Customer Reviews

Drift: The Movie DVD

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Michael Gracie
If you show me big fish being caught on fly, in exotic locales using fine cinematographic skills, and don't obviously and repeatedly plug your main sponsor, I'm going to give you a thumbs up. So I'll come right out and say it - Drift (produced by Confluence Films) does it all right, and gets a thumbs up, five stars, or a 10 out of 10 (whichever you prefer). Quite simply, the movie rocked! If you are about to travel/fish and need a primer while sitting on the plane that will assuredly have you bouncing off cabin walls, this movie is it. But I'll warn you, practice casting in a mid-flight Boeing is against FAA regulations.

I'm making this quick, because the DVD is a must have and I don't want to be the spoiler...

The movie starts off at the Deschutes with spey casting to steelhead. "Fish beautiful water well" is the takeaway for steelie success. It moves on to Turneffe Flats and Punta Gorda, with exposes on permit and the Garbutt brothers. Winter follows, with a tour of one of my favorites, the Green River A-section, and then on to the Frying Pan and the Bighorn. Weather then subsides with a trip to Andros Island - you'll hear some of Charlie Smith's banjo playing, and a few reels singing to the sounds of bonefish. And for the finale, the crew travels to Kashmir, finding fat rainbows, professional `netters' and a whole lotta paperwork.

It should come as no surprise to sports/action film buffs that Drift is a high quality production - the team that created it is top notch. Writer Tom Bie is the publisher and editor of The Drake magazine, one of the finest grassroots publications anywhere for the fly fishing enthusiast. Producer Jim Klug is another veteran of the fly fishing world - and `world' indeed...he's the founder of Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, which puts fish in the freezer by organizing fly fishing trips from Costa Rica to Kamchatka and beyond. And last but certainly not least, there's director Chris Patterson - if you find yourself feeling like you are watching the aquatic version of a Warren Miller snow flick, that's because Chris spent 16 years working as a director/cinematographer for the famed ski movie magnate.

By ELIZABETH LADEN

"Drift" is the best fly fishing documentary I have ever seen, and I watch many. I love to fly fish, and enjoy viewing films about the sport just for the eye candy of a perfect cast, a drift boat's oar slicing the stream's surface without a splash, the fish ripping through the water after it's been hooked and slinking away, alive for another time, after the release. I love to watch a good angler tie on a fly he knows will work, and I love the scenery. Fly fishing waters are always in beautiful, interesting places, with mountains, wildflowers, birds, and wildlife to soak up when the fish aren't active.

"Drift" has all these images, filmed and edited with perfect rhythm -- a delicious, coffee table book of a film. Fast motion getting to the water -- don't we all do that? Slow motion when there's something wonderful happening that we never want to end. Black and white at times in India when a world besieged by conflict seems off color and even frightening.

"Drift" has no chatter about fishing techniques, hatch-matching, and gear to interfere with the enjoyment of its images. Don't you hate the canned electronic music that so many outdoor films use? I do, and watch them with the sound off. "Drift's" soundtrack sports the acoustical folk music of the places where it is filmed, with just a small but appropriate burst of jazz in one segment.

My favorite -- Bonefish Charlie, owner of the Bang Bang Club in the Bahamas and a world renowned guide, entertains us with folk tunes sung with his bluesy, raspy voice accompanied by his twangy banjo. I want to wake up there tomorrow!

I have seen so much hype about this movie that I finally broke down and bought it. I was not disappointed in it in any way. Excellent cinematography, with exotic locations and some of the tops fishers of those areas. This would be great for clubs or just setting back in your chair while tying flies when you can't get out to play!

Normally I would avoid exotic fly fishing videos to places I can never afford to visit. Really don't plan on a trip to Kashmir either (not the only location on this one.) But for some reason it got my interest, and I am glad it did. Beautifully filmed, cleverly narrated. It is just a lot of fun.

The cinematography, writing, directing, cast of characters, music, production quality and story-telling on this DVD are all top notch. I expected a lot from this DVD based on all of the hype and it far exceeded my expectations. There is so much more to this movie than just fly fishing...the stories about the lives of the Garbutt brothers, Charlie Smith, the Hazels and others tap into the soul and spirit of fly fishing.

Great job guys. This movie blew me away. I am looking forward to watching "Rise" next.

If you are looking for a entertaining video showing fantastic locations, this is it, don't expect to learn any techniques becuase that's not what this video is about. It's about different people fishing different species in different parts of the world. I'm giving it 5 starts becuase it is well shot, entertaining (and just plan relaxing to watch). Don't think I'll ever have the opportunity to fish half the places they show though. Having spent two and a half years in Iraq and Afghanistan I can certainly appreciate the Kashmir fishing trip; don't ever plan on travelling there though. I am very happy with this video and will undoubtably watch it many times over the years.

Awesome fly fishing movie! I've watched it many times already, and will continue to do so. Can't wait to get "Rise", the next movie that these guys made. I would highly recommends this movie to anyone with a passion for fishing or anything outdoors!

If you are a flyfisherman this is the movie for you! These folks take you to some the greatest locations and show some of the greatest footage of this great sport that we love so much.It's not just a video it's an experience! I've watched it over and over and love the soundtrack music.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Don't get me wrong, the content of this DVD is a great film - the photography is stunning and the subject engaging and stimulating.

But on my copy, the 16x9 aspect ratio video was framed as a letterbox on a 4:3 picture - I thought DVDs like this had been dumped years ago, so it was a shock to find all that high quality photography living on an island in a big sea of black.

Sure, I can zoom in the picture on my TV and eliminate the black bars, but the quality drops and the picture now looks similar quality to VHS.

Come on Confluence Films, I expected much, much better. You shot this on 16mm, to get a high quality picture, then you author the DVD to murder the output?