ESPN's Ultimate X: The Movie

You could chug a 12-pack of Mountain Dew and it still might not equal the caffeinated rush of this breakneck 40-minute IMAX film that loses little of its visceral jolt on the small screen. This is the real fast and the furious, with such worshipped Gen-X superstars as Carey Hart, Tony Hawk, Bucky Lasek, Dave Mirra, and Travis Pastrana careening down city streets or hurtling off ramps on skateboards, street luges and motocross bikes. Filmed at the 2001 X-Games in Philadelphia, this sponsor-heavy glorified infomercial comes complete with a revved-up rock soundtrack (also sold separately), more slow-mo shots than a John Woo film, and pound-back-the-Dramamine P.O.V. action. The gravity-defying stunts are not for the faint of heart, which may explain why these fearless athletes have been so wildly embraced by Generation X. For a more thoughtful analysis of the zeitgeist, check out the excellent documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys (VL-7/02), but for sheer adrenaline-pumping eye candy, it's hard to beat former BMX Gold Medalist Mirra performing his signature backflip. [Note: the DVD features athlete profiles, trick breakouts, bonus footage, and more music.] Recommended. Aud: P. (K. Lee Benson)