4.5 wheels/stars

There is a problem plaguing rollerblading videos these days.  It is the belief that they should be shiny, glossy and in pursuit of perfection.  The accessibility of cheap HD technology is allowing literally anyone with the money, time and passion to make an epic video or a pretty online edit.  But what many fail to realize is that you could make the most technically sound, beautifully produced and brilliantly filmed video and it could still be boring and completely devoid of feeling.  It doesn’t matter what flavour-of-the week songs you use, or how many tricks you shoot in 60p – if the video doesn’t have soul it won’t stand the test of time or warrant repeated viewings.  Thankfully the new 4×4 team video doesn’t give in to the modern trappings and adds another classic video to rollerblading history.

“Subtly epic” is the phrase that best described Drip Drop.  Although the intro/trailer misled some viewers (including myself) into thinking they were getting a “Leading The Blind 2,” Drip Drop sidesteps expectations and reminds us once again why Pat Lennon is a master at his craft.  This video doesn’t have any overly long intros, snazzy motion graphics or forced dramatics.  The soundtrack is made up of carefully selected songs that create a unified mood and compliment the skating rather than trying too hard to stimulate the viewer.  The little details that Pat ads, such as the audio snippets, the claymation and the clips of bystanders and pedestrians create a deeper and much more lively world than the predictable, generic world of many other skate videos.

The skating in this video ranks among the best ever recorded.  We have truly arrived at a great era in rollerblading thanks to the guys in this video.  Not only have they been busting their asses for sections in other video projects and thrashing at the biggest events over the past few years;  these guys have been making rollerblading look confident, stylistically diverse and mature.  They have the power to take rollerblading whichever way they want and this video is more proof of their raw talent and style.  It’s like watching the supercharged futuristic version of rolllerblading you have always dreamt about.  Where will they take it next?  Also, Hayden Ball and Ben Weis’ appearances are incredible .

However, there are a few minor things that hold Drip Drop back from being a masterpiece.  Firstly, just when the sections start gaining momentum they end and leave you wanting more(maybe that was the point?).  Secondly there are jump cuts in the video that cut out key parts of the lines(especially in Pat’s section); Why cut the skating during a skilled line?  Lastly, I would have loved to have seen some transitions between the sections to really tie it all together.

Like the other classics in rollerbladings history, Drip Drop has a vibe that goes deeper than just having amazing skating.  There’s a world inside this video that really captures rollerblading at it’s best.  When we look back on this video years down the road, it won’t be in terms of the technology used or how pretty the pictures were…   We’ll remember how it made us feel and i’ll take feeling over fancy technology any day.