Seasons, Seven Riders Four Seasons Review
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Last night on what was a typical English medley of sweet Englands Summer, Spring, Autumn (not Fall) and Winter in just one day I entered the Leicester Square cinema to see the latest and third movie from the Collective called "Seasons". For those of you that don't know the Collective is a group of filmmakers, photographers, and mountain bikers brought together to explore the possibilities of riding bikes, shooting film, and taking pictures. For those of you already awed by the previous 2 movies "the Collective" and "Roam" prepare to not be dissapointed. This movie is truly awesome.
Photos: Sterling Lorence / The Collective.
Seasons covers seven riders through the four seasons. It took fourteen months to make, involving eleven cameramen and four helicopters. Whilst we are still having fun with numbers the fastest speed recorded was 82km/h! and the biggest air carried one rider 75 feet!! These guys know how to ride bikes.
The main riders in the film are some of the best and definitely some of the most interesting and personable. They are Darren Berrecloth, Matt Hunter, Cam McCaul, Steve Peat, Andrew Shandro, Steve Smith, and Thomas Vanderham. One of the great things about the movie is you get to see them being silly as wel as focussed andnicely in a way that seems natural and not staged. Basically it shares wth us the human side of these superhuman bikers.
It has a similar escapist style of the other two movies and features heavily downhill and particularly slopestyle in a big way. The locations are spellbinding and we get a closer look into the personalities of our biking warrior poet riders. The other element of note is it really gets behind the training and the work that goes into what these guys do. Pictures of riders in wet suits diving off ramps into freezing water or madly into swimming pools reminds us how dedicated you need to be to be the best.
The cinematography and shots are hardly done justice to by these shots but they give you a real feel to the level of professionalism and effort you will see to create that escapist feeling.
The film starts in the winter, capturing the different activities ofthe riders in the off season, if it can be called that. Steve Peat starts us off in what looks like Wharncliffe Woods. He reminds us how tough British riders are for riding all seasons in mud and rain and rain and mud and so on.
Seasons is sponsored by Specialized, Shimano, Adidas Eyewear, Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Bontrager, akine, Helly Hansen, and Pinkbike.com. I mention the sponsors as I won the raffle at the cinema and walked home with a brand new Shimano groupset. Shimano rock.. You heard it here
. Cyclesurgery and Cycle active hosted the evening and if you have not checked out cycle actives training courses then go do this. I plug them as I have been on two and for any of you that have seen me ride you should have seem how rubbish I was before.
. Cyclesurgery and Cycle active hosted the evening and if you have not checked out cycle actives training courses then go do this. I plug them as I have been on two and for any of you that have seen me ride you should have seem how rubbish I was before..
The DVD ill be available in May 2008 in bike shops worldwide and from www.thecollectivefilm.com To check out the trailer go to http://www.thecollectivefilm.com/index.html
In summary My judge of a movie is much to do with did it take me away to where I call my "happy place". A world where in my mind I am riding and nothing else exists, where everything is in flow ,you are psyched yet in control and nothing else can get in. No beginning, no middle no end.. just now. Did the Seasons do that for me. Simply put. yes.
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Seasons, Seven Riders Four Seasons Review
2009-07-04 09:16:54
phoenix
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Takes you to that happy place
The Collective are a great team
User Review
Good Points
Powerful narration, good insight to riders lives and epic riding. Will leave you with that stoic feeling inside and itching to get out on your bike
Bad Points
Maybe when I have watched it another 10 times I'll come back and post one.
Would you recommend?
Yes
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Comments (3)
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Gareth Clay
said:
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... Great review, Dan  It is indeed a film that takes one away to the 'happy place'. I'll be getting the DVD for sure. |
Jacques Venter
said:
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... Great review of an awesome movie. Everyone who loves mountain biking should watch this movie, it was epic. |
Steve Phipps
said:
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... Yeh, totally agree, I've had the DVD for a while & it's got to be the one that remains the most watchable after repeated viewing! Soundtrack is great - shame about the last song ...like the music but the words are a bit cringe-worthy, if that's a word. I'm sure others will disagree... Starts off great, Steve Peat riding in the wet was awesome, just messing, but such style & speed. It doesn't lose anything from there, just keeps going. Some athletes seem to be doing what they're doing for other reasons than enjoyment, but I don't reckon you can fake the atmosphere that comes through in Seasons. They all seem to be genuine guys, which adds something extra. So yeah, buy it, it makes me want to ride more, learn more. As above, an epic. Overused word, but it's true for this one. |
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