Man About Town with Kilian Martin
January 17, 2011 - By Bobby Solomon - Category: Clothing & Video
I always enjoy when you take two seemingly opposing ideas and bring them together, just like this video starring Kilian Martin for Man About Town magazine. I had never heard of him before but Kilian Martin is one of the best freestyle skateboarders in the world. His style of of skatin reminds me of Gene Kelly and some kind of gun slinger at the same time. He’s quick and precise and does things you’d never expect.
The video was put together by Atelier Franck Durand who showcases his natural talents decked out in a blend of Cerruti, Dior Homme, Giorgio Armani among other brands to give a high class look to his artful style. It’s a very well put together video that’s made even classier by their use of the Tommy Edwards classic, It’s All in the Game, a song I used to love when I was a kid.
Bobby
Comments
If you've got something to say, keep it positive.That was awesome and some of the moves I just wasn’t expecting. Great find and awesome video.
Being able to watch skateboarding as an art instead of something angry teens do is a treat. This video is classy, timeless.
Reminds me of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTzEp4CeWT8&ob=av3el
thats great, i saw some shoe changes though, i used to skateboard and it feels like that childhood sweetheart you never really got over. This is a cool video i love that people make random videos. I just made one about an overnight drive that i recorded the synth and the video at the same time for optimum vibe cohesiveness. its at my site its called chevy nocturne. Back to the video, it makes me want to watch my old skateboard movies with Rodney Mullen and daewon song.
I love this.
Anyone who grew up skateboarding is going to see this for what it is. This kid’s skating is simply not that impressive. Watch any of his videos and you’ll see that half his tricks feature sketchy landings and you can really see a lack of skating ‘fundamentals’. There’s really no comparison between this kid and Rodney.
@Scott – Don’t be a hater, this guy is super talented. Could you do half of this stuff?
Scott, although less eloquent in saying so, is right in some respects. Kilian is talented, of that I have no doubt, but this is essentially a remake of Rodney Mullen’s, flat land, street-work. For all we know Kilian did this, in part, as a tribute to Mullen. It’s not as if he’s either the first, nor will he be the last, to emulate Mullen’s style – rightfully so.
For a clip of Mullen in his early days, performing much of what you see here but in a time frame that can put some reference to this, feel free to watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GriUrIcfEew
To see a bit more of Rodney’s skills, check out the video’s in the link beside it, the newer ones will positively blow you away. In in the interim, thank you, Man About Town, for giving us this fresh take on an old classic.
@Bobby – No hate, just crit. I don’t mean to criticize Kilian Martin because he’s just having fun doing what he loves, what I’m reacting to are the people who know nothing of skating thinking this is some new type of skating and that he is on the same level as Rodney or any other pros. No, I couldn’t do half the stuff he does on a skateboard but that’s not really the point. I have no doubt that Megan Fox is a much better actor than I but that does not make her Meryl Streep. It’s skateboarding for laypeople. He is to skateboarding what Thomas Kinkade is to Art.
@Bobby- PS: To prove I’m no hater I’d like to add that I really like your blog/site. It’s really well done.
@ Bobby and Scott – On the discussion about Kilian and Mullen; there are really no comparaison between any skater and Mullen he’s the godfather of street skating and the stuff that he does is though impossible if it wasn’t caught on tape. When that’s said the guy Kilian has some skil’ls without a doubt – found this other video (that I actually like a bit more – properly because of the skating skill’s in it) It’s not as ”arty” – but it’s still beautiful, made by Brett Novak and the music is by Patrick Watson.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mgFdn4lfrE&feature=player_embedded
Amazing! When I first seen this a few weeks back I was truly inspired. Here is a link to another short film Kilian was in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDH6Q22d1zo&feature=related
@Scott yeah, i see your gripes. i do the same thing when i know a subject well enough to point out to the noobs that so and so aint about shiz.
you may know a thing or two or a thousand about skateboarding but know very little about music and find the most basic progression as the “coolest thing”. just an example…for all i know you may be some astute musician.
___
fact -is- not everyone is going to know everything thoroughly. i mean how many people (billions i suppose) got duped into thinking kenny g -is- jazz. god that dude -is- gross.
how many people got duped thinking Bob Marley -is- the greatest Reggae musician in the whole wide universe. Well he -is- great he -is- damn good, -is- he? -is- takes the meaning far into someone’s personal semantics. Really what -is-? Maybe for you but surely what -is- may not be for a whole bunch of people.
anyway, i like this video. i like the color, the pace, the high style, the concept…reminds me of a not-ad but it -is. i checked out kilian’s other stuff and i like those too. i checked out some Rodney Mullen and damn that boy -is- wicked smart. dudes got like a doctorate in mathematics.
tons of talented people everywhere. thanks for sharing this.
First thought was Rodney Mullen.
Love the spaceship and the blue socks !!