Customer Reviews

The Endless Summer Revisited [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a very nostalgic look back at when Bruce Brown started making moviesin the 50's until he finished with Endless Summer 2. There are several great cameos by Dave Velzy, Greg Noll, and Robert August(just to name a few) who tell the viewer about their experiences with Brown and the movies they made together. It unfortunatley is only 70 minutes long. It has great out takes from ES and ES 2 and a short blooper series that is classic. I only gave it 3 stars because it didn't have enough surfing and it wasn't long enough.

I had seen "The Endless Summer" (TES) and was fully expecting "The Endless Summer Revisited" (TESR) not to live up to it, if only for the fact that it was not a follow up to the original TES or "The Endless Summer II" (TES2). This was more of a documentary of how they made TES, TES2 and some other surfing during that timeframe. When it started, I was fully prepared for 2 stars. However, many of the interviews led me to 3 stars. Some of the new surfing footage led me to 4 stars. Then, with footage from TES2 (which is not available on DVD yet), I had to go with 5 stars. It is not the same as TES, so if you expect that, it will be disappointed. But, if you want to know more of the surfer life, then TESR is worth it. I especially liked them pointing out that it is NOT like "Beach Blanket Bingo" or other silly movies where they just throw sex into the mix. Sure, hormones are prevalent, especially when young, but that goes out the window when riding waves. I was glad that they pointed that out and that they followed it in the films.

Quick review: Dana Brown opens this documentary by describing it as (paraphrased) "another chance to rip off the public," and he's somewhat right. "The Endless Summer Revisited" is mostly a series of interviews of the original filmmakers, promoters, and one of the stars of "The Endless Summer" and it doesn't reveal a whole lot that wasn't covered during the Surfer's Journal series on surf movies. I can't recommend buying this, but it might be worth a rental if you can find a copy.

More details: "The Endless Summer Revisited" tells the story of the filming and distribution of the original "Endless Summer" as well as a little bit about its sequel. It runs chronologically, startingwith some early footage of Bruce Brown as a surfer and then progressing forward. Interviews shot on video are mostly of Bruce Brown, Dana Brown, and Robert August, with appearances by Greg Noll, Steve Pezman, Dale Velzy, Hobie Alter, Nat Young, Wingnut, Pat O'Connell, and some other old guys whose names I don't recall.

I got a few chuckles from Noll taking digs at Brown whenever he could get a chance, and there was some interesting grainy footage here and there from the original film that I hadn't seen before. They show a little bit of from-shore shots of the filming of the water camera footage, and Brown tells the real story of how Cape St. Francis was discovered by Mike Hynson. Hynson, by the way, is not interviewed at all for this film. The lack of his perspective is a major gap. The film winds up with details that I hadn't heard before of how they found a distributor for "The Endless Summer," including taking the film to Kansas during a snowstorm to prove that it could be shown to a wider audience. By the time they get to the sequel, the makers of "Endless Summer Revisited" have run out of gas, and don't have much to say other than "it's the same thing only better." There's not much additional footage at all from that film, which is disappointing since they must have a lot of it in the can.

Summary: Don't buy it, rent it if you're interested in surf media history.

IF YOU LIKE HOME MOVIES YOU MAY LIKE THIS, NO NEED TO BUY THIS IF YOU HAVE THE ENDLESS SUMMER, I SUGGEST WAITING FOR ENDLESS SUMMER 2 ON DVD.

Endless Summer Revisited is not worth the time you spend watching it, not to mention your wasted money buying/renting it. Instead, try Endless Summer II: you'll watch it several times and enjoy it each time.

This film was recommended to me by an independent documentary filmmaker. I approached it hesitantly, not expecting much except one or two new tips. What I experienced was an inspirational and emotional event, a journey into the behind-the-scenes look at true indie filmmaking as it was in the 1960's. I know most of the film's fans are surfers. I am not. But I enjoyed this film nonetheless. In fact there were moments where I felt like I'd missed out on something great in the 1960's. More importantly, for independent filmmakers who struggle with the same old notions of how to make and distribute a film, this film offers tremendous insight into out-of-the-box self-distribution. I find this film as valuable, if not more so, than the Robert Rodriguez director commentaries and books. Buy it! You'll want to watch and listen over and over again, but not just for the beautiful waves and scenery. You'll want to watch for the brilliant information.

Having been in the same group of surfers as Bruce, surfing the Ranch at the same times (I was the young kid that asked a million questions and borrowed wax that never got returned) I couldn't wait to see how he had set so many shots up for TES. I had a great talk with Robert August about an article I was going to do on Tahiti for Surfer. Great guy.. The"Revisited" version was that much more interesting.. Great laughs!!
Its a keeper for us that can bring back memories from those great uncrowded days..
It is worth every penny..
Jim Pilkenton
Clyde Beatty Surfboards, Santa Barbara
Oakley Team, Kanvas By Katin Team
Xcel wetsuit Team....

or 2.5 stars. short film. not enough new clips about either es1 or es2. only thing new: people interviews, home vid shots & few new xtra clips from the 2 former films and spec. features of people related bios. get it for cheap or not @ all. es1 n es2 are good/different-e.s. 2-the best.

Great film about Bruce Brown and the making of his film "The Endless Summer," which was/is the classic, nationally distributed surfing film of the 1960s. The history is so rich here, you can't help but staying stoked.

This movie was so enjoyable! The scenes bring a smile and the music makes your heart happy. Hearing the guys talk about the people and places, and PRICES of things bring back memories of those long ago days. It was the best.