasuk

The film follows the surf and skateboarding trends that originated in Venice, California during the 1970's.

Id: 10893610

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  • October 6, 2008
    Skip: "You gotta approach every day as if it's your last!"

    The true story of the kids who created modern skateboard culture is recreated in this drama. In the early '70s, skateboards were seen as a fad of the 1960s that had all but died out, but in a rough-and-tumble Veni...( read more)ce, CA, community known as "Dogtown," that was about to change. Tony Alva (Victor Rasuk), Stacy Peralta (John Robinson), and Jay Adams (Emile Hirsch) were three guys who liked to surf the rugged beaches around Venice and hung out at the Zephyr Surf Shop, a store run by Skip Engblom (Heath Ledger) that stocked gear for adventurous surfers and skateboarders. With the advent of new urethane wheels that connected with concrete in a way old metal and rubber wheels could not, Tony, Stacy, and Jay began exploring ways to translate radical surf style to skateboarding, and the guys invented a new way to skate inside the smooth, round surfaces of empty pools, employing vertical moves and edge flips that added a new and dramatic spin to skating. It didn't take long for word to spread about the wild new style of the Z-Boys, and they quickly became local celebrities, and later nationwide skating stars, though sudden fame took its toll on these young men. The true story of Lords of Dogtown was previously the basis of the acclaimed documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys, directed by former Z-Boy Stacy Peralta, who like Tony Alva served as a consultant on this project.

    Lords of Dogtown is one of the best movies to come out of 2005. It has it's funny parts then its more dramatic meaningful parts, the two contrasts of the both make the film really enjoyable. If you love the whole surf/skateboard scene you will absolutely love it! Great acting by the skating trio and so is Heath Ledger as their manager per se, Skip Engblom.

    Skateboarding today is entirely different from the skateboarding in the '70s. Today's skateboarders mostly rely on high-flying octane tricks while '70s skateboarding is mostly land tricks. Most tricks are even derived from surfing. Its like surfing on land back in the seventies.

    Great story, great cast, great director. Kudos to the cast and crew for making an excellent film.
  • January 2, 2008
    really enjoyed it
  • December 9, 2007
    I was going to give 3 stars just because of Emile Hirsch and Heath Ledger's performances, showing the promise of there big careers. Then they decided to give Johnny Knoxville a part in the movie and ended up ruining that as well for me. Besides all of those thing nice camera work...( read more) and cool skate moves and that's all this film really has on the documentary about the Z-boys.
  • September 22, 2007
    Very cool dramatisation of the pioneering Zephyr skateboard team and the effects of power in the mid-70's. Great performance from a relatively new cast and the story is involving and sincere. The biggest highlight for me was the awesome retro soundtrack. Appropriate and just plai...( read more)n cool. At times the team came off as bratty delinquents, but overall, a fun and interesting tale.
  • August 26, 2007
    Standard film, mediocre, nothing further, worth one watch or two.
  • November 11, 2009
    Heath Ledger
    We love you Heath
  • November 6, 2009
    Pensare che all'inizio ero prevenutissima, e invece è semplicemente bellissimo (e ha una colonna sonora che spaKKa!)
  • October 4, 2009
    Skip: You gotta approach every day as if it's your last!

    It's a true story about the Z-Boys and those around them. And about how they revolutionated skating during the 70's and practically made it what it is today.
    But it's also a story about friendship, a fri...( read more)endship being tested by fame and money. Loyalty to their friends, struggling with the loyalty to Skip Engblom(Heath Ledger), their mentor and role model...There's some romance and family issues, drugs, alcohol and disease and eventually death.

    The whole story, although it could have been played out in a different way, is very interesting and captivating. The acting though is really good. From Heath Ledger to Emile Hirsch and Victor Rasuk, they all shine. Really good performances.

    Definitley wort watching. An interesting plot a great soundtrack and brilliant performances.
  • September 30, 2009
    Oh i remembered watched this movie on tv along time ago, i can't really remember. But this movie reminded me of Heath Ledger and Emil Hirsch. Emile was so sexy, and John Robinson had a red chics. Even in Transformers too. Oh God, how could i can remember that face?

    It was based ...( read more)on true story, and after saw the movie, i was searching about it, and it was really based on true story. Tells about the life of the skaters. And went to alot of championship. I couldn't remember it too, cuz it was long time ago. I think i will give it twice to watch.
  • September 11, 2009
    great movie, every skater can relate.
    RIP heath ledger

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