**Warning I express some technical opinions about video in this post. This is something I have professional experience with so don’t just feel I am aimlessly running my mouth, however if you disagree please feel free to comment**
As you may have read in my other post, recently @xposeit
and I attended the World Premier of Pure: a bouldering flick by Chuck Fryberger here in Boulder, CO. Despite numerous under the table kickings from my girlfriend, @xposeit I took notes, which is not something I usually do but I really feel taking these notes better helped me to understand, analyze and reinterpret what I saw. Tom over at allclimbing.com has a review up as well so be sure to check that out.
Prior to the main feature, Pure, they showed the premier trailer for Rocky Mountain Highball, which is premiering April 27, 2009. First impressions? HEART RACING. I noticed a couple of problems in the trailer that were’t that hard, which is fine because when you are 30 feet above the deck even the easiest moves require the up-most attention and delicatee techique. I used to be deathly afraid of highballs but after a recent (ok more like a year ago) trip to Bishop, CA I all of a sudden had a yearning for air under my feet. This trailer made that feeling come alive once more. The amount of focus it takes to complete climbs of this nature is a natural high in itself. The footage in that trailer made me long to have that euphoric feeling once more and I am hoping that Rocky Mountain Highball can continue that felling. Stay tuned for that my review of that film!
Pure: a bouldering flick by Chuck Fryberger
The movie started out with a robotic voice introduction that reminded me of Daft Punk or Deadmau5, both of whom I enjoy so this didn’t turn me off. The only time the robotic voice returns is when they transition to another location, which is a little reminiscent if Dosage V. I felt like this voice introduction was attempting to give that ‘pure’ feeling; no big name voices doing the introductions. This is a theme I felt Chuck, to his credit manged to continue throughout the film.
Chuck took the word ‘Pure’ and attempted to apply it to every aspect of the film; boulders, lines, climbers, cinematography, audio, stories etc. If you’ve read my early post on Mr. Frybergers style then you will understand that on the cinematography plane of things he is pretty spot on. As any good artist does, Chuck improved exponentially in this area of his work. Crane shots and pans were perfect, it appeared that EVERY shot was painstakingly thought out and I am sure they had a specific shoot time for each line; to get just the right light of course. To me these are the signs that point to not just good film maker, but a professional. Those mistakes that I felt Chuck made were Specimen are no longer present in Pure.
Now on to the goods: CLIMBING
As stated in the title ‘…a bouldering flick by…’ this a film about bouldering. Thuggish, feet cutting, teeth gritting, shredded tips, delicate technique bouldering. This is far cry from what Chuck did with Specimen. I feel what Chuck was trying to accomplish with Specimen is exactly what he achieved with Pure. The perfect blend of art and climbing substance is what drives this film. One that I think could be enjoyed by climbers and non-climbers alike. I have probably seen most bouldering flicks out there and I know it’s a bold statement, even after only watching Pure once but this is by far the most motivating bouldering film I have seen. The lines them selves were absolutely amazing, aesthietic and drew many ”ohhhs’ and awws’ from the audiance. I don’t know that there was one problem in that film that I was not longing to climb as it was shown on the big screen. The quality of the video is absolutely stunning and I’m sure shooting the film in 35mm didn’t hurt. There is no ‘real’ story line but Chuck some how manages to use the quotes and quips from climbers along the way to weave together one thought, one consensus of what bouldering is. Pure.
I understand why, ok maybe I don’t understand completely but why did Chuck have to put that comp video action in there. Ok, ok I know for a couple of the characters (Anna Stoehr, Killian Fischhuber and Nalle Hukkataival) it added to their stories but there was some excess that I just didn’t feel added ro the story or continue the theme or ‘purity’. I don’t care how great the footage is, if I have already seen the video on-line almost a year ago, I really don’t need to see it again. Notable other climbers in the film are Fred and Fracois Nicole (the story on that section is truly beautiful and humblingl), Kevin Jorgeson (crushing amazing cove shaped boulders), Cory Roth (destroying the Rock Lands) and Nalle Hukkataival (styling through some of the most aestheic problems in the film.) Those of you who griped that there was no ‘in your face’ bouldering in Specimen- I can assure you this is not the case with Pure.
Oh and for those of you who didn’t read my raw notes, which I posted right after the premier. I thought it was a coincidence that I wrote this right as the movie was ending. I had no idea the end was even near as I was typing. So If I could leave you with just one line from my review. It would be this:
What happens when you put all the dopest lines into one video? Pure.
Tags: Blackberry, Bouldering, Chuck Fryberger, Curve 8330, Home, Review, The Spot, Video
Great review Ryan, I think we had similar impressions of Pure.
I agree Tom. I think that’s a sign of the fact that Chuck has a very distinct style. One that most can agree upon, but sadly I am sure not all will enjoy, although I don’t think there will be too many that feel this way.