Arts ^^Entertainment
February 16, 2005
th^LACKAMASprinf
*Q
lilm brings surfing to the easy chair
lizabeth Tobey
UClackamas Print
■itching “Riding Giants” is a
■e to live vicariously as a big
■surfer; you’re on the edge of
■at in nervous anticipation as
■y’s best take on bigger and
H waves.
■e film, recently released on
■ was the opening night selec-
■br the 2004 Sundance Film
■al. It’s easy to see why.
■e his earlier film, “Dogtown
He Z-Boys,” did for skate-
Hng, Director Stacy Peralta’s
Hg Giants” is a captivating
■ntertaining history of surf-
■ginning with an animated
|tio entitled “1000 Years of
■g in Two Minutes or Less,”
Him quickly and comically
■vs surfing, beginning with its
■Polynesian roots, to suppres-
fcn from Christian missionaries,
Fits comeback and popularity in
H41 century.
■From there the movie comes
closer to the present and divides
into three sections as it focuses on
individual people, the innovators
of big wave surfing.
The first is Greg Noll, nick
named “The Bull” for his relent
less determiAnation in Hawaii’s
big surf in the 1950s and his
showy surfing style.
Next isJeff Clark, the fron
tiersman who brought surfing to
California after he discovered the
immense waves of the dangerous,
chilling Mavericks Beach near San
Francisco and rode them alone for
15 years.
Chapter three is dedicated to
Laird Hamilton, perhaps the best
big-wave rider in history. He pio
neered tow-in surfing, allowing
surfers to reach speeds around 35
mph as they enter the lineup and
catch waves as high as eight-story
buildings.
Because the waves in this
video keep getting larger, and the
surfers face greater challenges, the
adrenaline stays and the excite
ment builds throughout the film.
There are interviews with Noll,
Internet Photo
“Riding Giants” does for surfing what “Dogtown and the Z-boys” did for skateboarding.
Above, a group of surfers waits quietly for the first great wave of the day.
Clark and Hamilton themselves,
as well as surf experts and story
tellers.
The casual, contemporary
interviews are the most entertain
ing part of the film. Hearing sto
ries straight from the surfers, foil
of slang and surf jargon, provides
plenty of laughable material.
They capture the feel of the
time and the attitude and rebel
liousness of the people who were
part of it.
Certainly the best documentary
I’ve seen in a long time.
vrtland Art Museum temporary home to native art
individual artifacts. There were a few bits of general informa
tion placed around groups of shirts or horse saddles or tools with
elaborately carved handles, but most of it was vague at best and
those who are as interested in the history of the culture as the art
The Portland Art Museum is now providing temporary itself will probably find themselves looking for answers in the
residence to roughly 200 artifacts originally created by the wrong museum.
Native Americans of the northwest’s own Columbia River
Overall, the Portland Art Museum has put together an attrac
Gorge, and those 300-year-old shirts and purses never
tive collection of authentic
looked so good.
Native American Art dating
The pieces themselves are all dated anywhere from
back hundreds, even thou
A.D. 1000 to 1700. Most were collected from/he late
sands, of years. Even though
19th to the early 20th century and, according to the
it’s clear their interest is
museum’s website, this is the first time many items
more in the visual intrigue
have been displayed in view of the public.
of the pieces rather than the
First in line is a collection of anthropomorphic
historical significance, the
figures, some privately owned or on loan from other
art itself is attractive enough
museums. What’s amazing is how each one keeps its
that the museum need not be
own individuality when the same lines and shapes are
ashamed of that fact.
used on many of the figures. One private collection
“The People of the River”
piece is carved of basalt, dated “Pre-contact,” and
exhibit will be showing
keeps a consistent, nearly perfect curve down the spine
through May 29. The muse
of the figure.
um is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What follows is anything frm a baby’s crib with
on Tuesday, Wednesday, and
images of animals carved into every piece of wood
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(including the rockers), to a collection of very intri
on Thursday and Friday, and
cately woven baskets, women’s bags, colorfully beaded
noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
ceremonial regalia and, of course, decorative dinner
Usual entrance fees apply:
ware.
$10 for adults, $6 for kids
Photo courtesy ot Portland Art Museum
The only pieces of the exhibit that left a little to be
(four to 17), and $9 for stu-
A
coiled
basket,
ca.
1900.
desired were the plaques that- accompanied most of the
, dents and seniors.
Jeff Sorensen
The Clackamas Print
jay pokes fun at Mexican-American history, without drugs
I started to laugh. I don’t know if it was
the fact that Pat was secretly in love
with Aldo or because the soundtrack
Be Clackamas Print
included Ricky Martin tunes.
To some, the history between Mexico
From the get-go, Pat and Aldo are
1 and America is fairly controversial. “The off to Mexico. Upon arrival, they start
■ Trae History of Coca-Cola in Mexico” changing characters and props con
n takes a comical jab at this history, and the stantly, whether or not the audience
■ audience even manages to learn some- could see, which I found annoying.
H thing in the end.
Just when a scene began to be funny,
D hl
This comedy takes place at the Pat and Aldo would go offstage and
Miracle Theater on the east side this lady would come out and change
I B of town. The main characters are the scene. The lady also happened to
B Portland artists Pat and Aldo who be in the play as a salsa dancer and a
r' ; ■ want to make a film, so they turn to soldier. Though her parts in the play
7 ■ each other for help and end up mak- were sassy and funny, to see her chang
I I ing a documentary of Coca-Cola in
ing the scenes was a little confusing.
Internet
I B Mexico.
So the play goes back and forth
|BUl
A s you all may know, Coca-Cola between Aldo and Pat making their
C°«-Cola and the America it
represents. True History is a little annoying, but funny.
|HB originally got its name due to the fact documentary and acknowledging how
HB that cocoa leaf was in the ingredi- corporate America is screwing over
Hl ents; in this play, however, that is not Mexico, such as when Pat and Aldo meet a family
the main focus. This play reminded whose land is being bought by the government for
IB I me of watching the History Channel. dirt cheap and they are forced to sell. Really, there
■I While the actors were working up are a lot of facts behind this play so you do learn a
|H| a sweat running all over the stage, I lot about the history Mexico and America, but in a
HI was working on trying to get myself comical way. If you’re interested in a little history
HI warmed up to the fact this play lesson on how we treat Mexico, with a twist of Coca-
HI was not going to be about the drug Cola advertisement, it is worth the laugh. But if you
IB cocaine. We all know Coca-Cola are want learn more about cocaine, you’re better off
Ml came from cocaine, but I wanted renting “Robo Cop.”
■■B to know when, where, what, and
This play will be running through Feb. 26 at the
B9 ■ how—but no, that was not it. After I Miracle Theater located at 525 SE Stark. The show
BB ■ realized this play was about a docu- starts at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are avail
mentary done by two radical artists, able at (503) 720-0397 or the door.
lirista Danielson