Vice Guide to Travel (2006) (V)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Directors:

Eddy Moretti
Shane Smith

Release Date:

3 October 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot Keywords:

Jihad | Violence | Drug Lord | Alcohol | Slum

Cast

Suroosh Alvi	...	Himself
Derrick Beckles	...	Himself
David Choe	...	Himself
David Cross	...	Himself
Trace Crutchfield	...	Himself
Spike Jonze	...	Himself
Pella Kagerman	...	Herself
Johnny Knoxville	...	Himself
Gavin McInnes	...	Himself
Eddy Moretti	...	Himself
Jesse Pearson	...	Himself
Shane Smith	...	Himself

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Beirut, Lebanon

Trivia:

The Beirut segment was a mistake according to Shane Smith (Co-founder of Vice). It was intended to be a 'Skating with the Hezbollah' documentary, but when they got there, they found the skate park had been blown up. They spoke with people to find out what happened and stumbled upon head of the Al Aqsa Martyrs brigade.

Quotes:

Trace Crutchfield: [at the Favela's Balie Funk] The drug-dealers are throwing a party! It's UNBELIEVABLE!

Interesting and entertaining documentary (but too short)

I read about this documentary when it was promoted in Vice Magazine. "David Cross!? Rio!? Beruit!? Derrick Beckles!? I gotta check this out!" So I did. It was quite educational and interesting. The idea that these journalists from Williamsburg, Brooklyn would enter locations that people in their right mind wouldn't visit was intriguing.

Though it was educational, funny, and sad all in one, it was also a bit short. Each segment seemed to have been no longer than 12 minutes. In a way, I don't exactly blame the guys at Vice for this because they mentioned clearly how much of this was incredibly spontaneous. It's one thing to keep the viewer wanting more, but it's another thing to disappoint him.

One of the highlights was David Cross and Gavin McInnis visiting China. This wasn't much of an interesting story. While the others touched on subject such as Crime, Martyrs, Government Corruption and Terorrism, David and Gavin went to Hong Kong to find bootleg DVDs, eat dog, watch The Superbowl, began a fictional Apple Pie company and see how prostitution is orchestrated.

The soundtrack was amazing. I was expecting to hear hip music from bands under the Vice record label (Death From Above 1979, Chromeo, The Black Lips, etc.) and did. It was very nicely placed and can't complain.

I was highly entertained and enjoyed the satiric humor, but still expected a little more.