Search - Bustin' Down the Door on DVD

Not Your Average Surf Film

James Loren | San Diego, CA USA | 01/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The surfing documentary "Bustin' Down the Door" focuses on the Australian and South African surfers that pioneered pro surfing back in the 1970s. Filled with beautiful original footage as well as open, honest, and sometimes emotional interviews, the movie successfully conveys the challenges that Shaun Tomson, Mark Richards, Peter Townend, Ian Cairns, Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew, and Michael Tomson faced in their quest to bring surfing to a worldwide, professional level. Overall the movie is well worth watching and is not your typical surf movie as it deals with much more than just the sport.

As the film progresses, we learn about the lives of each surfer and what drove them to go to the North Shore of Oahu at the advent of pro surfing. One surprising yet refreshing aspect the filmmakers included was the conflict the surfers faced with native Hawaiians. By presenting each viewpoint in a balanced yet frank fashion, we become witness to how the situation escalated to a point where neither side was right and where each had lessons to learn about respect, humility, and the true meaning of Aloha.

This film can easily be watched and enjoyed by anyone even if they aren't involved with the sport. The surfing is awesome - of course - but the depth at which the filmmakers explore the athlete's personal lives as well as the inclusion of the historical background of the Hawaiian people relative to surfing make this movie satisfying to watch on many levels. Five stars."

Awesome

PENGCHENG LIU | 11/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I went to the theaters and saw this, and it was amazing, just as good if not better than Endless Summer or Step Into Liquid"

Good reflection on Surf Culture

Belit | San Pedro, Ca. | 06/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This movie was introduced the summer of 2008. It's an excellent journal of how the US surf culture evolved and has changed for the better through the decades with the gradual inclusion of surfers from So. Africa and Australia. There's three different versions included, the movie itself, the commentary version, the movie w/only a soundtrack, as well as outakes.
Great soundtrack remenicent of the 60's & 70's garage-band sound.
Our friends both in and out of the surf community have been riveted when we've played this movie at home."

The Wet Fraternity

Grant Mccahon | London | 01/17/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I managed to catch this on a plane out of Los Angeles, sadly, returning to London NOT my home, Australia. It is a wonderful insight into the brotherhood that grew up between the surfers at a time when surfing was just about waves and mates. Inevitably, it had to become commercial and there were many benefits to that. The interviews with the now older and wiser surfers are incredibly moving and that brotherhood still shines through. To step back in time with original and rare footage is an incredible gift. Cameras weren't all that common in the hands of amateurs back then, especially young, broke, salt-encrusted surfers, but there's a great collection here. Sure, the waves are great to see but they have been there for millions of years and will, hopefully keep rolling in, but the human story shines through. Young, sometimes arrogant young men ( weren't we all at some time ? ) getting into scrapes and paying the consequences. All lessons in life leave a few scars if they're worth learning. Amazing to see how life was back then, it is so hemmed in these days. You couldn't do what these guys did now without a job, tax number, roadworthy car, and lots of cash. They seemed to survive on borrowed burgers and a foam mattress. We could weep for that loss of freedom now. Every tube looks like The Time Tunnel, taking us back to a lovely period of history. A brilliant production."