Went To See Valley Uprising Last Night

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klk

Trad climber

cali

Sep 20, 2014 - 07:50pm PT

Perhaps, Kerwin. But you of all people should be able to understand what it's like to catch this over and over and over in a documentary. There's just no escaping knowledge of facts, history, and of course personal experience. I can't hide from the fact I, y'know, know stuff. As for my snark about believing your own myths, more on that later. When I'm in a foul mood.

yeah, but antiquarian accuracy (even pedantry: cf the endless sierra/s whining here on ST) is what i expect from local history of climbing or music or architecture or anything else of the kind. i've long since given up on the purity of that crap, unless some major interpretive moral rides on this or that detail.

so when i watch/visit/read something like this, i actually want something different from the n-teenth installment of "cali-climbing-was-spiritual-in the-50s/60s/70s" schtick. jay got the context right in pilgrims and st hated him for it. i trust ken to get the technical details right in the popular venues. and we really can't take any more autobio. i haven't seen this one and wasn't a consultant.

we want the snark. and without all that lester bangs bs.

ryankelly

Trad climber

el portal

Sep 20, 2014 - 08:44pm PT

I'm going early for my spot in line to watch this commercial trash try to replicate the past...

Stonemasters will probably fly to the front on magic carpets...I know that us modern humans just can't reach the same heights as the old dudes..

survival

Big Wall climber

Terrapin Station

Sep 20, 2014 - 09:18pm PT

I think you'll enjoy it Warbler, if you just open your mind, let it flow, and try hard not to over analyze it.

Just go for the ride, not your interpretation of what it was in your eyes at the time.
Like Werner says, there can be no full telling of the story for all those wildmen, including you, in a couple hours. Can't be done.

Hell, I was there for some of it too! Does it show Chappy consoling me out in the meadows for my failure? No. Does it show me picking some leaves out of Harding's hair after a wild night? No.
Does it matter? No.

Will I enjoy it for what it is? Yes.

Peace.
B

bhilden

Trad climber

Mountain View, CA/Boulder, CO

Sep 20, 2014 - 10:29pm PT

I am pretty sure it doesn't show Harding assaulting me at midnight in the Mountain Room bar spilling wine all over my clothes while muttering "no way the East Face of the Column goes free! Let's go out there right now so I can see you do it for myself!"

Mungeclimber

Trad climber

Nothing creative to say

Sep 21, 2014 - 12:06am PT

I flew a magic carpet last weekend. Born of a common desire to climb in the Sierra that spans all generations. One slice of a view will never capture my golden age at a handful of smaller crags. Neither will this movie capture the Yosemite golden ages completely. And where else might the new guys catch a piece of the history?

Keep stoke alive

Wayno

Big Wall climber

Seattle, WA

Sep 21, 2014 - 12:35am PT

Funny thread. It occurred to me that all one has to do is attend the Oakdale Climbers fest. The last two years attendees represented a large part of the surviving participants in this evolving myth. You can actually talk to the players. For the the most part they are accessible , genuine and inspiring. Way better live than on some contrived video.

Leggs

Sport climber

Made in California

Sep 21, 2014 - 08:50am PT

When ya run the film backwards the down climbing is awesome and the audio repeats over and over "Werner's dead, Werner's dead,......". ;-)

GHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa

Best
Qwote
Ever.

I'm with Tami on this one.
Freaking hilarious.

Bob, I appreciate your input on the film ... I like your honesty and perspective.

~peace

phylp

Trad climber

Millbrae, CA

Sep 21, 2014 - 09:01am PT

BVB, I agree with your main point, which is that documentary's should be accurate.
Which raises an interesting idea -

Maybe they should have made this movie as a "docudrama" using current day climber/actors to play the now ancient historical figures. Would get a lot more action footage. Could put in more sex drugs and rock and roll scenes.

Which current day climber would play which historically depicted climber?
werner could still play himself, probably.

Phyl

Rick A

climber

Boulder, Colorado

Sep 21, 2014 - 09:35am PT

Bob,

You missed the best part! The second half includes videos of illegal wingsuit flights amongst the Valley landmarks which are exhilarating.

I had quibbles about several things, but overall, I really enjoyed it and recommend that people don't wait for the video. Big screen is the way to go on this film.

Living in Colorado, most have not visited Yosemite and I always struggle to try to explain the scale of the El Capitan, "Take the tallest building in Denver, imagine three more stacked on top of it. Now imagine it is made of white granite and is a half mile wide."

The movie was able to communicate the immensity of El Cap better than anything I have ever seen or heard. One base jumping video that made this point near the end of the movie was worth the price of admission alone.

It would make even a curmudgeon smile! :)

TwistedCrank

climber

Released into general population, Idaho

Sep 21, 2014 - 10:04am PT

There is no such thing as bad publicity.

climber

Sep 21, 2014 - 10:51am PT

"...the only true story is told by the crags and their routes." - The Warbler

Ah, the stands in 'mute testimony' thang...

I agree!

Jaybro

Social climber

Wolf City, Wyoming

Sep 21, 2014 - 11:01am PT

I like Phyl's idea!
Though I will see this, and plan to enjoy it anyway, whatever take on history it spins.

"Unbiased journalism is a contradiction in terms," - Hunter S.thompson