47 reviews
1986.Skatebordin' is blooming and almost booming...... What could have been another piece of crap is actually and surprisingly quite good. The plot shows now and then some usual clichés amongst skaters, but the cast plays very good; i cannot say it is the most engrossing movie of the 80's, but you'll get your amount of fun, love, music and skating scenes.As in many teen flicks(remember Tuff Turf),the plot is simple:Valleyboy meets the girl, but the girl belongs to the opponent's team,a competition will take place.....guess the ending..... If you're a Red Hot Chilli Peppers fan,don't miss their performance live, singing a song from their first album.
- BandSAboutMovies
- Jun 4, 2021
- Permalink
Another very 80s sports movie released the same year as the wonderful "Rad", but not nearly as good. If that one was about BMX races, here we have skateboarding, but instead of an underdog story, we have the also traditional "Romeo and Juliet" love story. With a post-Goonies Josh Brolin as a not very engaging main character and a lot of stunts by famous skaters of the era, it's good 80s entertainment, but not memorable.
Great skateboarding movie for it's time but Rad and Gleaming the Cube were soooooo much better! Just can't give it more than a 7 ....
Corey is the golden boy of skating. But when he drops in on Captain Hook's family half pipe, road rash and gnarly pavement are the least of his worries. Corey's got the hots for Hooky's bodacious babe sister, Chrissy. But Corey is blinded by valley vision and he's not familiar with one of Daggertown's truisms – if you hang out here, you hang out with Daggers! Hook doesn't appreciate Corey ruining his show and anyone who knows Hook knows that Hook's show never stops. With the help of Monk the Punk and the other dirty Daggers, Hook is determined to keep Corey from playing kissy with Chrissy. But Corey is in over his head and he's about to find out that there are some games he just doesn't know how to play. When Hook challenges him to a game of joust, the odds are against him. It could be because, unlike Hook, he doesn't have a lock of his girlfriend's hair attached to an earing as a good luck charm. Hook won't be happy until Corey is just like break dancing, a memory! If Hook has to burn a ramp, get medieval in a half pipe or race the guy down a hill at sixty miles an hour to make that happen then he'll do it. Oh and by the way, that wild Indian picture happens to be stylin'!
- FlashCallahan
- Jan 6, 2012
- Permalink
I got hooked on skateboarding before i've seen the Trashin', but when i finally have seen the famous 'Skate or DiE' movie, it was love on first sight:) In my country they translated the movie title as 'The hero of SkAteBoarDinG:)) ..I've watched it around 13 times, knew the dialogs by hart, used the pause button on VHS to learn the tricks, used the pause button to copy the skate , scull:), bones, dagger drawings and graffiti, did a spider net on my board (couple of years later it was the cheesiest skate drawing:)), and did a lot of personal skate logo designes, but thank God didn't pierce my ear to wear a scull or a skateboard design earing on a small chain..
..Anyway i still consider myself a trasher:) This movie definitely represents my childhood and because of that i'm not capable of an objective valuation. It's summer, skate, good times, friends, first love, rhcp, bonding movie.
..Anyway i still consider myself a trasher:) This movie definitely represents my childhood and because of that i'm not capable of an objective valuation. It's summer, skate, good times, friends, first love, rhcp, bonding movie.
Like a Jackie Chan movie, you need to put aside some silliness and just enjoy. This is one of those movies. Some of the dialogue is ridiculous as are the fights. The wardrobe is also silly especially based on today's standards. Going off today's skateboarding skills, the tricks are also underwhelming. Al that said, this is a period film. It fit the 1980s. For those of us alive in the 80's this is part of the culture during that time and watching it again today bring me back to those innocent times in such a perfect way. This movie will always have a special place in my heart. I just read that the main female lead passed away a few years ago at what I would call too early. I obviously don't know her, but the film was a part of my youth and so it makes me sad to know the rough news. In a more light-hearted subject, it's pretty frickin cool that the main lead in this movie ultimately becomes Thanos.
- rajitecture
- Nov 25, 2023
- Permalink
For the love of me, I can't figure out why this movie is so popular. I mean sure, the skateboarding craze attracts a lot of young folks, and probably a bunch of 80s fans are drawn to this laid back teen film, but honestly, what is the real attraction behind it?
Thrashin' is an 80s skateboarding flick starring those super dudes, Josh Brolin and Robert Russler, among others. Brolin plays a skater from the valley who's going to race a pretty tough downhill competition. The movie plays out, like too many before it (and so many after it) as a sports cliche and romeo/juliet love story. A rival skate gang, lead by Russler, hates kids from the Valley. But Brolin sure likes the leader's sister. And they'd make a fine couple if only she didn't have to hide him from her brother who doesn't want anyone associating with those kids from the Valley.
The story is far too played out to enjoy from the beginning. But that's never stopped the enjoyability factor of some movies so long as there are other appreciable qualities. The actors, the action, the music, whatever. But this movie hardly has even that. First off, the filming work is pretty shoddy. You have an awful lot of mistakes going on. But fine, so what, right? But to top that off, you have a terribly trite story line with the corniest dialogue.
Even the skating isn't all that great to watch, at least not when compared to other competing skate movies of the decade with the most noteable being Gleaming the Cube. It's nothing more than a hollywood cash-in on the sport.
I suppose the only bonus here is an appearance at the club by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Other than that, I'd say shelve this crappy movie. If skating movies are what suits your tastes, try the aforemention Gleaming the Cube, or try any number of the old Bones Brigade/Powell Peralta skate-movie spots such as The Search for Animal Chin, Ban This, and others. They're funny. They're good times. They're better than Trashin'.
Thrashin' is an 80s skateboarding flick starring those super dudes, Josh Brolin and Robert Russler, among others. Brolin plays a skater from the valley who's going to race a pretty tough downhill competition. The movie plays out, like too many before it (and so many after it) as a sports cliche and romeo/juliet love story. A rival skate gang, lead by Russler, hates kids from the Valley. But Brolin sure likes the leader's sister. And they'd make a fine couple if only she didn't have to hide him from her brother who doesn't want anyone associating with those kids from the Valley.
The story is far too played out to enjoy from the beginning. But that's never stopped the enjoyability factor of some movies so long as there are other appreciable qualities. The actors, the action, the music, whatever. But this movie hardly has even that. First off, the filming work is pretty shoddy. You have an awful lot of mistakes going on. But fine, so what, right? But to top that off, you have a terribly trite story line with the corniest dialogue.
Even the skating isn't all that great to watch, at least not when compared to other competing skate movies of the decade with the most noteable being Gleaming the Cube. It's nothing more than a hollywood cash-in on the sport.
I suppose the only bonus here is an appearance at the club by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Other than that, I'd say shelve this crappy movie. If skating movies are what suits your tastes, try the aforemention Gleaming the Cube, or try any number of the old Bones Brigade/Powell Peralta skate-movie spots such as The Search for Animal Chin, Ban This, and others. They're funny. They're good times. They're better than Trashin'.
- vertigo_14
- Mar 3, 2004
- Permalink
THRASHIN' is The Movie! Everything is right in this '80 classic. There are greater movies. More profound movies. Movies of greater artistic vision or originality or political significance. There are other titles I would put above it on my list of the best films of all time. But when it comes right down to the movies we treasure the most, when we arelet us imagineconfiding the secrets of our heart to someone we think we may be able to trust, the conversation sooner or later comes around to the same nine words: "Well what do you thrash?" "What do you got!" Life shod be like Thrashin': not to complicated,with good friends,not so bad enemies,sweet girlfriend and YES a happy ending !!! My candidate for the best Hollywood '80. movie.Good race!!!
- GodLovesMoviesToo
- Nov 14, 2007
- Permalink
This was one of those not well talked about 80's gems. I loved it. Some of the acting was pretty corny but the leads were all good. Also some of the skating through town scenes went on a little long, but they were all exciting and worth watching.
The ending LA Massacre skate was pretty intense and very well done!
The ending LA Massacre skate was pretty intense and very well done!
Ahhhh..nothing like a skate down memory lane from time to time. Back in 1986 I was a skateboarding punk so this was an AWESOME movie to me. Much more so than 'Gleaming the Cube' because in Thrashin' the main story was about skateboarding. However, with time this movie has gone from AWESOME to awesomely bad. It was still fun to watch for me since it was one of my favorites from back in the day. But the clothing, skating and acting is so bad it is almost more of a comedy now. I remember wearing some of that 80's skate/surf neon apparel and when I see the neon look trying to make a come back these days I just ask....WHY!???? If you grew up in the 80's skating this is a fun watch, but if you did not...just skate on by.
- JPLeverich-1
- Jan 28, 2011
- Permalink
Yea these were the days, i remember me and my friends in israel at the age of around 10, had our own little skateboard gang, and oh boy , what didnt we do :). this is a great movie, with all the action and love a child, teen, and even adult will enjoy. i was just searching some stuff on the net, and suddenly remembered that flick, so i hopped on imdb and luckily found it :) if n e one knows where i can buy it on the net, you can let me know, just drop me an email :) well thats it. great movie, great fun!
p.s. when reading reviews, dont be a follower and listen to everything they say, cuz u may find out its ur fav one.. for ex. Bird on a wire,
i dont understand why some dumbo would say its a stupid movie, cuz i watched it about a dozen times, and its great.
p.s. when reading reviews, dont be a follower and listen to everything they say, cuz u may find out its ur fav one.. for ex. Bird on a wire,
i dont understand why some dumbo would say its a stupid movie, cuz i watched it about a dozen times, and its great.
- mishka923-3
- Jan 4, 2001
- Permalink
West Side Story on skateboards
Objectively, the screenplay is a total cliché, the characters are a total cliché, the execution is mediocre in every way and the whole thing is just one of countless similar mediocre teenage attractions of the eighties. Subjectively, nostalgia for my own childhood, love for everything from the eighties, several interesting easter egg tributes (The Goonies, The Wild One) and a club performance by the then still new and little-known band Red Hot Chili Peppers in their best phase, before they went mainstream and boring. I know it is not realistic, but from me
7/10.
Objectively, the screenplay is a total cliché, the characters are a total cliché, the execution is mediocre in every way and the whole thing is just one of countless similar mediocre teenage attractions of the eighties. Subjectively, nostalgia for my own childhood, love for everything from the eighties, several interesting easter egg tributes (The Goonies, The Wild One) and a club performance by the then still new and little-known band Red Hot Chili Peppers in their best phase, before they went mainstream and boring. I know it is not realistic, but from me
7/10.
- Bored_Dragon
- Sep 11, 2024
- Permalink
Thrashin' is one of the worst skateboarding films I have ever seen. In fact, it's probably the cream of the crop of bad 80s teen movies. Nothing can save it--not the skating, not the story, not the actors, and not even the music (save a small appearance by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers).
Thrashin' is a tired play on the Romeo and Juliet saga. Some skaters from the Valley are despised by a raw, rival gang headed up by Robert Russler ("Max" in Weird Science). One of the Valley guys (Josh Brolin) falls in love with the rival team's sister. It's basically like a fight to the death (though not literally) story where Brolin must prove his worth in a downhill racing.
The movie is loaded with poor attention to detail during the skate scenes with boom mikes and mismatched skating doubles all over the place. The story is ridiculous and the dialogue is simply too stupid. The skating scenes aren't even that fantastic. And yes, the cliche of break dancing and skate offs are thrown in there, too.
I recommend that if you want to watch a good 80s skate movie, your best bet is "Gleaming the Cube" (with Christian Slater and Max Perlich) or the Powell-Peralta Bones Brigade mini skate movies such as "Search for Animal Chin," and "Ban This."
"Thrashin'" just pains the brain.
Thrashin' is a tired play on the Romeo and Juliet saga. Some skaters from the Valley are despised by a raw, rival gang headed up by Robert Russler ("Max" in Weird Science). One of the Valley guys (Josh Brolin) falls in love with the rival team's sister. It's basically like a fight to the death (though not literally) story where Brolin must prove his worth in a downhill racing.
The movie is loaded with poor attention to detail during the skate scenes with boom mikes and mismatched skating doubles all over the place. The story is ridiculous and the dialogue is simply too stupid. The skating scenes aren't even that fantastic. And yes, the cliche of break dancing and skate offs are thrown in there, too.
I recommend that if you want to watch a good 80s skate movie, your best bet is "Gleaming the Cube" (with Christian Slater and Max Perlich) or the Powell-Peralta Bones Brigade mini skate movies such as "Search for Animal Chin," and "Ban This."
"Thrashin'" just pains the brain.
- vertigo_14
- Mar 6, 2004
- Permalink
I was a nearly a kid when this movie appeared on TV and I had an opportunity to watch it again a month ago.
What else to say except that all people which lived in '80s will adore this movie because it will remind them on times when life was simpler,when all people around the world respected each other much more and when young people could do anything they wanted with their lives. Skateboards however, survived,and maybe good feeling of '80s will repeat again! However,for todays kids this movie will probably be "lame" or even funny,which will only show us what have we made of world for this 20 years.
Well,in waiting of new "peace era of '80s" watch this and enjoy "Trashin"!
What else to say except that all people which lived in '80s will adore this movie because it will remind them on times when life was simpler,when all people around the world respected each other much more and when young people could do anything they wanted with their lives. Skateboards however, survived,and maybe good feeling of '80s will repeat again! However,for todays kids this movie will probably be "lame" or even funny,which will only show us what have we made of world for this 20 years.
Well,in waiting of new "peace era of '80s" watch this and enjoy "Trashin"!
"Trashin'" is a skateboard-movie with numerous clichés from the middle of the 1980's. It looks older than films such as "Blade Runner" or "The Terminator" despite the fact that it tries to be cool and modern - it fails at all points.
"Trashin'" has also several stereotyped characters without any sense of depth. The whole story is simple and dull, and it could just have been about surfers, bikers or anything. It is quite impossible to make a good skateboard movie when there is a plot about a guy who comes to this different place and then fells in love with the bad guy's sister. And this try was not even serious - in many ways, this is a movie without any sort of ambitions. The music is really off the map, and the editing shows that some of the skateboard tricks are never really made. The main characters goes around or skating with their boards almost all the time to make it look like a skateboard movie, but that is not enough to make 'Trashin'' exciting, personal, funny or charming in any way.
Rating: 1 of 10.
"Trashin'" has also several stereotyped characters without any sense of depth. The whole story is simple and dull, and it could just have been about surfers, bikers or anything. It is quite impossible to make a good skateboard movie when there is a plot about a guy who comes to this different place and then fells in love with the bad guy's sister. And this try was not even serious - in many ways, this is a movie without any sort of ambitions. The music is really off the map, and the editing shows that some of the skateboard tricks are never really made. The main characters goes around or skating with their boards almost all the time to make it look like a skateboard movie, but that is not enough to make 'Trashin'' exciting, personal, funny or charming in any way.
Rating: 1 of 10.
- latsblaster
- Jun 17, 2003
- Permalink
I think the previous comment was crazy.
Gleaming the cube is a horrible skate movie.
I know the screenplay of Thrashin wasn't any good but it was truer to skateboarding than Gleaming the Cube where a dude makes a skateboard out of steel plate! Thrashin had a ton of real skaters in it, they have the performance in the skateboarding night club by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and lots of other cool tidbits.
The Daggers were obviously made up of Alva team skaters as one of Tony's classic designs was the Alva Dagger.
I know Thrashin isn't an Oscar nominee but I give them a lot more credit than Gleaming the Cube. Thrashin tried to be truer to their skateboarding roots. Gleaming was just a way to GLEEN money from the movie goers pockets.
As far as comparing it to Powell & Peralta Bone's Brigade movies... those were skate videos and featured primarily skateboarding sequences. There weren't a lot of story lines or acting. Even The Search for Animal Chin only has a limited amount of story and is entirely focused on the skateboarding.
Gleaming the cube is a horrible skate movie.
I know the screenplay of Thrashin wasn't any good but it was truer to skateboarding than Gleaming the Cube where a dude makes a skateboard out of steel plate! Thrashin had a ton of real skaters in it, they have the performance in the skateboarding night club by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and lots of other cool tidbits.
The Daggers were obviously made up of Alva team skaters as one of Tony's classic designs was the Alva Dagger.
I know Thrashin isn't an Oscar nominee but I give them a lot more credit than Gleaming the Cube. Thrashin tried to be truer to their skateboarding roots. Gleaming was just a way to GLEEN money from the movie goers pockets.
As far as comparing it to Powell & Peralta Bone's Brigade movies... those were skate videos and featured primarily skateboarding sequences. There weren't a lot of story lines or acting. Even The Search for Animal Chin only has a limited amount of story and is entirely focused on the skateboarding.
Corey Webster (Josh Brolin) is a skateboarder from the valley. He and his friends often clash with The Daggers from the Venice Beach area. Tommy Hook (Robert Rusler) is the Daggers' leader. Velvet (Sherilyn Fenn) is his girlfriend and Chrissy (Pamela Gidley) is his younger sister. Corey meets Chrissy at a club and they start going together.
It's a bit cheesy but it does have some skateboarders involved and the unknown unnamed Red Hot Chili Peppers. Josh Brolin is the skateboarding lead. He does simple boarding while the tricks and footwork are done by experts in cutaways. Brolin has proved himself over the years to be a reliable actor but there's a problem with him in this role. He may be a teenager but he looked older. Worst, he always gives off a narc vibe. He's never a rebel or the all-American. It would have been interesting to have a young Johnny Depp in that role. This was never going to be a big hit but it could have been a cult favorite with Depp in the lead.
It's a bit cheesy but it does have some skateboarders involved and the unknown unnamed Red Hot Chili Peppers. Josh Brolin is the skateboarding lead. He does simple boarding while the tricks and footwork are done by experts in cutaways. Brolin has proved himself over the years to be a reliable actor but there's a problem with him in this role. He may be a teenager but he looked older. Worst, he always gives off a narc vibe. He's never a rebel or the all-American. It would have been interesting to have a young Johnny Depp in that role. This was never going to be a big hit but it could have been a cult favorite with Depp in the lead.
- SnoopyStyle
- Mar 11, 2017
- Permalink
Such a shame. As soon as this movie opens up with the 80s girls going about in their Greeat Bikinis walking to a cali beach skater boys flirting. The visuals aesthetics and sounds are all top notch for seeing the best of the 80s in its most glam & fun. Colours everywhere and 2 classic 80s beauties in Sherilyn & Pamela. The cinematography set for something wonderful to view, but sadly, we are left zoning out of our own daydreams with very one dimensional characters and a cheesy thin plot or just no plot.. Sure we've had romance warfare etc before & skater movies & some are part cheesy part good & some were good unfortunately this film felt like there were no stakes or real feelings and this isn't down to the actors I don't think but that there certainly no point or reason to anything in it. And practically nothing happened. The film just eh SKATED BY... Production team deserve a 10. Writers a Slap in the face for a goalless film.
- jomayevans
- Jun 5, 2024
- Permalink
It doesn't matter if its a bad movie with bad 80's quality. It was after this movie that Europe started to get into some serious skating, including me as well ;) I'm sure that most of the living legends of skateboarding thinks this is a kick ass film. Its so 80's and that rules! BTW How many movies in the 80's where really good blockbusters? LOL. Well this movie has it all, skates, skaters, romance, cool 80's skate tricks, red hot chili peppers, and a hell of a romeo and juliet theme all over it. I have watched it like 300 times on a very bad copy VHS tape. Hehe to bad i doesn't have my old Powell Peralta board with kryptonics wheels still laying around. I recommend this movie to any and everyone. Hugs and kisses from me ;)
Josh Brolin from The Goonies makes a great skateboarding hero. This movie is filled with great styles and great fads from the time period, not to mention great music, including The Circle Jerks and The Red Hot Chili Peppers who perform in the movie. It's a classic story of good guy falls for bad guy's sister. Bad guy and good guy fight, and finally bad guy and good guy unite after good guy beats bad guy in a skateboarding race. This movie seems very comical watching it in present day, but it actually serves as a time capsule for the 80's. There are many great skateboarding tricks displayed, and many other great scenes including: a skateboarder riding into the side of a truck, and watch carefully (and rewind to watch over and over again) the hilarious scene where the young kid in the sunglasses shouts out "NO, you be there!", pure genious.
This movie is absolutely fantastic; it's got everything to get that teen-feel going!!! Romance, action, good music, and grreat gear. I don't think they make movies like this anymore, or maybe the nostalgia is just an important factor in these kind of feel-good movies. This thing makes me want to go out & go really fast; -it still gives a real freedom-kick after all these years!!
- sanktajulia
- Feb 23, 2004
- Permalink
This movie .. i tell you .. everytime i wanna feel like a teen again , i just pop this one up hehe.
This movie is the definition of the 80s ,GREAT amazing music, real Cali vibe, if there was a time travel id pop here in no time!
I dont even know how many times i've seen this one, and i always watch it with the same passion.
Corey is a "good guy" while Tommy is a badass hahah ,btw i love Robert Russler, i dunno why but he had the chance to be a true movie star back in the days, sad that it never happened, hes a great actor.
All in all ,i love this movie, without any doubts one of my top 10 of all times.