Intrepid Descent (2008/First Run DVD)

 

Picture: C     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Main Program: C+

 

 

In a continuing cycle of ski product that is more enjoyable than expected, The Erik Osterholm/Zander Hartung documentary Intrepid Descent (2008) is a very, very short 26 minutes, but shows us the extreme skiing that has been going on since Tuckerman Ravine was founding place for backcountry skiing in the 1920s and extreme skiing at that.  Located just below Mt. Washington’s peak in New England, it is a one of a kind place and the elevation is so that the temperature can be very different from the ground to the peak.

 

The only problem here is simply the short length.  The new footage is recent and there had to be more to shoot, more interviews to be had and more history to be shared.  Maybe next time, but for what is here, this is fair.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image has 1.33 X 1 vintage film footage stretched out to the sides as if it were shot widescreen.  I was not a fan of that, but you can readjust your set to see how good that old footage looks.  Too bad it is not here as an extra and bonus footage is offered.  All of it is on the soft side.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has some monophonic sound and is not bad throughout for basic sound.

 

Extras include stills, text director’s note & bio, snippet on The New England Ski Museum and trailers for six (mostly) sports titles from First Run (including Fire On The Mountain) we have reviewed on the site.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo