IMDb user comments for
North Shore (1987)

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33 comments in total

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6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Rick Kane gonna stomp your ass, 28 October 2002

Author: ryan from the capital

This movie is so boss it doesn't even know it's boss. It is a seamless hour and a half of excitement! Rick Kane takes a stand and flees the landlocked Arizona desert, against his single-parent mother's wishes. There is great surfing, good shots and an amazing implied sex scene.

Having some of the world's best surfers before surfing and extreme sports became so "hip" makes this movie pure class. Hearing Occy say, "Hey Alex come jump in with us," in his Aussie-talk is priceless.

I first saw this movie on HBO when I was a grommet in '88 or so. Since three copies have been snaked by those who live life like Burkhardt. Fortunately this past weekend I finally found a new copy. By the way this film could be the reason Gabrielle Reese chose to marry Laird.

Here at imdb we treat friends no better, so see this film. Am I going to tell you that you must see this? If I have to.

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6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
One of my favorite movies, but not for obvious reasons, 13 May 2002
Author: Wayne Huffman (wayne@huffman.com) from Honolulu, Hawaii

I agree with several other reviews concerning portraying locals as thugs and thieves, and that this isn't an Oscar quality movie. However, it was this movie that first showed me how beautiful O'ahu is. I ended up moving here from Virginia in 1992. The scenery was (and is) breathtaking, and watching the surfing was (and is) fantastic. As a haole, I got an education from the movie which kept me from making the mistakes Rick Kane made when he first got to Hawai'i.

If you live on O'ahu, or are visiting, and you find yourself in Waikiki on a Sunday when the waves are flat, come visit me at Hope Chapel-South Shore (at the Waikiki Community Center) - The entire pastoral staff surfs, along with most of the congregation. It is wonderful to hear God's word taught with surf illustrations.

Aloha!

Wayne

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
80's Hawaii!, 22 July 2001

Author: kenandraf from Honolulu,Hawaii

Good 80's formula movie which illustrates the North Shore Hawaii atmosphere well.Some weakness in script but still delivers due to educational tor of North Shore surfing lifestyle for that particular time.Good surfing cinematography here as well which makes this movie a cult classic.Not for people who do not like love stories and surfing.....

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Worth Watching, 15 May 2002
Author: mrsnawahine from Fremont, CA

This isn't Oscar-caliber or anything, but I don't think it was meant to be. It's a fairly cute movie and the scenery really is beautiful. It's worth wasting a summer afternoon watching. My husband was born on O'ahu and after having visited there I can tell you the shots are pretty common of the scenery there. A fun little romp, but don't believe the stereotypes. I am as white a haole as they get, and I married a Hawaiian. Don't believe everything you see in the movies.

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
"Yo Kook! What's the haps?", 7 January 2002

Author: Cobbler from Venice Beach, CA.

My top 10 films of all time include 12 Angry Men, Deliverance, and Rear Window, so you might be surprised by this review. North Shore is one of my favorite films, and it's mainly due to the character of Turtle, played by John Philbin (where are you now??) in a truly genius comic performance. Not only does Turtle get all of the best lines, but his character journey in overcoming self-doubt is a really nice & emotionally resonant element of the movie. All the actors are pleasant enough to watch, from Matt Adler (earnest and likeable) to Nia Peebles (foxy) to Gregory Harrison (Yoda-ish). Laird Hamilton is an awful actor, but you forgive him for it, because his surfing is incredible. The script is well-structured, the surfing scenes are excellent, and the romance is awesome. I really feel this is an underrated film, the best Karate Kid knockoff, and one of the best of the 80s sleepers. 9/10 P.S. I can't help but smile at that final shot. Awesome!

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Excellent Hoodad Movie!, 2 April 2002

Author: engstfeld

This is a nice, if somewhat stupid, comedy and surfing B-movie. It had it's fair share of laughs and some great one liners, not to mention fabulous surfing scenes. It was entertaining enough and worth a rental if you're looking for a funny cheesy B-movie. A bit of a cult classic eh, yeah?.....yeah?.........no.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
funny fun, 10 October 2006

Author: Peter Swanson (pswanson1@mac.com) from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

North Shore is good mindless entertainment, but get real people, it is NOT a great film. Firstly, the very idea of there being an Arizona State Surfing Champion is hilarious. Secondly, his going to the north shore and even getting into a surfing contest is a major chuckle. His winning a heat is beyond-comprehension laugh-out-loud material. I do appreciate that we see early in the film that he REEally is not prepared for functioning in the actual ocean, as opposed to the Big Surf wave pool in Tempe. It's a good thing he acquired a mentor, or he would've died...and that's no hyperbole.

The major enjoyment I get from this film is seeing truly excellent performances by a stack of genuinely legendary surfers, especially Gerry Lopez, deservedly known as Mister Pipeline, and one of history's great watermen. Gregory Harrison's beard came in handy, as it allowed us to watch Ken Bradshaw in his place in the water. I get a big laugh out of Laird Hamilton, who was clearly in a state of severe discomfort in front of the camera. Watching this after repeated viewings of Riding Giants is especially funny, because he is now completely at ease with being filmed and interviewed. I guess he put on poise and self-confidence along with those 30 or 40 pounds of muscle. Occy is a gas, the prototypical fun Aussie, and a natural performer. There's also a twinge of sadness at seeing the late, great Mark Foo in his prime.

Even if you don't surf, you'll find this entertaining. I agree with the previous reviewers who opine that it has a lot more in common with Beach Blanket movies than reality, but it is fun to watch.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Regardless of other users comments... this is truly a classic 80's surfing movie!, 24 October 2005
Author: jrjoesullivan from United States

Wheter or not the film is a "b" movie or not this is a definite classic! Regardless of the absence of a blockbuster budget, there is much to be taken from this film. And yes it does portray some of the locals in an accurate light. (Some of the locals are very rude and extremely territorial over certain areas of Hawaii). All in all, the rite of passage made by the main character is very heartfelt. Although it may be a little cheesy and even dated, this film is A CULT CLASSIC! A must for surfers, especially 80's kids! Do not overlook this film's position in your DVD library. Even if you do not surf, there is a great love story and explorer's feel to the film. Enjoy it.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
The Greatest Movie Ever, 18 August 2004

Author: from USA

Yeah, North Shore is awesome. It's the greatest movie ever. Seriously. It's good in a cult way...I've watched this movie probably 100 times in the past 10 years. It's the best, and that fact that they rereleased it on DVD with interviews and deleted scenes shows that I'm not the only person who thinks its cool...I think every surfer has probably seen it at least once, even if just for the hell of it. There are about 1000 quotable lines in North Shore. Who ever wrote the script is awesome. The character "Turtle" has some of the best lines in the movie. Also, the music is really cool in 80s sort of way. I even think there's a Journey song at the end. I wonder if there's a soundtrack somewhere out there...

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
I've seen it eight times, a true surfer classic, true!, 10 February 2001

Author: Eris Perista (erisprods@cs.com) from Santa Monica

My kid bro and me have watched it many times, and we love the dialogue and the surfer speak, and the lingo Turtle speaks. We spent two winters in Haliewa and know that it is a true -- if occassionally exagerrated -- mirror of the life there. And I've never ever seen better rides on film. "Occy" and Jerry Lopez are always great, and Laird Hamilton -- what a hunk!

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