 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Lords of Dogtown
- Review Date: September 25, 2005
- PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Portrait of Venice, CA, '70s teen skater culture.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this film includes teen smoking, drinking, drug use, foul language, sexual activity, and violence. The heroes are 1970s California rebels who essentially invent freestyle skateboarding, then confront a barrage of commercial contracts and crass promoters, instant celebrity, high stakes competitions, and insecurities among themselves. Some of the kids also deal with money problems at home, single and absent parents, and romantic pressures. One skater learns late that he's suffering from brain cancer, and his post-surgery appearance, surely gallant, may also be distressing for younger viewers.
What's the story?
LORDS OF DOGTOWN focuses on three wannabe Venice Beach surfers turned champion skaters -- Tony Alva (Victor Rasuk), Peralta (John Robinson), and Jay Adams (Emile Hirsch) -- as well as their initial mentor, scruffy Zephyr team founder Skip (Heath Ledger). The virtuoso skaters are laying the foundations for Tony Hawk, video games, and the X Games. Their visions of how they might leave lasting impressions differ. Skip plays loud music (Hendrix is a favorite), puts the team through tough paces on their boards, and even provides them with a vague sense of belonging when he gives them matching t-shirts. As the boys face their suddenly burgeoning fame (pretty girls in shorts, all-night parties, televised competitions, and endorsements), greed is incarnated by opportunistic promoter Topper (Johnny Knoxville pimped out to resemble Kid Rock). Jay is especially torn, as he wants to support his weary working mom (Rebecca De Mornay), but really doesn't want to have to sing the "Slinky" song to make money.
Is it any good?
Poised to be great, fast fun, this movie is too often slowed by clichés. The most thrilling moments in Lords of Dogtown feature skateboard wheels. More precisely, cameras mounted on and even under skateboards, so that the whirring of wheels, slamming over pavement, and hurtling headlong into air seem immediate and vital. But aside from this stunty camerawork, Catherine Hardwicke's second feature (her first was the affecting Thirteen) tells a conventional story. Based on the real life adventures of the same skaters at the center of writer Stacy Peralta's documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys, in turn based on a 1999 Spin article and Peralta's own skateboarding experiences, the fictionalized film is less about cultural resistance and wild riding in empty swimming pools than about capitulation.
The movie's most compelling question is unresolvable, as in itself it replicates the problem of selling out, by further exploiting the success of Peralta's documentary. Skip, of all people, ends up looking like the heroic holdout, broke but determined to stay true to his vision -- always ready to surf, never overwhelmed by career.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the many ways that kids can rebel against authority and convention and what does and doesn't appeal to them about skater culture. Families can talk about what is and isn't compelling about rebellion. How does the movie alternately celebrate and question the main characters' choices? What does selling out mean to kids? And what are kids willing to sacrifice either to make money or follow their dreams?
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AGE
Finally! Another movie that tributes the pioneers of skateboarding!
This movie was fantastic to me for two reasons: I am a (so-so) skateboarder and own all things skateboard or involved with the X-Games, and two, it was a good movie (though better if you're into all these things). I also highly reccommend "Dogtown and the Z-Boys", the first and classic skateboarding film.
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Kid, 11 years old
September 8, 2009
AGE
OKKKKK... Innapropriate,though
Good movie but innapropriate. Teenagers make out-bra and panties- in bed, quite a lot of cussing and alot of smoking. Parents if you are not prepared for your kids first kiss and your kid to know every cuss word there is do not watch this movie.
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AGE
loved it!
this movie was awesome!It has great sports action. It tells the story of the Zepher skate team with great accuracy and detail. best for kids 10 and up because of some alchoal use and swearing.
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AGE
Great Movie, not a good example for kids
I think the common sense review is a little too watered down on the social messages given. There is not only misbehaving, they are pretty rude and display very inappropriate social behaviors. In the context of the film it is okay because it is about real people, but I don't want my kids acting like that.
The movie is great and it shows the aspects of life that many youth in that era experienced. It is pretty cool to see how things evolved in the world of skateboarding.
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AGE
not 2 horrible
when i saw the comercial to this movie it looked kinda like no plot and a dorky teen movie....but i went to see this movie n e ways and thot that it was actually ok....for 1 of those skateboarding movies...still alot of drug references and language for a pg-13..if ur over 13 i say go and see it
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AGE
a MUST SEE for skaters
great movie
tons of skating and surfing
johnny knoxville is in it
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AGE
Worth a look
A lot of people think this movie was terrible compared to the documentary, i on the other liked it just as much.
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| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Catherine Hardwicke |
| Cast: | Emile Hirsch, Heath Ledger, Rebecca DeMornay |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 107 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 3, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | September 27, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | drug and alcohol content, sexuality, violence, language and reckless behavior - all involving teens |
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