Philippe Petit

[lemon7777]

Hero

[Nantsy]

Thanks for this charming video. I just got around to watching Man On Wire tonight, and felt the need for a little more Petit!

[dubejuggling]

Hey, we were there too. Great to see a video memory of the event!

[kkkmv]

he walked across the wtc

[redballyou]

this guy is amazing, certainly one of a kind. I salute you sir!

[Kaz377]

yup! i love the music ^^

[psylence101]

good music choice

[pinkfloyd4241]

Plus he should have done one of those somersault things on the wire here and on the WTD wire.

That would have been great.

[pinkfloyd4241]

This guy is talented and had the balls to do something no other tight rope walker would.

But in my mind he is pretty selfish and inconsiderate.

Come on, his first encounter with the public after becoming famous he used to cheat on his girlfriend with some random fangirl.

He cut off long time relationships with his best friends and ditched them when they were deported form the United States.

I can understand how people admire him for his feats but I would never want to be like this man.

[Edhallick]

Re: pinkfloyd4241

Yeah I know exactly what you mean! I saw that movie "Man on wire" about him and how his friends helped him set up that WTC walk, really busting their butts for years and taking risks to do it too, and as soon as he did it, the freaking dude basically told them to f**k off. I couldn`t believe it! I was like WTF?? They had one guy interviewed who to this day is really upset about that.

[JonOBrien]

@pinkfloyd4241

I used to know Philippe in Paris, back in the early 70's. I loved the guy when he was just a street performer (like me) but, and it pains me enormously to say this, I have to agree. But I can't help thinking that he'd never have acheived his 'coup' if he hadn't been selfish and single-minded.

And I don't think balls had anything to do with it. He's just supremely confident, certain that he could never make a mistake.

[BeetleBerlin]

He proves that a dreamer can do what he wants if he sets his mind to it.  What a great person.

[laughorcrytv]

philipe petit is incredible

[stinkee2]

dude he is the coolest guy ive ever met, he was in my school today.. he is the coolest. but im not sure about the rest of the french people cuz hes the only one ive met

[203207ab]

okay. :)

[shaunshorn75]

@203207ab, so, having armed Saddam Hussein, having kept him in power, the US imposed brutal sanctions that killed over 500,000 Iraqi children:

"Lesley Stahl on U.S. sanctions against Iraq: We have heard that a half million children have died. I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?

"Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: I think this is a very hard choice, but the price--we think the price is worth it."

-60 Minutes (5/12/96)

[shaunshorn75]

@203207ab, the US deprived Iraqis of chemicals required to purify their water supply - a lack of clean water also led to deaths. The US had bombed a number of water-treatment plants in the 1st Gulf War, so the US was entirely responsible for these deaths.

Had America supported the Iraqis, they could have overthrown their dictator in 1991, WITHOUT the massive bloodshed that occurred in and after 2003.

[shaunshorn75]

@203207ab, the invasion of Iraq had NOTHING to do with liberating Iraqis, because, as I have shown, the US kept Saddam in power in 1991, when rebelling Iraqis might have overthrown him had the US not backed Hussein

The invasion was about removing a dictator who had stopped being compliant & replacing him with a more obedient regime. It has not quite worked out that way. Iraq, however, has been impoverished thanks to years of sanctions & an invasion. Iraq was NOT a 3rd world country under Saddam

[shaunshorn75]

@203207ab, Bush Senior admitted that when he told Iraqis to rebel, he meant the military generals, NOT ordinary Iraqis.

Imm. after the invasion, Bush Junior imposed brutal economic policies on Iraq, policies that benefitted US corporations and were designed to strip Iraq of its wealth. Bush also tried to illegally sell off Iraqi state assets at fire sale prices to US corporations.

& I haven't even touched on America's violations of the Geneva & Hague conventions designed to protect civilians.

[shaunshorn75]

@203207ab, and you're wrong, France did join America and the UK, but during the 1980s, and "only" in arming Iraq.

[resoloser]

only stupid people such as americans think they're doing something good by making war! study a little more and break the stereotype that says you're stupid!

[Lity10]

Are you fucking dumb, Resoloser? I guess you didn't put the word "loser" in your name for no sake at all..?

[shaunshorn75]

@203207ab, The US armed & supported Saddam in the 1980s, all through his worst atrocities. Read "Spider's Web" by Alan Friedman.

In 1991, shortly after the first Gulf War, Iraqis rose up in a massive rebellion. Bush Senior gave Saddam permission to fly his military helicopters (US had control of the airspace) & quell the rebellion in blood - 10,000s butchered! America didn't want Iraqis overthrowing their tyrant as it might have led to a gov. looking after Iraqi interests NOT US interests.

[captaincrumble]

dont be so harsh on your dad, he cant help it

[michiganboy76]

go on a high wire on the twin tours alone with no net and no security and take a nap in between then you can call yourself better than this "retard"...

[sanabriamusic]

petit is the greatest

[Kuorois]

Does anyone know the name of the back ground music? It's beautiful and quite familiar.

[fionawallace]

A Quai - Yann Tiersen

Best known from the movie "Amelie".

:]

[mangelpaaideer]

Wow.. the pictures you took are really good, he is hard to catch staying still though.. and it was really nice seeing all the different videos, I got a good impression of the show.

[mangelpaaideer]

The soundtrack from Amelie, fits perfectly for that, but not Philippe Petit.. do you understand what I mean..

I ment the "stupid" word in a funny way, never ment to insult.. :)

[mistymango]

Have to agree with mangelpaaider. I think the music is more suitable for a caricature of what is French...

[hannafin]

You are certainly entitled to that. I have put a link to the unedited videos and a few pictures in the video description.

[mangelpaaideer]

Thank you thank you... so much! Very kind of you!

[mangelpaaideer]

But why the stupid Amelie music.. can you make a video without that music...?

[hannafin]

Are you actually asking for a favor from a stranger while simultaneously calling his musical choice "stupid?" Does that strike you as a particularly good way to obtain results?

[mangelpaaideer]

Well I kinda had to get my point through somehow.. It's really hard to explain, why I just don't think it fits.. Let me try. I think that Amelie, is a cute french fantasy story, while what Petit stands for to me is masculinity, he is one of the bravest men that exist on this earth, with what he does and has achived he deserves some music that truly underlines that... see if you can find a better choice.. I am sure you can, if you think about it..

[dacptn]

@hannafin pwned.

[glitteringsky]

I love you!

[YLStunna]

Da Man !!!

[doduc]

Merci Philippe.

Ivan.

[11PEET]

bet he wouldnt do it again

[devi1xjesse]

Well he cant even if he wanted to..

[11PEET]

you dont say!? :o haha

[JayAndSilentBob2511]

He said he would if he could.

[PlanetBW2]

I wish he would. An Amazing man. Completely Awesome.

[YLStunna]

bet you wouldent do it at all.

[11PEET]

bet i could :)

[YLStunna]

lol, well you have more gut's than me.

[harwetopa]

I think we're missing a major point here: this is a 2005 video of a man who had walked the WTC towers THIRTY-ONE YEARS BEFORE ....and he is every bit as good NOW!

Bravo, Philippe!

[ShelterDogs]

Most of you have your facts wrong. Director Robert Zemeckis is not "remaking" the documentary "Man On Wire." He owns the film rights to Petit's book "To Reach the Clouds." He's not even in pre-production yet. And because he owns the film rights doesn't mean he will direct. A documentary is a documentary and a feature film is a feature film. Two different types of movies.

[greg5566]

I just saw Man on Wire. Absolutely amazing. Batman is about a 2 by comparison.

[dcc9000]

It's by Yann Tierson and on Amelie the film

[ivan1111961]

love this nusic anyone know the name of it

[immeris]

It's by Yann Tiersen from the soundtrack of the French film, Amelie Poulain. The entire soundtrack is great, as is the film.

[jimimac14]

I just saw the film, Man On Wire, and even knowing succeeded I still clenched my teeth. I get dizzy climbing a step ladder to change a light bulb.

[papillon0970]

A film about his famous walk between the Twn Towers is about to be released. It's called "Man on Wire".

Petit is alive and well and lives in the US.

He participated in the making of the film.

[mikeyglasgowscotuk]

For me this guy is the bravest !!!!!!!!!!!! man in world history. to fucken walk back & forward for over an hour and not be put off by cops shouting at him threw megaphones, at the top of one of the towers, is amazing most ppl would have fallen off and died.

[Tideh]

Aparently it was just under 45 mins according to wikipedia?

[splivey]

I agree with you. What he did is amazing!! I can't wait to see Man on Wire

[marsman888]

awsome

[LaFourmiRouge]

Phillippe Petit is a criminal! His "Walk in the Clouds" was a criminal conspiracy. He's also a pickpocket and a sleight-of-hand artist. You never know what he has in his pockets!

Lst time I looked, he was artist-in-residence at Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC.

[greg5566]

Are you retarded?

Just curious.

[LaFourmiRouge]

Perhaps you cannot comprehend "ironic good humor...

I would never suggest you are retarded, but only young, stupid, and not very well-informed.

[greg5566]

This age-based ad hominem attack is a new and I think particularly bizarre strain on youtube. If the person I'm talking to is young, they accuse me of being an old (which I am). If the person I'm talking to is old, they accuse me of being young.

I'm not going to dispute your calling your comment "humor"--if that's the way it was intended, then fine. But you don't seem to understand what "ironic" means. I think that's probably why you're wrong on "good" also. If it _had_ been ironic, . . .

[greg5566]

It would have been recognizable as humor.

[baisezle]

He's very much alive and has a home in New York's Mid Hudson Valley. I treasure my signed book, "To Reach The Clouds" which includes pictures and details about his background, his preparation and subsequent success in walking across a cable suspended between the World Trade Centers. Find this book - you will love it!

[bmraposo]

Could help me get in touch with him? email or address works for me. I have googled him buit couldn't find anywhere to start. Thanks!

[wuya6]

i wonder if he is dead or alive

[bassman5588]

this man is so talented.

[neobob187]

This is nothing to this guy... it's a walk in the park...literally.

They guy walked back and fourth on a tight rope from the North Tower to the South Tower of the World Trade Center SEVEN times before their completion in the 70's.

[cheomsky]

it was 8 times. we just did an interview with him last week. all shot in 3D! look for it.

[greg5566]

Why would you shoot an interview in 3D?

[cheomsky]

during the interview, he's sitting on top of a false statue of liberty torch and then later, notre dame, both with a green-screen background. at one point he'll reenact the tight-rope walks of each. coupled with the CGI and 3D, it gives the audience the feeling of being way up there with him. should be fun. Robert Zemeckis directed.

[greg5566]

Man on Wire is hands down the most thrilling, exciting, heart-stopping movie ever made. It could not be improved on. Obviously I haven't seen it yet, but not having seen it yet, I have to guess the Hollywood version will be crap.

AND, Man on Wire was so much deeper than some cheesy CGIs. The actual footage of the construction of the WTC was so powerful, knowing what happens. Leaving that unsaid is one of the most powerful things in the movie.

[greg5566]

**When I said I haven't seen it yet, I meant I haven't seen the Zemeckis version. (I've seen Man on Wire twice already! :) )

[greg5566]

I'm sorry for this strong reaction, but giving a movie and an event like Man on Wire to Hollywood is like remaking Willy Wonka, or Wings of Desire, etc. etc. Man on Wire is an instant classic, and it should be left for people to enjoy, not ruined with a cheap and well-promoted copy.

Nothing Zemeckis could do with green screen, CGI, and 3-D could rival listening to Petit simply describe the moment when he shifted his weight from the building to the wire.

[cheomsky]

-if not for Magnolia Pictures-- a hollywood production and distribution team-- Man On Wire would not be in American theaters. together with the help of gifted filmmakers like James Marsh, Philippe's story can be spread to a wider audience.

-also, it is not a remake. it's his memoir.

-and who exactly are you upset with? hollywood for producing it? or Petit for saying yes to the deal? it's self-promotion, if anything. he wasn't held at gunpoint. nor was his agent. nor any of his assistants.

[greg5566]

What did Magnolia spend on promoting the movie, 50 cents?

I am upset with Hollywood for producing it. Of course not with Petit for saying yes to the deal--more power to him.

I can just tell ahead of time that the movie will pale in comparison to Man on Wire, and yet will overshadow it. I can't wait to see the pixel lines and the shiny metallic sheen of the CGI WTC.

You can tell it's poorly conceived by your description. 3-D? That is such a classic Hollywood wrong-headed idea of good.

[greg5566]

The point is that Hollywood bastardizations of works of art cheapen the memory of the work of art.

I'm not saying anything earth-shattering here.

[FreerunLA]

Awesome! Philippe Petit is great.