Starring:
Bob Burnquist as Himself
Brian Deegan as Himself
Carey Hart as Himself
Tony Hawk as Himself
Mat Hoffman as Himself
Bucky Lasek as Himself
T.J. Lavin as Himself
Dave Mirra as Himself
Cory Nastazio as Himself
Ryan Nyquist as Himself
Travis Pastrana as Himself
Special Features:
-Interactive Version With Athlete Profiles, Medal Moments, and Trick Breakouts
-X Gallery Mega-Mix With Additional Killer Music From 3rd Strike and Many More
-Bonus X-tras Including Tony Hawk 900, Travis Pastrana Undefeated, Street Luge, Broken Bones, BMX Legends, The Backflip, Girls of the Games and Much More
Other Info:
Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Running Time: 39 Mins.
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
DTS 5.1 Digital Surround Sound
THX Certified
French and Spanish Subtitles
Synopsis:
ESPN’s “Ultimate X” was originally presented in IMAX format. Now it appears as a full screen DVD. It features an in-depth look at the X-Games in Philadelphia from 1999. You see the stunts, meet the athletes, and interact with the fans. Heavy metal music plays as you watch highlights from skateboarding, street luge, BMX racing, moto X, and more. The movie also features interviews with Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, Dave Mirra, Travis Pastrana, and others.
“Ultimate X” is rated PG for daredevil sports, action, and mild language.
The Movie:
I don’t follow extreme sports or the X-Games, but I still found Ultimate X somewhat entertaining. I couldn’t help but feel that this film would have been more impressive on the IMAX screen, though. But I can still appreciate insane stunts and spectacular wipeouts as much as the next guy.
The highlights are the incredible tricks from the games. Even if you don’t know anything about the sports, you can still be impressed by these tricks. There’s no question these guys are athletes after watching this. A few of the camera shots even put you in the races. There are scenes from the street luge, BMX racing, and more from the athlete’s point of view. That must have been quite a feeling viewing it on the IMAX screen.
The interviews with the athletes are a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand you get to know them better and you get a greater appreciation for how they train. On the other hand, some of them have nothing very interesting to say, so their scenes tend to drag on. Some of the interviews with the fans are more entertaining than those with the big name stars.
I didn’t much care for the music, but that’s a matter of personal taste. There’s about a million different heavy metal songs by bands you’ve never heard of. You might have a headache by the end of watching this.
Overall, this DVD should thrill extreme sports fans and mildly entertain everyone else.
The Extras:
The first thing I have to comment on is the horrible navigation menu. There is no text on the menus, only icons. If you can’t decipher what the icons mean, you’re screwed. There is a key, but you have to solve the puzzle to find it. This made it terribly difficult to find my way around.
The extras all let you dig a little deeper into the film. There are a series of short videos that let you see more of the stars of the movie. For example, there is a whole section on Tony Hawk where you get some of his history, his medal winning runs at the X Games, and his ground breaking 900 jump back in 1999. If you’re a fan of Hawk or any of the others, then these extras should make you really happy.
Another video features the women of the X Games. You meet some of the water skiers, roller bladers, and more. It’s nice to see the ladies get their due here. Another extra shows some first rate wipeouts, a doctor discussing broken bones, and the perfection of the motorcycle back flip. All of these features help to round out the movie experience.
Overall, the extras really enhance the movie experience.
The Bottom Line:
If you’re a fan of the X Games, this is a necessary addition to your DVD collection. If you’re not, you may have wished you had seen it on IMAX. It probably would have been a better experience.
