Jane L
I loved this movie, seen it more than once. Critics have condemned the scant plot but the movie says a lot with "show not tell" about poor surfer girls struggling to survive as maids in a flash (very) hotel. They are surrogate mothers to the star's kid sister and living in a very rustic abode. Girl power is awesome as are the very scary Hawaiian waves. Romance or the pipe - why pick only one though the girls will still struggle and the bloke will not.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
12/29/23
Full Review
Kaia W
I liked it! As a surfer myself it was fun to watch and I would recommend to anybody else who likes surfing
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
12/17/23
Full Review
Steve D
There is just not enough to it.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
09/25/23
Full Review
Yurim O
Plotline is abandoned early on, the main character is static.
Wish I could give this movie 0 stars, I have unintentionally developed a very explainable fury for this movie after watching it with my boyfriend. We were on a surf movie binge, hopping from Surf's up, North Shore, Chasing Mavericks, and finally Blue Crush. (Disclaimer: North Shore was a beauty, Blue crush.. heinous)
This movie symbolizes the phrase "missed opportunity". They pulled us in thinking it's going to be an inspiring surfing movie, all about dedication, bonds, and passion. Boy were we wrong.
(Spoilers)
From the very first frame, it is made disgustingly clear that the antagonist of this movie is the main character's inner fear and trauma from a bad fall, reef beating, and near drowning incident. You brace yourself for the whole two hours, expecting to see her overcome this awful pain and fear that are keeping her from surfing the big waves, keeping her from her passion. Nope.
Instead, the entire movie follows this static character, continuing to drop her responsibilities and passions (of surfing) to pursue an NFL player, whom we realize later on is playing her. But they still kiss and make up in the end. Even though they never justified his tendency to love-bomb poor women and then ditching them, or addressed it after the first time when it was uncovered. What was even the point of that just for them to act like it never happened? Maybe the movie I watched was skipping seconds cause I feel like I missed something. Why is she getting back with this loser again, a loser she blew off her passion because of?
If I wanted to watch a poor-woman-gets-with-rich -man trope to immerse myself in a daydream, I would've watched Pretty Woman, which does a hell of a better job at this storyline than this "surfing" movie.
We never watch her get a single good wave until the last 10 minutes. Out of nowhere. No build up of her gradually getting over her fear that's stopping her. They just sloppily had her surf a perfect wave after she fails every single one before that (***without sign of progression). This movie was a waste of time.
I don't even remember her name and I watched this movie just the other day. The main character has zero drive, passion, motivation, or care for surfing, and never changes that. Instead she lashes out at her amazing friend Eden for trying to encourage and support her. And then they never mention this lash-out again. Crazy. Where is the fucking plot. I'd follow a story about a girl getting abducted by a cult consisting of furniture-beings and declared the queen of tableware better. I think the main plot-line gets about 10 minutes of screentime (the last 10).
Should've made the movie about Eden or Keana Kennelly. Instead of an unchanging, spineless, and stubbornly unpassionate girl. Like, really, we had the opportunity to make a role model here. No words. I'm warning you all. This movie is a sick joke. I lost neurons.
I'd rather watch a toddler try to spell Onomatopoeia cause at least something is actually fucking happening.
Rated 1/5 Stars •
Rated 1 out of 5 stars
07/21/23
Full Review
Lanfranco C
Surf and love in the Hawaii
Rated 2.5/5 Stars •
Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars
07/14/23
Full Review
Matthew D
A blast of fresh water with cute romance and cuter surfers.
Director John Stockwell's coming of age surfer romance drama Blue Crush (2002) is a wonderful movie. I grew up loving Blue Crush and I'm happy to report that it holds up with supportive female friendship, beautiful Hawaiian beaches, astonishing waves crashing, a cute romance story, and stunning swells being surfed by gorgeous girls.
I cannot believe that Blue Crush is now 21 years old. Director John Stockwell effortlessly shoots these mesmerizing shots of the vast waters surrounding Hawaii. All of the surfing footage is miraculous alongside the tender drama and playful humor of his coming of age story. Stockwell should get more credit for really sympathetic filmmaking towards his heroines.
Writers John Stockwell and Lizzy Weiss create a quaint romantic comedy story in the center of a touching coming of age surfer narrative to inspire girls to surf and achieve their dreams. I like how feminist Blue Crush feels with women supporting women and girls aspiring to career goals besides male attention. I love the playful party girl vibe and laid back surfer girl era of the early 2000's.
Blue Crush somehow balances close female friendship between young ladies, working class empathy for maids, disdain for obnoxious tourists, surfer elitism for locals feeling ownership of secret beaches, critiquing male chauvinism, braving fear of a watery death, and promoting anti-tourist sentiments. Blue Crush is surprisingly complex and endearing. Casting directors Sarah Halley Finn, Randi Hiller, and Margaret Doversola found lovely actresses to champion surfing alongside skilled professional surfers to catch serious waves.
Kate Bosworth is drop dead gorgeous as the adorable surfer heroine Anne Marie Chadwick. She is actually moving and endearing since she simply dreams of paying the rent, caring for her little sister, and seeking surfer fame as the Pipeline Masters. Bosworth's hypnotizing blue and green eyes, sweet smile, forlorn glances, and confident surfer prowess are wonderful. Blue Crush is a fabulous lead actress role that allows Kate Bosworth to appear cool and breathtaking with deft dramatic abilities and tender romantic feeling. She should have been a much bigger actress with more lead parts as magnificent as the delightful Blue Crush. Coco Ho is excellent as the young Anne Marie with serious surfing skills.
Michelle Rodriguez is excellent as Anne Marie's supportive best friend Eden with her tough love and fun playfulness. Sanoe Lake is lovely as Lena Olin with her pretty looks and outrageously amusing personality. Mika Boorem is cute as Anne Marie's precocious and rebellious little sister Penny Chadwick. I appreciate how vivacious every actress is in Blue Crush like we're really hanging out with these cool girls.
Matthew Davis is surprisingly nice and understanding as Anne Marie's love interest Matt Tollman. Matthew Davis actually had pleasant romantic chemistry with Kate Bosworth. They feel flirty and considerate in a neatly not toxic relationship like so many old romance movies. Faizon Love is hilarious as the funny tourist Leslie. I appreciate Blue Crush boasting real-life surfers like Keala Kennelly, Carol Anne Philips, Coco Ho, Rochelle Ballard, Layne Beachley, Megan Abubo, Brian Keaulana, Tom Carroll, Jamie O'Brien, Bruce Irons, and Makua Rothman. Their presence and showmanship gives Blue Crush some authenticity.
Editor Emma E. Hickox cuts together these brilliant and engrossing montages of impressive surfing. I like how gently cut all the scenes of the girls playing around at work as maids or having deeper conversations about life feel. Blue Crush is a fast paced 104 minutes. Cinematographer David Hennings shoots marvelous wide shots and underwater shots for surfing and training. I cannot even imagine how difficult it was to capture all the natural wonders of the sea for Blue Crush. Every close-up and brilliantly lit shot is beautifully framed with striking blocking and chaotic camera pans.
Production designer Tom Meyer creates a cozy home for Anne Marie and a lavish hotel for the ignorant tourists. I liked Denise Hudson's art direction with glowing waters, outfits, and faces in stunning light. Meg Everist puts authentic Hawaiian furnishings around Blue Crush. Visual effects artists Jon Farhat, Constance Bracewell, and Thad Beier neatly superimpose Kate Bosworth's face on the stunt surfers with believable CGI for 2002. Gregory J. Barnett's stunts for the fights are great.
Composer Paul Haslinger provides an emotional film score for Blue with a sense of wonder for surfing waves and finding yourself. The remix of "Cruel Summer" is a fun theme choice like all of Blue Crush's eclectic soundtrack. It has hard rock, synthpop, reggae, rap, and techno on here throughout Blue Crush. Sound designers Claude Letessier, Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker, Rick Kline, Lauren Stephens, and Kelly Cabral capture huge crashing waves and surfing noises. Costume designer Susan Matheson crafts dozens of cute and sexy outfits for Kate Bosworth from bikinis to evening gowns. Makeup artists Jean Ann Black, Laine Rykes, Karen Iboshi Preiser, and Elizabeth Dahl give each girl natural looking facial makeup. I loved the wavy surfer girl hairstyling from Bridget Cook, Chantal Boom'la, James Sartain, and Paulette Crammond.
In conclusion, Blue Crush is a rush of youthful adrenaline and tender coming of age drama.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
05/25/23
Full Review
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