Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton

I have watched many surfing movies from "The Endless Summer", "Crystal Voyager", to "Storm Surfers 3D". This movie has the most exciting shots I have ever seen! The ones from Tahiti are breath taking. Laird's early life is described. One can see the adventure gene being passed on from his free spirited mom, as she decides to pick up and move to Hawaii. He befriends a well known surfer and before he knows it, he has a new dad. Life at school is tough for someone from the mainland, so Laird makes his mark on the waves. He takes to the ocean as Van Gogh takes to painting, he has to do it! We see how he transforms the sport by introducing various technical innovations that have never been considered before. He also forms strong bonds with other surfers and his family, as they undergo their journey together.

The close-ups of Hamilton and his surfer friends are remarkable. Their eyes have taken on a similar pale, greenish/blue/tan -of a life in water. There's great footage of various waves, of course--and Hamilton's talent on them can be observed easily with awe. The 8 millimeter color home movies show Laird at different stages of his life, along with his cocky attitude---it was a surprise to learn of the racial bullying he suffered in Hawaii---because he was the only white kid in his class. I wanted to learn more about his mother later in her life---Laird sprang from an interesting woman.

After seeing this documentary with some old hounds howling for waves and action... I thought it was like an old 90ies documentary but man was I wrong! Awesome guys and beautiful footage of waves and water that makes you dream an be curious if you could change your life and just be a surfer and love the oceans gigantic waves like Laird Hamilton does! What a passionate guy and what a fantastic team of guys that all look like someone who was born under the sea. The story of a bunch of passionate guys with a drive that is original and so very interesting. Great story. Thanks for the inspiration. I will now go and search for bigger waves in my life passion.

Whoever is reviewing this movie that doesn't give it a 10 doesn't surf. And has no clue what it would take to:

1. Film this.

2. To be in it 3. To even achieve any of it in this world.

There are so many way this is a masterpiece of human endeavor, similar to going to the moon, set with way more morals and value. Every frame of this movie has artistic merit. Surprisingly so, the score is also subdued and quite supportive.

There's a true story here of a true accomplishment that literally would be impossible until it was achieved by Laird along with the producers, participants, engineers, fellow strap crew, and the waves themselves. This is way bigger than climbing Everest or running marathons or other lame physical achievements.

Really cool documentary and continued to inspire me all the way through. I like how they cut from present to past back and forth until the past caught up to today. Great visuals, interesting story, good job getting all the characters to participate in the documentary. Some tense moments, soul searching moments, and straight up fun moments that left me in awe and wishing for a plane to Hawaii.