- An extreme sports adventure! Top professional surfers scour the world’s oceans to ride the biggest waves on the planet. Experience the thrills and spills of action-packed big wave surfing.Running Time: 92 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: SPORTS/GAMES Rating: PG Age: 085393431921 UPC: 085393431921 Manufacturer No: 34319
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Genre: Sports Highlights
Rating: NR
Release Date: 20-APR-2004
Media Type: DVDIn addition to boasting one of the most astonishing opening sequences in the history of extreme-sports filmmaking, Billabong Odyssey offers a breathtaking survey of big-wave surfing at a pivotal stage in its evolution. With the advent of Jet-Ski Waverunners used for “tow-in” access to gigantic waves that paddle-surfers could never reach, this three-year, globe-trotting quest for the world’s biggest waves is nothing less than spectacular. As documentaries go it’s a bit cruder than 2003′s other surfing movie, Step Into Liquid, and many of the same world-class surfers appear in both films (including 49-year-old Ken Bradshaw, still going strong). But Billabong is unrivaled in its abundance of jaw-dropping footage–most of it shot from helicopters hovering in close proximity–showing the sheer, terrifying scale of breaking “tubes”–some reaching 100 feet–at the most challenging big-wave locations on the planet, including Maverick’s at Santa Cruz, California; Cortes Bank off the Pacific Coast; “Cyclops” in Australia; Mundaka, Spain; and the treacherous “Jaws” reef on the coast of Maui, Hawaii.
While touching on various hot topics such as safety training, serious wipe-outs, swell-tracking technology, female surfers (like the great Layne Beachley), and hydrofoil surfboards (billed as “the future of the sport”), director Philip Boston applies a casual, competitive structure that’s too diffuse and lightweight to have much impact. But when the film focuses on the climactic “Jaws” showdown between Carlos Burle and Mike Parsons, Billabong Odyssey achieves a state of raw power and spiritual intensity, culminating in Parsons’ best-ever 10-point ride on a massive tube that constantly threatens to consume him. As dozens of adrenaline-junkie surfers strive for new horizons of unprecedented skill, Billabong Odyssey chronicles their efforts with amazing bird’s-eye cinematography. For surfers and non-surfers alike, this movie must be seen to be believed. –Jeff Shannon
Buy “Billabong Odyssey” For Only $2.97
March 5, 2010
#1
If you’re a stoked surfer looking for a thrill, this is “NOT” the video for you. However, if you want a training video on big wave surfing, go ahead. A better video for the stoke would be the classic Endless summer 2. Much more of a better buy. Billabong goes out of their way with a whole lot of explainations in Odyssey about tow-in surfing, training on watercrafts, and then they get to the surfing. I fell asleep throughout the 2/3 of it. I had to skip through half of it to get to the surfing. Nice documentary for Discovery Channel, not for the wired surf enthusiast. So,
March 5, 2010
#2
This movie sucked. There was hardly any surfing footage. I’ve seen more surfing footage in Hawaii five O . They totally try to ignore the fact that Laird Hamilton invented tow surfing. They try and say it was Ken Bradshaw (no disrespect to Mr. Bradshaw, He’s amazing)that invented tow in surfing. Then they have some fruity poser looking guy trying to tell us that he invented the hydrofoil surfboard. We all know it was Laird. This movie just plain sucks. Way too much talking. If your going to talk through the whole movie at least show surfing footage while you do it. We don’t need to see the director and his bad hair. And we really don’t need a science lesson on how waves are formed. The only thing I care about is how big the wave is and the shape. Only good thing about the DVD is the opening sequence and some narly wipeouts. Do yourself a favor and save your money. Buy step into liquid, one of Lairds’s DVD’s or Endless Summer 2. I felt like I was watching a behind the surfing documentary on VH1 or something. Oh yeah I feel bad for the surfers who appeared in this movie. Your talents deserve a better showcase. Just one more thing. The Mavericks Crew rules. You guys are awesome. If it wasn’t for them this DVD would get one star.
March 5, 2010
#3
Big build-up,but doesn’t deliver the goods.Even though there
is some big surf,the quality of the surf and surfing is very
mediocre.
March 5, 2010
#4
Oops! I haven’t seen this DVD, but feel compelled to correct the Amazon reviewer. Maverick’s is off Pilar Point at Half Moon Bay. Santa Cruz is around 50 mi. south of HMB. Big distinction in the surfing world!
March 5, 2010
#5
I first saw this movie on an Encore channel and instantly liked it. I then had to buy it and watch it over and over again. Great movie with an amazing soundtrack and amazing sights.