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First Descent

Play trailer Poster for First Descent PG-13 2005 1h 50m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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52% Tomatometer 64 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Snowboarders discuss the sport's history and challenges as they prepare to tackle the mountains of Alaska.
First Descent

What to Know

Critics Consensus

This snowboarding doc scores with its dazzling array of snowboarding stunts and beautiful scenery, but loses points with shameless product placement and an overlong runtime.

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Critics Reviews

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Mark Holcomb Village Voice First Descent comes off as an overlong, overstuffed promo for an 'industry' that hasn't needed promoting since the movie's target audience was in diapers. Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper They're amazing athletes. Dec 5, 2005 Full Review Mike Clark USA Today An adequate if slightly overlong history of the sport, Descent adheres to the same storytelling trajectory as documentary predecessors on surfing and skateboarding. Rated: 2.5/4 Dec 2, 2005 Full Review Joshua Starnes ComingSoon.net Despite some moments of truly athletic beauty First Descent is a fairly empty sports documentary that celebrates the gloss of the lifestyle, but doesn't do much to try and get under its skin. Rated: 3/10 Mar 22, 2011 Full Review Ethan Alter Film Journal International If you've ever wanted to get a taste of the slopes from the comfort of a movie theatre, this film will do. Mar 1, 2007 Full Review Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review Rated: 1/5 May 12, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I turned on my TV! Descent comprised my mind.. I know see how people are getting help. I used to have a problem with help. Thank you because I now know people have problems with organ donating. I know people have problems with organ donating and they should consult an expert in they're problems field. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member 4/10 Kinda boring, couple of nice landscape pictures but most of the time pretty low Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member (**): [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon13.gif[/img] Great scenery and stunts, but the film left me uninterested as it went along. Fair at best. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member i love snowboarding! Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member A WIERD YET COOL ADVENTURE MOVIE. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Documentaries are rarely filmed in scope, but I suppose it is fitting that the epic world of Alaskan snowboarding is shot that way. This doc is way too long, but there is some spectacular footage. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
First Descent

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Kemp Curly

Director

Kevin Harrison

Director

Shawn Farmer

Actor

Terje Håkonsen

Actor

Nick Perata

Actor

Travis Rice

Actor

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First Descent

A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." Directors Kevin Harrison and Kemp Curley chronicle the rebellious and inspiring rise of snowboarding in the docu-drama "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." A scene from the film "First Descent." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Snowboarders discuss the sport's history and challenges as they prepare to tackle the mountains of Alaska.
Director
Kemp Curly, Kevin Harrison
Producer
Kemp Curly, Kevin Harrison
Screenwriter
Kevin Harrison
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal/Universal Int
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Strong Language|Momentary Drug Reference)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 2, 2005, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Feb 21, 2006
Box Office (Gross USA)
$750.8K
Runtime
1h 50m
Sound Mix
Surround, SDDS, DTS
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)