Bring up the words ’surf movies’ to a group of surfers and you will undoubtedly find yourself in the midst of an all out battle as to which movies deserve the title of “best movie ever”.  iJS will not lay claim to a surfer’s best movies list at this time, but we will tell you about a most perfect gift for that surfer (or surfers) in your life: a movie marathon courtesy of four movies that has something in it for everyone in the family!

There is nothing like a hand-picked, hand-made, and personal gift for someone you love! And showing your special someone(s) that you do understand their love for all that is surf will definitely earn bonus points. A gift basket featuring four all-time movie greats and a selection of their favorite movie snacks like popcorn and assorted candies (don’t forget the arare if you’re in Hawaii!), plus a comfort blanket to hide under (or the oddly popular Snuggie) will do the trick!

Yes, surfers, gather up your favorite movie time snacks around the television, get comfortable under that snuggie you hide under the bed, and check out our movie recommendations that you can bundle together as a great gift item or massively awesome stocking stuffer :

Big Wednesday : starring William Katt, Jan-Michael Vincent and Gary Busey / Directed by John Milius (1978)

Opening with this film is a no-brainer since it has been long considered to be Hollywood’s only “perfect wave” - the only film to date where the surf culture is portrayed accurately in a studio film. With Big Wednesday’s depiction of the “soul” of surfing, it earns a great big spot in the heart of surfers as being worthy of the big screen, avoiding cliches and bad surf lingo that has plagued movies such as Blue Crush and Point Break.

Doing double duty as writer and director, John Milius (a surfer himself, and perhaps best known for his most celebrated screenplay “Apocalypse Now”) ensured that the authenticity of the film was paramount. One of the keys to this film’s authenticity is the fact that the three stars did a majority of their own surfing. Watch this film and you will actually see their actors’ faces as they stand up for a ride – a definite casualty of today’s CGI plagued movies (yes, we’re talking about the one where Kate Bosworth’s face is so badly plastered on stunt double Rochelle Ballard’s body at Pipeline) . William Kaat, Jan-Michael Vincent and Gary Busey (actually pretty big names from this era) were accomplished surfers that earned their stripes in the line-up long-before the film shot frame one (with the exception of Busey, who learned to surf for this role).

The story follows the lives of three surfers in the heyday of their youth, living the carefree life. Set in the United States’ 1960s era, they soon face the changing face of a world in conflict as Vietnam interrupts their youth and purports to make men out of the three friends. The film is funny, touching, and poignant,  with a narrative that builds towards a fantastic climax on Big Wednesday, 1977 when California is hit with what is known as the biggest ’swell’. The movie is worth watching for these sequences alone, with its near-suicidal camera work – inside the barrel of a looping 20 foot wave, under the water and pounding the seabed as a huge wave breaks!

Surf’s Up : featuring the voice talents of Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, and Zooey Deschanel / Directed by Ash Brannon & Chris Buck (2007)

Before you cool surfer kids get your surf shorts in a bunch, know that surf legends Kelly Slater and Rob Machado are in this film … so taper the too cool for school attitude and read on! What makes this film incredible to watch in the stunning and incredibly realistic depiction of surfing and wave movements. Forgetting at times that this is a CGI film, you get lost in the sheer beauty and realism of the surfer’s experience in the waves, as well as under giant crashing ones!

This is your standard coming-to-age story except with talking penguins, following the trials of wanna-be surfer Cody Maverick (references to Maverick’s and Top Gun) and his unwilling mentor, the Geek. Yes, penguins invented surfing … and yes they have the penguin sports network … but the story is one that takes you through a documentary style approach to what is an inventive, fresh, and often endearing and hilarious take on the age-old convention of boy becomes a man.

For the younger surfers – ahem, groms – the film beautifuly hammers home the idea of working hard, taing things slow but steady, and having fun in what you do. The documentary style allows the film to switch from scenes without losing a beat, and offers a lot of surf icon references for both young and old!

North Shore : starring Matt Adler, Gregory Harrison, and John Philbin featuring Gerry Lopez / Directed by William Phelps (1987)

This is a must have for any surf movie collection, if not for the sheer campy nature of an eighties surf version of the Karate Kid. Although this film gained much of its following long after its release, taking the cult-following route, it remains a quotable favorite for many surfers – [I work] Only when da surf’s bad, Barney. Cause’ when da surf’s good, nobody works!

A wave tank surfer, Rick Kane, from Arizona decides to take on Hawaii’s waves and experience the North Shore on his own. While his adventure leads him to many mishaps, he befriends a local soul surfer who teaches him the difference between surfing for a living and surfing as a form of being alive. Following the successful Karate Kid formula, Rick manages to find himself under the tutelage of a surf mentor in the climactic surf competition scene shot at Banzai Pipeline. To its credit, the film star Matt Adler, Gregory Harrison, and John Philbin did their own surfing for the most parts, while the pro surfers were used as stunt doubles for the more difficult maneuvers.

Laird Hamilton (Burkhart), Gerry Lopez (Vince Mokaloka), Mark Occoluppo (Occie), and Alex Rogers (Robbie Page) are among the real-life pro-surfers who make appearances in the film.

Endless Summer :Michael Hynson and Robert August as the principal surfers / Directed by Bruce Brown  (1966)

We revisit this film every 3 or 4 weeks, just to get our stoke on. When we are sluggish, or when the waves are small this film helps us rev ourselves back into the excited surfers that we know we are! Talking about this film almost seems redundant, since every surfer has seen this film repeatedly … but it is a necessary part of every surfer’s film collection!

Fun and shot magnificently, this 1966 gem is arguably the definitive surf movie, Bruce Brown offers up a beautifully shot and thrilling documentary portraying youthful freedom on the world’s waves. In the film, Brown follows two surfers – Michael Hynson and Robert August – around the globe in their quest for the perfect wave, finding it eventually on a remote beach far from home.

The narration by “Big Kahuna Brown” is a classic addition to the film, taking on a fun, at times near dated and campy, tone that complements the actors on their journeys.

Endless Summer has no special effects (except jerky camera movements), no slick actors or Hollywood glitz, and no masterfully reworked soundtrack. What it does have is pure surfing fun, recalling a time when surfing was thought of as much simpler, inspirational, and unencumbered by multi-media sponsors.

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