Don't be surprised if you feel a dry, tickling sensation in the back of your throat after watching the slam-bang racing documentary Dust to Glory. It's probably from the lingering sand and silt spewed from the knobby wheel... more »s of an array of machines that skitter from one end of the Baja Peninsula to the other. Using 90 cameras in a variety of formats, director Dana Brown captures the giddy danger of the race with truly visceral force. In 1967, a few California thrill-seekers had the Eureka spirit to take their homemade race cars for some whooping-up in the wide-open land just a few hours away. Since then, the Baja 1000 has turned into a party-fueled happening that's more akin to Burning Man than the Indy 500. It's billed as the world's longest nonstop race, running point-to-point for 1,000 miles through the Mexican desert from Tijuana to La Paz--pretty much the entire length of Baja.
Dana Brown is the son of Bruce Brown, whose 1966 film The Endless Summer sparked a surfing craze, and still holds up as an incomparable ode to the existential surfing lifestyle. Dust to Glory is by no means so profound and uses more of a Warren Miller thrill-marketing style (he of the annual throwaway extreme-skiing films). Cameras swoop down from helicopters, careen through silt, and are put into tracks over which vehicles pass at extreme speeds. In spite of the adrenaline rush, Dust to Glory is ultimately more about what people think about the higher implications of the competition. From the creators of Step Into Liquid comes this absolutely exhilarating film about the most notorious and dangerous race in the world: the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000. Showcasing Mario Andretti, Robby Gordon, Johnny Campbell and J.N. Roberts, and packed with awesome helicopter footage, in-your-face POV shots and stories of raw courage, Dust to Glory follows a wild assortment of motorcycles, dune buggies, ATV quads and tricked-out trucks in a 32-hour dash across 1,000 miles of unforgiving terrain and delivers such pulse-pounding thrills that you feel like you've been there .« less
"I did enjoy this film, however it was a little too much "MTV" stylee footage for my tastes--you know, where they cut every 2-3 seconds to convey "maximum action". The Baja 1000 needs NO enhancement!! What I wanted to see was more SUSTAINED footage of the vehicles in action. Yes, there is some of that, but not enough. Just like concert videos and other sports footage, WE WANT TO SEE THE ACTION!!! that means NOT cutting back and forth like a mainiac, hey, this is just because I care man."
One of the best movies of all time
Michael T. Saldivar | Castro Valley, CA USA | 05/31/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I took my wife to see this movie, I was excited to see what looked like an exciting movie about motorcycles racing through Baja. She was excited about an evening together, and thought she'd suffer through the movie for the sake of the relationship.
Turns out, she enjoyed it as much as me! This isn't just a movie about gearheads driving through the desert, it's the story of the hundreds of people and families involved in the race, how it affects them, the challenges they face, and overcoming obstacles. You'll laugh with the racers as they joke around, hide sniffles as Malcom works with the orphans, share frustration with The Weatherman, and white-knuckle whatever's handy as the trucks and bikes race through crowds of people or along the cliffs, and get entirely caught up in the intensity of the race action across the beautifully dangerous Baja landscape.
This movie documents the triumph of the human spirit in the harshest of conditions. Definitely worth seeing, many times."
Good clean fun in the dirt!
Craigums | SF Bay Area | 04/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For those of us who've ridden Baja this is a reminder of why we do so. For those who haven't this is just the thing to show you why you should. High speed action, adventure, guts, and glory all wrapped up in one great movie. Dana is rapidly approaching the skill level of his father and his movies are having just as much impact as On Any Sunday and Endless Summer. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves riding, racing and the desert! Two thumbs up!"
Astonishingh Documentary on Baja 1000
Mark A. Laughlin | Worland, WY | 01/16/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Being a 10 year MX veteran from back in the late 70's and early 80's, I thought I knew something about Baja. I was wrong, this is an amazing race beautifully filmed.
I played the video for a group of friends one day over dinner, none of whom are involved in off-road sports and all were transfixed to the very end. My wife, who absolutely hates motorcycles, nonetheless talked about this video non-stop on the long drive home after watching it with our friends. For the first time EVER, I think maybe, just maybe, my wife found a spark of interest in off-road racing."
DUST TO GLORY! and Glory it was!!!
Melissa E. Stephany | 01/06/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I must say when my husband asked me to watch this DVD, I agreed only out of minimal interest. I have been to San Felipe several times and have been there on Race Day for the BAJA 250. Although I have enjoyed being there in person, I did not think I would like to watch a whole DVD on the subject. Boy was I mistaken.
Watching this DVD was like taking my first buggy ride! I smiled the entire way through (but no sand in my teeth :) It was very interesting and fast paced. I am now much more of a fan of this sport and cannot wait to go down to BAJA again to watch and be a part of this wonderful race.
I HIGHLY recommend buying this DVD and watching over and over. Our 12 year old son loved it as well!!!!!!!"