North Shore - Die Wellenreiter von Hawaii

Wheter or not the film is a "b" movie or not this is a definite classic! Regardless of the absence of a blockbuster budget, there is much to be taken from this film. And yes it does portray some of the locals in an accurate light. (Some of the locals are very rude and extremely territorial over certain areas of Hawaii). All in all, the rite of passage made by the main character is very heartfelt. Although it may be a little cheesy and even dated, this film is A CULT CLASSIC! A must for surfers, especially 80's kids! Do not overlook this film's position in your DVD library. Even if you do not surf, there is a great love story and explorer's feel to the film. Enjoy it.

It is a fun Hawaii film. Lots of home footage, lots of true to life ...interactions with locals and Hawaii itself. Good footage of the sea and the island. Though they don't show the traffic jams, long lines of JOJ Tourist whales at the Shave Ice Shack, who flock to see the famous North Shore and lay around on the sand smelling of Hawaiian Tropics cocoanut oil. My gripe is, the time frame. They make it look like you can become a pro class surfer in a few months. Folks, it taked years of hard surfing to become that good. No one learns it in a summer...The real surfers, "Soul Surfers" live and breathe salt water, on good and bad days. It HAS to be your life. There is no other way.

Good 80's formula movie which illustrates the North Shore Hawaii atmosphere well.Some weakness in script but still delivers due to educational tor of North Shore surfing lifestyle for that particular time.Good surfing cinematography here as well which makes this movie a cult classic.Not for people who do not like love stories and surfing.....

Both the Rick Kane character and Turtle embody a fresh innocence rarely captured on film. This was what made this film truly golden. Gregory Harrison played his character with the gravitas of a veteran actor. Just when you thought he would venture into pomposity, he reeled it in and made you smile. Credit goes to the writers and director for that as well.

This was NOT a surfing movie. This was a coming-of-age film. Rick is green in almost every sense of the word. By the end of the film, he has learned a bit about life, love, and himself.

The crown jewel of the movie, by far, is John Philbin's portrayal of the character of Turtle. He defies any stereotypical characterizations. He is real. He's an underdog from L.A., just trying to make his way and take life day by day. He cares about others and responds to caring from others. How often do you see a surfer portrayed this way? Nia Peeples portrayed the Hawaiian girl-next-door to perfection. She loved her family, loved horses, and her boyfriend too. Like something out of a Tom Petty song.

I loved the movie. Cheesiness is artistic in and of itself. Two thumbs up.

My top 10 films of all time include 12 Angry Men, Deliverance, and Rear Window, so you might be surprised by this review. North Shore is one of my favorite films, and it's mainly due to the character of Turtle, played by John Philbin (where are you now??) in a truly genius comic performance. Not only does Turtle get all of the best lines, but his character journey in overcoming self-doubt is a really nice & emotionally resonant element of the movie. All the actors are pleasant enough to watch, from Matt Adler (earnest and likeable) to Nia Peebles (foxy) to Gregory Harrison (Yoda-ish). Laird Hamilton is an awful actor, but you forgive him for it, because his surfing is incredible. The script is well-structured, the surfing scenes are excellent, and the romance is awesome. I really feel this is an underrated film, the best Karate Kid knockoff, and one of the best of the 80s sleepers. 9/10 P.S. I can't help but smile at that final shot. Awesome!