Movie Review: First Descent & the Marines?

If you know me, you know i love snowboarding. Let me rephrase that, i'm addicted to it. So i was naturally excited when i saw this trailer for First Descent, watch it. Ian and i mobbed down to the theater to check it out yesterday. So before i talk about the movie i want to talk about the marines. Has anyone seen the commercial where the marines try to tempt you into killing people by showing snowboarders lost in the backcountry (funny how the snow is all packed out in the backcountry). they make it out because naturally they are leaders and work as a team! let me get to that recruiting office, that's ME! It's played on MTV often and targeted at the 18-25 male demographic. So what's the deal? why do the marines target snowboarders? Is it because we wear camo? I keep seeing ads on snowboarding sites and on mtv and there was a commercial before this movie that particularily rubbed me the wrong way. If the Marines are reading this, fire your marketing department. Snowboarding is not a team sport. That's the draw to it. It's for the individual and we all know there isn't room for individuals in the military. some people pick football in the winter to be part of a team. others pick snowboarding because they prefer to push themselves without a team or a position. these sports and there are others like them (think basejumping), are rooted in anti-establishment. we don't like your rules, we like our own. you are aiming at the wrong audience. what do you have to offer snowboarders? free heli-skiing? i really doubt it. so quit wasting my tax money and everyone elses. the mountains is where i go to pretend that wars aren't happening and that the politicians i didn't vote for aren't making poor decisions for the rest of us. a place that is peaceful and tranquil and makes me think that wouldn't the earth be cool if it just had people enjoying it instead of destroying it. i will not be vacationing in IRAQ on the taxpayers dime. the last thing i want to think about before a snowboard movie is picking sides and murdering someone that i don't know in a distant land over something i don't believe in. that just isn't me and i think i can speak for most snowboarders. Start targeting team sports and people who play first person shooters, those are your recruits, go get em. go target the red states, you voted for it so put on your camo and get to fighting for what you believe in. Put some commercials on the Country Music Channel and start targeting SKIIERS and people who like to hunt. Snowboarders aren't interested in joining the marines, IS THERE ANY SNOW IN IRAQ? if you are a marine recruiter i invite you to try to sway me into joining your "team". otherwise stand out in front of your local walmart and get busy.

Sorry, I had to rant. Back to the movie review...

This movie is unusual because it's out there educating people in normal theaters and i kind of like that. it speaks volumes about how far snowboarding has progressed. I remember when snowboarders weren't allowed to ride on "ski" mountains. There are still a couple of lame places like that, deer valley and alta come to mind as well as taos, but you also can't get a real drink in utah either so i guess that makes some sense, but what is new mexicos problem? i actually like skiing, it's fun. but not fun enough to give up snowboarding for a day. so here is an idea, marketing people listen up... how about a snowboard day at deer valley or alta? let snowboarders up there for one day and serve them free hot chocolate and chili in the lodges, actually open bar would be nice, but it is utah after all. i think the turnout would be better then ever. sure you will argue that snowboarders don't spend the money that skiiers do, but i will debate that. they are paying out the nose for your overpriced lift tickets aren't they? Plus this movie further proves that snowboarding is mainstream.

I digress...

so back to the movie i was expecting something close to dogtown and z-boys or riding giants but for snowboarding. Stacy Peralta pretty much rules and it was too bad he didn't get to making this film first, it would have been cool if he had the trilogy of all the greatest sideways sports together. but with that being said, i think it would have been a different movie altogether, so Stacy if you are reading... up the ante and make the sickest most infomative snowboard movie ever. Where this film differs from other snowboard movies is that there is a story that unfolds as 5 riders go to alaska to ride the BIG BACKCOUNTRY, the kind you take a chopper to. Remote. HUGE Mountain riding. The kind where you get to the top of peak and the worlds best riders sit up there and debate for a minute about uncertain death and call the helicopter back to pick them up. dropping in involves a 20 foot high windlip, there is only one line down and it involves a gigantic rock cliff and a leep over a crevasse. The film brings that emotion to the screen about the nerves involved in tackling this. Avalanche scenes are frightening. great movie great concept, my only complaint was that jeremy jones didn't join them. Terje more than made up for it though. if you want a movie with a little bit less of a story and a little more of the sickest Alaska riding ever, go pick up Absinthe's "POP" from last year it won't dissapoint.