The Art of Flight

Even if you're not into snowboarding The Art Of Flight is worth watching. Just for the stunning cinematography alone it's worth the detour. The high quality of imaging, the beautiful sceneries, the breathtaking stunts, they all add up to make this documentary an enjoyable television moment. The slow motion shots are just sublime. I never snowboarded before and probably never will but it for sure makes you to want to. Sponsored by Red Bull, and that will be needed, as I can imagine it's not in everybody's budget to visit all those beautiful and remote places. Special credits to the helicopter pilots as well as they prove how well they control their machines. Some of the narrating voices could have been better, but the soundtrack made up for that. The Art Of Flight, for fans of snowboarding, extreme sports, or just for the breathtaking mountain views.

Just to warm up: This is definitely the most expensive, beautiful and technically perfect snowboard film I have ever seen (and yes, I have seen many).

The good things first: Already the Intro Logo animations make clear: there is a LOT of money in this film. And fortunately it went into the hands of someone like Travis Rice, one of the riders who push snowboarding to the limit and beyond. This time it's not one, not two, but up to three helicopters and other filming aides that help making an impressive portrayal of the sceneries and of course, the riding. And make no mistake - this is snowboarding at its very best AND core. It is a delight to watch these people do what they do best and the cinematography underlines the challenge of the actions presented. In fact we see things never seen before in the world of snowboarding (even in sports). The picture is super HD, the slow-mo's are extreme to the max, the post production is massive, the music works and the motion graphics & special effects fit in just perfectly.

Now to the inevitable: Please note, I'm reviewing a film here (not a person or the athletic abilities of someone). When "The Art Of Flight" is finished and the lights in the theater are turned on you feel a little empty. Yes, what has just been shown is definitely top notch state of the art, but as a film TAOF doesn't work - at all. In fact there isn't much of a "film" to review here but rather a long snowboard music video flick with no content except for the riding and the extensive use of the RED camera with super slow motion. It's nice to see snow-particles in HD falling at a very very very slow speed but after the 50th time it gets kinda boring and appears like "hey, look how great and expensive our camera is". The story, OK, now we get to the core - there is no story, no conclusion, no real insight (ok, the injury part is interesting but not mind opening) and no character development. It's a couple of riders who have the opportunity to travel to very remote places to snowboard and that's about it. And I really had to laugh at the Marc McMorris shot towards the end because he only appears for a few seconds - to perform the latest state of the art trick, his 1440 Triple Cork. At that point it almost seems like TAOF wants to show off by saying "Hey, and look, we got the latest trick as well".

The Art Of Flight is technically impressing, no doubt. But when it's over it's over because the makers failed to produce a real film and chose to make an overlong snowboard music video.

I felt like I owed it to the makers of this film to voice my opinion. This is the new pinnacle of action sports films.

First these guys aren't playing around, the action is outstanding and the music score is absolutely second to none. The addition of incredible use of surround and the obvious use of the highest quality cams on the market makes this the best Blu-ray sports film out-period.

I saw one person complaining that it was more like a snowboarding music video, this is how it should be, it's my opinion that they shouldn't have changed a thing. Having spent a fair share of my life playing with amateur filming extreme sports and watching films of others. This film absolutely blows me away... Unbelievable.

The addition of the amazing locales and picturesque screens of locations that viewers can hardly imagine makes this movie almost surreal...

Thanks Curt Morgan, Travis Rice and associates I'm not sure you can beat this but I really hope that you try...

Get into a helicopter, get dropped off at the top of the mountain, skate down.

This movie once again makes it seem so easy, yet so impressive at the same time. With a good mixture between big mountain downhill and some of the most impressive jumps you will ever see, "The Art of Flight" is not an educational snowboarding movie. It's a piece that shows you several athletes constantly looking to push the limits.

Whether it is skating down while avalanches are being kicked off left and right, whether they are closely avoiding crashing into rocks on a slope that's not even as wide as a car or whether they land jumps that you thought impossible, this movie will leave you in awe most of the time. Adding to that is the spectacular cinematography in beautiful places like Chile, Patagonia and Alaska. This is hands down the best looking snowboarding piece ever made.

That said, "The Art of Flight" could use a little more direction at points and some of the scenes seemed rather pointless. Other movies build up to a grand finale, this one merely shows you a bunch of guys on the hunt for snow - which does not make it any less of a great movie, but leaves you with a feeling that more could have been achieved. There is very little being said about the personal lives of the athletes as well.

If you're simply looking for big mountain and big air, this is not to be missed. If spectacular images of mountain scenery are your thing, this movie will make you happy. If you're looking for an entertaining movie about snowboarding, you should still go and see this. You might be disappointed though if you're expecting a big story behind it all.

Words can not describe the beauty, brilliance and passion behind this movie.

The cinematography in this movie is world class and the quality of the picture in this movie clearly proves this. Combine this with a great director along with the vision of world class snowboarders and you have a snowboarding movie second to none. At a number of moments in the movie, I thought I could touch the snow it was that high def.

There's just nothing more I can say except go and watch it. Great movie for an outdoor enthusiast or a snow lover but if your as fanatically as snowboarding as I am than it's a must own movie that you will be sure to leave on repeat. (That's if you don't get too jealous watching these guys shred some of the most amazing runs you've ever seen.) Seriously thank you to Red Bull for investing so much money so this brilliant movie could be made.