Mjeteconer Just perfect...

BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See

Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Connianatu How wonderful it is to see this fine actress carry a film and carry it so beautifully.

Wizard-8 Thirty four years after director Bruce Brown made a permanent impact with his surfing documentary "The Endless Summer", his son Dana Brown made his own surfing documentary, "Step Into Liquid". In a few aspects, this newer movie is an improvement on the older documentary. The cinematography and the camerwork is stuff that Bruce Brown could only dream of having at his disposal all those years ago; it is extremely professional (and spectacular). Also, we learn a heck of a lot more about the sport of surfing, as well as how it's changed dramatically since Bruce Brown's movie. But I think the original documentary has some strengths that are not quite realized in the newer movie. The original documentary I think was a lot more magical, having a quiet and easygoing charm that made you follow it along and made you realize how special surfing was. I'm not saying one of these documentaries is better (or worse) than the other - instead they each have their own unique perspective and style. Both documentaries are well done, and are definitely worth watching.

Andy (film-critic) The film had a point, a plot, and we felt like we were headed towards something "greater". Sure, this was a surfing documentary similar to Billabong Odyssey and Endless Summer, but there were unique aspects I hadn't seen before: Lake Michigan surfers riding the tiniest of waves and Texas surfers riding the waves made by huge oil and cargo ships. The film's premise was to show that surfers were everywhere and that the surfing lifestyle meant something more than just an attitude akin to a bad Keanu Reeves impersonation. Surfing means appreciating Mother Nature in her most awesome and dangerous aspect.Though I appreciated having a plot and point, however sappy, I must say that I missed watching the BIG waves and the BIG tumbles that make you groan out loud or suck in your breath. When it comes to surfing, I am every bit the couch potato sportsman and like my fellow couch potatoes, I enjoy the game most when the stakes are high. This film lacked the big wave scenes that I love and in the end, I can't say I'd truly recommend the film over the others listed above.So, instead of boring you with more details, I'll make a pledge. I'm going underground to the world of poorly made surfing videos that I've heard so much about. The videos that show the BIG waves and BIGGER tumbles. Think of it as research in case I ever get over my fear of Jaws and decide to do a little surfing myself. I want the real, uncensored, un-cheesy truth.Grade: **** out of *****

jpellino That was pretty much the conversation in our living room watching this film. That, plus five minutes into the film, I turned to my wife and said "Our jobs suck."The Browns have done an incredible job of showing everyone else how leisure can turn into passion, how simple water can inspire people to reach heights they never thought possible, how a boy and his dog can do what they love and achieve like never before, how fun can make the world go round. As a scientist I am dumbfounded by the grace created by water and muscle, by the foil boards ( I see it and I know why it should work and I still don't believe it) and by how plain old people can do something this beautiful.See it. Buy it. Play it every so often. Then go to the beach and have fun.

paxbulliana Parts of the film move slowly but the photography throughout is stunning and the human interest stories compelling. I especially enjoyed the segment of the Catholic and Protestant children surfing together in Norther Ireland and vignettes such as of Dave Webster who has been surfing every day for the past 24 years and of a fellow who became paralyzed in a surfing accident and yet continues to surf in his own way.All of this coupled with some of the best surfing photography I have ever seen anywhere makes it a great film.