Home Media Magazine - October 7-13, 2007 - (Page 28) REVIEWS I HOLLA Street 10/9 www.homemediamagazine.com Lionsgate, Horror, $26.98 DVD, ‘R’ for violence and I THE FORGOTTEN COAST Prebook 10/9; Street 11/6 Echo Bridge, Sports, $26.99 DVD, NR. Stars Travis Potter, Micah Byrne, Ben Knight, Brandon Tipton, Brian Conley, Daniel Thomson, Brett Schwartz. language. Stars Shelli Boone, Young Sir, Charles F. Porter, Michael Bergin. T he phrase “a day at the beach” takes on a whole new meaning in the context of this documentary about surfers looking for an almost-mythical virgin beach in remote Indonesia. In May 2006, pro surfer Travis Potter gathered fellow surfers who, like him, had a thirst for something new and a yearning to find a spot way off the beaten path, to surf the world’s “last untouched waves.” For years surfers have been scouring the planet trying to beat each other to discover the best, most far flung new location in which to engage in their sport, and there have already been a number of documentaries about surfing in exotic lands. But The Forgotten Coast takes the subject to new heights. The charismatic Potter, joined by equally fascinating friends Micah Byrne, Daniel Thomson, Brian Conley, Brett Schwartz, Brandon Tipton and Ben Knight, set out to find an alternative to the now overcrowded and polluted hotspots in California and Hawaii, among others. The film, well-directed by Justin LaPera and incredibly shot by cinematographer Jeff Dolen, captures not only the physical journey, but also the mental, emotional and philosophical voyage that the guys take. Life in Indonesia is tough, and to see it through the eyes of young men who ride surfboards for a living seems like a situation that is begging for skepticism and criticism. The surfers employ local fishermen to transport them deep into the country, forming, at times, an uneasy relationship with one another. However, they do, indeed, shift their focus from surfing to interact and help villagers they encounter. “I love this country and would do anything I can to help these people,” says one of the surfers. — David Greenberg A TV star (Boone) and her friends go away for a weekend camping trip that turns into a murder mystery. Mix in a small-time hoodlum just released from jail and folks disappearing at the drop of a hat, and everyone becomes a suspect. The train wreck that is Holla leaves viewers with at least a few pieces of the puzzle to figure out. Young Sir plays Troy, the small-time hustler who also is one of the prime murder suspects because of his criminal past. It doesn’t help when he’s caught running from the scene of a crime before all the mayhem at the camp begins. Porter plays Monica’s boyfriend, while Bergin plays Monica’s nitwit agent. The neophyte cast doesn’t help matters when this tale spins out of control, then lulls like a ball of yawn. At least viewers get to see some pretty women in skimpy outfits — probably the best thing the movie has going for it. If not for them, Holla would be a total disaster. Here’s a happy prospect, at least: A sequel might be in the works. What could be better than that? — Benny Lopez Visit moreDVDinfo.com, call R. Stadin at 212-879-04448. Distributors: Baker&Taylor, Ingram & VPD http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.moredvdinfo.com
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