Customer Reviews

Billabong Odyssey

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A few years ago, some of the top surfers in the world banded together and took off on a global search for that "perfect wave." They called their expedition The Billabong Odyssey, and this documentary chronicles both the group's formation and its first major forays into the roiling waters off the coasts of France, Mexico, Australia, Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest.

"The Billabong Odyssey" is more than just a series of breathtaking stunts being performed on awe-inspiring waves; it is an informative piece of filmmaking that instructs those of us who wouldn't know a surf board from an emery board on the fine points of the sport. Through voiceover narration by many of the men on the team, we learn about how the sport has changed and evolved over the years, most notably since the advent of towing vehicles which makes it possible for riders to go out to monster waves that previous generations of paddling surfers could only look off into the distance and dream about reaching. We are informed as to how monster waves form, where they are most likely to occur, and what kinds of dangers they pose for those brave (or foolish) enough to venture into them. We also see just how far technology will advance the sport in the years to come as innovative fans come up with more and more sophisticated equipment and accoutrements to make conquering that ultimate wave a viable possibility. In addition, the film reveals a great deal about the psychology of the sport, affording us glimpses into the mindset of people who are willing to risk life and limb in pursuit of that ultimate thrill.

Of course, the main attraction of a film like "The Billabong Odyssey" is its phenomenal, you-are-there views of some of the world's greatest waves and the men who attempt to conquer them. The filmmakers plunge us right into the thick of the action, allowing us to ride along with the members of the team, as they wipe out or fulfill their ultimate challenge - only to head right back into the surf to do it all over again.

The film feels a little disjointed at times, losing some of its focus `round about the midway point. The Odyssey members tend to get lost in the crowd and we miss that sense of camaraderie and group cohesiveness the movie provides us with at the beginning. Still, in terms of its visuals and the insight it offers into the sport, "The Billabong Odyssey" provides a first-rate arm chair adventure for both the water-logged and the landlubbers among us.

This film is basically a documentary which shows the outer limits of modern-day surfing. Instead of paddling into the wave in the traditional manner, surfers can be pulled into the surf by waverunners and can take advantage of huge waves which form many miles from the shore. The Billabong Odyssey is a 3-year project in which new technology is used to train surfers and to detect the locations of the "biggest waves on the planet". There is a lot of emphasis on safety in the project, which is understable when people are challenging 50 and 60-foot waves. The first part of the movie shows the assembling of the team for the project and the training that they go through. The culminating scenes show a Big Wave competition in "Jaws", a surfing hot spot off the coast of Maui. The photography is spectacular and the movie is appealing to surfers and non-surfers alike.

This came out in theatres last year and the opening sequence, with Mike Parsons riding a 70-foot wall of water, was possibly the most exciting beginning to any film I have ever seen. The film chronicles the ongoing search to find and ride the world's biggest wave by eight hardcore surfers of tremendous courage and discipline. Their expedition takes them from Oregon to Australia, from Tahiti to Hawaii to Mexico, and Europe in between. I found the personal insights revealing-if you've ever wondered why men and women engage in such death-defying activities, you'll be surprised where some find their motivaton-and of course the action is spectacular. The best surf movie, and one of the best action movies I've ever seen. Beatutifully shot. I'd praise the stuntwork to the moon if it wasn't all completely real. To this point I've always used Top Gun or The Matrix to show off the scale of my home theatre and its surround sound. Now I'll simply play this movie. Incredible!

BILLABONG ODYSSEY (Warner Home Video) deserves a widescreen version to better capture the jaw-dropping, eye-popping, heart-pounding big wave surfing action. Billabong is Aussie slang for "pond," but the only irony here is the Zen-like comments from the men who ride these monstrous, churning, liquid mountains. Cool locations include Tahiti, Hawaii, France, Spain, the "Cortez Bank" and Australia. Fantastic big wave cinematography. One or two rides alone are worth the price of the disc. Recommended.

I got this flick hoping to extend the high i got off Step Into Liquid and Thicker Than Water. Instead I got a snoozefest of personal interviews and pro surfer bios.
Don't get me wrong, the big wave footage featured on the dvd is breathtaking, to say the least - there just isn't enough of it on this disc to get me anywhere near stoked.
I watched this once and dumped it in the pile for my next garage sale.

One of the true pleasures in life is living an otherwise death-defying adventure vicariously. Whether it be arm-chair reading the adventure of climbing Chomolungma (Mt. Everest) as in "Into Thin Air" by Krakauer; an otherworldy dive in the Cousteau series; thrilling to the "Man-Eaters of Tsavo" by Patterson or any number of heart-stopping, life-on-the-edge, written experiences.

Another medium by which the common man/woman can be thrilled is within documentary film. When shot and edited with care and precision, there is probably no other medium taking spectators closer to the heart of an experience.

The stunning "Billabong Odyssey" is such a documentary. This truly remarkable film stands as a testament to human courage, prime athletic skill, unbelievable human strength, mental focus and determination, as it showcases one of the greatest physical challenges of our time... that of finding the biggest waves around the world, and riding them.

Spectacular, numbingly magnificent cinematography; epic daring by the athletes, and the high-tech science of scouting these oceanic monsters make this one of the best sports (and extreme human challenge) documentaries ever made.

On a rating scale for surfers and surfing enthusists, it is off the chart awesome. For pretty much anyone else enamored of the grandeur and power of the natural world, and how men and women challenge and practice within it, it is almost without equal.

'Nuff said? Yeah... maybe so, but beyond any hyperbole you might read into my honest words above, it is unqualifiedly a marvelous "real-world" documentary and ultimately, a supremely human film.

("Let's go tow-in now, everybody's learning how, come on let's safari with me!")

As it says in the editorial review, this movie has one of the best opening sequences ever in any film. What I love about it is that in about 5 minutes you fully understand what the implications of big wave riding are. At that point, you are totally sucked in. When I have showed it to friends who have no interest in surfing, they can't help but want to watch the rest once they see the opening. Also, the quality of the shots throughout the film is top-notch. I have enjoyed the Endless Summer films and Step into Liquid, but they don't have me wanting to watch a second time. Odyssey does.

The reviews so far here are right on the money.Excellent movie definatly worth the price on DVD.The only negative thing I have to say here is that IT IS NOT ON DVD IN A WIDESCREEN VERSION. Very sadly only in a standard format which very much lessens the viewing experience. Especially because this film has such excellent potography, without a widescreen version ALOT IS MISSED.I would give this great movie a 5 star rating, but the bad choice the producers made to transfer to DVD of a smaller standard format, I only will give THE DVD a 3.The picture quality is great, the sound is fine, there is no extra features (not needed anyways),but with no widescreen version available for this cinema-photographic movie, the standard format just doesn't do it any justice.

"The Billabong Odyssey" is a documentary where a team of the world's top big wave surfers are put together to search the globe using the latest weather techniques looking for the world's largest waves. And the results are incredible. The footage here is beyond amazing, easily the best surfing shots I have ever seen. And the waves these guys actually surf are absolutely incredible. The sheer guts they have to go out into the surf and catch a ride on these monsters is something to truly respect.

I wish I would have seen this film in the theater, because the monstrosity of the waves would have been mind boggling on the big screen, but it all transfers really well onto DVD, and not much is lost. You can still grasp the enormity and the crushing power of these waves, no matter the size of your TV.

This was an excellent documentary, and it delves a little into the world of surfers, as well as the science of the sport itself, and how it is continually advancing along with the technology as it comes out. They are looking to surf 100 foot waves, and to be able to know exactly when and where they are coming, and this is interesting stuff that fills the space between the spectacular action shots. "The Billabong Odyssey" is a worthy documentary, and a worthy film. Five stars all the way.

This is a really solid film that gives you a great inside view of just how serious the conditions are that these guys are taking on and shows all the work that goes into riding these monster waves. Definitely a great addition to any surfer's collection.