Review: Riding Giants (** 1/2)

RIDING GIANTS
A film review by Steve Rhodes

Copyright 2004 Steve Rhodes

RATING (0 TO ****): ** 1/2


After documentarian Stacy Peralta's success with the energetic and
irreverent DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS about the history of skateboarding, it must
have seemed natural for Peralta to turn next to surfing. RIDING GIANTS
starts off with a two-minute background lesson in the sport's Polynesian
origin but quickly turns its attention to big wave surfing -- the riding of
the biggest and meanest waves that can be found anywhere on the planet.



There is some discussion of surfing culture, with a typical comment being
that surfing is "not just a sport but a statement." This sport is probably
unique in that it was a movie that provided the genesis for the explosion in
the sport's popularity. Within five year after GIDGET was release in 1959,
the number of surfers in the world went from five thousand to three million,
according to RIDING GIANTS.



Peralta assembles an impressive collection of talking heads from among those
legends of the sport who haven't been killed. Some of the best have
perished, as the risks are enormous even for the best trained and the most
talented.



Although surfers will undoubtedly love this documentary, others, especially
those who have seen DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS, will probably be disappointed. The
interviews really aren't all that interesting unless you're a surfing buff,
and the film clips, while accurate, are usually washed out and not
especially impressive. Almost completely absent is the awesome sound of the
surf which conveys much of its power. A recent fictional film, BLUE CRUSH,
had dramatically better cinematography and infinitely better sound.



RIDING GIANTS runs too long at 1:45. It is rated PG-13 for "brief strong
language" and would be acceptable for all ages.



The film is playing in nationwide release now in the United States. In the
Silicon Valley, it is showing at the Camera Cinemas.



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