Customer Reviews

180° South: Conquerors of the Useless [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This movie is a documentary, but it's a little hard to categorize. I think I'd really call it a POLEMIC- against Western capitalist culture, which is dominating most of the world at present (since even so-called "third world" countries are intent on emulating the successes of capitalism). How DO you describe a movie that encompasses sailing, surfing, mountain-climbing, retracing a climb made in 1968 by world-class climbers, lectures about the evils of dams and environmental destruction, a commercial plug for protecting Patagonia, the history of Easter Island, and philosophical musings and mumblings, all wrapped together and packaged with some of the most idiosyncratic music score I've ever listened to in a movie? [I don't know what to call this music-it's mostly one-voice, accompanied by guitar or other simple instrumentals-it sounds sort of folksy-rustic-country, but nothing that I've ever heard before. Sometimes it was irritating, and sometimes I really enjoyed it].

The subtitle, Conquerors of the Useless, refers principally to the whole activity of mountain-climbing. Risking your very life--for what? To stand for a few minutes or an hour on top of a piece of rock, then climb back down again. Does the world need this activity? Why do some people feel compelled to do it (or so many other extreme things that we seem compelled to do, for no clear gain) That becomes a metaphor for the whole question of what is "useful" and what is "useless"--for the world, for mankind as a species, for our survival.

The narrator solemnly asserts things like, "I'm beginning to think...(you know, differently about the world). I'm rather suspicious that he more or less had these same views before he even set out on his journey, and simply used the journey to reinforce them. But-no matter. The issues are serious and relevant. Now, after the gulf oil spill, the whole debate about how we use our environment, and whether we have a sustainable civilization at all, certainly seems more highly relevant today than when this film was made.

Hard to characterize. Serious and whimsical. Focused and unfocused. Some beautiful scenery. My favorite quote is not the obvious one (on the cover) but "It's really very difficult to simplify your life. It's very easy to let it become complex." If you are an ardent environmentalist you'll probably enjoy the film. If you are not an environmentalist, then try watching it with an open mind. You really do not have to believe everything the narrator asserts to find this film interesting. It could be the starting-point of a hundred arguments or discussions (a great film actually, for various college-level classes to discuss).

I loved it. Not so much for the hippie, environmental aspect, as much as the joy of the open road/sea. highly recommended.

I couldn't believe some people were giving 1 star and still saying that the visuals and movie in general were excellent. Do not even read these reviews. They are unjustified in every way. I would have given this 5 stars except for 2 issues.
There are NO subtitles and the story itself was pretty much already told in a movie called "In Gods hands". Also, the entire session on Chile, although it was interesting to know, seemed long and drawn out.
The sessions on Easter Island were amazing and the woman (Makohe) they meet who sings will bring tears to your eyes. She joins the group mid-trip by a stroke of luck.
I watched this movie from start to finish, then started again while doing chores around the house, and then let it play while going to bed and fell asleep watching it a 3rd time thanks to an excellent music score.
I especially liked the long, well documented behind the scenes. I believe it was Yvon in the movie who said, "Who cares about the holy grail. It's the journey that matters. Some Plastic Surgeon or CEO climbs Everest and there's a sleeping bag with a chocolate mint waiting for him. He left as an A-hole and returned as an A-hole." I may have misquoted but I was close. You get the point.
I will reccomend this to anyone I know who loves the surf, the ocean, or anyone else I even THINK will like it.
4 stars.

3.5 Stars:

This film is the narrative of one man who is disaffected by the excesses of society and tries to simplify his life by casting himself into the unknown of adventure. With the goal of being the second person to climb Corcovado Volcano in Patagonia, he follows in the footsteps of several men who came before him in the 1960s. The message is a positive one of conservationism, and by just watching the protagonist trek around, you'll wish you were there getting lost with him. It is beautifully shot with an equally great soundtrack of subdued folk songs, including Mason Jennings' recent hit which is featured during the end credits.

But, the film's positive message is easily lost in the narcissism and vainglory of its characters. Through their own terrible self-narration, they come across as overly privileged, preachy, self-righteous, White bourgeois whiners. With their strong anti-corporate and anti-government bias, one is left only to feel that they are arrogant, hypocritical slackers who want the world out of their way so they can have a good time. The protagonist shows none of the modesty inherent to conservationism and spends much time preening around with his shirt off. There is much irony in how he criticizes everyone from city dwellers to video-game players, when it is the indentured condition of these groups which allows him the freedom to be a slacker and explore the natural world.

Also, the film's presentation of the collapse of Easter Island society is one-sided without nuance or context. The film argues that present day civilization is heading towards a similar collapse if we don't change our ways and live like the characters presented in the film. Again, this is ironic because if everyone lived as an overly privileged slacker, there would be no one to create the means which makes being a slacker possible.

Ultimately, the film serves little more than a large advertizement for Patagonia Apparel and Kashi Cereal. The positive message would have come through more clearly had its makers simply presented things the way they are and avoided preaching. Accordingly, while the film offers some awesome shots of surfing contrasted with mountain trekking and technical climbing, in order to enjoy the beauty and adventure aspect of this film, one must overlook the confused and discombobulated message of its makers.

A must watch for anyone who is passionate about travel or about saving the environment. Also a great introduction for someone who normally doesn't think about the the world beyond their own familiar surroundings.

This documentary is, above all else, about some extraordinary people's romance with wilderness and the the sea. Everyone we meet in the film is eminently likeable and admirable, from the primary character, who subsists on odd jobs in order to pursue his love of mountain climbing and surfing, to Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins, two men who started out the same way, went on to build extremely successful businesses (The North Face, Patagonia, Espirit) and who now devote their wealth, effort and time to preserving wilderness lands in South America and throughout the world.

Warning: for those who chose a more mundane path in life, this is a film that might make you wish you'd gone the way of Chouinard and Tompkins and lived your youthful dreams, no matter what the risk.

Many reviewers have complained about the hippie message proposed by 180 Degrees South, and maybe they are right. Maybe the message is a little confusing: do we all limit our consumption, and just go explore the world, or do we try and make things better right where we are? Can one actually explore the world and still make a difference, or does staying at home and not exploring pristine places like Patagonia a better way to preserve?

But I did not watch the movie to find out the answers to how consumption hurts our environment. I watched it because the movie was an adventure into the relatively unknown. The narrator could have just hopped a plane from his hometown down to Corcovado, but he didn't. That would have been the easiest way to go, but instead he stowed away on a sailboat and took weeks traveling down the Pacific coast, with a side trip to Rapa Nui. That in a nutshell signifies the mantra "The Journey Is the Destination".

Yes, there are a few eco-political statements throughout the movie, and if you absolutely can't stand a liberal mindset, then you will not enjoy this movie. But I enjoyed the adventurous spirit of a few guys (and one girl) just taking whatever comes at them on a journey that very few people have attempted, and very few of us that watch will ever attempt ourselves.

who impacts the earth less some poor urbanite playing a video game or a privileged conservationist who can travel half way around the world to warm himself by open fires and enjoy surfing and mountain climbing. Great adventure film makes me want to wave goodbye to the wife and kids and head out to some remote corner of the globe. 40 years ago our family moved back to the land and a simpler life but the answers aren't always simple. Cities are the most efficient inventions yet to warehouse people and keep them from overrunning Patagonia (or my 80 acres). Please watch the film and enjoy the dream!

excellent...outstanding...motivational...a must see for anyone who may have the slightest sense and/or desire for an adventure...screw luck and embrace karma

Bought it for my grandson for Christmas, but the whole family settled in that evening to watch it and it kept us all interested.