Category: movies

cycling – world’s longest line?

On By Rick McIn Cirque du Soleil, cycling, moviesLeave a comment

Did you happen to see Darren Berrecloth’s uninterrupted ride down a steep arid mountain ridge in Utah?

Very cool!

It first aired on Discovery Channel’s Stunt Junkies Feb. 1st, 2006. But I notice they are replaying that episode frequently where I live.

Darren

Berrecloth is widely considered to be the top mountain bike freerider on extremely steep and technical terrain.

From Discovery Channel:

Bike Magazine’s 2004 “Rider of the Year,” Canadian Darren “Bearclaw” Berrecloth has spent the last few years radicalizing the already extreme sport of freeride mountain biking. His signature spins, hand grabs and no-hands seat grabs have redefined the sport and earned him tons of accolades in the biking world.

global warming

On By Rick McIn bad news, moviesLeave a comment

Global warming is about to reach the public consciousness in a big way. Check the trailer for the soon to be released documentary narrated by Al Gore.

I hope I get to see the snows of Kilimanjaro before they disappear completely.

An Inconvenient Truth – Trailer

And a list of Global warming skeptic articles.

video – high ropes course

On By Rick McIn gymnastics, humour, moviesLeave a comment

At your annual retreat you could do something fattening — like a barbecue workshop.

Or you could ask people to climb a wobbly telephone pole and jump for a slippery trapeze. That’s what Alberta Gymnastics did at YMCA Camp Chief Hector on April Fool’s Day, 2006.

You should be able to watch a short video clip below.

working for Cirque du Soleil

On By Rick McIn Cirque du Soleil, movies, product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

Cirque has 12 shows worldwide and is more popular than ever. Over 7 million people will see a performance this year.

My old friend Dan is coaching a new Vegas show premiering in 2006. I know it as “Le Boys”, featuring the music of The Beatles. Sounds like a winner.

Cirque du Soleil has 2,400 employees and is hiring every day. I am contracted with Cirque as a travelling consultant helping them find the most talented gymnasts, divers and “extreme sport” athletes in the USA. Coaches tell me there is a big demand as Cirque continues to expand.

My old friend Dana (I have a lot of old friends in Cirque) recommended me for this position and for that I resolve to be nicer to Dana. I solemnly promise never to moon her again.

I am proud to be even a small part of an organization like the Cirque du Soleil.

movies – 50 best independent films

On By Rick McIn moviesLeave a comment

City of GodSome completely unknown.

Empire’s 50 Greatest Independent Films

Of course the list includes the shocking Brazilian film “City of God”. It’s the most troubling film I have seen since “Kids”. Be warned.

movie – Crash

On By Rick McIn moviesLeave a comment

I am not sure Crash deserved the Academy Award, but I am happy it won. Crash addresses a very important, oft avoided issue — racism.

And the film is very well constructed in every way.

As a privileged white male Canadian, I may be one of the least qualified to comment on racism. I’ve never had a road block put in front of me due to my race.

Crash reminded me of American History X, an even better film. But the story in X was simplistic: neo-Nazi makes a black friend and is reformed.

Real life is far, far more complex. Crash seeks — more than anything — to examine just how complicated racism really is.

Thumbs up for Crash. Also David Cronenberg’s superb 1996 film also called Crash.

poster

movie budgets will average US$15 million

On By Rick McIn economics, moviesLeave a comment

Leave it to “Star Wars” creator George Lucas to pronounce the death of the Hollywood blockbuster.

“The market forces that exist today make it unrealistic to spend $200 million on a movie,” said Lucas, a near-billionaire from his feverishly franchised outer-space epics. “Those movies can’t make their money back anymore. Look at what happened with ‘King Kong.'”

… “I think it’s great that the major Oscar nominations have gone to independent films,” … adding that it’s no accident that the “small movies” outclassed the spectaculars in this year’s Academy Awards.

… “In the future, almost everything that gets shown in theaters will be indie movies,” Lucas declared.

New York Daily News – Lucas: Big pics are doomed

book – Mosquito Coast, Paul Theroux

On By Rick McIn books, movies, philosophyLeave a comment

I have read all of Theroux’s travel books & most of his novels.

Finally got around to his 1982 novel which was made into a movie starring Harrison Ford.

Great book! Good movie!

The extreme philosophy of Ford’s character — a man who so hates American life that he moves his family to the jungles of Central America — is still fascinating today.

It reminds me of another terrific case study: Elizabeth Gilbert’s biography of Eustace Conway, The Last American Man.

Amazon reviews of Mosquito Coast.

Ford