SnoopyStyle It's the 70s. A group of local surfers form a tribe that runs their section of the surf. Skip (Heath Ledger) is a surf shop owner who starts making skateboards with polyurethane wheels. Three kids Stacy Peralta (John Robinson), Jay Adams (Emile Hirsch), and Tony Alva (Victor Rasuk) become famous pioneering stars. They start surfing empty neighborhood pools. Kathy (Nikki Reed) is Tony's sister.This has the energy. It has the music. It has the rebel sensibility. It's a little disorganized. It's hard to know who's the lead at times. Director Catherine Hardwicke has left it very loose. Heath Ledger is eating up the scenes with his weird voice. Emile Hirsch is sort of the center. There are quite a few unknown actors here. It's a very compelling history to begin with. For more insights, one should watch Stacy Peralta's 'Dogtown and Z-Boys'.

reneweddan I am not a fan of surfing or skateboarding (although learning to surf is on my bucket list), but I decided to watch this film due to some of the names on the cast list such as Emile Hirsch, Heath Ledger, and a small appearance by Jeremy Renner. (Heath Ledger... what talent!)The film begins as a surfing movie, then transitions into skateboarding, but the execution is amazing. I hardly watch movies without checking the time left, due to my incessant need to know everything, yet I didn't feel inclined to do so during this film. What that means is that the film has a perfect flow, it will keep you interested throughout the entire film.It's a fictionalized film of "The Z-Boys" and how they revolutionized the sport of skateboarding. The film has much to do with skateboarding, but the main scenes are coming-of-age related and it really shows the simplicity of life that we take advantage of. There's many things you can take from this film: from fame, fortune, and success to humbleness, health, and friendship.I thought this film would be a somewhat decent, but I was so wrong, it is an inspirational and interesting piece of art. I highly recommend this film if you have an open mind. If you aren't moved by the end, then you aren't human.

blend_ashtey11 When I first heard about this, I couldn't wait to see it, mainly because of Heath Ledger, as I wanted to see if he could pull it off, and do you know what? He does, and it's not surprising.The film is based on the ''Z-Boys'' and how they revolutionized skateboarding in the 1970's.Firstly, the acting is strong. Heath Ledger is mesmerising as ''Skip Engblom'' (the Z-Boy's mentor), who resembles Johnny Depp's ''Jack Sparrow''. Ledger plays the drunken and swaggering Engblom effectively, and is the most charismatic on screen. Ledger has stage presence and is the heart and soul of the film.Meanwhile he is supported well by the array of young actors within the film. Actually, although not as great as Heath Ledger, Michael Angarano gives an energetic performance as ''Sid'' and later an emotional performance, which is bound to send tears to some.The film is directed well by director Catherine Hardwicke, who later directed Twilight. With her directing and Stacey Peralta's writing the movie is an overall entertaining, funny yet emotional and energetic piece of film-making.

Jackson Booth-Millard I recognised the title of the film, but I had no idea what the story was about, or that it is based on true events. Basically it is all about a group of brilliant young skateboarders, known as the Z-Boys, raised in the mean streets of Dogtown in Santa Monica, California. They are perfecting their techniques in empty swimming pools of unsuspecting suburban homeowners, pioneering a thrilling new sport and taking part in skateboard contests. Starring The Girl Next Door's Emile Hirsch as Jay Adams, Victor Rasuk as Tony Alva, John Robinson as Stacy Peralta, Michael Angarano as Sid, Nikki Reed as Kathy Alva, Heath Ledger as Skip, Rebecca De Mornay as Philaine, Johnny Knoxville as Topper Burks, Ugly Betty's America Ferrera as Thunder Monkey, the real Jay Adams as Party Guest, the real Tony Alva as Oregon Man at Party, Charles Napier as Nudie, the real Stacy Peralta as TV Director, Tony Hawk as Astronaut, Alexis Arquette as Tranny, and a special appearance by YouTube star Tillman the skateboarding bulldog. For me the only good reason to see this film is for some familiar faces, the skateboarding tricks and a pretty good soundtrack, that's about it. Worth watching!