Having witnessed part of the creation of the "Better Than Baseball", one could say I would be partial to praising and promoting this film. This is true to a point. Joey is my brother. Most of these people are my friends. Some of those memories are just as much mine as Joey's or Todd's. However, the effort and thought which went into this piece of art must be recognized....regardless of who I am. It is art. It is beautiful. It is a celebration of youth, life, and the human spirit. There are certain themes that are constant throughout "Better Than Baseball". As "new agey" as it sounds, one of the main aspects of this film is the inner child. So often as we leave our teens, we try to fight our child-like behaviors. There is a right and a wrong way to embrace our youthful personality traits. "Better than Baseball" perfectly encompasses the maturity of a group who is dedicated and passionate about rollerblading, with the playfulness we so often abandon as adults. I would use "Monty Python" as a perfect example, and most definitely say is an influence amongst the creators. Another major theme in this film (which ties in with childhood) is the comparison of past to present. It is a wonder to see how far these people have come. They never gave up. Even when rollerblading trailed off to be filed in the "uncool" folder by all the "I skateboard to be cool....and if it were a fad to eat your own feces, I'd do that to-hipsters". They do this for the love of the sport. They have skated for ten years. It is evident in the old home movies. Home made rails in driveways, big clunky rollerblades, and a passion in their eyes. I can honestly say that this film is so meticulously edited, one could enjoy it without music. Although the tunes are so fucking fabulous and well chosen. "Better than Baseball" is a film which celebrates the human body. The obvious example is of course rollerblading. I can't even jump two inches off the ground on rollerblades. Actually, I can't even stop properly. So to me, I am astounded by what the body is able to achieve. Especially the slow motion shots. It's like bloody ballet. In contrast with the feats of these rollerbladers, they also show extremely normal, everyday actions (such as eating, drinking, sleeping, driving etc). These are necessities to us all, and the way they are placed in the film is priceless. Life's basic needs are shown here....because to these young men, rollerblading is a necessity of life....just like eating or sleeping. I also enjoy the dozens of odd and hilarious facial expressions throughout the movie. This goes along with the intentional inclusion of editing glitches to demonstrate that we are in fact only human. However, it balances nicely with the grandiose of the rest of the film. **I absolutey love Todd's little comment to the waitress about "finishing him off" (regarding the individual who couldn't finish their breakfast). It is a very Todd moment.** The intro leading up to the main title is utterly comical and innovative. With all the tiny pauses throughout, it goes to show just how offbeat and adventurous each individual is. And what the fuck is with that chainsaw shot? I don't even want to know where that came from. **Joey, your "deep voice" is the scariest thing I have ever heard. You sound like a bouncer from the Max.** Also, I realized there is a reason that Joey has stayed "Joey"...and not become Joseph. He has always kept his childhood with him. He holds a wonder about the world that not many people have. It shows in his sections. I especially enjoyed the shot of him skating backwards across the top of the staircase....which proceeds into fantastic shot of Joey's excitement towards the canals of Amsterdam. The section with Joel has a certain slacker feel to it (not necessarily that Joel is a slacker). That wheelchair shot is GOLD! His skating is amazing....but something about this section didn't grab me as much. Don't know what it is. The intro with Todd etc entering the front door, paints a wonderful portrait of excitement/anticipation o' the Canadian House Party. The crew has knighted themselves "SOL", and I can most certainly say that there is no shortage of solidarity within this group. Todd's section shows a very masculine but playful side of his personality. The song contributes to this. It also shows the more gentle side of Todd (sleeping etc). I could go on forever about the hilarity of this section. Everyone will love it I'm sure. Todd is just a likeable guy. And as Todd so deeply said once to me "you gotta live before you die". That's right Todd. Oh how right you are. The Ulrich Schnauss section creates two very different feelings. Just like the song, the visuals are partly organic, and partly industrial. It makes me love the city, the lights, the people. That shot of the blonde woman looking up, with the television screen in the background is phenomenal. Wha

• published: 07 May 2010
• views: 8491

Having witnessed part of the creation of the "Better Than Baseball", one could say I would be partial to praising and promoting this film. This is true to a point. Joey is my brother. Most of these people are my friends. Some of those memories are just as much mine as Joey's or Todd's. However, the effort and thought which went into this piece of art must be recognized....regardless of who I am. It is art. It is beautiful. It is a celebration of youth, life, and the human spirit. There are certain themes that are constant throughout "Better Than Baseball". As "new agey" as it sounds, one of the main aspects of this film is the inner child. So often as we leave our teens, we try to fight our child-like behaviors. There is a right and a wrong way to embrace our youthful personality traits. "Better than Baseball" perfectly encompasses the maturity of a group who is dedicated and passionate about rollerblading, with the playfulness we so often abandon as adults. I would use "Monty Python" as a perfect example, and most definitely say is an influence amongst the creators. Another major theme in this film (which ties in with childhood) is the comparison of past to present. It is a wonder to see how far these people have come. They never gave up. Even when rollerblading trailed off to be filed in the "uncool" folder by all the "I skateboard to be cool....and if it were a fad to eat your own feces, I'd do that to-hipsters". They do this for the love of the sport. They have skated for ten years. It is evident in the old home movies. Home made rails in driveways, big clunky rollerblades, and a passion in their eyes. I can honestly say that this film is so meticulously edited, one could enjoy it without music. Although the tunes are so fucking fabulous and well chosen. "Better than Baseball" is a film which celebrates the human body. The obvious example is of course rollerblading. I can't even jump two inches off the ground on rollerblades. Actually, I can't even stop properly. So to me, I am astounded by what the body is able to achieve. Especially the slow motion shots. It's like bloody ballet. In contrast with the feats of these rollerbladers, they also show extremely normal, everyday actions (such as eating, drinking, sleeping, driving etc). These are necessities to us all, and the way they are placed in the film is priceless. Life's basic needs are shown here....because to these young men, rollerblading is a necessity of life....just like eating or sleeping. I also enjoy the dozens of odd and hilarious facial expressions throughout the movie. This goes along with the intentional inclusion of editing glitches to demonstrate that we are in fact only human. However, it balances nicely with the grandiose of the rest of the film. **I absolutey love Todd's little comment to the waitress about "finishing him off" (regarding the individual who couldn't finish their breakfast). It is a very Todd moment.** The intro leading up to the main title is utterly comical and innovative. With all the tiny pauses throughout, it goes to show just how offbeat and adventurous each individual is. And what the fuck is with that chainsaw shot? I don't even want to know where that came from. **Joey, your "deep voice" is the scariest thing I have ever heard. You sound like a bouncer from the Max.** Also, I realized there is a reason that Joey has stayed "Joey"...and not become Joseph. He has always kept his childhood with him. He holds a wonder about the world that not many people have. It shows in his sections. I especially enjoyed the shot of him skating backwards across the top of the staircase....which proceeds into fantastic shot of Joey's excitement towards the canals of Amsterdam. The section with Joel has a certain slacker feel to it (not necessarily that Joel is a slacker). That wheelchair shot is GOLD! His skating is amazing....but something about this section didn't grab me as much. Don't know what it is. The intro with Todd etc entering the front door, paints a wonderful portrait of excitement/anticipation o' the Canadian House Party. The crew has knighted themselves "SOL", and I can most certainly say that there is no shortage of solidarity within this group. Todd's section shows a very masculine but playful side of his personality. The song contributes to this. It also shows the more gentle side of Todd (sleeping etc). I could go on forever about the hilarity of this section. Everyone will love it I'm sure. Todd is just a likeable guy. And as Todd so deeply said once to me "you gotta live before you die". That's right Todd. Oh how right you are. The Ulrich Schnauss section creates two very different feelings. Just like the song, the visuals are partly organic, and partly industrial. It makes me love the city, the lights, the people. That shot of the blonde woman looking up, with the television screen in the background is phenomenal. Wha

• published: 07 May 2010
• views: 8491