Opting for style over maneuverability, the DVD's main presentation puts viewers in the middle of a slick 3-D rendered X Games arena, guided solely by a handful of slightly confusing icons -- thankfully, there's an explanation chart available at the intro screen. While the meat of Ultimate X clocks in at a mere 39 minutes by itself, you're looking at well over an hour of X Games material with the varied additional features and montages thrown into the mix.
Fans of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater video games series and all-around extreme sports enthusiasts will enjoy the skateboarding footage most of all; highlights including the progression of Tony Hawk's signature 900 move and Bob Burnquist's legendary score of 98 in the 2001 X Games make it worth the viewing alone! One particular wide-angle shot of Hawk performing the 900 to an arena full of screaming fans stands out as one of the DVD's more memorable moments, while McDonald and Hawk's amazing gold medal routine garners more than a few rewinds. Some of this stuff absolutely must be seen to be believed.
Nearly every second of BMX and Motocross footage oozes with action and crazy tricks as well, certainly with enough variety to please any X Games fanatic or newcomer alike. Greats like Dave Mirra, Travis Pastrana, Matt Hoffman and Carey Hart fill the screen with backflips, twists and 720s while explaining their past accomplishments and future ambitions in the sports they've devoted their lives to. Unfortunately, the Street Luge only receives a short one-off montage of a single run in the main film, yet it proves possibly the DVD's best portion. All audio falls silent except for a few quiet sounds of a wet road and the swift zooms of competitors past the camera (easily the best use of Surround Sound on the DVD), set to a soothing soundtrack by Moby. The camera positioning is particularly effective here, providing viewers with the sensation of riding to the finish line themselves in the segment's final shot.
It doesn't take previous X Games knowledge to appreciate and marvel at how hard these athletes work at improving their craft, and ESPN's Ultimate X presents the best of the best in a stylish little package. Whether you're interested in the stories behind the sports, replays of Tony Hawk's greatest achievements, or just some brutal footage of the pros busting their tailbones on asphalt, Ultimate X should appeal to your wild side in no time flat.
