Published Jul 6. 2007 - 17 years ago
Updated or edited May 31. 2022

Video review: Running down the man

Extremely short (17 minutes plus 8 minutes extra material!), but very entertaining story about a bunch of enthusiasts (read: half crazy anglers) that hunt for roosterfish from the beach of the Baja Mexico. Made in a contemporary, fast paced and action filled manner with only little emphasis on facts and fishing methods but a lot of emphasis on the rush of chasing and catching these magnificent fish.


Info
Author: 
Ben Knight & Travis Rummel
Publisher: 
Felt Soul Media
Publishing year: 
2007
Minutes: 
17
Price: 
20.00
US$

Reviewed by: 

Now here's something which you don't see that often: fishing for roosterfish from the beach. No boat, no guide, no poling. Just a sand buggy, some rods and a couple of crazy guys literally running up and down the Baja Mexico in the pursuit of some grande roosterfish - like in big.

And it's great fun. It is to watch at least, and it must have been to do... apart from the stings from the jellyfish and the bees... and the sand and heat... and the snakes and the cows on the porch. But the clear water, the hunting roosters close to the shore, the driving around in a sand buggy, and filming from an ultralight. A real boy's dream come trough.

And this seems to be exactly what it is. This is a couple of guys - Ben Knight and Travis Rummel - following another guy - Frank Smethurst - following a dream: to catch a large roosterfish - the Elisabeth Hurley of fish, as Smethurst puts it. A truly classic remark in fly fishing.

Elisabeth Hurley or not, the roosterfish are sexy fish, and the running up and down the beaches to get within casting range of these potential giants is exiting. The pace is high, hearts are pounding, there's lots of excitement, plenty cheering and probably quite a bit of swearing too. The DVD seems to be very representative of the trip, which seems to be on the brink of being headless and on the verge of being irresponsible - not quite unlike trips done by numerous anglers on many occasions. And that's probably why the video is so compelling. It's very much like being there, like a trip you could have done yourself.

The cinematography and production might pull you out of that fantasy, because this is far beyond your average home video. The footage and the mixing combined with a great sound track lifts it up. The rhythm is much like the music video style that we have seen in several ground breaking fishing DVD's the last few years.
The music video concept is true when it comes to the length of the DVD. It's a long music video, but a short DVD. 17 minutes plus 8 minutes extra material!

The producers have obviously chosen to use the best and most exciting minutes of their raw material, and I fully sympathize with that, but on the other hand I'd like to spend more time with these crazy folks and see and hear more about their fishing for Elisabeth.

But still, it's a great DVD and well worth the money and the time it takes to watch - how ever short.


Comments

does anyone know the...

does anyone know the second song in the trailer? I know the first song was "can't keep running away" by the Pharcyde. What's the one with the chick singing? thanks!!!

Now we all know what...

Now we all know what Martin found under his Christmas tree......

The DVD is cool, one of the most "rocking" - to use my precedessors phrase - I've seen.

The good thing this that there are DVD's like this coming out....an entertaining change away from the instructional "how to" DVD's which monopolized the market in the past. The Trout Bum Diaries Vol 1 & 2, Fish Bum 1: Mongolia, Soulfish, Drift......

Happy New Year 2009....and thight lines

Matthias

San Diego

Super great movie. ...

Super great movie.
The last scene with the "what to do when stung by jellyfish" had me laughing.

/Allan

I've seen the DVD an...

I've seen the DVD and trust me - it rocks! On the none-fishing side the scene where cows are violently chased out of the flowerbed is priceless.

And what's more 'Running down ...' displays Baja what it is like - hot, dry, remote and stunningly beautiful. It makes you wanna go there (again).

Keep on rocking!

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