luvsharma1 The movie is based on true events.What inspired me was the courage of both main characters to keep leading their lives in spite of so much of turbulence. The movie has really captured the same essence and fulfills the as a good entertainer as well.The movie is made nicely with no stupidity unless someone really sits down to see technicalities involved in surfing. The location is great and best things is that it has succeeded in capturing the essence of surfing. The director has really made lot of effort in capturing the right waves which can justify the might of surfing! Direction is good. Music is nice. Gerard Butler acting is appreciable. Jonny Weston is brilliant. Overall a great story.

leonblackwood Review: I totally haven't got a clue about surfing, so I thought that this movie was going to be uninteresting, but I actually enjoyed it. It's quite a heart warming story, which happens to be true, with a great performance from Gerard Butler, who made the film watchable. The individual characters were a good mixture, which brought entertainment to the movie, and the journeys that they all go through kept it interesting. It does get a bit corny near the end, but when you see the real footage of Jay, it does give purpose to the movie. Watchable!Round-Up: For a Gerard Butler movie, I was surprised that this didn't get a major release! I do think that its one of his best films, and the storyline was well put together by the director. If your not a surfing fan, there are other elements to the movie that are worth watching because you do end up getting caught up in the emotional side of Jay and Frosty's story. It's a shame that it flopped at the box office because you can tell that the actors went out of there way to bring Jay's story to the big screen.Budget: $20million Worldwide Gross: $6millionI recommend this movie to people who are I to there wind surfing dramas. 6/10

Scarecrow-88 Critically and commercially unsuccessful document on a sweet, hard-working, mature 16-year old kid, Jay (Jonny Weston), saving up his pizza-shop money--unless his rather shifty, struggling single mom (Elizabeth Shue) needs to borrow some--who learns to ride the massive waves of the mythic "Mavericks" from a surfing lifer, Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler, very good here). Jay dedicates himself to learning to surf difficult waves that can pound and drown you if you are unable to hold your breath and power through it all while under water. Frosty is reasonable but demanding, with Jay up to the task. This is really about determination and sheer guts, but, most of all, it is about the love of surfing and leaving your mark in this life. Because Jay is such a class act (as is Frosty, coming from a tough childhood without parental guidance and love due to their departure/absence from his life at an early age), and doesn't just surrender under the pressure (in fact, he perseveres), he achieves exactly what he sets out to do. Holding his breath, navigating the tides, and writing a thesis about the learning process of the surf, Jay makes strides but the challenges provide obstacles he will have to overcome. Jay is smitten with a hot, radiant blonde teen named Kim (Leven Rambin), popular in school while he just isn't. Eventually the two, friends since kids, will acknowledge their love for one another. Jay also has a drug-dealing pal named Blond (Devin Crittenden), the buddy responsible for teaching him how to surf (the two skateboard empty pools, too). Jay bonds with Frosty and Frosty's lovely family, including the missus, Brenda (Abigail Spencer). The story, based on real events, is all about the love and lifestyle built around surfing, stretching the limits and achieving your dreams. When Frosty suffers a devastating loss, Jay is his pillar of strength, paddling out to find the grieving mentor under an alcoholic duress. There are some smart-aleck verbal bullies always heckling Jay but cannot hold a candle to the kid when surfing the waves. The approach to the story is straight-forward and acted competently. Jay accomplished a lot in his mere 22 years on this earth (his life was cut short by a tragedy "free diving"), and those who knew him (for the most part; even the bullies and those in school that ignored him, eventually come to admire and respect him) were grateful to have been a part of that short life. Butler took a break from the usual brash, loud, boisterous, cocky, and galvanizing parts for this thoughtful, wise, reserved, and caring role as a father figure for a teenager who desperately needed one. Spencer, fashioned in hippie garb, with a soft voice and delicate approach to confronting/addressing issues (mostly regarding Jay) to her husband, is so captivatingly beautiful. Shue, who comes and goes in the film, mostly presented as irresponsible and unrefined, has a nice moment at the end when it is Jay's birthday, bestowing a gift to her son, while also paying him back borrowed money (thanks to a promotion; she also improves her life by taking responsibility for her actions) Weston has a cherubic quality to him, and his handling of people (even when bullies antagonize him) says a great deal about his character. Surfing, as you'd expect, is treated as an almost spiritual event, the ride of the waves the climax of the quest resulting from passionate labor and intense training.

callanvass Based on a true story; Budding, young surfer; Jay Moriarity is fascinated with surfing. Local legend; Frosty Hesson (Gerard Butler) winds up saving his life; he is unable to persuade young Jay, and Jay's heart is set. Years later; he learns about the mythic Mavericks, one of the biggest waves on earth, and wants to conquer it. He can't do it himself, so he enlists the help of Frosty HessonI don't like surfing, nor do I like anything to do with the sport, really; I just find it a chore to watch. I really dug the movie Soul Surfer (review coming soon) but other than that, I just get bored way too easily with it. I love Gerard Butler, so I figured I might as well pick it up for a rental. To my pleasant surprise this film winded up being a pretty good film that engaged me for an odd two hours or so. The surfing scenes are actually very exciting and often breathtaking to watch. It also helps that it has a great cast. Butler made for a riveting mentor with his usual charisma. I enjoyed his chemistry with Jonny Weston. Jonny Weston is a pretty solid lead, and had me on his side the whole way. Elisabeth Shue is great in her supporting role as the unreliable mother with a heart of gold. My only real complaint is that it's a tad overlong. SPOILERS: The real Jay Moriarity passed away in the maledives back in 2001 in the Indian Ocean off the coast of the island Lohifushi. It was an apparent diving accident. He left behind his wife Kim Moriarity Final Thoughts: Even if you don't like surfing, you'll find much to like about this movie. It's very hard not to like it, in all honesty. Recommended7.5/10