"LET'S GO SURFING" Film Fest!

Film critics have a favorite past time - taking pot shots at Hollywood. Sometimes it's warranted, but occasionally Hollywood does something right. Something that improves our culture, makes us better. I know, you're shocked to hear that, but hear me out.

A few weeks ago, I posted an article on 'surf' movies. These are films I gravitate towards whenever I am cruising the cable. A couple of folks commented they thought I was talking about real surf movies and were disappointed.

This got me thinking (always a dangerous proposition). Are there any really good surf movies out there?

Then I remembered that surfing was almost extinct until 60s Hollywood began churning out mindless teen movies on surfing and the surfing culture. The sport went from niche to a popular. See? Hollywood did do something good. It revived the ancient sport of surfing.

Although not a huge genre,  there are some good surfing movies out there. They are either documentaries or narratives.

The narrative started out with teen flicks - Beach Party, Gidget and the like. It was these films which began the popularization of the sport. But later, serious films were added to the mix. Point Break and Blue Crush are examples of these.

The documentaries offer up a wider, and in some cases, better range. Big Wednesday, Endless Summer and Into the Liquid are just a few. Later this May, Surfwise will be released. It's a documentary about 'Doc' Paskowitz who took his nine children out of the system and raised them surfing.

Now I am not a surfer, but the idea of surfing does titillate me. I can see how one could get into it. But since I don't surf, I thought it wold be fun to pick ten surf movies,  a Let's Go Surfing Film Festival. Oh, before I begin, there are reports there will actually be a surf film festival in New York City in September.

I have broken the film selection into the two sections mentioned above, documentaries and narratives.

NARRATIVE SURF MOVIES (not in order)

Point Break - Directed by the underrated Kathryn Bigelow, Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves star about robbers who surf.
Blue Crush - Three righteous babes take to the surf while battling curls and boys.
Big Wednesday - Before the a long slide, a buff Jan Michael Vincent takes to the waves.
Beach Party Bingo - Not the first, but the best. Buster Keaton, Don Rickles, Marta Kristen, Linda Evans and of course, Frankie and Annette headline in a pure fun trifle.
Apocalypse Now - Yeah I know, not really a surf movie, but as we all know the "Charlie can't surf!"  sequence is vivid and outstanding!

DOCUMENTARY SURF MOVIES (not in order)

Endless Summer - The godfather of surf movies. Made in 1966, two dudes looking for the perfect wave.
Step Into The Liquid - Made five years ago, it captures modern surfers with great locales.
Siestas & Olas - A nomadic search for great waves in friendly Mexico
Liquid Stage - A global look at the sport and it's history
Riding Giants - Perhaps the best, with great footage and a clear history of the sport.

And here a couple 'also mentioned'
Surf Nazis Must Die - the absolutely awful Troma picture is best seen after more than a few beers.
Summer City - An Aussie film starring Mel Gibson, in his first role
Blood Beach - Not really a surf film, but I love the tag line "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, you can't get there."
Puberty Blues - Acclaimed Aussie director Bruce Beresford's look at girls trying to become surf babes.

So head to the video store, stock up on these films and work on your best surf-speak, dude.

Garen has been sitting in the dark for over 30 years as an film exhibitor, consultant and reviewer. You may have seen him on NE Cable or some other Boston station.  More likely you heard him pontificating about films on NPR, TKK, RKO, New Hampshire Public Radio, or any number of other stations he's been on, but one thing is certain, he loves, and knows, film.