Review of Riding Giants (2004) by Niall H — 18 Sep 2007

By far and away, most surf movies follow the same pattern; cameras on the beach watching surfers. If thereâ??s a bit more money, thereâ??s a camera in the water watching the surfers. If theirs some film left after all this, thereâ??s a camera watching whateverâ??s left over: scenery, chicks, locals, whatever.

Thatâ??s the genera summed up.

This film does not belong in that genera, this is a history film. Charting the story of surfing waves â?? BIG WAVES.

As with most historical documentaries there is always going to be trouble finding authentic footage. Most â??realâ?? history docs get around this using either re-enactments or CGI â?? neither of which is going to work very well in the fluid medium of surfing, when you think about it. This is resolved brilliantly by using a technique I had not seen before this film, though I now know it originated in â??The kid Stays in the Pictureâ??, released in 2002. The director takes a photograph, or even a drawing, and animates it by making the subject seem to â??moveâ?? against the background. By zooming in and out of these moving images enough visual clues are given to successfully accompany the interviews and voice overâ??s.

So successful is this trick, that by the time in the story when plenty of video footage exists â?? they keep on using it, often to brilliant effect, as when Laird Hamilton rides the fearsome wave at Teahupoo.

Still, only two kinds of people will ever watch this; those who surf and those who want to surf. If your in the last group, this film shows you the Mount Everest of surfing. Your unlikely ever to even go there and if you do thereâ??s a good chance you will die. Most of the rest of us who surf will be happy to stay in the foothills.

An intriguing and well made glimpse of a very, very exclusive club.