Search - North Shore on DVD

A Haole's review of the North Shore, brah! Don't be a barney

T. Huff | San Diego, CA | 07/17/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Turtle: Stay loose, Howlie.
Rick: What's a Howlie?
Turtle: A tourist, a mainlander, like you.
Rick: I'm not a tourist.
Turtle: Whatever, Barney.
Rick: What's a Barney?
Turtle: It's like Barno... Barnyard... a Howlie to the max, a kook in and out of the water. Yeah?and so the world is a better place because of the 1987 movie "North Shore". The acting isn't that great, but the surfing is great. it is such a great b-surf movie from the 80's. the one liners are great! my friends and i have watched it since we were little, over and over. it is a great movie! buy it right now on amazon.com...and watch it over and over and laugh and enjoy the waves! Cool waves and shaka-to-ya-frada-cause-you're-nothing-but-a-bradda."could i use burkhardt's board...in the contest" - rick kane
"go ahead. go shread" - chandler"you one bad shredder, yeah? Yeah, he shred so hard he broke his stick""

"Come back to the North Shore via DVD"

David E Hanna | Western Australia | 04/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""North Shore" tells the story of Rick Kane (Matt Adler), a naive Arizona boy who dreams of competitive success surfing the big winter swells which thunder onto the North Shore of Oahu in beautiful Hawaii. What Rick lacks in experience (Arizona is not exactly an international surf Mecca), he makes up for in outright ignorance of the danger. In the words of one distinctly unimpressed Hawaiian kid, Rick is "J.O.J." - "just off the jet!" It seems Hawaii is not quite ready for Rick Kane and he is certainly unready for the challenge of the North Shore.

Thus, Rick embarks upon a struggle for self-knowledge and acceptance every bit as challenging as learning how to survive those magnificent waves that pound Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach. Nor is it just the water which threatens to rearrange his anatomy. The Hui, a local Hawaiian surf club and Vince, their laconic, tough guy leader (played by Hawaiian surf legend, Jerry Lopez) take a thorough dislike to him. This enmity is further intensified by Rick's (very understandable) interest in Vince's cousin, the lovely Kiani (Nia Peeples).

Kiani proves to be a good friend, as does the likeable Turtle (John Philbin), a local surfer whose heart is as big as his smile. And then there is Chandler (Gregory Harrison). As Obewan is to Luke Skywalker, Chandler is to young Rick. He mentors Rick into big wave surfing - a decision which, for a time, he lives to regret. Rick has his heart set on the competitive surfing Chandler hates because, as he says, it "brings out the worst in the human animal." Thus the stage is set for a ripping little surf drama, made on location at the splendid North Shore.

In this movie, the egotistical pursuit of material gain at any cost is represented for what it is: a game for professional losers like Lance Burkhart (played by giant wave rider and highly respected North Shore identity, Laird Hamilton). In a world immersed in materialism, superficiality and televised violence, a kid could do worse than take on board the true aloha spirit which pervades this engaging narrative.

If you already have the VHS version, get the DVD for your collection. The additional features (especially the interviews with the cast) are well worth it. And remember that you don't have to be a surfer to enjoy "North Shore." Ignore the cynical criticisms of the ignorant; see it for yourself.

Maybe, like this reviewer, it will cause you to go see the actual North Shore for yourself too. The old heiau (sacred site) where Kiani and Rick go walking is still there in all its ruined majesty and, down below in Waimea Bay, there are real surfers riding very real, incredibly powerful waves, just like in the film. As Kiani says in fond farewell, "You [will] come back to the North Shore!" Just press "play" and this cool DVD will take you there - again and again and again.
"

"The Karate Kid" on a surfboard, only much better

otro lector mas | Caimito, Puerto Rico, USA | 04/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Similar storylines: 1) Clueless rookie arrives at new place and gets into trouble with locals. 2) Jaded, reclusive master pities said rookie and takes him under his wing, thereby turning rookie into expert.

The similarities with Karate Kid end there. I would have never predicted the outcome of this movie.

I don't surf, but this movie teaches many invaluable life lessons for anyone, from the effects of competition on human nature to what makes a marriage happy.

I write this review because my 7 year-old has started to surf and I got him this movie so he may learn what (I figure) a real surfer's attitude ought to be. I saw this movie once almost 20 years ago and I was amazed at how much detail I remembered. In other words, this is a movie that will make a positive impression on you for a lifetime."

Ho bra, lines so great. try watch?

gwyneth | new hampshire | 06/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I LOVE this movie...got introduced to it by some Hawaiian mates at Uni, and now I've seen it about a gzillion times...got my friends Down Under hooked on it, too...and my sister...anyone who watches it likes it. Don't own it yet, but it's on the 'to do' list I didn't surf before I watched it, and now-I'm learnin'! Anyone who has an appreciation for it should read all the reviews: you'll crack up and 'relive' the movie reading peoples' quotes. Also, I must say, it's not "we treat friends mo betta on the North Shore", it's "here on the north shore, we treat friends mo betta", then Turtle tosses his hair and drives off. However, Vince and Chandler are my favorites...awesome guys! Rick Kane is a weenie kook, and Chandler was SO right when he said, "you got a lot to learn, so why don't you just shut up and watch." also, there is a North Shore line for every occasion. Watch it. Love it...Learn it. use it."