Dust 2 Glory (2017) Reviews

• Doc Can Get Unfocused

  larrys32019-01-01

  This documentary is a follow-up to director Dana Brown's 2005 film Dust to Glory, focusing on the Baja 1000 race and the 3 other races that comprise what's known as the World Desert Championship. In the year of the filming nearly 1500 entrants along with 270 vehicles in 35 different classes (ranging from motorcycles, to VW Bugs, to super trucks) will compete against the clock, along the dangerous and grueling 854 mile stretch of the Mexican Baja Peninsula, where the terrain can quickly change from mountains to dust filled deserts in a flash. The strengths of the movie, as I see it, are in the often remarkable backstories and motivations of the diverse line-up of racers, and why nearly all seem so determined to return and compete here each year. However, as another reviewer mentioned there are too many featured competitors with only glimpses of who they are, as they keep appearing from time to time in the film. This can certainly be somewhat confusing to the viewer. All in all, I liked the enthusiasm, diversity, and camaraderie of the race participants here, but I would have wanted to know more about their individual stories and why competing in this grueling race was so important to them each year. Perhaps, focusing on a few featured competitors would have given viewers a more focused presentation.

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• RACING BAJA STYLE

  kirbylee70-599-5261792018-12-06

  I will be up front and say that I might not be the best person to write about this movie. I'm not a huge fan of racing and don't follow it much. That doesn't mean I can't appreciate those that do as well as those that are involved in the sport. But fans will get much more out of this film that I did. The movie is about the legendary SCORE Baja 1000. SCORE is the official off road racing organization behind this race which takes place in Baja peninsula in the northwestern part of Mexico. It is the final race in a four race tournament set by SCORE. In 2005 director Dana Brown covered the race and its contestants. Now he returns to cover the race in 2016 in order to release the film in time for the 50th anniversary season in 2017. No stranger to high speed sports Brown was also responsible for the film STEP INTO LIQUID about the surfing world. The movie describes the various styles of vehicles that compete in the race, presents some background about the race and features many of the notable drivers involved in this season. Each one tells their tale about their involvement as well as their family traditions of competing in the race. We also get to see them on the road doing what they do best. If what you want to see are the vehicles on the road racing at top speed then you'll enjoy this movie. For me it jerked around too much and I'm not talking about the cars themselves. The movie switches at breakneck speed from one driver to the other and the interviews with each are just as quick before moving to the next or to another car. The attention paid to their families is negligible at best and only they're involvement in the sport as well. But sequences of speeding cars with decent soundtrack accompaniment is on display in fast cut portions of the film and maybe that's who this was made for. Don't think of this as an introduction to the sport. If you do you'll be left with more questions than answers. Instead make this an item that you give as a gift to someone already well aware of the race or the racing fan who might find it interesting. As for the casual viewer my guess is you won't have a lot of fun with this one.

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