In 2019 we were completely spoiled for mountain bike video content. Every day here on Pink bike we are treated to the best of the best out there from riders and filmmakers from all corners of the planet, but there’s still something extremely special about feature length movies. It’s very different from listening to one song versus an entire album.
Anthill Film’s Return to Earth is a collection of mountain biking events, capturing the beauty and epic rides across the world. Great works coming from the film: world class riding, stunning cinematography, and selection of great tunes. The scope of Return to Earth is to empower us to step away from the devices we are always glued to. With the help of the narrator the message is extremely crystal clear: step away from the clouds, take a pause, and “Return to Earth”
Aside from the movie’s incredible cinematography, RTE also features memorable tunes from The Band, The Beach Boys, Steppenwolf, and The Mamas & The Papas. Sounds like someone at the office raided the best 70’s FM station’s jukebox so all of these songs could be melded together into one of the greatest soundtracks.
The final segments are exceptional. There is always a guaranteed award in the segments where Brett Rheeder rides breathtakingly beautiful snowboard inspired builds in Utah which illustrates why he has earned the title of the Red bull Rampage champion. Another segment featuring stylish dissecting of the foliage of Quebec by Thomas Vanderham and Ryan Howard has also earned immense hype. But the highlight has to be the ending segment where classic meets modern by bringing together nine mountain riders and letting them ride on the stunning mountain on Hawaii, ending with a jumble of cross over jumps by the riders resulting in simultaneously appearing midair and perfectly synchronized ends.
Returning to Earth, similarly to every other movie by Anthill, has the bike park segment of Whistler which in particular sets them apart. The segment on the other hand which stands out for me the most includes a bunch of young athletes aged 10 to 15 from Whistler and Squamish including the son of the director, Max Wittenburg, along Jackson Goldstone, Dane and Jakob Jewett, Anthony Shelley and Mateo Quist. There’s no denying that these kids will grow up to be even better than the pros by the time they are able to compete professionally. The entire segment is very pleasing to the eyes, and trust me, it would put a smile on your face knowing that you’re not the only one who’s level these kids will be at.
The last movie from Anthill called Unreal tried to challenge the boundaries of what a mountain bike film can accomplish. Each segment showcased a unique theme combined with very complex and advanced logistics. On the other hand, Return to Earth is very limited in scope and ambition. It aims to stimulate us towards taking a break from the screen and going on a bike ride. Who on Earth can dispute that goal? Go watch this film and then hop on your bike and go for a very joyful ride outside!
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