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Surfing Film Reviews and Cool Vids

  • 02-01-2012 11:44pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭


    Meant to do this for a while. Moderators will u consider giving this a sticky?

    The reason i've started the thread is that there are so many good surf films out there that people miss out on for whatever reaons.
    Some are old, some are niche market things etc.
    I would love to find out about them, and having a decent collection myself feel i could perhaps let some people share in the films that i have enjoyed and continue to enjoy in some cases.

    So i'd hope that people could post up a review of a surf movie they like or don't like as the case may be. Can be a documentary, surf porn (ie just surfing and music), feature film, old, new, amateur youtube or whatever is good.
    No snobbery either, point break, surfs up (animated film) and the like all have their place and have been enjoyed by people.

    Please don't just give a plot summary but your insights into the film (without spoilers if applicable) and just one film per posting without listing films.


    I'll kick it off with Seafever

    Here's the official link whichs allows purchase of the DVD and has some other information. It's a couple of years old.

    This is a film about the developement of surfing in ireland since it all started and potentially where's its all headed. It tells a loose story which is linked together by interviews with veteran surfers, up and coming surfers and shapers.

    It is not a big hollywood affair, the budget seems low, this does mean some of the surfing footage does suffer noticably from lack of multiple camera angles. It's not a show stopper by any means but on some sections it really needs it.

    What it lacks in budget it certainly makes up for in charm however. The selection of interviewees to me is bang on the money. They are mostly engaging, warm and articulate. Easkey Britton and the south African Shaper stand out in particular.

    There is little filler and no trips to California, Hawaii etc, this is an Irish Film about Irish Surfing and the only detour is a very brief and enjoyable detour to Cornwall. It doesn't have the PR/spin surfers that seem to pop up everywhere these days and is very relaxed and mellow in tone. The mostly background soundtrack augments this but jumps out when it needs to, noticeably at aileens.

    the wave quality is distinctly mixed, some mushy stuff and not always the best technical surfers in it, but surprisingly this doesn't detract from the film. These are of course, the conditions we're used to and i felt i could connect more for that reason, the irish surfers frustration is often mentioned. The changeable winds!!! There is shortboarding, longboarding, tow in and even bodyboarding so something for everyone. John McCarthy (yeah the guy from the AIB adverts) is the stand out surfer in this along with Mickey Smith (ridiculously talented photographer as well, check out Dark Side of the Lens, epic, prob deserves its own posting tbh)

    For the tow in junkies aileens is featured, not my thing to be honest, but it's there and good explanations of how it works and the risks involved and an overview of the equipment and process. worth hitting youtube for some better footage of it on a bigger session.

    The running time at just over an hour is perfect, it doesn't bore and i wanted to see more.

    Would definitely recommend this film to surfers and think it's worthy of 7 out of 10.


    I'm looking forward to some good recommendations on this thread!!


«134

Comments

  • Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,074 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    Good idea for a thread! :)

    One i watched over the christmas for the first time was Single Fin: Yellow.

    Its considered somewhat of a classic at this stage so I'm sure a lot of people have heard about it on here already. Heres the trailer:



    So basically it follows a yellow 9"6 single fin, shaped by Tyler Hatzikian, around the world to 6 (i think) different surfers and locations including Australia, California and Hawaii.

    What I liked about this movie was it focused on the board and not a single surfer. Its cool to see different surfers from different backgrounds surfing the board in their own unique styles. The board nearly feels like a charcter itself in the movie.

    Its all filmed in 16mm so its got a nice grainy retro feel to it, its also got a cracking soundtrack, the cd of which is included with the dvd! My favourite part was the Australia section but the Devon Howard and Bonga Perkins sections are great too. Definitley recommend checking it out!


    MV5BMTY0NDcwNDIxN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjE3NTQzMQ@@._V1._SY317_.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭promethius


    that looks really cool i'm gonna check it out. thanks for that.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,728 ✭✭✭rodento


    Like this short clip:D

    http://magicseaweed.com/video/flvplayer.php?id=3397

    Callduff Closeouts, could be any beach anywhere


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭promethius


    so many little gems out there, love the music and man does that wave shut down quickly!


  • Registered Users Posts: 28 BB_1983


    Castles in the sky is really good, great soundtrack and not so much talking, just great tunes and nice footage in locations from Peru to Iceland. Nicely put together.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,512 ✭✭✭stevire


    I'm a big fan of the Drive Thru series, Australia/California/Japan are the best ones. I'd avoid the last couple of films in the series, lost it's charm on the last couple of movies.


  • Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,074 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    BB_1983 wrote: »
    Castles in the sky is really good, great soundtrack and not so much talking, just great tunes and nice footage in locations from Peru to Iceland. Nicely put together.

    I'm at two minds about Taylor Steele's movies. Visually they are amazing but god they're so pretentious sometimes, the music and the footage is great but the ****e talking nearly puts me off the whole thing.


  • Registered Users Posts: 286 ✭✭keryl


    Mickeroo wrote: »
    I'm at two minds about Taylor Steele's movies. Visually they are amazing but god they're so pretentious sometimes, the music and the footage is great but the ****e talking nearly puts me off the whole thing.

    What ever floats someones boat, who am I to question it but you took the words out of my mouth. I really struggled to get to the end of The Drifter.

    I really liked Singlefin: Yellow.

    Can't think of it now but that film about Michael Peterson got me a little, it's about his success and how his life ended up.

    *Searching for Michael Peterson


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭promethius


    Here's another classic, Big Wednesday
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077235/

    This is my favourite surfing feature film. It's based in the 60's (filmed in 1978) in California with the back drop of the vietnam war. It follows the story of a tight band of friends from being young headers through to adults with the responsibilities that go with it.

    It's got all the characters in it, the party animal, the talented but tortured surfer, the guy that always holds back from things and never really lets go, and a very memorable wise old owl of a board shaper. Hell, Gary Busey's in it and Gerry Lopez plays himself in a cameo what more could you ask for. Plenty of quotable lines too.

    Loads of fun along the way and the themes are ones a lot of surfers are familiar with. The lure of the coast, excess drinking etc, responsibilities of growing up and surfing becoming less of your life, pushing your limits in the water, losing touch with friends, losing loved ones and somehow trying to reconcile all of this and be comfortable in your skin later in life.

    A friend recommended this to me years ago and said he cried at the end of the last surf sequence, he's a big burly tough guy which made me think i have to see this thing.

    Some of it is a bit daft, cheesy and very dated, the party scene in matt's house, some of the mexico stuff but just roll with all that.

    To me, as far as surfing films go, this is a masterpiece.


  • Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,074 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    Big wednesday is great. If anyone doesn't get a little emotional at the end then they probably don't have a heart :D


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  • Registered Users Posts: 451 ✭✭OldGuysRule


    The party was in Jack's house, not Matt's. Although he denied it, he may have pissed in Mrs Barlow's steam iron.


  • Registered Users Posts: 286 ✭✭keryl


    When he's greased up and trying to fit in the oven lol nuts


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭promethius


    keryl wrote: »
    When he's greased up and trying to fit in the oven lol nuts

    that's the bit i was thinking of when i referred to it being daft :-)
    might have to review another surfing film with gary busey in it, dare i :D
    maybe i'll leave that one to someone else!


  • Registered Users Posts: 286 ✭✭keryl


    THE DEAD PRESIDENTS ARE!!!!


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭promethius


    "young dumb and full of cum!"
    someone's got to do this one :-)


  • Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,074 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    Was on Tv the last night that one! Need to watch it again, not seen it since I was a nipper.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,162 ✭✭✭xxyyzz


    Thomas Campbell's movies are well worth a watch - The Seedling, Sprout and to a lesser extent The Present. Lots of different surfers on lots of different boards. The music is great in them. At times they walk a fine line between arty and pretentiousness but he usually gets away with it. Campbell is the director that Taylor Steele wishes he was.


  • Registered Users Posts: 295 ✭✭OuterBombie


    Howdy,

    Second Big Wednesday, my favorite movie. As far as surf flicks go, I haven't got many of the new ones but some of my favorites from the last few years:

    Sipping Jetstreams: http://www.sippingjetstreams.com/

    Good Morocco section and lots of interesting travel footage.

    September Sessions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5AxwDX0Lzw

    Johnson and co in Indo, some lovely waves. Better throw in Thicker Than Water and Brokedown Melody also. Links from the Sept session youtube page. All The Woodshed Company, Molloy bros and Johnson, pretty similar flicks, good if you are in to them.

    Litmus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb2-612SUto

    I remember watching this in the early 90's on a portable TV in a house by Inchadoney beach (through a smoky haze). Most hyped at the time as it contained the first decent footage of Irish surf, turned out to be a great soul surfing flick, still one of my favorites although I only have it on VHS so it doesn't get a run out much.

    Andrew Kidman was also involved in Glass Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4N31I9PNic and Believe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6G-h3TJE1k. I've been loving these since my twin keel retro fish has been seeing a lot of action the last few years.

    Back in the VHS day, I loved the early Taylor Steele movie Good Times http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTTu2JcbUnA , used for hyping up pre/post surfing while traveling the southern hemi!

    Can't leave it at that without mentioning The Search http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ri5urWCwWM some insane footage of Curren at J-bay, style or what.

    Enjoy.


  • Registered Users Posts: 339 ✭✭Sport101


    Obviously the best surf movie ever made:




    Although this bad boy runs it darn close



  • Registered Users Posts: 339 ✭✭Sport101



    Litmus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb2-612SUto

    I remember watching this in the early 90's on a portable TV ... (through a smoky haze).

    Not sure if there's any other way to watch Litmus! Inspired many surf trips in the 90s to try to find every spot.


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  • Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,074 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    A few have mentioned Dark Side of the Lens already, but I thought i'd post it up:



    It blew me away when I first saw it. the footage in it is amazing, I've never seen the Irish coastline look so amazing on film and for once the talking didn't bother me either as he's actually saying something worthwhile, genuine and poetic. A great peice of film making.

    He did a talk on the website do-lectures recently called Do Trust the Things you Love thats worth a watch too (the film is shown in the middle of it aswell).


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭promethius


    Point Break:

    I always risk credibility whenever i say this in surfing circles but i don't care! I love this film!!!!
    There must be a few not familiar with it. It's an action feature film based in 1990's california, most of the action but not all is centred around surfing.
    It's best watched with a few beers and the critical surfing senses switched off.

    The plot involves FBI special agent Johnny Utah (yes really, Johhny Utah!) infiltrating a surfing gang that robs banks to pay for the ultimate surfing lifestyle (i'm not making any of this up)

    The film follows Johhny's double life as a clean cut agent and an outsider trying to fit into the surf culture of Los Angeles.

    The characters are what make this film what it is, I've already mentioned Johnny. Then there's:

    Pappas: his older partner (gary busey), a real i don't give a **** what anyone thinks anti-establishment hot head
    Bodhi (Bodhisattva): The ultimate soul surfer always searching for the ultimate thrill and enlightenment through surfing.
    Ben Harp: Asshole boss of the two agents, he's in scrubs as well, great lines.

    The surfing is patchy, literally. Some nice surfing but the way it's pasted together with the actors is jarring at best for some of it. The switch from small whitewater with keanu to the surfing double in overhead conditions is hard to watch.

    A great sky diving scene and also a running chase through LA.

    It's got one of the red hot chilli peppers in a minor role, don't know them anyways so don't ask which one.

    A lot of the themes are those of struggle.

    Bodhi must somehow reconcile his spiritual beliefs and deep love of surfing with stealing from banks and potentially injuring or killing innocent people. Never resolved really.

    The obvious struggle for Johnny is between his undercover roles as FBI agent and a guy who's fallen in love with surfing and everything that goes with it.

    However: I've heard another struggle down the years that Johnny has to deal with, that of repressed homosexuality! Then you think about it, he wants to spend all his time with toned, semi naked tanned young men. He won't take the shot at bodhi when he knows it will likely lead to bloodshed and death later (which it does). His possibly token boyish girlfriend has what i thought was a man's name (Tyler, it can be a girls name), short hair and is flat chested. Here's a better explanation of it

    The director katherine bigelow went on to win an oscar as best director for the hurt locker.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,668 ✭✭✭nlgbbbblth


    My surf-related compilation from last year. Link in comments.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭promethius


    Mickeroo wrote: »
    A few have mentioned Dark Side of the Lens already, but I thought i'd post it up:

    that six minutes is vastly superior to plenty of 90 min surfing features. Excellent stuff, the man is a poet...


  • Registered Users Posts: 286 ✭✭keryl


    I love Point Break, I don't care if it's not real surfer material, it's an absolute blast
    "Life's not over yet, your surfing!" RIP Swayze.

    Mickey Smith also featured on Springwatch on BBC with Dark Side of the Lens.


    Here is a tiny video from David Olsthoorn, Rileys. He has more on Vimeo.
    It's the music and the vibe he captures. Always gets me. Up the Banner.
    http://vimeo.com/7152615 (Don't know the embed for Vimeo)


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,103 ✭✭✭promethius


    nice video of reillys, can i ask where that is? it's a nice wave how does it behave in bigger swell? could see it being an absolute beast if it holds it!!


  • Administrators, Computer Games Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 32,074 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭Mickeroo


    promethius wrote: »
    nice video of reillys, can i ask where that is? it's a nice wave how does it behave in bigger swell? could see it being an absolute beast if it holds it!!

    Here's a vid of it a wee bit bigger: http://www.surfline.com/surflinetv/primetime/atlantic-slab-session_62532


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,452 ✭✭✭Ronnie Beck


    Great film in its own right. Aussie made old school feral stuff from Bali, Angourie, Kirra, Oahu, Maui and some other spots. Soundtrack is great too.

    :D

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0248194/


  • Registered Users Posts: 243 ✭✭Decos


    promethius wrote: »
    nice video of reillys, can i ask where that is? it's a nice wave how does it behave in bigger swell? could see it being an absolute beast if it holds it!!
    Co. Clare


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,728 ✭✭✭rodento


    promethius wrote: »


    The director katherine bigelow went on to win an oscar as best director for the hurt locker.
    She made Near Dark which is one of the best vampire flicks ever made:D


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