by the staff of ATV Scene
Below are our top three video choices for 2007. Rather than do a bunch of individual reviews, we thought it would be more beneficial for our readers if we did a side by side comparison of what we call the best ATV videos on the market today.
 |
 |
 |
Huevos 9 -- H Bomb Films
Every year or so there seems to be a new player in the ATV video business. Some movies try and cover all aspects of the sport, while others tend to specialize in one specific style of quad riding. In the mid 90s H Bomb Films pioneered the way. Right from the start H Bomb went all in and refused to release anything but high-quality video productions. Since then, their creative "Huevos" series has continued to set the standard by which all other videos in this industry are compared.
With a lifetime of ATV riding and racing experience, high dollar cameras, years of producing under their belts and masterful artistic editing, the latest edition of the Huevos series is as visually stunning as we have come to expect from H Bomb. At just under an hour of run time, Huevos Nine runs the gamut of ATV riding styles including MX, XC, Freestyle, Super Motard and QuadTerrain (Utility 4x4 racing from the WPSA Series). For those UTV fans, Rhino racing from the WPSA, Rhino Super Motard and some additional footage from Rhinocraft’s famous red Rhino from Huevos 8 are also featured. For their worldwide exploits, the H Bomb crew traveled to Puerto Rico and gathered some stunning footage shot on a red clay BMX track.
Since the Guetter brothers went their separate ways after Huevos 7, the freestyle action in Huevos 8 was less dramatic and back flip free. For Huevos 9, the Bomb Squad picked up the slack and once again went big. Shelton Riggs has now mastered the flip and launches the H Bomb steel ramps with ease and style. With the use of helicopters, high speed film and the revamped Bomb Squad riders, the freestyle segments of Huevos 9 are some of the most entertaining we have seen.
| Huevos 9 -- H Bomb Films | |
| Run Time: | 58 minutes |
| Styles Represented: | Motocross, QuadTerrain, Super Motard, Rhino Racing, Freestyle and Cross Country. |
Strengths:
|
Good camera work with interesting angles and creative shots. Good content with many styles represented. Lots of big name riders. High quality cameras and cinema quality production. View it on a big screen to be fully appreciate this one. |
| Weaknesses: | No Jeremiah Jones segment. |
| We’d like to see: | More funny skits like those found in the early Huevos films, (perhaps "Shane Dog" is due to get arrested again). |
| Favorite Segment: | Rocky from Rox Speed FX tearing up a motocross track on a Grizzly 700 during the beautiful colors of Fall. Unbelievable 4x4 air, but please DON'T try this on your 4x4! |
| Retail Price: | $30 |
| Contact: | hbombfilms.com |
The movie’s soundtrack offers an impressive collection of alternative, punk and heavy metal music. While the overall theme remains heavy rock, the overall vibe is far less punishing than a day in a mosh pit at a Slipknot concert. Don’t get us wrong, a mosh pit at Slipknot concert is entertaining in our eyes, but not everyone agrees with this. H9 finds a happy medium to all this musical mayhem.
The film's editing is less overworked than previous efforts. Instead of relying on lots of overlay film burns which were commonly used in their last three releases, Huevos 9 uses subtle tinting and vibrant colors to create the film's overall classy look and feel.
All in all this is must see video for any ATV enthusiast as far as we're concerned. The only thing that disappointed us about the latest edition of Huevos was the lack of a Jeremiah Jones segment. Jeremiah provided some of the most exciting footage in Huevos series history and we would have liked to see a tribute to his incredible career. On H Bomb's defense to our only negative, perhaps the savvy H Bomb crew is saving this segment piece for their soon-to-be-released GNC documentary. We'll have to wait and see. While we’re not sure if saying that this the best movie in H Bomb history, we can’t think of any previous titles that we liked any more than this masterpiece. We're confident in saying that this is indeed a DVD that you'll likely watch over and over again.
 |
 |
 |
Carpe Diem 3 -- Premis Industries
A few years back, a new film maker named Brad Phillips, working under the Premis Industries name brand, made a name for himself by becoming the next big thing in ATV video creation when he launched the Premis "Carpe Diem" video series. While Premis films lacked the sophisticated high dollar camera equipment and special effects editing used in the Huevos series, they offered a fresh new approach to the sport with lots of exciting motocross action. What really set Premis apart however was their on screen display of funny juvenile actions and behind the scenes footage.
Carpe Diem 3 shows us just how far Premis has come since the original Carpe Diem. With a run time of 62 minutes, Carpe Diem 3 enjoys notably improved camera work over their first two movies. Aside from the intro, Premis's new video editor, Brandon Boulay, keeps the editing smooth and for the most part basic, relying on the video content itself to keep the viewer entertained.
For the latest edition, Premis has branched out from its almost all motocross driven predecessors, to highlight some other styles of riding. The movie features WPSA QuadTerrain utility race action, Nasmoto Super Motard and some wild riding and partying action shots at the world-famous Imperial Sand Dunes in Glamis, CA. Although he is riding a dirt bike, Carpe Diem’s latest celebrity appearance is non other then the Iceman himself, Vanilla Ice, Rob Van Winkle. In a brief interview, Ice tells about his return to motocross racing after his rap career ended in the early 90s and shows off his riding skills along side ATV rider Scott Bennet.
Don’t worry motocross fans, Carpe Diem 3 wont disappoint. With plenty of racing action from the WPSA, Supercross in Montreal, Canada, as well as several other motocross riding segments, it’s still a motocross fan's movie at heart.
| Carpe Diem 4 -- Premis Industries | |
| Run time: | 62 minutes |
| Styles Represented: | Motocross, QuadTerrain, Super Motard, Dune riding. |
| Strengths: | Good camera work with interesting angles and shots. Good content with many styles represented. Very cool behind the scenes footage and lots of it. |
| Weaknesses: | Older digital camera technology holds back the look a bit.... Nothing got blown up this time. |
| We’d like to see: | More destruction and more scantily clad women. |
| Favorite segment: | Cody Anderson and "The Elevator" |
| Retail Price: | $29.95 |
| Contact: | premisind.com |
As with most Premis movies, there were plenty of humorous antics that kept our interests up throughout the film. The video featured everything from golf cart bumper cars, to an obvious poke at ATV Scene for our criticism of a helmetless Bam in Carpe Diem 2. Fortunately, we are glad to report that there was no helmetless riding, and get this, not even one porto-pot was harmed in the making of this film.
CP3 has no representation for cross country or freestyle riding. While we would like to have seen some cross country action, we didn’t really miss the freestyle stuff. It's represented so heavily in a few other titles and it’s the style of riding lease practiced, so we don't blame Premis at all for not including freestyle in this installment of their series.
While the movie's clarity is good, it lacks the same look and smooth slow motion provided by high frame rate film cameras. With the hours of behind the scenes footage shot by Premis, shooting on film is out of the question due to the high cost of film and development. Thanks to some new digital camera technology, Premis looks to even further improve the overall look of their films by the time we see Carpe Diem 4.
Even the soundtrack is somewhat diverse and should keep your heart beating without pissing off grandma. If you are a motocross buff and you liked the previous Carpe Diem movies, Carpe Diem 3 will surely please. For those who have avoided this title because it catered solely to the motocross crowd, be assured that this movie has something in it for almost everyone. We highly suggest you check it out.
 |
 |
 |
The Kangaroo Kid -- Five Element Productions
This video is long overdue if you ask us. It's about time someone created a documentary on the greatest stunt man on four wheels.
Matt Coulter has been seen and loved by millions all over the world. Almost one million people have seen Matt's shows in person all over the UK. He's also been seen worldwide on television shows like Australian television's ITV's "Run the Gauntlet", UK television's "The Big Breakfast", "Great Escapes", "You Bet", "Don't try this at Home" and American and worldwide television's "FOX's Guinness World Records Prime Time", "MTV's Senseless Acts of Video", TLC, Discovery and many more. With all this said, did we mention how overdue a Kangaroo Kid documentary was?
Ever since we hired Matt Coulter to attempt to break the ramp to ramp world record at our GNC TT in Orrville, OH, we've become good friends with Matt. Anyone that meets Matt will attest, you simply can't help but love the bloke. After viewing this video you'll understand why so many people like us love this guy as well.
Congratulations to Five Elements Productions, led by Clare Foster for a job well done. They've succeeded to put together a masterful first person tale of the incredible life of Matt "The Kangaroo Kid" Coulter.
| The Kangaroo Kid -- Five Element Productions | |
| Run time: | 47 minutes |
| Strengths: | Matt's wit, personality and character. Matt is more comfortable on camera than many well-known movie stars. Excellent first person interviews with people Matt has worked with including 2005 British Touring Car champion Matt Neal. |
| Weaknesses: | Not enough footage from America. |
| We’d like to see: | More footage from Matt's stunts in the USA. |
| Favorite segment: | When Matt comes clean and reveals the truth behind the Paddle Steamer jumps. |
| Format: | Note this DVD is PAL (UK) format. Check your equipment manuals to make sure that you're able to play this format before buying it. FYI We were able to view it on our computer and in the truck DVD player but not on our home DVD player. |
| Retail Price: | £16.99 |
| Contact: | five-elementproductions.co.uk Also be sure to visit kangarookid.com |
You won't believe the challenges that Matt had to overcome to accomplish his goals. In the video he finally comes clean and tells what really happened during those two horrifying paddle steamer jumps that nearly cost him his life. The video also shows a few stunts and gigs that you probably never knew he did, including his land speed record where he rode on the back of his quad while deaf and blind Graham Hicks rode at 104 mph. It's both a hilarious and touching tale that you need to see to appreciate.
You wont know where the time went after viewing this 47 minute documentary. The feature introduces you to the "The Kangaroo Kid", Matt Coulter in a classy, fun and exciting manner. Five Elements did a great job allowing Matt himself to explain first hand what he was thinking, or not thinking, during each stunt.
In the end he mentions his biggest stunt is yet to come when he announces a possible Paddle Steamer 3 gig. All in all this is an absolute must see video for any ATV enthusiast. It's got it all; excitement, drama, comedy and much more. There's even a life lesson or two to learn and since Matt stresses safety and seems to always say the right thing, you wont have to keep your kids from viewing this one.
