Customer Reviews

Jack Johnson - September Sessions

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

...which is a historic session in the Mentawais featuring some of the world's best surfers - Slater, Machado, Dorian et al - and some great grooves from Greyboy, Jack, G Love and more.

No it's not long - but I've probably spent hours watching this footage over and over. It's a cut above the typical "extreme sports" crap that dubs a second rate speed metal soundtrack over a choppy edit of some mediocre cutbacks. Instead you get beautiful 16mm footage following these guys right down the barrel and a soundtrack that is as fluid and smooth as the waves.

The disc has some bonus stuff including commentaries, bonus footage and a "Making of" that aired on television. It easily extends the content to at least an hour or more. The commentaries are actually worth a listen and you may actually learn a thing or two from some of these guys. No it's not a plot-driven pop piece like Blue Crush and it's not the Bruce/Dana Brown zeitgeist stuff. It's great music, great waves, and great surfers doing their thing...

September sessions is fantastic because it isn't about some competition or has any lame footage of time in between surfs- it's just about the surfing.... it may be short but it's all quality, beautiful surfing.... and it has an absolutely amazing soundtrack.

I thought this was excellent for what it was. The surfing and filming was top notch. All aspects this was done very well FOR A VERY SHORT FILM.I would not call this a movie. I would call it a great short documentary that leaves you wanting more. Especially because it was done so well I wanted ALOT MORE. The picture quality and sound is fine. The only disapointment I have with this dvd is that it was not worth the price for what length (less than 30mins.) you get. For the same price as any other dvd out there you get ALOT less film and time spent watching. Fans of Jack Johnson will no doubt have to have this on dvd but the result (for me anyways) left me wanting to see ALOT more, and I especially wanted more for the "regular price" I paid to see this dvd. Even thought the quality of filming of this short documentary was spectacular, atleast with the Brown productions, Mav Surfer, and Laird White Knuckle productions you get more lenghty films and bang (more surfing) for you buck in my opinion.

Yeah, I know I'm behind the times, and yeah, I haven't seen a 'real' surf movie in a while (Blue Crush doesn't count) but I just had to write this review for this outstanding Jack Johnson flick. Everyone knows the Johnson story so I won't repeat the unnecessary.

This movie was absolutely amazing and perhaps the best surf movie I've ever seen. The soundtrack is mix of laid back soulful grooves, the surfing is flawless, the dialogue is true, and [most importantly] the cinematography is sublime. Slater's surfing is in another dimension and the contortionistic curves that he pulls off are unbelievable. Several of his tube rides were perhaps some of the longest I've seen. I loved how he was trying so many different stances and methods to surfing the waves - he had the place completely wired and is toying with these Mentawai Island waves at several points during the movie. When Slater is an old man people will look back at this video for proof that he was the best surfer in the modern era and realize how much his surfing alone progressed the entire sport. Rob Machado's graceful and fluid lines, and honest comments about life on the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) Pro Tour made me view him in a completely different light. I have a newfound respect for this guy. And then there is Luke Egan and the comment about him surfing with 90s style back in the 80s was dead-on; the guy was so ahead of his time when he first came on the International scene.

I only wish the movie was a little longer than 28 minutes but the bonus coverage kinda made up for it. This is a must have for any surfer. Dialogue commentary from Jack Johnson and Kelly Slater are a nice plus as well as 'The Making of September Sessions'. I liked the movie so much that I picked up the soundtrack as well. Feel the stoke and pick it up today.

This is a great surfing movie for those who enjoy watching the world's best surfers on the worlds sweetest waves without the pounding punk music that accompanies most surf movies. It was filmed during one surf trip to Indo with Dorian, Slater, Machado and others. The waves are perfect and the soundtrack is a great mix of laid back Jack Johnson style music that matches the surfing well. This is my favorite surf movie with the possible exception of the Endless Summer's and I highly recommend it.

Buy it! If you want great surfing footage, a really good soundtrack and some of the best surfers/waves in the world, then buy it. This is a surf movie, not a drama! Buy it for the stoke, not the story (there isn't one and there shouldn't be)!

September Sessions is a great film produced by Jack Johnson and Kelly Slater about their surfing trip to Sumatra. If you like the way Jack plays his music then you should enjoy this dvd. It displays surfing in a very artistic way with great tunes and a mellow feel. I snowboard and wakeboard however I'm not a huge surfer and I found this movie to be awesome. It's great for putting on and just chilling to, wishing you could escape to a tropical paradise and surf. The soundtrack is great too. Pick this one up if you want a kik back relaxing video made by a great songwriter/film maker. Can't go wrong with this one.

What do you get when you have five of the best surfers on the planet, nearly perfect conditions in paradise and a soundtrack from one of the biggest musicians this decade? Thirty minutes of footage. DO NOT PAY FULL PRICE FOR THIS VIDEO. It's a tease; it simply wets your appetite for more. However, if you can pick it up used or deeply discounted snatch it up - you won't be sorry.

I've watched many surf films, but this is my all-time favorite. No other film catches surfing's essence so beautifully and effectively: the communion with nature, the incredible good fortune of finding the perfect wave, and the beauty of making complex moves look simple and fluid. Slater is in his element, and Jack Johnson's soundtrack (both original and selections from others) combine in a synergy that manages to communicate more than a sport, but a whole "pura vida" way of looking at the world. It's a movie you turn on at the end of the day, beer (or margarita for beach goers) in hand, sun setting out the window, and take in the goodness of life.
Or maybe it's just me that appreciates that sort of thing...

September Sessions... really really sick. Besides the fact that the waves are insanely good and the music is super mellow, Kelly and Rob do an awesome job speaking and describing what it feels like to surf. I consider this the holy grail to surfing. If you haven't surfed before though, the message may pass you by. Every surfer should have a copy of this.