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Lords of Dogtown (2005)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 6/10
Reviews Counted: 142
Fresh: 78 | Rotten: 64

Lords of Dogtown, while slickly made and edited, lacks the depth and entertaining value of the far superior documentary on the same subject, Dogtown and Z-Boys.

Average Rating: 6.5/10
Critic Reviews: 33
Fresh: 20 | Rotten: 13

Lords of Dogtown, while slickly made and edited, lacks the depth and entertaining value of the far superior documentary on the same subject, Dogtown and Z-Boys.

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 65,107

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Movie Info

The true story of the kids who created modern skateboard culture is recreated in this drama. In the early '70s, skateboards were seen as a fad of the 1960s that had all but died out, but in a rough-and-tumble Venice, CA community known as "Dogtown," that was about to change. Tony Alva (Victor Rasuk), Stacy Peralta (John Robinson), and Jay Adams (Emile Hirsch) were three guys who liked to surf the rugged beaches around Venice and hung out at the Zephyr Surf Shop, a store run by Skip Engblom

PG-13, 1 hr. 47 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Catherine Hardwicke

Written By: Stacy Peralta

In Theaters: Jun 3, 2005 Wide

On DVD: Sep 27, 2005

Box Office:$11.0M

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Lords of Dogtown Trailer & Photos

More Photos (18)

Cast

Emile Hirsch
Jay Adams
Victor Rasuk
Tony Alva
John Robinson (IX)
Stacy Peralta
Michael Angarano
Sid
Nikki Reed
Kathy Alva
Heath Ledger
Skip Engblom
Rebecca De Mornay
Philaine
Johnny Knoxville
Topper Burks
Tony Alva
Oregon Man at Party
Alexis Arquette
Tranny
Ned Bellamy
Peter Darling
Tony Hawk
Astronaut
Vincent Laresca
Chino
Matt Malloy
Contest Official
Julio Oscar Mechoso
Mr. Alva
Charles Napier
Nudie
Stacy Peralta
TV Director
Rene Rivera
Mr. Peralta
Rebeca Silva
Sid's Nurse
Ling Bai
Punky Photographer
William Mapother
Donnie
Bill Cusack
Del Mar Judge
Elden Henson
Billy Z
Mitch Hedberg
Urethane Wheels Guy
Shea Whigham
Dranke Landon
Chad Fernandez
Ryan Reef
Sof�a Vergara
Amelia
America Ferrera
Thunder Monkey
Chuck Hosack
Irate Husband
Mark Kubr
Donnie's Friend
Melonie Diaz
Blanca
Kirk Ward
Bill Bahne
Chelsea Hobbs
Caroline
Pablo Schreiber
Stecyk
Laura Ramsey
Gabrielle
Eddie Cahill
Larry Gordon
Joel McHale
TV Reporter
Jay Adams
Party Guest
Bob Biniak
Restaurant Manager
Skip Engblom
Seattle Race Starter
Ray Flores
Long Beach Announcer
Benjamin Nurick
Browser
Brian Zarate
Montoya
Stephanie Limb
Peggy Oki
Mike Ogas
Bob Biniak
Cheyne Magnusson
Jim "Red Dog" Muir
Don Nguyen
Shogo
Kristian Peterson
Wentzle Ruml
Jim "Red Dog" Muir
Security Guard
Chris Chaput
Russ Howell
Steve Badillo
Ty Page
Sarah Blakely-Cartwright
Vickie
Eric "Tuma" Britton
Marty Grimes
Reid Harper
Lookout Boy
Paulette Ivory
Magazine Reporter
Raphael Verela
Topper's Bodyguard
Joe Virzi
Capitola Race Starter
Daniel Venegas
Vato
Lucas Gasperik
Jay Clone
Travis Peterson
Young Surfer
Jack Smith
Del Mar Announcer

Critic Reviews for Lords of Dogtown

All Critics (155) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (84) | Rotten (65) | DVD (23)

These kids can act, and they can ride those boards.

June 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper

| Comment

Richard Roeper

Ebert & Roeper

Top Critic

Lords of Dogtown stays afloat, largely because many of its actors transcend Hardwicke's heavy-handed storytelling.

June 3, 2005 Full Review Source: Salon.com

| Comment

Stephanie Zacharek

Salon.com

Top Critic

Lords of Dogtown isn't a cop-out, but rather an ever-so-slight concession to commercialism, while Dogtown and Z-Boys was, above all else, a love song to the counterculture.

June 3, 2005 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post

Top Critic

If watching Dogtown and Z-Boys was tantamount to witnessing history itself, watching Lords of Dogtown, which Peralta wrote, feels more like watching a stiff, meticulously choreographed reenactment.

June 3, 2005 Full Review Source: Washington Post

| Comment

Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

Top Critic

It's hard to think of a movie since 1950's Sunset Boulevard that has gotten more dramatic impact out of a pool.

June 3, 2005 Full Review Source: USA Today

| Comment

Mike Clark

USA Today

Top Critic

For someone who was there, not to mention someone who created Dogtown and Z-Boys, Peralta has crafted a script so superficial and simplistic it feels like it was tapped out by a 14-year-old fan.

June 3, 2005 Full Review Source: Toronto Star

| Comment

Geoff Pevere

Toronto Star

Top Critic

Lords of Dogtown is an interesting look at the start of an ever increasingly more popular part of American youth culture, but often settles for surface gloss instead of introspection.

March 29, 2011 Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net

| Comment

Joshua Starnes

ComingSoon.net

As the three friends separate via commercial successes afforded them, "Lords Of Dogtown" becomes a distinctly youthful American anecdote about the nature of friendship and success.

April 15, 2009 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com

| Comment

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Full-on portrait of 70's teen skater culture in Venice, CA.

July 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

| Comment

Cynthia Fuchs

Common Sense Media

You don't have to care much about skateboarding (I really don't) to find the movie exhilarating and engaging.

August 13, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

| Comment

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

Dogtown's testosterone fueled, deeply and sadly affectionate excursion into the contact highs and lows of male adolescence, gets it just right and more.

April 19, 2007 Full Review | Comment

Prairie Miller

Long Island Press

A modestly entertaining movie, thanks largely to the efforts of director Catherine Hardwicke and the three leads.

March 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Journal International

| Comment

Ethan Alter

Film Journal International

It is about the way that athletes can push one another, it is about the effects of fame upon friendship, and it is a successful attempt to create a portrait of an entire social environment.

July 20, 2006 Full Review Source: Movie City News

| Comment

Douglas Pratt

Movie City News

The flick's watchable enough, but if you want an exhilarating look back at the exact same folks, I'd just stick with the documentary version.

October 18, 2005 Full Review Source: DVD Clinic

| Comment

Scott Weinberg

DVD Clinic

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Lords of Dogtown

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Lords of Dogtown, is present by his director with a documentary style, the skateboard world in the early 70's. Is a entretaining film, very good to skate fans.

November 21, 2011

Lucas Martins

Super Reviewer

Based on the true story of the legendary z-boys.Very good movie, really enjoyable and fun! The story is very primitive and intoxicating which really brings out the taste of such sweet filming. Very good acting from everyone and a superb cast!The true story of the kids who created modern skateboard culture is recreated

October 15, 2009

Manu Gino

Super Reviewer

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