North Shore (1987)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Memorable, crazy movie

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

I really like this film. But the party man Lance Burkhart is not the same guy as the famed surfer Laird Hamilton. Unless my eyes and brain are totally out of alignment, they are not the same people. There is no reference to this anywhere else. Am I right or am I missing something? Memorable lines; Pig Farmer- I made this jerky myself, good eh? Turtle-Gnarly mask uh, like it was the last one. Rick-Are my eyebrows still on fire? Occhy-I've seen bigger waves in a toilet! Chandler-We stole these Islands from him and his people. Did you ever think about that? Keiani-I've had a lot of practice. On all my brothers and cousins! Keianis brothers- So haole you JOJ, just off the jet? No he look more like FOB uh. Fresh off the boat. Burkhart/Hamilton- Its an old mans board Chandler. So many I could go on for ever. Anyway got work to do, as Turtle would say. Stay loose NorthShore People.

This movie came out when I was still a young "grom", from the mainland. It's a movie about a teen named Rick Kane from Arizona, who wins a wave pool surfing contest and thinks he has what it takes to surf the power and awe of North Shore, Oahu. On Rick's journey, he meets Chandler, who's "one of the best surfboard shapers in Hawaii, possibly the world." Chandler gives Rick the idea that surfing is for the "Soul" not "Hot-dogging". This movie inspired me to be a "soul" surfer. And, now almost 20 years later, I still call "North Shore" on of my most favorite movies of all-time.

One of the worse surfing movies I've ever seen. This movie is so bad I don't know where to begin-- Okay, let's start with the premise - some dude from the mainland who barely knows how to surf travels to Hawaii and enters a big wave contest which he more or less expects to win. A good analogy for those who don't surf would be a that of a grossly overweight chain smoker slapping on a pairs of running shoes and entering the LA Marathon with expectations of winning. No way! And, the contest is held on The North Shore which conjures up images of 15+ foot waves, but contest day the waves are maybe 6 foot. The acting? What acting? If you must see this woof see it on TV, don't waste your money renting it. If you want to see a pretty good surfing movie - granted it is flawed, but that's another story - rent Big Wednesday.

I am hawaiian, and the pidgin in this movie is laughable; but Turtle (John Philbin) and Vince (Gerry Lopez) get the nod because Gerry has spent enough time there to know da speek and John played it up so much I could see him being a transplanted "local". I really like this movie, it's just that if the actors would have spent a little more time trying to pick-up da kine li' dat the movie would have been much better. The surfers in the movie were the real deal, and some of the most colorful at that time; while Gerry is a Legend on any shore. I don't think this is the best surf movie made, but I have to say it is a great "feel good" surf movie. I would love to get a hold of one of Chandler's shirts with Kane's logo, those are too sweet. Sure some of this storyline is far fetched and stereotypical, but as we all know most movies are. BTW I have to agree "Aloha Summer" is alot better portrayal of "hawaiiana" and how life can be on the islands, although the luau scene in North Shore had a very authentic look to it. Thanks for the heads up on Beyond Paradise, I'll have to check it out.If the opportunity arises check out this film, hawaiians and haoles can appreciate many things in this film.