Stick It

First of all, let me start by saying that I am sick of bouldering films. There are too many on the market all fitting the same formula to the point of being clichéd: young kids in beanies grunting and groaning, calling each other “bro” (even the females) to the same techno/thrash punk music. That being said, I can say without any sort of hesitation that Stick It (2001, 50 minutes), from Slackjaw Films ([url]http://www.slackjaw.co.uk/[/url]) is by far one of THE BEST bouldering videos I’ve seen in a long, long time. (American bouldering filmmakers take note.) Stick It isn’t at all your stereotypical testosterone fest as mentioned above. The camera work is clear and clean with climbing sequences more focused on the climbing, not on the “how cool does the climber look” so typical of too many bouldering films.

It’s also nice to see a bouldering movie that doesn’t contain the look/feel of a skater video, right down to its lack of “stupid climber tricks” found elsewhere. That’s not to say there aren’t some humorous moments. A feel of “it’s only climbing, so don’t take it so seriously” seems to pervade the film, lending a sense of fun to the watching of this film. One of my favorite sequences featured interviewing (mostly) elderly/older non-climbers at an amusement park in Pentrwyn, asking them why they thought climbers did what they do. The juxtaposition of a traditional amusement park with a boulder field made for a nice touch.

Climbers featured in Stick It include Ben Moon, Jerry Moffatt, Katherine Shirmacher, Lucy Creamer, and more.

Stick It can be ordered directly from the Slackjaw Films site. While the price tag of £15.95 (approximately $29.29 USD), may seem a little steep for a 50 minute film, if you’re in the market for a bouldering video, this is the one to get.