Search - Levelland on DVD

Da Real Deal - SKATER MADE

Paul Revere | Venice, CA | 08/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Plenty of films have been made to exploit skateboarding's popularity; each time the sport hits a surge, Hollywood rushes to cash in. This one's DIFFERENT. It's an indy film that knows where it is coming from, has real roots. Director Walker clearly knows skaters, and teenagers in general as the film hits no false notes in depicting the joys and sorrows of being a skater and a kid just trying to grow up without going insane in a dead end, strip mall world most kids are born into these days. The acting is quite good and the story holds up too - coming-of-age stuff that would be critically praised in any other country but the US, where teens are supposed to save the world daily by leaping from exploding fireballs and singing disco-pop songs instead of getting clinically bummed out by high school and taking their frustrations out on concrete and brain cells. For me, it was the skating that shows the attention to detail - for once a film that ain't about pros, or wanting to be a pro, or acting like a pro etc etc. The actors are all obviously real skaters chosen for their ability to be natural on camera. Look for a cameo by the writer/ director in the (well shot!) swimming pool sequence - he's the barefoot one on a longboard.



The bonus is, the soundtrack ROCKS. Tons of great old punk rock by groups like The Minutemen, Black Flag and the Meat Puppets, Replacements... too many to list. Is there an album? I'd buy it."

Horrible

james karr | 05/13/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I dont understand the good reviews i see. This movie had a poor script and poor acting. It had very little to do with skating and more to do with the kids affair with his teacher (who i must add it was disturbing to have to see her naked becuase she was no looker). If you want a comedy/adventure movie based on skateboarding get Grind, it has good actors, a funny plot, and a lot more to do with skateboarding."

Levelland

james karr | california | 10/21/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I recently rented this movie, and like it a lot. I thought the story was cool, and some of the actors were really good. I really liked "Nick", and "Betty". those were my favorite characters, and their acting was really believable. Also, the soundtrack rocked. Whoever did it had great taste. Editing was a little off. I wish the story went more into the older brother and his friends instead of the WB looking guy. rock on"

Skaterville.

H3@+h | VT | 05/08/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This was a movie I found for one dollar, and it was worth about that. Honestly I did kind of like it. It is however less a movie about skateing, as it is about this group of kids, that skate. It was typical suburbia, teens wishing they could get away, and doing what they can with what they have. What I related to most was the fling the main kid had with his teacher. I was in a situation like that before, and found it to be pretty much the exact experience I had. The music was good, dialogue decent. Overall I'd say if you've ever been in high school, and been a part of the skate scene, you should dig Levelland."