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Movies / On DVD / First Descent
First Descent

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First Descent (2005)

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52 %
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Reviews Counted: 58

Fresh: 30

Rotten:28

Average Rating: 5.6/10

Consensus: This snowboarding doc scores with its dazzling array of snowboarding stunts and beautiful scenery, but loses points with shameless product placement and an overlong runtime.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for brief strong language and a momentary drug reference

Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts

Theatrical Release:Dec 2, 2005 Limited

Box Office: $739,690

Synopsis: The docu-drama First Descent chronicles the rebellious, inspiring and sometimes controversial rise of snowboarding--as seen through the eyes of the snowboarders setting the standards and breaking... The docu-drama First Descent chronicles the rebellious, inspiring and sometimes controversial rise of snowboarding--as seen through the eyes of the snowboarders setting the standards and breaking the boundaries of this worldwide phenomenon. First Descent spotlights a handful of snowboarding's early pioneers (including Shawn Farmer, Nick Perata and Terje Haakonsen) and some of the ultra-sponsored superstar phenoms at snowboarding's current cutting edge (Shaun White and Hannah Teter) and literally takes them to the edge--the snow blanketed mountains of Alaska--where these five icons face some of the most challenging and hard-core natural terrain on the planet. The five come for different reasons--Perata and Farmer to see if they still have what it takes, Haakonsen to add another credit to his Big Mountain resume, and White and Teter to undertake their first Big Mountain ride ever--and yet all seek to challenge themselves to accomplish the best snowboarding feat of their lives down peaks of powder no rider has ever descended. Leading up to their first descent, the crew of five share their stories, comparing viewpoints, individual lifestyles, and unedited opinions on the evolution of snowboarding that began as a delinquent child of skiing and now stands as an international cultural movement that has permanently changed the face of winter sports. Intercutting footage from the snowboarding revolution of the '80s and '90s, real-life accounts from both notorious and famed riders, and dramatic, newly-filmed scenes from the biggest winter contests and experiences these riders undergo on their way to and in Alaska, First Descent creates a fast-paced portrait of a snowsport that has quickly evolved from a fringe hobby to a full-fledged global event. --© Universal Pictures [More]

Starring: Terje Haakonsen, Nick Peralta, Hannah Teter, Shaun White

Starring: Terje Haakonsen, Nick Peralta, Hannah Teter, Shaun White

Director: Kemp Curly, Kevin Harrison

Director: Kemp Curly, Kevin Harrison
Studio: Universal Pictures

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Release:

Feb 21, 2006

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Reviews for First Descent

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N/R

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Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
06/24/08
Matt Pais
Metromix.com

If you've ever wanted to get a taste of the slopes from the comfort of a movie theatre, this film will do.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
Ethan Alter
Film Journal International
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
12/30/06
Los Angeles Daily News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
05/12/06
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

If you're a diehard snowboarding freak, then welcome to your new favorite movie.

Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | comment Comment
02/26/06
Scott Weinberg
DVDTalk.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
02/10/06
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

If this had been an IMAX film, it could have been even more spectacular. It could also have been forty-five minutes shorter.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
02/04/06
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
N/R

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Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
12/24/05
Arizona Republic
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
12/10/05
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Woah. Gnarly. How many times do you hear anyone say that any more? Here's a movie for those who can't get enough of snowboarding, documentaries about sports, or people whose vocabularies include "gnarly." Because "First Descent" contains all three.

Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment Comment
12/09/05
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

The history of snowboarding as a sport might be interesting if anybody really knew anything about it, but if this movie is any indication, no one does

Full Review Source: New Times | comment Comment
12/09/05
Luke Y. Thompson
New Times

If you're not a fan of the sport, this docu-mercial will be mostly uphill.

Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
12/08/05
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly

The end result isn't hard to rethink as Surfer Dudes on Ice.

Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | comment Comment
12/08/05
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
12/06/05
Boston Globe
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Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
12/06/05
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

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Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
12/06/05
Dallas Morning News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Dewable Entertainment!

Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders | comment Comment
12/06/05
Jonathan W. Hickman
Entertainment Insiders

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Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
12/06/05
Peter Sobczynski
eFilmCritic.com

It's a good reminder why going to the local bijou is sometimes better than renting a video or DVD.

Full Review Source: Greenwich Village Gazette | comment Comment
12/06/05
Eric Lurio
Greenwich Village Gazette

First Descent comes off as an overlong, overstuffed promo for an 'industry' that hasn't needed promoting since the movie's target audience was in diapers.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
12/06/05
Mark Holcomb
Village Voice
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