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First Descent

Play trailer Poster for First Descent PG-13 2005 1h 50m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
52% Tomatometer 64 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Snowboarders discuss the sport's history and challenges as they prepare to tackle the mountains of Alaska.
First Descent

What to Know

Critics 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.

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Critics Reviews

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Mark Holcomb Village Voice 12/06/2005
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. Go to Full Review Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper 12/05/2005
They're amazing athletes. Go to Full Review Mike Clark USA Today 12/02/2005
2.5/4
An adequate if slightly overlong history of the sport, Descent adheres to the same storytelling trajectory as documentary predecessors on surfing and skateboarding. Go to Full Review Joshua Starnes ComingSoon.net 03/22/2011
3/10
Despite some moments of truly athletic beauty First Descent is a fairly empty sports documentary that celebrates the gloss of the lifestyle, but doesn't do much to try and get under its skin. Go to Full Review Ethan Alter Film Journal International 03/01/2007
If you've ever wanted to get a taste of the slopes from the comfort of a movie theatre, this film will do. Go to Full Review Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review 05/12/2006
1/5
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Audience Reviews

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06/15/2019 I turned on my TV! Descent comprised my mind.. I know see how people are getting help. I used to have a problem with help. Thank you because I now know people have problems with organ donating. I know people have problems with organ donating and they should consult an expert in they're problems field. See more 07/16/2014 4/10 Kinda boring, couple of nice landscape pictures but most of the time pretty low See more 09/07/2013 (**): [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img] Great scenery and stunts, but the film left me uninterested as it went along. Fair at best. See more 04/11/2013 i love snowboarding! See more 12/19/2012 A WIERD YET COOL ADVENTURE MOVIE. See more 01/30/2011 Documentaries are rarely filmed in scope, but I suppose it is fitting that the epic world of Alaskan snowboarding is shot that way. This doc is way too long, but there is some spectacular footage. See more Read all reviews
First Descent

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Kemp Curly

Director

Kevin Harrison

Director

Shawn Farmer

Actor

Terje Håkonsen

Actor

Nick Perata

Actor

Travis Rice

Actor

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First Descent

A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." Directors Kevin Harrison and Kemp Curley chronicle the rebellious and inspiring rise of snowboarding in the docu-drama "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Snowboarders discuss the sport's history and challenges as they prepare to tackle the mountains of Alaska.
Director
Kemp Curly, Kevin Harrison
Producer
Kemp Curly, Kevin Harrison
Screenwriter
Kevin Harrison
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal/Universal Int
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Strong Language|Momentary Drug Reference)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 2, 2005, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Feb 21, 2006
Box Office (Gross USA)
$750.8K
Runtime
1h 50m
Sound Mix
Surround, SDDS, DTS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)