First off, this is my opinion, (and I'm a cinema AND moto junkie),so take that for what it's worth.
The first thing I noticed was the beautiful cinematography. Whom ever was working the cameras had a good grasp of the art. I feel that a few choicer shots could have been set up, but overall, there was some very cool stuff.
The music was cool, but 30 years from now it's going to sound VERY dated. But that might be part of what makes this film a classic down the road.
I was disappointed when they started showing repeated crashes ala ABCs CART intros. Yeah, highsides are cool to watch, but not ad nausem. I would have much prefered seeing some close awesome passes ad naseum. ;D
At first, I was very into the film. It has dozens of interviews from lots of different perspectives. While that might have been a real strong point in a television series documentary, I tend to think it made the movie lengthy and boring, unless you are a moto junkie.
The retrospective aspect juxtaposing the Schwantz/Rainey rivalry against the Rossi/Biaggi (while interesting) seemed to be an opinion of the producers, but it didn't work for me as a cimematic tool. That would be something again best left to an op/ed piece in a magazine or as a TV special (then vs now).
Poor Gary McCoy comes off as a pathetic little figure, rather than the gritty individual they were trying to portray. Always running into bad luck at the most inopportune moments. They didn't seem to highlight what a superbly talented guy he really is.
John Hopkins got a nice little feature spot, which was great. He was probably the second most likeable figure in the movie.
Rossi comes off as fun loving, Biaggi as cold, bitter, and maybe too flawed for greatness. I know the producers need an angle, but this seemed too stereotyped and not quite the complete picture of either man as a whole.
Rossi's interveiws are a hoot to watch. He is the most likeable person in the film, even if he's not your favorite racer.
I would have liked to see more technical stuff covered, but even I honestly think that would have bored the average viewer to tears.
What the movie really needed was some excitment from a fan point of view. For us racers, its enough to see our icons and heros on screen, doing what they do best. I think they missed the boat somehow, and I can't put my finger on what is was.
The movie tried too hard to cover way too much. I tried to put myself in the place of someone with a little knowledge of motorsports with an interest in what the two wheeled aspect would be all about. If I were to show this film to one of my non-racer friends, I don't think they would get a complete or accurate picture of what we do or why we do it. I'm not even sure it would persuade them to come to a race event.
All of that said, this movie will become a motorsports classic. It captures those Moto GP seasons in time, forever. From a racer's or moto enthusiast's point of view, this movie rocks. From a film goers perspective, it could have used some better editing and a clearer focus. While this might not be quite the moto equivalent to Gran Prix, get it and add it to your library.
I liked Faster. I really liked seeing it in a room full of racers. Perhaps stuff could have been different, but I was just thrilled that someone had tried so hard and spent so much money to capture motorcycle roadracing on film. I personally couldn't find much to complain about. (A first for me!)
The ultimate racing film is Le Mans, hands down.
Great review Alexa, thanks. Something you mentioned at the end pertaining to getting people to come see a race; for X-mas and birthdays I have given some friends and relatives subs to RRW. After a few months of their actually reading it, even the non-fans, are wanting to come to the track!? It reminded me of the sport needing each of us to get out there and spread the word if this is going to thrive as it does in Europe. (Didn't mean to jack your thread.)
Who did you order it through and how long did it take to receive? Thanks again.
I ordered it from //www.fastermovie.com and it took about two weeks
You're not "jacking the thread". I try to preach the RR/moto gospel as well, but some people will never be interested in our sport, just like I will never enjoy baseball. :o ;D It's ok. But if there are those out there who are "unenlightened", the RRW subscription idea is a good one. :D
K3, I was trying to give an honest evaluation of the film. I'm a moto GP crazy idiot, too, so the scenes of the rear tires breaking loose made my heart go all a pitter-pat. ;) ;D ;D But if I had no interest, I would have fallen asleep half way through. :o :(
I kept wanting something more to be there. That's what a really great film is all about. This film is good, not great.
Sounds great, thanks for the review! I am still waiting for my copy to arrive.
Personally, I am glad it's geared towards the moto-junkie. I think if they would have done with more of a "general-public" appeal, we'd wind up with the same thing as the last two "general-public appeal" movies - Biker Boyz and Torque. Horribly dumbed down, no depth... NO THANKS!
I'm somewhat glad it's more for "us" than it is for "them". All in all I was pretty happy with it. I like how Doohan (or was it Rainey?) says that there really isn't a Rossi-Biaggi rivalry because "I haven't seen him (Biaggi) win anything." LMAO! ;D
I liked the music and yes, it may be dated years down the road, but the same can be said now for On Any Sunday.
Got my copy today. Watched it, my third time now. I still don't have any gripes.
:'( :'( Still hav'nt got mine. My wife is getting sick of me coming through the door every evening asking "Did I get anything in the mail?" (Well, sicker of me.) ;D
Hey Chris, I wonder what your heart rate is while going through a corner? Rossi's 125 or Biaggi's 175? Or maybe... a crazy K3 berserker drum beat. ;) ;D
That heartrate info was interesting. I don't take too much from it, though. I know personally that my heartrate jumps way above what the common person thinks is 100%. I've heard that some people figure 220 minus your age to be your 100% heartrate. If that were true, then my 100% would be 187. So anything 85-90% of that would be anerobic and I shouldn't be able to maintain a heartrate over 168 for an extended period of time - 4 minutes max.
Well I wore an accurate monitor for a couple weeks and watched my heartrate during certain tasks. I ran 4 miles without my heartrate dropping below 187. The last mile it was at 196. Just getting up and going to the bathroom raised it to 135 - and that was when I was sitting ;D (I know - TMI) ;D
My buddy wore a heartrate monitor while mountain biking. He won races and never went over 160. What sucks is the Military fitness assessment has changed to your heartrate. Just a straight figure across the board - no matter who you are.
So I am sure that my heartrate would be over 170 - probably the whole race weekend. I know I went a little off topic here.
The "220 minus your age" is an esimate of max HR to help average folks excercise more accurately in the correct zone. (Usually between 65-80% of max)
Athletes have different training procedures. If you run an average of 4 miles per day, that means you are conditioned and will have a different set of criteria for assessing your fitness. My resting heart rate is under 60 (usually 56-58) and I max out around 160 when running. I'm 43, so I'm in fairly good shape for my age.
Someone conditioned might have a high heart rate under load, and not be affected so much, especially if they are young. However, I do think that Rossi is probably "cooler" than Biaggi, judging by that info.
See? I love this techie stuff. ;D
I really enjoyed the movie.
I think there must be some sport documentary director's handbok or else the director of "Faster" was highly influenced by another sport documentary, "Pumping Iron". The similarities are amazing.
Both portray a good guy (Rossi/Katz), a bad guy (Biaggi/Schwartzenager), a new guy (Hopkins/Ferrigno) and a host of other former and current contestants (I'll just mention the ones from "Pumping Iron" since we have seen or will see "Faster", Serge Nubret, Sergio Oliver, blah, blah, blah).
"Pumping Iron" did a lot to increase the general popularity and acceptance of bodybuilding as a sport. Maybe "Faster" will help spread the gospel of motorcycle road racing.
Can I get an "Amen" from the house? ;) 8)
H-man
QuoteCan I get an "Amen" from the house? ;) 8)
Ê
NO ;D :P
QuoteNO ;D :P
You heathen! ;D
I shall rebuke you as I read from the book of Code (TOTW II version) ;D
QuoteYou heathen! ;D
I shall rebuke you as I read from the book of Code (TOTW II version) Ê;D
I FART IN YOUR GENERAL DIRECTION ! (Monte Python and the Holy Grail)
;D :P
Okay then pal, if you're so hot. What's the air speed of a swallow? ;)
Oops. Inadvertent threadjack here. :o I'm stoppin' now.
We now return you to the review of "FASTER: the Movie"
QuoteOkay then pal, if you're so hot. What's the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow? ;)
(Fixed your quote ;D )
African or European?
QuoteOops. Inadvertent threadjack here. :o I'm stoppin' now.
We now return you to the review of "FASTER: the Movie"
Thank you!
While it's fun to read once in a while.....
.... hijacking everythread gets a bit annoying.
Dawn ;)
Kris that goes for you too!
Dawn ;D
QuoteCan I get an "Amen" from the house? ;) 8)
Amen, Namaste, Inshallah, Halleluja...
;D ;D ;D
This article actually predates this thread. I wrote it for Chicagoland Motorsports News, but had to wait untill they published it before I could post it here.
"FASTER" Brings out a fast crowd at The Vic!
By "K3" Chris Onwiler
For several years now, sportbike fans the world over have been waiting impatiently for the release of the movie "FASTER." Filmed during the 2001-2002 MotoGP seasons, this documentary-style film has generated major buzz through snippets in various motorcycle publications and bits of leaked footage on the Internet. Because this movie would not have the wide public appeal of a major motion picture, we have been kept waiting for a full year while the film company tried to decide how to market the movie. At one point, FASTER was supposed to follow the Cycle World Motorcycle Show from city to city, the thought being that the crowds of show-goers might also pay to see the movie. That plan fell through, and eventually various private individuals were able to secure the film for locally organized public screenings.
On May 16, FASTER was shown at the Brew and View in the Vic Theater, on Sheffield and Belmont in Chicago's Gold Coast. News of the showing traveled quickly through the Internet message boards that service the local motorcycle scene, so there was a big crowd. Best of all, the weather was sunny and in the upper sixties, so lots of people rode their bikes to the event. Parking in the Gold Coast area is a nightmare, but it was a beautiful thing to see dozens of sportbikes squeezed into every available inch of space near the theater. For several hours before the show, the scream of high-tech Japanese four cylinders and the thunder of twin cylinder Italian thoroughbreds reverberated through the brick canyons of the old neighborhood, and racing leathers were the chic apparel at all the sidewalk cafes in the area. Before the doors opened at 4:30, the line for tickets stretched around the corner and down the next block!
FASTER is all that we've been promised, and more. The love and understanding of the sport that were put into that film are beyond belief. Faster covers the final season of the 500cc two-stroke formula in MotoGP, and the following season when the 500cc two-strokes raced alongside the new 996cc four-stroke machines. Through interviews with the legendary riders of past and present, team owners, mechanics, girlfriends, and even the doctor who patches the riders back together, this movie shows us the inside world of top-level professional motorcycle racing in a way we could never hope to see otherwise. History is addressed through interviews and footage of past champions Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz, and Mick Doohan. The rivalry between Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi is covered with merciless clarity. The rough road of up-and coming stars John Hopkins and Gary McCoy is documented in all it's painful honesty. By the end of the movie, we realize not only why these men are the best in the world, but also what the cost of such greatness actually is. As a racer myself, I was moved by the way the filmmakers were able to portray the sometimes grim reality of motorcycle racing with both honesty and beauty.
After the movie, everybody split up and headed off with their own groups. Some chose to stay and have a late dinner at one of the many nice restaurants in the area, or perhaps retire to one of the many local pubs for an extended discussion of the movie they had just seen. Others headed off to get in a bit more saddle time before that beautiful Sunday ended. A number of people were facing drives back as far as Iowa and Minnesota, but I don't think anyone left the movie disappointed. If you missed this showing of the movie, rumor has it that the DVD will be released for sale sometime in June. This is a true "Must Have" DVD for all sportbike fans. Check out http://www.fastermovie.com/ for ordering info.
Nicely written Chris. :D (Would we expect less?) I love that we can all have differing views on stuff and put it out there. I'm giving the FASTER dvd to a freind's son to review. He's not a motorcyle guy at all, but he loves all kinds of movies. I'll let you know what he thinks.
Nice review, Alexa. I agree with a lot of what you said. Your comments about the movie's treatment of Gary McCoy were right on.
Dare I say it? I found the movie boring. Some of the filming was good. Loved the theme song. Other than that, I thought it fell flat. Even though it's a documentary I think they could have built in at least some competitive tension during the film to make a more interesting story.
Maybe I'm being unfair. Maybe my expectations were just too high, but I got bored and didn't finish it. Oh well...