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Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, John Robinson (IX), Michael Angarano, Nikki Reed ... see more see more... , Heath Ledger , Rebecca De Mornay , Johnny Knoxville , Tony Alva , Alexis Arquette , Ned Bellamy , Tony Hawk , Vincent Laresca , Matt Malloy , Julio Oscar Mechoso , Charles Napier , Stacy Peralta , Rene Rivera , Rebeca Silva , Ling Bai , William Mapother , Bill Cusack , Elden Henson , Mitch Hedberg , Shea Whigham , Chad Fernandez , Sofía Vergara , America Ferrera , Chuck Hosack , Mark Kubr , Melonie Diaz , Kirk Ward , Chelsea Hobbs , Pablo Schreiber , Laura Ramsey , Eddie Cahill , Joel McHale , Jay Adams , Bob Biniak , Skip Engblom , Ray Flores , Benjamin Nurick , Brian Zarate , Stephanie Limb , Mike Ogas , Cheyne Magnusson , Don Nguyen , Kristian Peterson , Jim "Red Dog" Muir , Chris Chaput , Steve Badillo , Sarah Blakely-Cartwright , Eric "Tuma" Britton , Reid Harper , Paulette Ivory , Raphael Verela , Joe Virzi , Daniel Venegas , Lucas Gasperik , Travis Peterson , Jack Smith

The true story of the kids who created modern skateboard culture is recreated in this drama. In the early '70s, skateboards were seen as a fad of the 1960s that had all but died out, but in a rough-an... read more read more...d-tumble Venice, CA community known as "Dogtown," that was about to change. Tony Alva (Victor Rasuk), Stacy Peralta (John Robinson), and Jay Adams (Emile Hirsch) were three guys who liked to surf the rugged beaches around Venice and hung out at the Zephyr Surf Shop, a store run by Skip Engblom (Heath Ledger) that stocked gear for adventurous surfers and skateboarders. With the advent of new urethane wheels that connected with concrete in a way old metal and rubber wheels could not, Tony, Stacy, and Jay began exploring ways to translate radical surf style to skateboarding, and the guys invented a new way to skate inside the smooth, round surfaces of empty pools, employing vertical moves and edge flips that added a new and dramatic spin to skating. It didn't take long for word to spread about the wild new style of the Z-Boys, and they quickly became local celebrities, and later nationwide skating stars, though sudden fame took its toll on these young men. The true story of Lords of Dogtown was previously the basis of the acclaimed documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys, directed by former Z-Boy Stacy Peralta, who like Tony Alva served as a consultant on this project. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

80% liked it

65,762 ratings

Critics

55% liked it

142 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 47 min.

Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke

Release Date: June 3, 2005

Keywords: skateboarding

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DVD Release Date: September 27, 2005

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Stats: 4,474 reviews

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is loveeeee Emile Hirsch & Heath Ledger from "Lords of Dogtown." Heath Ledger as Skip from "Lords of Dogtown." Heath Ledger as Skip from "Lords of Dogtown." Heath Ledger on the set of "Lords of Dogtown." Heath Ledger as Skip from "Lords of Dogtown." Heath Ledger as Skip from "Lords of Dogtown." Heather Hotness I Love This Movie Johnny Knoxville Lords of Dogtown Lords of Dogtown jay adams Heath Ledger as Skip from "Lords of Dogtown." JayAdams i can hardly breathe the pool emile hirsch
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Flixster Reviews (4,474)

  • fb100002359227440
    November 21, 2011
    fb100002359227440
    Lords of Dogtown, is present by his director with a documentary style, the skateboard world in the early 70's. Is a entretaining film, very good to skate fans.
  • xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    July 26, 2011
    xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
    Based on the true story of the legendary z-boys.

    Very good movie, really enjoyable and fun! The story is very primitive and intoxicating which really brings out the taste of such sweet filming. Very good acting from everyone and a superb cast!

    The true story of the kids who cre... read moreated modern skateboard culture is recreated in this drama. In the early '70s, skateboards were seen as a fad of the 1960s that had all but died out, but in a rough-and-tumble Venice, CA community known as "Dogtown," that was about to change. Tony Alva (Victor Rasuk), Stacy Peralta (John Robinson), and Jay Adams (Emile Hirsch) were three guys who liked to surf the rugged beaches around Venice and hung out at the Zephyr Surf Shop, a store run by Skip Engblom (Heath Ledger) that stocked gear for adventurous surfers and skateboarders. With the advent of new urethane wheels that connected with concrete in a way old metal and rubber wheels could not, Tony, Stacy, and Jay began exploring ways to translate radical surf style to skateboarding, and the guys invented a new way to skate inside the smooth, round surfaces of empty pools, employing vertical moves and edge flips that added a new and dramatic spin to skating. It didn't take long for word to spread about the wild new style of the Z-Boys, and they quickly became local celebrities, and later nationwide skating stars, though sudden fame took its toll on these young men. The true story of Lords of Dogtown was previously the basis of the acclaimed documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys, directed by former Z-Boy Stacy Peralta, who like Tony Alva served as a consultant on this project.
  • ythelastman89
    May 23, 2011
    ythelastman89
    Lords of Dogtown works as a documentary style narrative in that there is no one main focus aside from the skateboarding movement. No one character has dominance as the protagonist; these are just a group of kids living in the most influential time for the sport. Most of the story... read moretelling is paced in the most odd way possible, but that's kind've what separates it from being just another teen drama. Shooting the movie hand-held and in what appeared to be mock 16mm makes you feel like you're actually there in the mid to late sixties with these people. It also doesn't hurt that this has a great cast and equally great performances. Heath Ledger's nerdy and false-toothed Skip is hard to forget, but then again everyone did an excellent job playing the respective characters. Some people may be turned off by the fact that it is so non-traditional in its storytelling, but most people won't have a hard time enjoying this gem.
  • theunknownhobo
    January 20, 2011
    theunknownhobo
    Although this movie seems to have bitten off more than it could chew, dragging a little in the middle just for the length of it, and has one of the worst accents in the history of cinema courtesy of the late great Heath Ledger, this bio-pic of the Z-Boys from Venice Beach who sha... read moreped the way skateboarding was not only perceived but practised all over the world, is worth a good set of stars to me. The acting could have been ridiculously over done by a somewhat unknown cast, but instead stayed pure and honest as is the nature of the story. An awesome soundtrack and subplot, following three boys, all of whom as names in the skateboarding world to this day, as they go from street ratting with boards to skating for sponsors and living the high life. They truly are the lords of their domain and this movie does them justice.
  • fb619846742
    June 7, 2010
    fb619846742
    Surprisingly lots of fun. Ledger's performance alone is worth seeing, as an eccentric skateboard coach who gives four talented guys a shot at winning. What it lacks in character depth it makes up in massive amount of energy and fun as it shows what these characters lives were all... read more about. Not really entirely memorable to be sure, but the scenes with the characters running from cops and other authorities creates a sense of lovable rebelliousness that somehow wins you over.
  • fb733768972
    May 8, 2010
    fb733768972
    Awesome! Since this is a true story, it makes me feel bad for the kids, because of how it shows what kids lives are like when they don't have a lot of money!
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    June 19, 2009
    LoughnerWasLucid
    god this is so middle school "we should be worshipped cause we're to cool to get a job we just wanna grow our hair and skate all day and the chicks love it!".... how obnoxious can u get??
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    October 6, 2008
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    Skip: "You gotta approach every day as if it's your last!"

    The true story of the kids who created modern skateboard culture is recreated in this drama. In the early '70s, skateboards were seen as a fad of the 1960s that had all but died out, but in a rough-and-tumble Veni... read morece, CA, community known as "Dogtown," that was about to change. Tony Alva (Victor Rasuk), Stacy Peralta (John Robinson), and Jay Adams (Emile Hirsch) were three guys who liked to surf the rugged beaches around Venice and hung out at the Zephyr Surf Shop, a store run by Skip Engblom (Heath Ledger) that stocked gear for adventurous surfers and skateboarders. With the advent of new urethane wheels that connected with concrete in a way old metal and rubber wheels could not, Tony, Stacy, and Jay began exploring ways to translate radical surf style to skateboarding, and the guys invented a new way to skate inside the smooth, round surfaces of empty pools, employing vertical moves and edge flips that added a new and dramatic spin to skating. It didn't take long for word to spread about the wild new style of the Z-Boys, and they quickly became local celebrities, and later nationwide skating stars, though sudden fame took its toll on these young men. The true story of Lords of Dogtown was previously the basis of the acclaimed documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys, directed by former Z-Boy Stacy Peralta, who like Tony Alva served as a consultant on this project.

    Lords of Dogtown is one of the best movies to come out of 2005. It has it's funny parts then its more dramatic meaningful parts, the two contrasts of the both make the film really enjoyable. If you love the whole surf/skateboard scene you will absolutely love it! Great acting by the skating trio and so is Heath Ledger as their manager per se, Skip Engblom.

    Skateboarding today is entirely different from the skateboarding in the '70s. Today's skateboarders mostly rely on high-flying octane tricks while '70s skateboarding is mostly land tricks. Most tricks are even derived from surfing. Its like surfing on land back in the seventies.

    Great story, great cast, great director. Kudos to the cast and crew for making an excellent film.
  • kiriyamakazou
    June 11, 2007
    kiriyamakazou
    The early days of skateboarding. Since I knew nothing of this it was very interesting, however it is far from a masterpiece. Eevry performance is noteworthy and there is a strong bond created between viewer and character. Some moments are skipped over too quickly and with many bi... read moreographical films you just feel as though too many of the good and interesting moments in life have been squashed together in such a short space of time. The skateboarding scenes are excellent with super camera work capturing each move brilliantly.
  • deano
    May 14, 2007
    deano
    Fantastic doc-drama in real-life 1970s Vince Beach of three young surfers deal with the new popularity of skateboarding in good and bad ways.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper
June 6, 2005
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

These kids can act, and they can ride those boards. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
June 3, 2005
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Lords of Dogtown stays afloat, largely because many of its actors transcend Hardwicke's heavy-handed storytelling. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
June 3, 2005
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

Lords of Dogtown isn't a cop-out, but rather an ever-so-slight concession to commercialism, while Dogtown and Z-Boys was, above all else, a love song to the counterculture. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
June 3, 2005
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

If watching Dogtown and Z-Boys was tantamount to witnessing history itself, watching Lords of Dogtown, which Peralta wrote, feels more like watching a stiff, meticulously choreographed reenactment. Full Review

Mike Clark
June 3, 2005
Mike Clark, USA Today

It's hard to think of a movie since 1950's Sunset Boulevard that has gotten more dramatic impact out of a pool. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
June 3, 2005
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

For someone who was there, not to mention someone who created Dogtown and Z-Boys, Peralta has crafted a script so superficial and simplistic it feels like it was tapped out by a 14-year-old fan. Full Review

Peter Hartlaub
June 3, 2005
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

A strong companion to Dogtown and Z-Boys. Full Review

Roger Moore
June 3, 2005
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Catherine Hardwicke, working from a Peralta script and stealing the look and verve of his earlier documentary, turns in a dazzling, edgy and entertainingly blunt riff on the gnarly and how they got th... Full Review

Lisa Rose
June 3, 2005
Lisa Rose, Newark Star-Ledger

A sports memoir fringed with punk rock clamor. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
June 3, 2005
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

When the film works dramatically, it works because of [Emile Hirsch and Heath Ledger]. Full Review

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  • In which movie is all about skateboarders wit someone who dies of brain cancer????  Answer »
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