Lifecylces Review

Do believe the hype… The Collective brought us a more thoughtful and grown up style of filmmaking that wasn't stepped up again until Seasons. It was starting to feel like the bar had been raised so high that we had reach a plateau in filmmaking for bikes. Certainly Follow Me felt like this; a good film in its own right but 'nothing new' and sadly suffered from hype (and a ridiculous price tag). Lifecycles was the 'other' film of 2010 which was eagerly anticipated with a sharp trailer that offered something different but there was concern that the hype again would raise expectations too far. Check out the trailer below: Lifecycles simply raises the bar in MTB filmmaking again offering some of the most creative and inspiring filmmaking seen in our neck of the woods. Surprisingly there is a lot less riding than there is in most films, this film attempts to connect us to why we ride and how we interact with the outdoors. Initially the factory shots and the commentary feel either like thinking mans bike porn or like someone has swallowed a philosophy text book, but the film does suck you in through its own lifecycle. Bizarrely the longer it goes on, the more you get sucked into the film and the commentary makes more sense. By the time the end scene comes around (stunning black and white ethereal footage), it feels like you have entered a dream state akin to the kind of 'trail buzz' that can keep mountain bikers awake at night. Lifecycles on the big screen is sumptuous in colour and stunning in the way it is shot. Just like the Collective, this makes you want to get out and be a better rider. Some fear that the colour and style may get lost in the transfer from big screen to small screen but its hard to see how this wont be a well watched dvd. To be a ground breaking film, it needs to connect you with your bike, influence other filmmakers and make you want to get out your seat and get straight on a bike, it has to make you believe you can be better rider by inspiring you. Lifecycles ticks all these boxes and creates a linear narrative through our first days of riding through to where we exist with bikes today. Even after the hundreds of wannabes this film finds ways to surprise and showcase stunning talent. The only frustration is the same as with all other films, the cost to running time ratio. Someone needs to start taking these films and adding another half hour to them. For inspiration in the depths of winter or for your hibernation over Christmas, there is nothing better to keep you connected to the bike when you aren't on it. Simply inspirational. Have you seen Lifecylces? Let us know your thoughts below.