Storm Surfers 3D (Justin McMillan, Christopher Nelius, 2012) Australia

A key line in the documentary is when 45 year old surfer Russ Clarke-Jones declares that his colleague Tom Carroll, who is on the cusp of turning 50, brings out the boy within him.  In essence this why the two friends team with storm forecaster Ben Matson as the best way for them to ward off being cranky old men is to go out searching for the biggest ocean waves to surf.  Another principle cast member which is portrayed in all of its massive and terrifying beauty are the waves themselves.

Tom struggled with a shoulder injury in most part of the film so he didn’t surf, he doubted his ability to ever get back to surfing. Then the crew made the decision to go surf just outside Tasmania on waves that never had been documented or ridden before, he couldn’t resist any more  The first thing that happens is that Tom Carroll falls and gets sucked in and held under water for almost a minute. When Carroll finally emerges just 1km from the continental shelf, he erupts into the white water gasping for air like a baby taking its first breath. At 50 years old, after spending the best part of a year doubting himself and his ability to continue riding big waves, Carroll is reborn. Russ asks him if he wants to go back to the island after almost die under water but Tom just shakes his head and says ” take me to another wave “.

From beginning to end, this is some of the most impressive surf photography around. The waves are enormous and the scale is brilliantly defined with the fantastic 3D. Never has a movie theater felt so much like the open ocean when the waves project and recede from you. The only negative thing from my perspective was that all the 95 minutes was almost the same, even though they were at new places and new countries.