Featured Blu-ray / DVD Review: Warren Miller: Dynasty
October 28, 2010
Warren Miller: Dynasty - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
Warren Miller started making ski films in 1950 with Deep And Light and these films became an annual event for him. While he retired from filmmaking in the late 1980s, his production company, Warren Miller Entertainment, continues his legacy. Dynasty is the 60th film to carry his name, but does it live up to his reputation?
Starting in Lake Tahoe, the movie follows many, many skiers from Mike Wiegele, who pioneered heli-skiing at Blue River in Canada, to Alexis Roland, who is just nine years old, but is already an accomplished snowboarder. Some historic locations are checked out, from the Mongolian / Chinese border, the likely birthplace of skiing, to Aspen at the Winter X-Games with sit skis, one of the latest developments in the sport.
The film is narrated by Olympic Gold medalist Jonny Moseley and there are a number of songs that really help sell the film, but for the most part, it's just footage of skiing. A lot of really awesome skiing. Seeing people ski jump without a mountain is not something you see every day. (And that's not even the weirdest sight you will see.) However, if you are looking for an in-depth, scholarly look at skiing, this is not the place to go. On the other hand, if you are a fan of Warren Miller's work, it's definitely worth checking out.
The only extra on the DVD is a featurette called 60 Years in the Making that looks at the making of this movie specifically and Warren Miller's legacy in the genre in general.
Unfortunately, I do not have the Blu-ray to review. There have been reports that the audio is bugged, but the studio is replacing defective discs.
Warren Miller: Dynasty - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
The Movie
The Extras
The Verdict
- Submitted by: C.S.Strowbridge
Filed under: Video Review