Do a 100-foot waves exist? If so, what does such a leviathan look like? And can a human even ride one?
Directed and executive produced by Chris Smith and executive produced by Emmy winner Joe Lewis, the six-part HBO Sports Documentary series 100 Foot Wave plumbs the depths of those questions through the quest of one man. The series intimately follows the decade-long odyssey of big-wave pioneer Garrett McNamara who, after visiting a small fishing village in Portugal, helped push the sport beyond the realm of imagination.
For decades, the biggest wave ever ridden was agreed to have been a legendary 35-foot monster ridden by Greg Noll in 1969 on the West Side of Oahu. Surfers rehashed Noll’s ride, arguing whether a wave could even reach that height without toppling over and, if so, if a human could actually ride it.
As surfers explored the planet, they eventually discovered a very few rare spots — in California,...
Directed and executive produced by Chris Smith and executive produced by Emmy winner Joe Lewis, the six-part HBO Sports Documentary series 100 Foot Wave plumbs the depths of those questions through the quest of one man. The series intimately follows the decade-long odyssey of big-wave pioneer Garrett McNamara who, after visiting a small fishing village in Portugal, helped push the sport beyond the realm of imagination.
For decades, the biggest wave ever ridden was agreed to have been a legendary 35-foot monster ridden by Greg Noll in 1969 on the West Side of Oahu. Surfers rehashed Noll’s ride, arguing whether a wave could even reach that height without toppling over and, if so, if a human could actually ride it.
As surfers explored the planet, they eventually discovered a very few rare spots — in California,...
- 2/8/2021
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Riding Giants (Blu-ray)Sony Home ENTERTAINMENT2004/Rated PG-13/105 minsNow Available – List Price $24.95 Stacy Peralta, who wrote and directed Dogtown and Z-Boys, the terrific 2002 documentary about the invention and culture of skateboarding, takes a look at where the sport got much inspiration from, big-wave surfing. His follow-up documentary Riding Giants is a passionate yet fun examination of the daredevil sport and its larger than live pioneers who were driven by their thrill seeking instincts. Also serving as the film's narrator, Peralta takes us back to surfing's origins with the humorous “1000 Years of Surfing in 2 Minutes or Less” which reveals the development and evolution of the sport amongst Polynesian cultures in the early twentieth century. Told in a Terry Gilliam animation style, the segment takes the story from pre-Christian Hawaii through the Captain Cook islands to southern California and then to a small group of West Coast refugees who went to the...
- 1/14/2010
- LRMonline.com
Editor’s Note: This is one of a series of interviews with directors whose films are screening at the 2009 CineVegas Film Festival. “Sea of Darkness” (USA, 2009) World Premiere Director: Michael Oblowitz Cast: Martin Daly, Peter McCabe, Jeff Chitty, Shaun Thompson, Kelly Slater, Greg Noll, Bruce Raymond, Bob McKnight, Rory Russel A modern day pirate tale of exploration, adventure, and the discovery of jungle surf spots off the remote Indonesian coastline …...
- 6/9/2009
- indieWIRE - People
Ledger Escapes Charges After Photographer "Brawl"
Australian heart-throb Heath Ledger has escaped charges after allegedly tackling a photographer on the set of his latest film Candy. The Patriot star, 26, reportedly jumped on paparazzo Guy Finlay on the Sydney set of the romantic drama, on Friday night, according to local newspaper The Daily Telegraph. Finlay claims Ledger "violently assaulted" him from behind, but police haven't pressed charges due to lack of witnesses. The snapper, who has a sore elbow and calf muscle, has vowed to "take it all the way" if he can find an independent witness to back up his allegations. Ledger has recently been the topic of tabloid speculation he is about to become a father after his girlfriend, Dawson's Creek actress Michelle Williams was spotted wearing baggy clothes and visiting pre-natal yoga classes in Sydney. Ledger and Williams are due to return to the actress' native America this week, where the hunk is set to begin filming the biopic of surfer Greg Noll.
- 5/10/2005
- WENN
Riding Giants
Screened
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- For its first-ever opening night in Park City, the Sundance Film Festival chose to premiere "Riding Giants", the first documentary to open the festival. It was an understandable though curious choice.
Understandable because Sundance is not only proud of the large role it has played in showcasing documentaries from its very beginnings, but the festival also loves to celebrate its alumni. "Riding Giants" director Stacy Peralta won the audience and director awards at the 2001 Sundance for his docu "Dogtown and Z-Boys". Curious because this film about surfing fails to thoroughly investigate the subculture and all too easily settles for an admiring promotional film, albeit one with lively moments, a good sense of humor and colorful real-life figures who will captivate even nonsurfers.
At the moment, however, the film is unlikely to play to many nonsurfers. "Riding Giants" is at least 15 minutes too long. Repetitive shots of giant waves and wipeouts diminish rather than enhance one's appreciation of the courage of today's surfers. "Riding Giants" seems intent on selling the sport rather than examining why people are willing to risk their necks to challenge nature at her most volatile.
While the film begins with a brief historical overview of the sport, the focus swiftly shifts to one subject: the lure of riding "big waves," swells that can reach up to 70 feet. While this is a bit like making a documentary on boxing that focuses only on heavyweights while ignoring all other weight divisions, there is no doubt this is the most exciting and dangerous aspect of the sport.
In an often tongue-in-cheek manner, Peralta and co-writer Sam George trace the evolution of big-wave riding from the conquest of Hawaii's Waimea Bay in the 1950s, following the introduction of lighter boards made of balsa and fiber glass, to today's tow-in surfing that allows surfers to ride giants.
Three figures emerge: Greg Noll, who, with his muscular build and striped trunks, led the charge in the '50s and '60s
Jeff Clark, who discovered but kept secret for a while the treacherous Mavericks surfing area in Northern California
and Laird Hamilton, today's blond god of contemporary Hawaiian surfing.
The movie has fun with the Gidget movies that, while popularizing the sport around the world, were treated with contempt by real surfers. It also has solemn moments, showing the drowning death of top Hawaiian surfer Mark Foo at Mavericks in 1994.
Peralta, who made his mark with skateboarding movies, is new to surfing films. He is either unaware of or unwilling to utilize the advanced techniques and surf-cam operators employed by filmmakers like Dana Brown, whose "Step Into Liquid", released last year, let viewers get up close and personal with big-wave riders while inside those watery tubes.
As waves pound endlessly at the audience and big questions about the surfing lifestyle and lure of risk-taking never get asked, the movie shamelessly exposes its own promotional side. For a film exec produced by Laird Hamilton to call Laird Hamilton the best big-wave surfer ever is not only disingenuous but ignores the controversy of that statement in the surfing world. Hamilton may well be Top Dog, but he tends to shun championship competitions, where it might be put to a test.
The use of archival footage, much of which is probably home movies, is quite good, and Peralta's interviews often produce sharp, revealing comments. But he and his cohorts let salesmanship triumph over filmmaking.
RIDING GIANTS
Forever Films and Studio Canal
in association with Quicksilver
Credits:
Director: Stacy Peralta
Screenwriters: Stacy Peralta, Sam George
Producer: Agi Orsi, Stacy Peralta, Jane Kachmer
Executive producers: Nathalie Delest, Franck Marty, Laird Hamilton
Director of photography: Peter Pilafian
Music: Matter
Editor/co-producer: Paul Crowder
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- For its first-ever opening night in Park City, the Sundance Film Festival chose to premiere "Riding Giants", the first documentary to open the festival. It was an understandable though curious choice.
Understandable because Sundance is not only proud of the large role it has played in showcasing documentaries from its very beginnings, but the festival also loves to celebrate its alumni. "Riding Giants" director Stacy Peralta won the audience and director awards at the 2001 Sundance for his docu "Dogtown and Z-Boys". Curious because this film about surfing fails to thoroughly investigate the subculture and all too easily settles for an admiring promotional film, albeit one with lively moments, a good sense of humor and colorful real-life figures who will captivate even nonsurfers.
At the moment, however, the film is unlikely to play to many nonsurfers. "Riding Giants" is at least 15 minutes too long. Repetitive shots of giant waves and wipeouts diminish rather than enhance one's appreciation of the courage of today's surfers. "Riding Giants" seems intent on selling the sport rather than examining why people are willing to risk their necks to challenge nature at her most volatile.
While the film begins with a brief historical overview of the sport, the focus swiftly shifts to one subject: the lure of riding "big waves," swells that can reach up to 70 feet. While this is a bit like making a documentary on boxing that focuses only on heavyweights while ignoring all other weight divisions, there is no doubt this is the most exciting and dangerous aspect of the sport.
In an often tongue-in-cheek manner, Peralta and co-writer Sam George trace the evolution of big-wave riding from the conquest of Hawaii's Waimea Bay in the 1950s, following the introduction of lighter boards made of balsa and fiber glass, to today's tow-in surfing that allows surfers to ride giants.
Three figures emerge: Greg Noll, who, with his muscular build and striped trunks, led the charge in the '50s and '60s
Jeff Clark, who discovered but kept secret for a while the treacherous Mavericks surfing area in Northern California
and Laird Hamilton, today's blond god of contemporary Hawaiian surfing.
The movie has fun with the Gidget movies that, while popularizing the sport around the world, were treated with contempt by real surfers. It also has solemn moments, showing the drowning death of top Hawaiian surfer Mark Foo at Mavericks in 1994.
Peralta, who made his mark with skateboarding movies, is new to surfing films. He is either unaware of or unwilling to utilize the advanced techniques and surf-cam operators employed by filmmakers like Dana Brown, whose "Step Into Liquid", released last year, let viewers get up close and personal with big-wave riders while inside those watery tubes.
As waves pound endlessly at the audience and big questions about the surfing lifestyle and lure of risk-taking never get asked, the movie shamelessly exposes its own promotional side. For a film exec produced by Laird Hamilton to call Laird Hamilton the best big-wave surfer ever is not only disingenuous but ignores the controversy of that statement in the surfing world. Hamilton may well be Top Dog, but he tends to shun championship competitions, where it might be put to a test.
The use of archival footage, much of which is probably home movies, is quite good, and Peralta's interviews often produce sharp, revealing comments. But he and his cohorts let salesmanship triumph over filmmaking.
RIDING GIANTS
Forever Films and Studio Canal
in association with Quicksilver
Credits:
Director: Stacy Peralta
Screenwriters: Stacy Peralta, Sam George
Producer: Agi Orsi, Stacy Peralta, Jane Kachmer
Executive producers: Nathalie Delest, Franck Marty, Laird Hamilton
Director of photography: Peter Pilafian
Music: Matter
Editor/co-producer: Paul Crowder
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 7/9/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Surf's up for Peralta with Columbia deal
Documentarian Stacy Peralta, whose surfing film Riding Giants opened this year's Sundance Film Festival, has struck a deal with Columbia Pictures to make his narrative feature debut on an untitled surfing film. Peralta will direct the project from a script he will co-write with Sam George, his writing partner on Riding Giants. It's described as an original film and not a remake of Giants, though one of the subjects from the film will make waves in Peralta's new project, he said. Giants, due to roll out next month from Sony Pictures Classics, explores the lives and passions of big-wave surfers from around the world with a heavy focus on surfers Greg Noll, Jeff Clark and Laird Hamilton and three epochs of big-wave surfing. Peralta said his untitled feature will focus on the life and surroundings of Noll, whom he called "the Babe Ruth of surfing."...
- 6/17/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Riding Giants
Screened
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- For its first-ever opening night in Park City, the Sundance Film Festival chose to premiere "Riding Giants", the first documentary to open the festival. It was an understandable though curious choice.
Understandable because Sundance is not only proud of the large role it has played in showcasing documentaries from its very beginnings, but the festival also loves to celebrate its alumni. "Riding Giants" director Stacy Peralta won the audience and director awards at the 2001 Sundance for his docu "Dogtown and Z-Boys". Curious because this film about surfing fails to thoroughly investigate the subculture and all too easily settles for an admiring promotional film, albeit one with lively moments, a good sense of humor and colorful real-life figures who will captivate even nonsurfers.
At the moment, however, the film is unlikely to play to many nonsurfers. "Riding Giants" is at least 15 minutes too long. Repetitive shots of giant waves and wipeouts diminish rather than enhance one's appreciation of the courage of today's surfers. "Riding Giants" seems intent on selling the sport rather than examining why people are willing to risk their necks to challenge nature at her most volatile.
While the film begins with a brief historical overview of the sport, the focus swiftly shifts to one subject: the lure of riding "big waves," swells that can reach up to 70 feet. While this is a bit like making a documentary on boxing that focuses only on heavyweights while ignoring all other weight divisions, there is no doubt this is the most exciting and dangerous aspect of the sport.
In an often tongue-in-cheek manner, Peralta and co-writer Sam George trace the evolution of big-wave riding from the conquest of Hawaii's Waimea Bay in the 1950s, following the introduction of lighter boards made of balsa and fiber glass, to today's tow-in surfing that allows surfers to ride giants.
Three figures emerge: Greg Noll, who, with his muscular build and striped trunks, led the charge in the '50s and '60s
Jeff Clark, who discovered but kept secret for a while the treacherous Mavericks surfing area in Northern California
and Laird Hamilton, today's blond god of contemporary Hawaiian surfing.
The movie has fun with the Gidget movies that, while popularizing the sport around the world, were treated with contempt by real surfers. It also has solemn moments, showing the drowning death of top Hawaiian surfer Mark Foo at Mavericks in 1994.
Peralta, who made his mark with skateboarding movies, is new to surfing films. He is either unaware of or unwilling to utilize the advanced techniques and surf-cam operators employed by filmmakers like Dana Brown, whose "Step Into Liquid", released last year, let viewers get up close and personal with big-wave riders while inside those watery tubes.
As waves pound endlessly at the audience and big questions about the surfing lifestyle and lure of risk-taking never get asked, the movie shamelessly exposes its own promotional side. For a film exec produced by Laird Hamilton to call Laird Hamilton the best big-wave surfer ever is not only disingenuous but ignores the controversy of that statement in the surfing world. Hamilton may well be Top Dog, but he tends to shun championship competitions, where it might be put to a test.
The use of archival footage, much of which is probably home movies, is quite good, and Peralta's interviews often produce sharp, revealing comments. But he and his cohorts let salesmanship triumph over filmmaking.
RIDING GIANTS
Forever Films and Studio Canal
in association with Quicksilver
Credits:
Director: Stacy Peralta
Screenwriters: Stacy Peralta, Sam George
Producer: Agi Orsi, Stacy Peralta, Jane Kachmer
Executive producers: Nathalie Delest, Franck Marty, Laird Hamilton
Director of photography: Peter Pilafian
Music: Matter
Editor/co-producer: Paul Crowder
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- For its first-ever opening night in Park City, the Sundance Film Festival chose to premiere "Riding Giants", the first documentary to open the festival. It was an understandable though curious choice.
Understandable because Sundance is not only proud of the large role it has played in showcasing documentaries from its very beginnings, but the festival also loves to celebrate its alumni. "Riding Giants" director Stacy Peralta won the audience and director awards at the 2001 Sundance for his docu "Dogtown and Z-Boys". Curious because this film about surfing fails to thoroughly investigate the subculture and all too easily settles for an admiring promotional film, albeit one with lively moments, a good sense of humor and colorful real-life figures who will captivate even nonsurfers.
At the moment, however, the film is unlikely to play to many nonsurfers. "Riding Giants" is at least 15 minutes too long. Repetitive shots of giant waves and wipeouts diminish rather than enhance one's appreciation of the courage of today's surfers. "Riding Giants" seems intent on selling the sport rather than examining why people are willing to risk their necks to challenge nature at her most volatile.
While the film begins with a brief historical overview of the sport, the focus swiftly shifts to one subject: the lure of riding "big waves," swells that can reach up to 70 feet. While this is a bit like making a documentary on boxing that focuses only on heavyweights while ignoring all other weight divisions, there is no doubt this is the most exciting and dangerous aspect of the sport.
In an often tongue-in-cheek manner, Peralta and co-writer Sam George trace the evolution of big-wave riding from the conquest of Hawaii's Waimea Bay in the 1950s, following the introduction of lighter boards made of balsa and fiber glass, to today's tow-in surfing that allows surfers to ride giants.
Three figures emerge: Greg Noll, who, with his muscular build and striped trunks, led the charge in the '50s and '60s
Jeff Clark, who discovered but kept secret for a while the treacherous Mavericks surfing area in Northern California
and Laird Hamilton, today's blond god of contemporary Hawaiian surfing.
The movie has fun with the Gidget movies that, while popularizing the sport around the world, were treated with contempt by real surfers. It also has solemn moments, showing the drowning death of top Hawaiian surfer Mark Foo at Mavericks in 1994.
Peralta, who made his mark with skateboarding movies, is new to surfing films. He is either unaware of or unwilling to utilize the advanced techniques and surf-cam operators employed by filmmakers like Dana Brown, whose "Step Into Liquid", released last year, let viewers get up close and personal with big-wave riders while inside those watery tubes.
As waves pound endlessly at the audience and big questions about the surfing lifestyle and lure of risk-taking never get asked, the movie shamelessly exposes its own promotional side. For a film exec produced by Laird Hamilton to call Laird Hamilton the best big-wave surfer ever is not only disingenuous but ignores the controversy of that statement in the surfing world. Hamilton may well be Top Dog, but he tends to shun championship competitions, where it might be put to a test.
The use of archival footage, much of which is probably home movies, is quite good, and Peralta's interviews often produce sharp, revealing comments. But he and his cohorts let salesmanship triumph over filmmaking.
RIDING GIANTS
Forever Films and Studio Canal
in association with Quicksilver
Credits:
Director: Stacy Peralta
Screenwriters: Stacy Peralta, Sam George
Producer: Agi Orsi, Stacy Peralta, Jane Kachmer
Executive producers: Nathalie Delest, Franck Marty, Laird Hamilton
Director of photography: Peter Pilafian
Music: Matter
Editor/co-producer: Paul Crowder
Running time -- 104 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 1/2/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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