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From Amazon.co.uk
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
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary, Deleted Scenes, Featurette, Interactive Menu, Making Of, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: An insider's look at the origins of surfing, the colorful and subversive birth of surf culture, and the mythology and lure of the "big wave". This passionate and fluid film is the first authentic history of surfing from its humble Hawaiian beginnings to the big business it became to the still rebellious universe it inhabits today. A study in individuality and freedom, the pursuit and techniques of pure kinetic pleasure, and the risk taking and attitudes that characterize its leading figures. Closely chronicling the sometimes-life-and-death drama that big-wave riding entails, the film is a visual thrill ride. But also revealed is the realization that the man versus nature dialectic never ends; the search for the ultimate wave and the spiritual pinnacle can only be pursued but never reached. ...Riding Giants
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By S. Whitehead
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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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
this is the Sea !
FEll in love with surfing / this film....
whoever the **** is who thinks these waves are small, there the biggest on the planet and would love to see her attempt to surf... Read more
whoever the **** is who thinks these waves are small, there the biggest on the planet and would love to see her attempt to surf... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Daisy
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great film/
I heard about the legend Laird Hamilton in the book - The Wave, and wanted to see more of this incredible surfer's story. Read more
Published 5 months ago by bodenton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Second only to Senna
Like a lot of reviewers, I caught this on TV a couple of years back. It is utterly compelling and the best sports documentary behind Senna.
Published 6 months ago by Kingsley Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Breathtaking!
If you love & respect the Sea, this is for you. You don't need to know anything about surfing to enjoy & share the awesomeness of the images in this film.Sit back & feel it.....
Published 8 months ago by Pookie
4.0 out of 5 stars
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 on 22 May 2011 by Curlysaurus
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 on 31 Jan 2011 by jim
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 on 30 Aug 2010 by D. Step
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 on 19 Aug 2010 by hockeymanclanjam
5.0 out of 5 stars
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 on 13 Jun 2010 by Serindipity
5.0 out of 5 stars
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
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