[Closed] Chasing Legends (dark side content)

enjoyed the film, had some really nice footage. particularly lance from overhead cranking round that hairpin.

Didn't hear the UCI mentioned at all? what was said?

There is a horrible tendency in cycling films (I'm sure it's true in other sports too) to accept as gospel whatever comes out of the rider's mouth. The bit about the stage in which Hincapie didn't get yellow and Cav was relegated is a case in point. Cav didn't think Garmin should have chased, and claims this "isn't bike racing". We are left with the impression that Garmin did something obviously wrong, but we aren't sure what because a discussion of the extent to which the race is developed as a heroic spectacle by the concious decisions of its participants (or "fixed a bit" if one prefers) is beyond the scope of the arse/head interface that the filmmaker is making.

That ends up making a documentary film basically shallow, which I think CL ultimately is.

I'm not sure I know who it is aimed at. I think essentially the same audience as It's Not About The Bike, in which case fine, it is what it is. And there was a very good audience in Bristol, so I think it has to be declared a success unless they all went home slightly irritated. I want Matt Rendell to make a film I suppose... 🙂

Thoroughly enjoyed it and following #chasinglegends I've yet to see a bad word regarding the film. Want it on bluray asap.

I think there must have been some sort of bet between the panelists as to who could wear the most bizarre item of clothing. Cavs 't shirt and trainers' diner jacket, Brian and Rolfs purple jeans or bolero shirt?! Liggit wasn't in on it though.

hmm, it was good, but not great. Its aimed squarely at the US lance lovers, who also have a bit of a soft spot for Cav.

Garmin chased down Hincapie simply because they didn't want another American team to get yellow IMO. In a sport dominated by advertising you have to expect that, and no one should ever have the god given right to wear yellow.

What did Phil say about he UCI? I missed that.

Really enjoyed the film. Never seen a cycling film that had people laughing at 2 director sportifs and squirming during the crashes. Loved the part with the tour veteran who was 97 years old on there.

Not sure about the Q & A at the end. Would have like a few more questions from the audience.

Worth a watch and the screening was sold out in Bristol.

where can i see this?

I largely agree with BD, although the film was following HTC and so was always going to reflect their views. I'm still undecided as to whether garmin should have chased, and would have been pretty pissed off if i was big george. Ligget was unbearable during the Q&A, wtf was that question to Adag and Holm about who's the biggest to manage or whatever - surely he selected questions in advance so he should have left that one out.

I also agree that a film from Rendell and/or Boulting would be good, really enjoy the real peloton podcast.

oh and jacko, it was on for one night only iirc, although the dvd is out in time for christmas.

Excellent film 😀

some stunning shoots of the tour! Ouch those crashes looked painful 😯

jacko54321 - DVD is already out in US and will be available to be shipped to UK on the 2nd dec I think...

anyone know if this is coming to Edinburgh??

I enjoyed it - yes, some of it is a bit shallow and HTC/Columbia-view centric but that's pretty much inevitable. It's not high brow stuff, just good entertainment IMO and some of the cycling shots are just so much better on the big screen that it really took your breath away - the one that was mentioned in the Q&A of LA sweeping round a bend in particular.

some really nice footage. particularly lance from overhead cranking round that hairpin.

Hwupah! That bit was immense. The bombastic Wagnerian soundtrack really made it that much better as well.

I thought the Q&A at the end was awkward to begin with, but once they warmed up it got entertaining (though they could have checked all the questions made sense first!). Interesting to hear Cav say he doesn't really like sitting in for whole races and wants to race more classics.

I didn't understand Phil Ligget's comment / dig at the McQuaids at the end - anyone care to explain?

dazzlingboy - It was a one off screening last night.. appears closest to you would have been Glasgow!

http://chasinglegends.com/film_tour/

Nobody has mentioned the new funny man of cycling: Jens Voigt.

I thought it was generally good with excellent production. The stuff in the car and team talks - love "Panzatank" and "Prince Harry" - was probably best bits.

looks like they had a few laughs in the car 🙂

oh yes forgot about "prince harry" made me laugh haha 🙂

yeah quite enjoyed it but for more backroom/team/pain stuff also check out Overcoming, this has some great Voigt stuff in too, though less comedy.

What was interesting to see was the high def lower camera position giving you a real sense of the speed they go at during time trials, and how fast they go uphill when attacking. Its difficult to get a sense of this on TV or from a standing viewpoint on the mountain..

You gotta eat sh!t now boys.

I liked it. Bit lacking in any great insight and probably biased to HTC, but I think it was intended to humanise the cycling robots that we're led to believe the pros are. It's been a while since I've been in a movie where people clapped at the end of it, and I haven't belly laughed at a film for a LONG time. Well worth picking up on DVD IMO

One point - Cav's assertion in the Q&A that 'cycling is clean' - sorry, that's just silly. As clean as other sports and maybe cleaner than many top/pro sport but not clean. No way.

I really enjoyed the film, I knew it was going to be about HTC as that was the point of the film so there may be biased views etc. However re-waching those kye bits of the TdF gave m goose bumps and made me want to get out and ride my bike. Oh and I was hoping the TdF started again next week!! I loved it although did think the Q&A was a bit lame, it could've/should've been shorter punchier questions, and stopped the film maker blathering on. Just MO.
Loved it though and could watch it again tomorrow.

EDIT Clubber I agree it made me chuckle too. Oh and they shouldv'e got him to stop rubbing his trouers as it was affecting the microphone, but he's clearly not au fait with media despite his status. Oh and loved the comedy bits with Voight and Aldag.

Interested by the comments about the film being shallow. What would it take to be deep and profound? Is that really what folk look for in a film or, like me, do they like to be entertained?

I thought it was an excellent film and will be buying it on Blu Ray for sure.

I thought the Q&A was well done particularly given that it was live. Cav came across as slightly nervous at first. I suspect folk are so used to seeing edited films and tv programmes that it comes as a surprise when you see folk umming and awing live.

As for being aimed at US Lance lovers, really? Did I watch the same film?

Now what we need is a film about the legend that is Jens Voight. I think the whole cinema winced when they saw him ride along his face in that crash.

Cheers

Sanny

Yep, there were a few gasps as Jens Voight crashed and laughs at Prince Harry and the Panzerwagon. I thought it was a great film, the alpine descents sent shivers down my spine.

Cav did come across as nervous and dare I say humble. As cycling films go I think this is up there at the top, lets be honest, no cycling film is ever going to be profound is it?

I thought it was thoroughly entertaining. Totally agree with the comment that the filming showed the 'true' speed the riders go at 😯 (probably enhanced by the dramatic soundtrack). Strangely I found the 'non-riding' portions involving Voigt, Aldag and Holm the most entertaining - probably as I watched the 2009 Tour on Channel 4 and so knew the race results. Those guys should have their own show.

...and the 'Prince Harry' moment - the whole cinema was in stitches at that. 😆

I agree it's entertaining enough, and I always love to see race footage. It's definitely better on the big screen, totally agree with that. The trouble, I think, is that it's really nothing more than some race footage, some goofing about and some talking heads which aren't very illuminating. It's unfair to compare it with Man On Wire, which I suppose is my documentary benchmark. If we're comparing it to Roam/Seasons or whatever, that we watch while we're doing something else, occasionally go "wow" at the moving pictures and repeat some of the hilarious bits of banter to one another then that's a different bechmark, and it's fine, perfectly good effort and certainly worth the price of the ticket. Just nothing special.

And (I at least) was comparing it to INATB because it is not remotely questioning of its protagonists, simply celebrates how awesome everything is and assumes an audience that requires an explanation of how the TdF works but can't stomach a complicated one. 🙂

Big lance armstrong and even bigger cavendish fan here.

And I love the TdF. I'm so annoyed I missed it, will probably buy it on DVD.