X Games 3D: The Movie Reviews

As athletics evolve, the nature of the games and the attitudes of the players are transformed as well. What makes X Games 3D such a unique moviegoing experience is the fact that it gives us not only an eye-popping perspective of the events that constitute the extreme-action sports event, but also fascinating insight into the new breed of sportsmanship. It's positively breathtaking to stand atop the towering vert ramp with skateboarders Danny Way, Bob Burnquist, and Jake Brown as they compete, and genuinely inspiring to see the incredible support they provide one another as they each strive to win the gold. Their goal is not to beat their competitors and gloat in the victory, but to simply live up to their full potential and encourage everyone else to do the same. But enough about sports philosophy -- it's the incredible visuals of X-Games 3D that will drive ticket sales, and with pulse-quickening shots of rally racing, snowboarding, skateboarding, and Moto X jumping, the movie puts us right in the middle of the action as never before. If 3-D is the future of televised sports, things are about to get very cool. In the opening scene, Moto X champion Kyle Loza seems almost reluctant to continue tempting fate, stating -- without a hint of irony or masculine swagger -- "I don't like it. Dirt bikes are scary and dangerous." Yet, much like his fellow X Games athlete Travis Pastrana, Loza can't resist the temptation to try and top himself time and again. These men live to defy the laws of physics, and watching them do so on the big screen, and in 3-D, is a pretty remarkable experience. Reality takes on the appearance of tilt-shift photography as we stand on the arena floor in anticipation of Moto X competitor Jim DeChamp's attempt to execute the first-ever Frontflip, allowing us the rare opportunity to witness the event from the adrenaline-soaked perspective of the athletes themselves. Should you walk in to X-Games 3D seeking nothing more than a 90-minute montage of thrilling extreme-sports imagery, you won't be disappointed. Thankfully, the filmmakers also realize that serious fans will want something more than simply to see their favorite stars shine in a different format, and by exploring their philosophies and revealing their personalities, they ensure that the movie will appeal as much to the hardcore follower as it does to the curious spectator.