Surf, surf, surf

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.

I agree with several other reviews concerning portraying locals as thugs and thieves, and that this isn't an Oscar quality movie. However, it was this movie that first showed me how beautiful O'ahu is. I ended up moving here from Virginia in 1992. The scenery was (and is) breathtaking, and watching the surfing was (and is) fantastic. As a haole, I got an education from the movie which kept me from making the mistakes Rick Kane made when he first got to Hawai'i.

If you live on O'ahu, or are visiting, and you find yourself in Waikiki on a Sunday when the waves are flat, come visit me at Hope Chapel-South Shore (at the Waikiki Community Center) - The entire pastoral staff surfs, along with most of the congregation. It is wonderful to hear God's word taught with surf illustrations.

Aloha!

Wayne

This movie is so boss it doesn't even know it's boss. It is a seamless hour and a half of excitement! Rick Kane takes a stand and flees the landlocked Arizona desert, against his single-parent mother's wishes. There is great surfing, good shots and an amazing implied sex scene.

Having some of the world's best surfers before surfing and extreme sports became so "hip" makes this movie pure class. Hearing Occy say, "Hey Alex come jump in with us," in his Aussie-talk is priceless.

I first saw this movie on HBO when I was a grommet in '88 or so. Since three copies have been snaked by those who live life like Burkhardt. Fortunately this past weekend I finally found a new copy. By the way this film could be the reason Gabrielle Reese chose to marry Laird.

Here at imdb we treat friends no better, so see this film. Am I going to tell you that you must see this? If I have to.

This movie is so bad, that it hilarious and has become a cult classic because of it. Let's think about the story... a boy from Arizona that wins a surfing contest in a wave pool (a few feet high) then goes to Hawaii to surf the North Shore. Have a few drinks and sit back and watch it. If you like surfing, partying and/or Hawaii, you will probably enjoy this movie.

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!