Riding Giants (Special Edition)

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.

This film is a film that can be watched by both surfers and non-surfers. It starts back at the birth of surfing and takes you through the whole era of "big wave" surfing.
It is a film that not only tells the story of the sport "Big wave surfing", but takes you into the peoples lives at a time where surfing was a way of life.
The film has the most amazing footage both old and new.
This is a film that shows one of natures greatest forces "the waves", and tells the life story of small group of people that set out to conquer them.

The photography is exceptional in Riding Giants. Kelly Slater has put together a great cast of awesome surfers and this movie was very entertaining.

The complete and colorful history of the sport of Big Wave surfboarding. I saw this movie on cable . . . I couldn't believe how well made it was and how authentic . . . lot's of footage and interviews with Greg Noll, Ricky Gregg, Mickey Munoz, and the other ol' timers . . . right up to today's heroes, Laird Hamilton, Derrick Doerner, and the "strap crew" of Jaws fame. When the cable broadcast was over I re-viewed the movie, over and over, using our Tivo. I had to get copies of this movie for my friends and relatives, so I bought 5 copies. Everyone loves watching this movie . . . . real danger . . . surf legends talking . . . . great stories, well told. . . . great music . . . and the BEST collection of Big Wave film every put together. This movies is 5-STAR . . . superior. Can we have a sequel . . Riding Giants II ??? Please???

Fantastic movie. Filmed well, great comentary, great people. Greg Noll is a god!! Laird is incredible, truly the best tow-in surfer of all time. But I really enjoyed the older guys. I mean seriously...who paddles into Mavericks; alone; for 20 something years!!!! Rediculous! Awesome flick for anyone who wants to drop their jaw.