Hell on Wheels February 19, 2006

An in-depth and frequently uplifting record of the 2003 edition of the world's premier cycling event, the Tour de France. A collection of nifty archive clips helps put the then-century-old event in perspective, but most of this exciting documentary focuses on the German team captained by Erik Zabel and Rolf Aldag, with emphasis on the grueling cross-country trek. The film looks great with a great variety of shots, from intense close-ups to breathtaking aerial views. The crashes are pretty thrilling, too. "Unless you're an absolute cycling tragic this is pretty much the only Tour de France documentary you'll ever need." Jake Wilson, www.urbancinefile.com