Cards on the table… I enjoy a good documentary. But then comes the sticky question… what makes a good documentary?
That it has to be well made and entertaining, so that you want to spend the time watching it is a given, but what moves things to the next level is when there is a hook. By that I mean, is the subject something you’re interested in or can connect with either directly or peripherally.
For me, Rom Boys: 40 Years of Cool was a good documentary! It was very well made; lots of passion, love, and commitment from the people involved, which showed through right from the start.
The World’s Most Indispensable Movie App
The RunPee app tells you the best times to
run & pee during a movie
so you don't miss the best scenes.
Download the RunPee app.
100% free (donation supported)
Rom Boys is all about a skatepark built in late ‘70s in Hornchurch, East London. At the time skateboarding was big. Back then I was a newly qualified teacher in Paddington, West London, and I remember nearly every teenage boy was walking around with a skateboard under his arm. The skatepark was designed by Adrian Rolt — who was a big player in skateboard park design at the time — and it was designed as one of the few parks to have all the main features (halfpipe, bowl, cloverleaf, moguls, etc.), when most skateparks only had a selection of them.
Two years later the skateboarding boom was pretty much over, and that’s when the majority of parks were demolished.
The Rom took a different approach and welcomed in BMX riders and, managed by “Big Bad” John Greenwood, managed to keep going. Going on to becoming a listed building, in fact, the first in Europe and second in the world. Actually, after the Bro Bowl in Tampa, Florida was demolished and rebuilt, the Rom is the oldest listed extant skatepark in the world.
I was expecting to see loads of archive footage, current talking head shots of any of the original skaters they could round up. and they’d be interspersed with shots of the kids or grandkids of the old school showing off their skills. And they were all there — and the passion of the skaters and riders, who are now in their fifties and sixties — was obvious and infectious. If I weren’t such a clumsy oaf with nil sense of balance I would have been tempted to jump on a skateboard and have a go myself.
Because that was another element of the film Rom Boys… the old school were still at it!
It reminded me of a documentary I saw about “Dark Side Of The Moon” which had David Gilmore ripping out the stunning guitar riffs — but bald, and wearing a cardigan. There were bald, overweight guys still doing all their tricks. Their enthusiasm for the sport was tangible and contagious. Despite the fact I’ve only ever been on a skateboard for nanoseconds before landing on my back, I was really caught up with what happened to The Rom and the very real drama that unfolded.
I’d grade it an A, but other people who know the place, know the people, know the sport, would start adding +’s!
Movie Grade: A
What people are saying
about the RunPee app.
Brilliant idea with great information
I’ve been using RunPee for a few years now and it’s basically a requirement of going to the movies for me. The best part of course are the “pee times” that give you cues, synopses and times for when you can pee without missing the most important parts of the movie. There is also information about the credits- length, extras and if there are any extra scenes at the wayyy end. Super helpful to just know that it is or isn’t worth staying. There is a timer function that will buzz your phone when it’s a good time to pee. I also appreciate that the app is very conscientious about it being an app you use in a theater- dark background, all silent alarms etc. I will always enjoy the experience of the theater even if I could watch things at home- but I’ve even used it at home to check for things like after credit scenes or other information too.
View all reviews
Apple App Store | Google Play Store
Download RunPee app
Women do like Bad Boys (the movie) and here’s the data to prove it
Don’t miss your favorite movie moments because you have to pee or need a snack. Use the RunPee app (Androidor iPhone) when you go to the movies. We have Peetimes for all wide release films every week, including Wicked, Gladiator II, Red One, The Wild Robot and coming soon Moana 2, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, Kraven the Hunter, Mufasa: The Lion King and many others. We have literally thousands of Peetimes—from classic movies through today’s blockbusters. You can also keep up with movie news and reviews on our blog, or by following us on Twitter @RunPee. If there’s a new film out there, we’ve got your bladder covered.
Leave a Reply