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DVD Review: Means of Production – A Film by Max Bilbow
Independent Playak Review: Means of Production – A Film by Max Bilbow |
Featuring
Athletes include Max Bilbow, Tom Parker, Nick Horwood, Tim Trew, Luke Farrington, Sam Ward and many, many more.
Title
Max Bilbow presents Means of Production – “a Norwegian odyssey interspersed with adventures from around the globe.” About
The movie shows a great deal of footage from Norway, but also from several other countries.
Content
Max Bilbow has really put together something good here. There is a wide variety of footage that ranges from big volume maxed out boating to low volume trickles to steep creeking. While many drops, especially of the Norwegian section, will be recognisable, it is then still refreshing to note how many drops you won’t recognise. It seems too many DVD’s are showing the same drops being hucked and here at least I saw heaps of Norwegian footage that I’d never seen before.
Apart from that there is a short section on Nepal showing some action from a multi-day trip. It’s a pity that section is so short but I guess I’m just a sucker for big volume, technical river running. But then there’s also some cool stuff from Madagascar. This is definitely a hot destination for all types of boating and something we’ll see more and more of in the future. The movie has a section on Italy too and there is a classic carnage scene showing exactly how safety should not be run.
Finally it also covers the White Nile and Zambezi Rivers. The usual crazy action from the Zambezi and then some high grade drops being run on the Nile; drops like Hypoxia, Widow Maker and of course the usual suspects like Itanda and Kalagala. There is a brief history on boda-bodas too that is quite funny.
All these locations are mostly interspersed with quality footage from Norway and there is a fair amount of narration of television’s own Tony Bilbow. He has an excellent voice and the script he follows is very humorous. In fact, the DVD has a very light hearted feel to it and they make light of even the gravest of situations. I really enjoyed that facet of the movie and even my old man enjoyed watching it with me. And believe me, I’ve subjected the poor man to a lot of kayaking footage.
Music
The music is energetic at times and at others easy going. I particularly enjoyed the Myrkdalen section and its accompanying music.
Conclusion
Max has created a high quality movie on a very limited budget. Overall a fantastic DVD well worth the money, which, by the way, includes shipping to anywhere in the world!
Extras
There are a couple of extras to enjoy which include some audio commentaries, deleted scenes, two trailers for NSR, the MOP trailer and a singing performance of Frank Turner.
Sponsors
http://www.tomparkercoaching.co.uk
http://www.loveitliveit.co.uk
Online Ordering
Means of Production For Playak,
Adrian Tregoning