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Amazon.co.uk Review
John Milius charts a decade of social change as three surfing buddies use the sport as a personal touchstone for their lives whilst growing up in the turbulent 1960s. Irresponsible hot-dogging legend Matt (Jan-Michael Vincent),serious and stable Jack (William Katt) and mad misfit Leroy, aka "Masochist" (Gary Busey), are teenage surf bums in 1963, living at the beach in a perpetual summer under the sway of surfboard-maker Bear (Sam Melville), guru, mentor, and keeper of the lore. But times are changing and boys grow up in the shadow of Vietnam while adulthood pushes them into hard decisions. John Milius mixes the nostalgia of American Graffiti with the reverence of a John Ford cavalry drama. Surfing becomes a kind of spiritual quest spoken of in awed mythic tones and photographed with the epic grandeur of a rite of passage. Milius's heavy-handed direction andr everent attitude slows the films and will turn off some viewers but Milius fans will appreciate his macho stylings and philosophical musings, and surfing fans will love the spectacular surfing footage, including the dazzling stylings of world champion Gerry Lopez (who Milius later cast in Conan the Barbarian). Lee Purcell costars as Matt's supportive wife, with Patti D'Arbanville, Barbara Hale and Robert Englund in supporting roles. Look for Ford stock player Hank Worden in a small role and Milius himself in a cameo role selling marijuana in Tijuana. --Sean Axmaker
Amazon.co.uk Review
John Milius charts a decade of social change in Big Wednesday as three surfing buddies use surfing as a personal touchstone for their lives while growing up in the turbulent 1960s. Irresponsible hot-dogging legend Matt (Jan-Michael Vincent), serious and stable Jack (William Katt), and mad misfit Leroy, aka "Masochist" (Gary Busey), are teenage surf bums in 1963, living at the beach in a perpetual summer under the sway of surfboard-maker Bear (Sam Melville), guru, mentor, and keeper of the lore. But the times they are a changin' and boys grow up in the shadow of Vietnam while adulthood pushes them into hard decisions.
John Milius mixes the nostalgia of American Graffiti with the reverence of a John Ford cavalry drama. Surfing becomes a kind of spiritual quest spoken of in awed mythic tones and photographed with the epic grandeur of a rite of passage. Milius' heavy-handed direction and reverent attitude slows the films and will turn off some viewers, but the director's fans will appreciate his macho attitudes and philosophical musings, and surfing fans will love the spectacular surfing footage, including the dazzling stylings of world champion Gerry Lopez (whom Milius later cast in Conan the Barbarian). Lee Purcell costars as Matt's supportive wife, with Patti D'Arbanville, Barbara Hale, and Robert Englund in supporting roles. Look for Ford stock player Hank Worden in a small role and Milius himself in a cameo selling marijuana in Tijuana. --Sean Axmaker
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This is a breathtaking film from start to finish, be it the boisterous parties that the stars attend, the trip to Tijuana, or the beautiful footage of the ocean and the surfers.
Jan Michael Vincent pulls at your heart strings as the immature alcoholic Matt Johnson who manages to find peace within himself and with his friends, whilst growing up on the beach, and he is ably asisted by Gary Busey and William Katt who star as his chalk and cheese surf buddies.
A movie about growing up, taking responsibilities and the tragedy of war, all set to a beautiful back drop of sandy beaches and glorius ocean waves, and an impressive soundtrack.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
With the backdrop of incredible surfing scenes, comes the story of 3 guys growing up under the uneasy shadow of the Vietnam war. But life throws up it's own set of problems and hard decisions for the lads to take. And the escape is the water, the swell and the search for the perfect wave. The complexity of the different personalities lends an endearing quality to the whole production and come the end, the magnaninous end, we were all choking for breath. The thumping soundtrack of classic sixties tracks rams it all home of course.
Coming forward to present times, it hasn't gotten any easier. And this wonderful film reminds you that life's a beach, a VW Camper, a board and beer. Enjoy.
Coming forward to present times, it hasn't gotten any easier. And this wonderful film reminds you that life's a beach, a VW Camper, a board and beer. Enjoy.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
When I first saw this film on release in 1978, many of the critics had panned it with several observing that it was only interesting when in the water, given surfing is its main excitement and the movie subsequently bombed. Looked at again 30 years later (I have in fact seen it several times in between given the cult status it enjoys in UK fringe cinemas), the film's time horizon of mid 1960s to early 1970s following a surfing mad group growing up is nowhere as bad as those critics may have indicated.
Named after the fact that most big surfing swells over the years have occurred on Wednesday, the film by using the surfing culture provides an excellent snapshot of a group of Californian teenagers maturing across the late 1960s and facing up to their changing responsibilities, with its keen observations along the way on the tension with the later hippy movement and the indirect impact of the Vietnam War and its draft on people's lives.
None of the three lead actors (two actual surfers and Gary Busey as the "Masochist" in gonzo mode) were going to be Oscar contenders based on this outing but what makes the performances succeed is the quality of the ensemble playing. The director co-written script given John Milius's other writing credits is a bit clunky in parts (especially the lead personal relationships and the father figure of "Bear"), but since Milius was a surfer from a very young age, he admits in the recent interview included in this Anniversary DVD that it is a very personal movie and an amalgam of many different characters he knew from those days.
Sure the film's surfing scenes still look fantastic 30 years on, especially in widescreen format. The accompanying short Milius interview and his Director commentary (which because of its conversational style works well in conveying his enthusiasm for the subject as well as including lots of personal observations and stories) also makes you realise the difficulties and dangers that were faced in the location shooting of such footage.
Yes, one suspects as has already been seen over the last 30 years that this little gem while bombing on initial release will outlast many other over hyped movies of the same period. This is not just just because of its surfing community following but because it is a lot closer to depicting how it actually was for many in those times.
Named after the fact that most big surfing swells over the years have occurred on Wednesday, the film by using the surfing culture provides an excellent snapshot of a group of Californian teenagers maturing across the late 1960s and facing up to their changing responsibilities, with its keen observations along the way on the tension with the later hippy movement and the indirect impact of the Vietnam War and its draft on people's lives.
None of the three lead actors (two actual surfers and Gary Busey as the "Masochist" in gonzo mode) were going to be Oscar contenders based on this outing but what makes the performances succeed is the quality of the ensemble playing. The director co-written script given John Milius's other writing credits is a bit clunky in parts (especially the lead personal relationships and the father figure of "Bear"), but since Milius was a surfer from a very young age, he admits in the recent interview included in this Anniversary DVD that it is a very personal movie and an amalgam of many different characters he knew from those days.
Sure the film's surfing scenes still look fantastic 30 years on, especially in widescreen format. The accompanying short Milius interview and his Director commentary (which because of its conversational style works well in conveying his enthusiasm for the subject as well as including lots of personal observations and stories) also makes you realise the difficulties and dangers that were faced in the location shooting of such footage.
Yes, one suspects as has already been seen over the last 30 years that this little gem while bombing on initial release will outlast many other over hyped movies of the same period. This is not just just because of its surfing community following but because it is a lot closer to depicting how it actually was for many in those times.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A day will come that is like no other... and nothing that happens...
(THE FILM)
No matter what rolled in on the tides of time, California surfing buddies Matt, Jack, and Leroy knew they'd stick together. Read more
No matter what rolled in on the tides of time, California surfing buddies Matt, Jack, and Leroy knew they'd stick together. Read more
Published 13 days ago by S. F. husseiny
Nostalgic
Takes me back to my surfing days and the antics we got up to, a quick reminder of what not to tell your children
Published 3 months ago by D A
Epic & Timeless
Love this movie. Captures surfing and its culture which has changed little since. Characters and stories are well crafted. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Tomas Breen
forgotten gem
I'll keep this short. The story is nothing new but it is told simply and is authentic. I'm not saying this is a great film just one of the best you've never heard of. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. J. R. W. Curl
Soul surfing
Big Wednesday is a film dealing with growth & maturity - set against a background of adrenalin seekers. The surfing is well filmed and not CGI. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mark Corps
Big Wednesday
Big Wednesday is a surprisingly good movie. Its not really about surfing, it is about friendship and disillusionment with the American Dream. Read more
Published on 2 May 2010 by Mr. John C. Franklin
Timeless
Great DVD.Perfectly catches the surfing spirit (together with "in God's hands" with Shane Dorian).Great plot, great quality. Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2009 by M. Locci
May be a Big Wednesday, but NOT big on surfing
Bought this thinking it was about some surfer dudes doing what they do best. We waited and waited for some action, so much so that it became a family joke (soon they'll be some... Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2009 by R. O'Brien
The end of summer...
Even if you're not into surfing, you'll find Big Wednesday a treat. Its ambience is almost a stripped down American Graffiti, also dealing in that film's nostalgia but presenting a... Read more
Published on 27 Aug 2006 by W. Leitch
The Ultimate Surf Movie
There maybe more and more radical surfing on out and out surf vids but for a surf movie (ie one with a story) this is street ahead of everything else.
Published on 24 July 2004 by Mark
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