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| Messages 1 - 32 of total 32 in this topic |
ElCapPirate
Big Wall climber
California
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Topic Author's Original Post - Apr 19, 2011 - 12:57pm PT
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Great film for those who haven't seen this, I watched it last night on Netflix.
Storyline:
Conquerors of the Useless follows Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia. Along the way he gets shipwrecked off Easter Island, surfs the longest wave of his life - and prepares himself for a rare ascent of Cerro Corcovado. Jeff's life turns when he meets up in a rainy hut with Chouinard and Tompkins who, once driven purely by a love of climbing and surfing, now value above all the experience of raw nature - and have come to Patagonia to spend their fortunes to protect it.
http://www.180south.com/index.html
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Apr 19, 2011 - 01:13pm PT
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Hey Big Bro, what up?
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Port
Trad climber
San Diego
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Apr 19, 2011 - 01:15pm PT
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I actually didn't like it....anyone else?
I found the lead character (don't recall his name) to be an idiot. The scene where Timmy O'Neill berates him for having no climbing experience was downright embarrassing. I also thought it was overly sentimental and sappy. In addition, the manner in which the film approached issues of alternative energy was overly simplistic. I wanted more specific and detailed examples of environmental mismanagement and its consequences in Patagonia.
However, the vistas and images of Patagonia alone are worth your time.
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jstan
climber
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Apr 19, 2011 - 02:18pm PT
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It was as though no one believed the story they actually wanted to tell would interest anyone.
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mikeyschaefer
climber
Yosemite
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Apr 19, 2011 - 02:24pm PT
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The lead character has climbed el cap a few times, 10d OW in the Valley and is working on a new route on Middle Cathedral. I know Timmy might make fun of him for no climbing experience but that is just Timmy just trying to be funny.
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FrankZappa
Trad climber
80' from the Hankster
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Apr 19, 2011 - 02:31pm PT
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I kind of felt like they made a film version of a Patagonia catalog: beautiful, engaging, but with a story that is not all that interesting.
Maybe the Yvon-worshiping is growing a little old?
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MoonGoon
climber
canadistan
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Apr 19, 2011 - 02:54pm PT
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I know Timmy might make fun of him for no climbing experience but that is just Timmy just trying to be funny.
I dunno man. Timmy seemed genuinely frustrated with with the guy.
The main character is Jeff Johnson. I own the movie and have shown it to a number of people who don't particularly like the wishy washy reflections Jeff has, which is a major focus of the movie. I don't think it matters what you think of the story line though, the history and scenery in the movie make it worth it. Some of the surfing looks amazing as well.
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kaitb
Big Wall climber
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Apr 19, 2011 - 03:02pm PT
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I enjoyed the film and thought it was inspiring!
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
SoCal
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Apr 19, 2011 - 05:15pm PT
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Liked it but that's because I don't just watch a film, I do other stuff at the same time; sort gear, fix things, arts & crafts. Spectating only is such a bore.
The film is about like a Nat't Geo special but less monotonous. Since you can stream it anytime on Netflix, it's a good entertainment deal.
I liked the way they included the unpleasant bushwack. Most film makers cut that out.
The film has a great "slacker" feel to it which I can relate to.
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ElCapPirate
Big Wall climber
California
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 19, 2011 - 05:33pm PT
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As Mikey points out Jeff does have climbing experience. I personally know him and think he is a badass. Timmy was just having fun with the fact that he didn't have any snow/ice experience.
Most people would go crazy living on a boat for that long.
I too thought it was inspiring and has some great filming.
RESPECT!
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Bullwinkle
Boulder climber
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Apr 19, 2011 - 05:38pm PT
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Good Flick, and Jeff is a very talented photographer/film maker. . .df
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adikted
Trad climber
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Apr 19, 2011 - 05:49pm PT
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I also liked it.....the scenery was amazing.
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micronut
Trad climber
fresno, ca
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Apr 19, 2011 - 06:03pm PT
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I own it too. Really well done, inspiring on many levels, but I thought the "save the world" theme was a bit gooey and much. A little would have gone a long way. Anybody watching this film probably already has a love for the wild places, and those that want to crush and mow and exploit the planet will probably never see it. I hope it inspires some youth to hold onto the magic of the wilderness. It sure made me think about taking an ink pen to my work schedule. After I saw it, I struck out August and wrote WASHINGTON COLUMN on my calendar. Life is too short to "have an adventure someday..."
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The Wolf
Trad climber
Friend of Dope Miller
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Apr 19, 2011 - 11:30pm PT
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I agree with The Pirate. It's a nice film. Not a slam bang action fest but and old style travelogue. It had a nice feel about it even if it lacked climactic action.
Hey pirate, i hung my head and said a silent prayer before i ate tonight. I prayed for the safety of builders and the ongoing ability to drive a land rover. ;)
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Daphne
Trad climber
Mill Valley, CA
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Apr 20, 2011 - 12:12am PT
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I also watched this on Netflix and really liked it. Hear hear about the bushwack scene. I also liked the Easter Island segment.
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Rudder
Trad climber
Long Beach, CA
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Apr 20, 2011 - 12:23am PT
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It was okay... not bad... but forgettable. ;)
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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Apr 20, 2011 - 12:13pm PT
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I watched it a couple of times and i liked it. killer surf spots!
you can netflix it!
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ddriver
Trad climber
SLC, UT
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Apr 20, 2011 - 01:31pm PT
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Timmy was upset because the guy had never used an ice axe in his life and the objective started with.... guess what, steep snow fields. Plus, he's from, where, Washington state. Yeah, no opportunities there to learn the trade. I thought it was funny and justified.
What annoyed me about the film was this attitude that it was a poor climbing vagabond on a spiritual journey yet he's able to have a a hi-def film crew/cameraman follow him for months, yet never acknowledges the dude is even there. Just too artificial. Then, on the peak, same deal. Magical camera in the sky filming the action, no acknowledement. At least with Tompkins and Chouinard on the original trip you actually got a sense of adventure and got to see them setting up their own shots.
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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Jul 26, 2013 - 11:36pm PT
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Still watching it. Just love watching Jeff and chouinard.. :-)
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Jul 26, 2013 - 11:50pm PT
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Dumb film, bad story line but good production values. Chouinard also thought it was a bit silly. Tried to recreate the mythic fun hogs trip but failed miserably. The princess was Timmy's score but that didn't work for the script. The voiceless surfer dude riding waves solo almost made me want to pull out my hair. Yo....and didn't you just get goosebumps watching Timmy put screws in on 30% ice.
edit: Also extremely poor taste not to mention the other three members of the funhog trip: Dorworth, Tejada Flores and Jones.....those guys weren't chopped liver.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Jul 27, 2013 - 03:16am PT
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Good one there, J-Do.
I think the film has some uses though. We get to see Dougie and YC in a rather unique situation at tea; we see Jeff Johnson who is here a picaresque character and in real life too, trying to find his way and in a rather stunned and weakened fashion that at times serves the issues and at times just weakens the movie. I think the "answer" wasn't found here, the movie didn't quite get on its own feet. I think the original conjecture didn't prove to be worthy or real enough.
The funky mountain climbing was not strong at all as part of the arc of the tale and ended up being decorative or anecdotal tangents. I really wanted it to be but what I walked away with was lots of bits that I adored, like someone' slide show.
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Steve Belford
Sport climber
Poway, CA
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Jul 27, 2013 - 11:50am PT
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What a perfect title for this film. It did go 180 degrees south…….straight into the crapper. I saw it shortly after it first came out. While I enjoyed some of the camera work the part near the end where they started moving some rocks around as part of some long-term project really killed it for me. Whatever “green” message that this film had was completely destroyed at that point. The amount of time, money, and fuel that it took to do so little was unbelievable. How about hiring some locals and get it done.
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maldaly
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Jul 27, 2013 - 01:23pm PT
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What Donini said...
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crunch
Social climber
CO
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Jul 27, 2013 - 02:14pm PT
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I enjoyed the movie, but I've forgotten almost all of it.
About the best bit I do recall was modern footage of Yvon and Doug, priceless curmudgeons both, exchanging sparse, unhurried, pithy banter, each effortlessly sounding like some late-period Clint Eastwood character.
Timmy sort of just appears, out of nowhere, as if the film-makers inserted a few scenes shot for a different project.
A movie needs more of a message than, "We've got lots of funding."
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fivesix
Trad climber
hope, alaska
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Jul 27, 2013 - 04:28pm PT
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I didn't like it. The bitching and complaining before their treck up a choss pile made me want to kick that guy in the crotch. I'm not the violent type, either. I agree with some of the other posts up top about the lead character being an idiot. Every adventure deserves some kind of trip report, but not a full blown documentary. There are much more epic things on my facebook news feed that don't have a film about them. As for "overly simplistic" views, I agree with that, too. All I Can by Sherpa Cinemas got more in depth with their message and it was a freakin ski flick.
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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Jul 27, 2013 - 09:16pm PT
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some of the replies are just crap!
this film keeps me going.
Donini i can't believe you drink wine from a box.
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
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Jul 27, 2013 - 09:42pm PT
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Pyro put a hat on it.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Jul 27, 2013 - 10:01pm PT
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The film is very disappointing. It is a vapid attempt to receate the magic and spontaneous adventure of the storied Fun Hogs. The protaganist is boring, the surfer more so and the climbing sequence is pathetic.
The production values are excellent but that doesn't begin to make up for the silly story line. It is also unfortunate that the interview with Chouinard and Thomkins failed to mention the other members of the Fun Hogs team (Tejada Flores, Dorworth and Jones) who were an integral part of a legendary adventure.
Lito Tejada Flores (a total novice at the time) did an exemplary job of filming the Fun Hogs. The film is a classic that may lack production values but has an honesty that draws you in and enthralls you. 180 Degrees South is a pale and dishonest attempt to recreate that adventure.
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MisterE
climber
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Jul 27, 2013 - 10:10pm PT
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The omissions were a real disservice - I agree with Jim.
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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Jul 28, 2013 - 12:11am PT
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Last time I checked we all are entitled to any kinda opinions!
Great flick.
One worth bumping..
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Jul 28, 2013 - 12:27am PT
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Where can I see the original fun hogs film?
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Fletcher
Trad climber
The great state of advaita
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Brandon: You can find Mountains of Storms here:
http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/mountain-of-storms-dvd?p=D1005-0-000
It may be available in other venues as well. I have a copy around somewhere, but have yet to see it (my kids keep me busy!). I look forward to it like a bottle of wine I'd save for a special time. I suspect I'll savor it!
While it wasn't an all-time great by my modest and humble subjective criteria, I found 180 Degrees South to be enjoyable; I have a fond recollection of it. I liked its meditative, non-linear feel. Not all journeys are going to be the stuff of legends. They can be full of anticipation, have exciting moments as well as periods of excruciating boredom and trials. And delightful unexpected turns, such as the side trip to Rapa Nui.
But you can take inspiration from those legendary journeys (a la Mountain of Storms) and do something that has meaning and significance on some level. Maybe that's lesser, but the original trip did get Jeff to get out there and try his own take on it. It didn't turn out the way he expected, but I've never been on a journey that did. It doesn't mean it wasn't worthwhile in some way. Better than sitting around thinking about it but never acting upon it.
There is a part where he and YC had boated into some remote rocky beach (on the way to the approach) and were camped out eating shellfish. If I recall correctly, YC said something profound about the simple sense of being and presence and of just some guys hanging out doing that. I found that inspirational and moving. Not exactly blockbuster action, but appreciated nonetheless.
YMMV. :-)
Eric
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