Riding Giants (Special Edition)

I found this documentary movie to be absolutely fantastic and moving. It's a must see!!!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.