Blue Crush (Surfing Documentary)

The original Blue Crush surf film by Bill Ballard has become one of the biggest selling surf titles of all time. Starring the talents of the same great female surfers featured in the Universal theatrical release and featuring an awesome soundtrack with Crystal Method, Dance Hall Crashers, Morcheeba, Da Da and others! Surfers include Rochelle Ballard (surfing double for lead actress Kate Bosworth in Universal's Blue Crush), Megan Abubo (stunt surfer for Michelle Rodrigues in Universal's Blue Crush), Sanoe Lake (played role of Lena in Universal's Blue Crush), Kealla Kennelly (played herself in Universal's Blue Crush), and Kate Skarratt (played herself in Universal's Blue Crush).

Not to be confused with the 2002 feature film of the same title, Blue Crush is billed as the original all-girl surfer's movie, and it's guaranteed to please devotees of the sport. It's a mixed blessing, however, because it assumes familiarity with the sport and its superstars, dispensing with any educational or historical detail that would appeal to neophytes. After all, how can this film be dedicated to Rell Sunn (the pioneer of female competitive surfing, who died in of breast cancer in 1998 at age 47) and fail to explore her illustrious career? This haphazard approach extends to profiles of the young women who regard Sunn as their hero; we learn little of their backgrounds and how they rose to prominence on the waves. Blue Crush works best as a globetrotting, music-video tour of surfdom's prime locations (Samoa, Hawaii, the Gold Coast, South Africa) hosted by the sport's most prominent competitors, including several (Rochelle Ballard, Megan Abubo, Sanoe Lake, Keala Kennelly, Kate Skarratt) who appeared in Universal's popular feature. It's a lot of fun, especially if you "hang ten" on a regular basis. --Jeff Shannon