North Shore
North Shore
PG | 14 August 1987 (USA)
North Shore Trailers

On a small stretch of coastline as powerful as a man's will, Rick Kane came to surf the big waves. He found a woman who would show him how to survive, and a challenge unlike any other.

Reviews
Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.
Nonureva Really Surprised!
Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
Fulke Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.
ViciousKilla Okay, I'm have two points of view in regards to North Shore.As a fan I love every second of this movie. I have watched it at least twice a year since my cousin gave my dad a worn out VHS copy from the video store she worked at. It was so warn out that at time's parts of it were almost ruined. There were audio issues and video artifacts all attributed to the state of the VHS tape. But, we loved it anyway.My dad surfed. I surfed. We'd watch it I the dead of winter when there were no waves and no surfing to be done. We'd usually watch it again just before going surfing for the first time each season. North Shore became a family tradition and we used lines from it all the time. "No body listens to Turtle" became our way of saying that no one listened to our advice and suffered because of it. We called tourist kooks. We called ourselves Soul Surfers.When my dad passed away a few years ago I went searching for the VHS copy, popped it in my VCR and it broke. Luckily I was able to track down the DVD. I loved to commentary and cast interviews. Watching it late the night I finally received it felt like my dad was there beside me, reciting our favorite lines with me again. If I am in a bad mood, all I have to do is pop in the DVD and I start feeling better.It's got that cheesy 80's feel to it, but it works. Some of the cinematography are mind blowing, especially considering the budget and technology of the time. Nia Peeples looks amazing as Kiani (this was her first major role, BTW). Gregory Harrison made chandler come alive. An no one except John Philbin could have played Turtle. Throw in a cast of some of the greatest Pro surfers of the time (and some that qualify as greatest of all time), and it's got exactly what in needs to become a cult classic. Which it undoubtedly is, or else it would never have made the transition to DVD.As a former film student and (still) wannabe writer/director I know this movie has faults. Yes, the Hui are played up. But, name one stereotype that isn't in a movie? We need the Hui to help drive the love story aspect and for that to happen they have to be bad ass dues with even worse attitudes. Some of the acting, by the non-actors (aka the pro surfers turned actors), was horrible. Some of the techniques used were dated and ruined certain scenes. For example, after Kiani and Rick leave the fashion shoot and go to another beach and it suddenly goes from full dark to 'daylight'.Some of the dialog is terrible. But, then again some of the one liners are incredibly funny and highly memorable.The plot has been criticized by many on here, and I honestly question how much attention they paid to the movie. Rick goes from Arizona to Hawaii to surf the 'season'. He does not have any thoughts about entering a surfing competition when he first arrives. It is only after he starts learning how to 'big wave surf' from Chandler and being notice by he Professor that he starts thinking of entering the contest. Even at the end of the competition he's laughing as he's about to be eliminated because "I never thought I'd make it this far." It's hard not to judge this movie by modern standards. It's also hard not to judge this movie by it's contemporaries and the standards of that time. But, considering the budget, it's not terrible.All in all I give this a 7/10. We former film student half wont let me give it the 10/10 my fan half wants me to give it. It's worth checking out for those who have never seen it and worth a review by those who have panned it. My best advice to enjoying North Shore is to not look at it with the eye of a critic, but instead let the 80's cheesy cult, campy warmth envelope you. Hang loose, haole...
Turtle I loved this film. North Shore actually helped define who I was as a kid. To the point that my mom started to call me Turtle and it has stuck with me to this day. Every one I know, except for family, calls me Turtle. I loved surfing as a kid, and still do, and I grew up in Arizona so I'd say I connected with this movie quite well. It was left wide open for some sort of sequel and I wish one would be made. If you can buy or rent this movie. It may be old and reek of the 80's but it is worth it. Some of the surf scenes are just great with the underwater photography. And a good portion of the surfers towards the end of the movie are real professional surfers. So it definitely adds some credit to the realism of the film. Not to mention the "bad guy" in this film is played by extreme sports buff Laird Hamilton. All in all is it a great film and good enough for the entire family. No nudity and a real light on the profanity. Just a purely entertaining film.
Jordan_Haelend Come on, people! the "Surfin' movie" comprises one of the most worn-out of all genres! There is nothing new about this- the only differences I can see between junk like this and the Annette Funacello "beach party" films of the early 1960s are are that 1.)those earlier films were pure comedy with a little drama and this one is the opposite, and 2.)those flicks were generally set in southern Cali.The scenery is nice, and if you like to gaze at blond, "surfin' dude" muscleboys, this will do it for you (being gay, I do.) Otherwise, pick-up a copy of "Beach Blanket Bingo" or "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini."
H4215 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.