Do you love watching guys try to handle raw power? Does listening to 60 year old guys who used play and party, like most of us have only dreamed, crack you up? Are you into some rockin' tunes? Have you ever dreamed in one of those dark corners of you mind of riding in a tube of water on a surf board? Can you enjoy watching a film set at the beach without seeing scantily clad women? And finally, do you have that certain morbid sense that kind of enjoys seeing guys absolutely pounded by tons of water? If you answered 'Yes' to any or all of these questions, then this film is for you. Laird Hamilton, who is the modern king of big wave surfing, is basically the focal point of this documentary, but there are so many entertaining personalities to go along with him. The footage is amazing as one would expect, but it's the dialog of many of these slightly insane guys that makes for surprising entertainment. Greg Noll alone makes this film absolutely worth watching. If you don't want to go and have a beer with this guy by the end of the film, you just aren't a fun person. Getting back to Hamilton, the man is pure and simple, a world class athlete the likes of Michael Jordan in his prime, or Walter Payton, or Carl Lewis. Strength, balance, power, and that intuition all the great ones have. The kinds of things that he and all the others who dare to 'ride giants' possess, is purely spectacular. There are a few self serving moments, and even a couple one might consider slow, but all in all, this is a heck of a ride. Remember, if you answered yes to any of the above question at the start of the review, take the time, put on the surround sound, and let yourself image the feeling of truly 'Riding Giants'.Read full review
This movie is more than just a film full of surfers grabbing huge waves. It describes the beginnings of surfing, and how surfing culture has changed over the years. It also shows all of the ground breaking or (water breaking) innovations in surfing over the last 50+ years. Most of the worlds best surfing celebrities from every era are present. There are many scenes that leave you with your jaw on the floor. Extreme wipe-outs and bitchin rides on huge waves galore! There is surfing footage from several awesome locations such as, Hawaii, California, and Tahiti to name a few. I think that I have watched this film at least 2 dozen times and I never get sick of it! I first saw it on satellite television and I just had to have it. I found a copy here on Ebay and bought it for a great price. To conclude, I believe that anyone from surfing enthusiasts, to extreme sports fans, to just anyone who enjoys a high action thrill ride movie, will "Love" this film. I highly recommend it! kiholm123Read full review
In my opinion the greatest challenge facing a documentary filmmaker is constructing his project in such a way as to draw the viewer into, and create a passion for, the subject. I'm not a surfer, but Stacy Peralta sucks you in so fast and so well that you feel you're actually hanging with the pioneers and current stars of one of the world's most challenging and dangerous sports and in the end, I came to regret not having gotten involved in the sport when I could have during it's infancy in Southern California in the '60's. And if you have an interest in documentary filmmaking, the "making of" featurette included on the DVD (which is almost feature-length itself) is the most practical, in-depth, hands on primer I've ever seen on the subject. Highly recommended even if you haven't the slightest interest in surfing or riding giant waves.Read full review
Growing up in Hawaii I learned that surfing is not just a past time sport, but a way of life. Having never had the oppurtunity to enjoy that lifestyle myself the sport has always had a type of intrigue that has fascinated me. Big wave surfing is the newest and most extreme trend in modern surfing, with athletes riding waves reaching 60 ft. "Riding Giants" is one of several amongst my collection of surfing documentaries that include, "The Billabong Odyssey", "The Endless Summer", and "Step Into Liquid". However, what most stands out with this one is that Stacy Peralta, the same man behind "Dogtown and Z-Boys" documentary, is the director. Peralta brings a extremely humorous and informative narrative and his cast interviews are candid, frank, and emotional. The footage and artwork are incredible and the whole movie comes to life, almost as much as the gargantuan waves do. I highly recommend this movie for anyone wanting to learn not only about the history of surfing and its key players, but also the possible futures of the extreme sport.Read full review
By far the best surfing documental ive ever seen, after seeing many surfing movies, it really takes you from the early surfing in Hawaii with original footage and awesome pictures that makes you remember all the names of the good all days big wave surfing back on the fifties until these days with amazing scenes of modern surfing with Laird Hamilton and how Surfing "technology" has been changing, a real "must" to see for every surfer.By the way,did i mention the great soundtrack ? Since the first time id saw it i want it to buy it, i really recommend it!
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