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Amazon.co.uk Review
Riding Giants is more than another blissful surfing movie. It's an outstanding documentary about one era in American alternative lifestyles, when surfing was well-suited to a radical culture of social dropouts. Using an amazing array of amateur film clips, shot for the most part in Hawaii and California from the late 1950s and early '60s, director Stacy Peralta traces the rise of surfing's appeal to young men looking to test themselves in an unorthodox (and sexy) milieu--of "living life to the fullest," as former surfer-turned-screenwriter John Milius (Big Wednesday) puts it at one point. Lengthy chapters on the glories of Oahu's Makaha and the "superstition and dread" that accompanied the big-wave challenge of Waimea Bay are riveting and sometimes heroic, particularly told through the memories of surf legend Greg Noll. Great material, too, about the deadly wonders of surfing Mavericks, California, where the rocks will get one if the violent tides don't. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
Synopsis
From its early Hawaiian roots to its current status as a recreational lifestyle enjoyed worldwide, bigwave surfing is given the definitive exploration by acclaimed director Stacy Peralta (Dogtown andZ-Boys).
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There is absolutely no need to have ever taken the slightest interest in surfing to enjoy this movie. I have never been interested in surfing, but when i caught this movie by accident on TV i was spellbound. Captivated from start to finish.
I've watched quite a few surfing movies since, nothing comes close to this. Buy it, Keep it, Enjoy it many times and show it to all your friends.
I've watched quite a few surfing movies since, nothing comes close to this. Buy it, Keep it, Enjoy it many times and show it to all your friends.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What an amazing film, charting the rise of surf culture in California and Hawaii through the '50s and '60s, starting with the early long and heavy board proponents of the sport. It was the era of the beat generation, only this offshoot was dedicated to the hedonism of beach culture and surfing, living off the land, and generally dropping out. Loads of high-quality amateur footage show the progress towards bigger and bigger waves - I don't even surf, but some of these monsters are utterly awe-inspiring. It follows the surf bums as they scour Hawaii's northern reaches for bigger and bigger breaks, landing at last at Waimea where Greg Noll rose to become the finest big wave rider of all.
For me, the film really took off when it moved to California and the insane Maverick break - a mile or two off-shore (close to San Francisco) in rip tides and freezing water, 30ft waves - a break ridden by one single hero for FIFTEEN years, before it came to wider attention! Then onto Jaws in Hawaii (60 - 80 ft waves!!), where tow and surf was born, and then onto the three-mile offshore breaks with even bigger waves. I'll leave the finale for you to discover!
I found this a truly mesmerising film. If documentaries about extreme sports and the lifestyles that go with them is your thing, this is unmissable.
For me, the film really took off when it moved to California and the insane Maverick break - a mile or two off-shore (close to San Francisco) in rip tides and freezing water, 30ft waves - a break ridden by one single hero for FIFTEEN years, before it came to wider attention! Then onto Jaws in Hawaii (60 - 80 ft waves!!), where tow and surf was born, and then onto the three-mile offshore breaks with even bigger waves. I'll leave the finale for you to discover!
I found this a truly mesmerising film. If documentaries about extreme sports and the lifestyles that go with them is your thing, this is unmissable.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Riding Giants is a documentary made at the right time for preserving the history of big wave surfing. The movie was produced recently and the possibilities and techniques of filmmaking in the 21st century were exploited.
The various characters themselves take the viewer through the story most of the time. As the characters do not all relate to each other face to face, this narrative technique prevents the film from taking on its own personality, in contrast to Bruce Brown's Endless Summer movies which have taken on their own personalities so well.
At first viewing the special effects usually used in action movies seem confusing. These effects range from waves breaking fast forward to a flash appearing when a narrator snips his fingers after making a point. I am not sure whether the special effects are irritating or contribute to showing what surfers experience.
The film gives some time to exploring the psychology of surfers and what made them do what they do. This the film does very well without this aspect of the film becoming overwhelming. Pitty only that the movie focuses almost exclusively on America and Americans - big wave surfing has gone worldwide by now!
Riding Giants was well made, but is not a classic.
The various characters themselves take the viewer through the story most of the time. As the characters do not all relate to each other face to face, this narrative technique prevents the film from taking on its own personality, in contrast to Bruce Brown's Endless Summer movies which have taken on their own personalities so well.
At first viewing the special effects usually used in action movies seem confusing. These effects range from waves breaking fast forward to a flash appearing when a narrator snips his fingers after making a point. I am not sure whether the special effects are irritating or contribute to showing what surfers experience.
The film gives some time to exploring the psychology of surfers and what made them do what they do. This the film does very well without this aspect of the film becoming overwhelming. Pitty only that the movie focuses almost exclusively on America and Americans - big wave surfing has gone worldwide by now!
Riding Giants was well made, but is not a classic.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Docu-tainment
This film had been milling around in the back of my mind for 2-3 years before I finally decided to purchase it, having previously watched part of it on television. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Curlysaurus
Brilliant watch
I'm a surfer from the UK so I don't deal with anything quite on a level featured in this documentary film. Read more
Published 16 months ago by jim
Big waves
Absolutely incredible value for money. Not just great footage of some of the biggest waves ever ridden but a comparison of 3 big wave surfers and how their sport changed over the... Read more
Published 21 months ago by D. Step
A greatly influential and inspiring film
This film gives a great insight into the world of big wave surfing right from the beginning to the modern surfer. Read more
Published 21 months ago by hockeymanclanjam
Riding Giants
Mother Nature and her children - would that we could all be respectful and in love with Her in this day. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Serindipity
Well wax down my board
A brilliant film! Great photography and the most death defying surfing you could imagine. If you are in anyway interested in surfing you HAVE to buy this film. Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2009 by Terence Bowen
Good Dvd.
Good Dvd. Not much tow in surfing scenes though.Good value.They could have added extra bonuses .
Published on 14 Aug 2009 by M. Locci
Epic!
There is no other way to describe this film that absolutely epic! 99% of surfing films and just action-packed, adrenaline filled clips that are good to view, but once you're... Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2009 by F. Beare
Inspiring stuff
I only watched this recenty and I really loved this film.....just captures the progression and danger of surfing at the highest level. Read more
Published on 20 Sep 2007 by Neil Gibson
truelly an excellent documentary
this is an intelligently produced movie that strikes an excellent balance between documenting the history of surfing, the culture that surrounded the grass roots of the sport in... Read more
Published on 17 April 2006 by Mr. J. Mahoney
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