Riding Giants (Special Edition)

Starring:Kelly Slater, Dave Kalama, Darryl Virostko, Greg Noll, Laird John Hamilton, Evan Slater, Gerry Lopez, Buzzy Kerbox, Titus Kinimaka, Brian L. Keaulana, Mickey Munoz, Darrick Doerner, David H. Kalama Jr., Jeff Clark (VIII)
Director: Stacy Peralta
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

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

Description

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 and Z-Boys).

Customer Reviews:

A willing suspension of disbelief.......2007-07-04

I do not claim to be a surfer (nor do I wish that I led the life of a beach bum) but I am forever fascinated by the men and women who tackle surfing those giant waves all over the world. This DVD is an excellent portrayal of the early history and current events in the world of board surfing giant waves. The story is well presented and the cinematography is simply mezmerizing. More than likely you missed this movie (as it is not probable that it came to many theaters). I first caught the tail end of the movie on cable t.v. and I was hooked. This DVD will not disappoint those who would like to know more about big wave board surfing. This is one DVD that I would willingly watch again and again with friends...but I am not willing to "share". Get your own and you'll be pleased with what you have.

Reflections in personal truth, spirituality, harmony.......2007-06-03

This excellent film is more than its suberb weaving together of the history of surfing; the fantastic footage, archival and new; or the great interviews of those legends who made surfing what it is today. This film culminates in a deep rich understanding for the viewer about how surfing represented a personal journey for the individual. A journey of transformation. A moving beyond where you started to deep soul reflection about who you are in this world and what you are here doing. A story different for each individual portrayed, but also similar in their personal growth. Their respect for the nature, the ocean, and the wave. Their harmony with the surf, reflected deeper in their harmony with themselves and often life. Because of that understanding conveyed in this film, I found it gave me the awareness of surfing as faith, harmony, and transformative expression, both personal and universal.

Watch this in HD.......2007-05-21

I'm not a Surfer, nor do I follow the culture or know anything about it. I do know about, and am a fan of interesting and insightful DVD's. Last night I was watching TV when the program I attempted to watch started to bore me. I changed the channel and found Riding Giants in HD, it was just starting so I decided to watch it for little bit. It was 1 A.M. when I started watching it...I planned on going to sleep but was captured by the story telling and legend of past surfers. I've never surfed before or had a particular interest in surfing, but this DVD just got me. I'd recommend it for sure. The waves in HD are absolutely stunning.

A Giant Documentary.......2007-03-31

I'm not a surfer, although I tried surfing once and got horribly sunburned. Until this video, that was the extent of my knowledge and interest in surfing. I caught the previews for this on the Discovery Channel and set the DVR to record it in HD. I started watching it, and my wife, who is usually not interested in this type of sports video, migrated into the living room and sat spellbound like me. The craziness of the early days of surfing, the board development, and the challenge to survive giant waves are woven into a fascinating documentary. The photography, especially shots taken from inside killer waves, is stunningly gorgeous. If you are a fan of Warren Miller ski films, this should be for you. I purchased the DVD from Amazon so I could share it with my children and friends.

You really get to know the people who made the sport into an industry. The side stories really fit into the main theme very well and keep the interest at a very high level. It makes you feel like part of the family of surfers by the way you get into the lives of those who lived the surfing life. I live about 90 miles away from Half Moon Bay and when the Mavericks Surf Contest was postponed/cancelled this year, my wife and I took notice and even felt bad for the surfers who wouldn't be able to compete this year.

If you want a video that chronicles the lives of some pretty wacky people who should all be dead right now but have survived because of their inventiveness. If you want a video that will hold your interest because of the story line and inspires you with awesome photography, get this one.

The best film on surfing ever!.......2007-03-27

This movie by Stacy Peralta came on one night on one of my HD movie channels. Lucky for me. I caught it right from the start and recorded it. I was glued to my TV and watched it 2 more times in the next few days. Then I went and got the DVD. I have never surfed a day in my life. I did grow up street skating in NYC back in the 80s and in some small way I feel I can relate to this culture. I was never a "sports" guy. I always hated team sports and the jock mentality. Skating attracted me due to it's lack of such "jocks". Surfing it seems is very much the same, with nice people I can imagine meeting and talking with. Everyone seemed nice and just out for having fun. The story was peppered with tragedies which I suspected it would when I started watching. This was not glossed over in any way and was told with care and respect for those who paid the ultimate price. The sport, if it can be called that, seems to attract people who are more like artists to me than fanatics, or nuts. The way surfing was spoken of by many of them with such awe, care, love, and respect leeds me to believe that it is to most who do it way more than just a thrilling set of skills and a momentary rush. The film was directed masterfully and edited in such a way as to truly convey the energy of surfing. I can only imagine how real surfing must feel. If the film could get me all charged up and excited, actual surfing must be 1000 times more exciting and alluring. I recomed this for anyone who can appreciate a good film, a good documentary, and can relate to good whoolesome people with of love of what they do and the courage to follow their bliss all they way, and with no fear.

Riding Giants (Special Edition) / Dogtown and Z-Boys (Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

giants defeats zboys

Riding Giants (Special Edition) / Dogtown and Z-Boys (Special Edition)
Starring: Jeff Clark (VIII) , Darrick Doerner , Laird John Hamilton , David H. Kalama Jr. , and Dave Kalama
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Step into Liquid
The Endless Summer Collection
Billabong Odyssey
Thicker Than Water
The Endless Summer

ASIN: B0006FO4Z6
Release Date: 2005-01-04

Customer Reviews:

giants defeats zboys.......2005-08-19

Great 2 DVD set that appears similar on outside but is very different from both how you enjoy it and how you would review it as a film critic. Giants is best thing I have seen and I could watch it almost every night. I do surf, but have plenty non-surfing friends of all ages who also like it. Dogtown follows same outline with skateboarding, but is tremendously self indulgent in the skaters glorifying themselves. The surfers are downright humble by comparison. Summary - great to watch, but could also be used by a film class to compare/contrast the two.

Average customer rating:

All Aboard the Crazy Train

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Riding Giants (Special Edition)
Step into Liquid
Laird (White Knuckle Extreme)
White Knuckle Action Sports: The Laird Hamilton Box Set
Billabong Odyssey

Product Features:

best short film documentary at the 2005 Maui Film Festival
Starring: Laird Hamilton, Dava Kalama, Darrick Doerner and others
Music featured: Pearl Jam/Ben Harper/ Beck and U2
Special appearances by Ben Harper and Ben Stiller
Shows never before seen footage as they ride some of the best big wave on the planet at Peahi, Maui during the historic winters of 2004 & 2005

ASIN: B000H3F0UU

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