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'.

Director Catherine Hardwicke, who helped a few teenagers discover the versatility of the tongue in "Thirteen" (2003), takes an impressive cast and crew back to the year 1975. The "Disco" storm was crashing airwaves, but not at Venice Beach, California. There, the pre-punk "Lords of Dogtown" ramped up skateboarding "to the extreme" and made it a sport.Opening with the familiar phrase, "Inspired by a true story," this is a fictionalized film version of the superior documentary "Dogtown and Z-Boys" (2001) - which anyone interested in skateboarding as sport should see. Hardwicke's young "Lords" are Emile Hirsch (as Jay Adams), Victor Rasuk (as Tony Alva), and John Robinson (as Stacy Peralta). They are introduced in an excellent opening sequence, but the story doesn't get off the ground until about halfway through. We get a lot of documentary-styled scenes - which don't really do anything to improve upon "Dogtown and Z-Boys" - before getting to know the three leading men. It might be interesting to see Mr. Peralta's original story idea, because much of this story seems whitewashed.Crack a board, bro… The real drama herein arguably centers on Mr. Hirsch's character. The three actors are fine, but Hirsch is given the best material. As his sexy, sand-blasted mother, Rebecca De Mornay (as Philaine) helps. And, Hirsch gets to sing the "Slinky" theme song. Watch for a truly magical moment when, after losing a contest, Hirsch sails off the pier; photographed beautifully by Elliot Davis, it combines the thrills you experience surfing and skateboarding. Also on hand, in an stumbling and underwritten role, is wasted surfer Heath Ledger (as Skip Engblom). Better utilized is the role played by fellow traveler Michael Angarano (as Sid). He helps give the film an unexpected, uplifting ending by taking the three estranged "Lords" back to their roots.****** Lords of Dogtown (6/3/05) Catherine Hardwicke ~ Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, John Robinson, Heath Ledger

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.

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!