Step into Liquid

Dana Brown's ambitious surfing project `Step Into Liquid' is a great surfing film covering the passion of surfing. Young and old, short wave to massive big waves, man, women, children and various countries... Dana Brown follows his father's footsteps in creating a wonderful film on the positivity of surfing in many levels. The Blu-ray transfer is pretty good and it's great to see and hear the film in HD but for those who owned the original DVD, you may not want to give/throw it away since the Blu-ray version has half of the features that were included in the DVD release.The Brown's...a surfing family known for classic surfing films. From Bruce Brown's early 1958 film "Slipper When Wet" and the most popular surfing film of all time, the 1966 "Endless Summer" to the sequel in 1994 with "Endless Summer II", "Step Into Liquid" is the second surfing film from Bruce's son, Dana who started his career writing "Endless Summer II" and went on to direct his first film "Endless Summer Revisited" in 2000.And as ambitious Bruce Brown was with "Endless Summer", Dana Brown was in his 2003 film "Step Into Liquid".In "Step Into Liquid", Dana Brown covers surfing in various ways. Not just the competitive surfing that people may see on television but pretty much passion of surfing. May it be father and son surfing together, shortboarders, longboarders, big wave, small wave surfing and more. From Robert August who starred in "Endless Summer" who continues to surf today to Kelly Slater who at the time was a 6-time surfing world champion (and now currently 9-time champ), those who surf in a lake when wind conditions are good, women who surf, to those who surf when big freighters create a wave, to Dale Webster - a man who surfed every day consecutively for over 30 years, the Malloy family visiting Ireland to surf, a father and son who went back to surf in Vietnam and of course, big wave surfing in Hawaii to Mavericks in California."Step Into Liquid" is literally a film about the passion of surfing. None of the negativity, just people who enjoy surfing and willing to help those in different countries learn how to surf and fathers and mothers who passed down their passion to a new generation and more.VIDEO & AUDIO:I first purchased "Step Into Liquid" when it was first released on DVD and I felt it looked fantastic. Now, "Step Into Liquid" receives its 1080p High Definition (1:85:1) treatment. There is fine layer of grain but virtually no Digital Noise Reduction. But the film features awesome cinematography. Risky cinematography. I was very impressed when I first saw this film. You get good detail on the water, sand, skies, scenery and for the most part, picture quality is quite vibrant. It's not exactly reference quality but for the most part, this is one of the first surfing films that received a High Definition transfer.As for audio, the audio is presented in 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. Dialogue is understandable and both dialogue and music come out clear through the front and center channels. There is some usage of surround channels when the waves crash but for a 7.1 track, I was expecting a bit more of an immersive soundtrack through the rear surrounds. But for the most part, nice use of LFE during the crashing of the waves and definitely a pretty solid lossless soundtrack.Subtitles are featured in English and Spanish.SPECIAL FEATURES"Step Into Liquid" on Blu-ray comes with the following special features: * Audio Commentary by Writer/Director Dana Brown - * Let's Go Surfing - (13:12) Featuring Robert "Wingnut" Weaver and Maureen Drummy discussing some basics about surfing and good advice for those who are wanting to start surfing. * Capturing the Wave - (13:19) Featuring water cinematographers and photographers discussing how they got involved in that career and the challenges and passion they have for it. * Making a Surfboard - (8:29) Featuring Robert and Sam August introducing the process of the making of a surfboard and Robert August Surfboards. * Deleted/Alternate Footage - (15:19) Featuring the following scenes not in the film and alternate scenes: Dana's Angels, Dirtboarding, Surfing Rabbi, Scenics. * Passion for Liquid - (14:22) Interview with Director Dana Brown and surfers who took part in the film and their impression of the film and also discussing surfing. * Interviews - (42:39) Featuring interviews with Dana Brown, Bruce Brown, Robert "Wingnut" Weaver, Robert August, Sam August, Jim and Alex Knost, Maureen Drummy and Peter Townend. * Music Montages - (8:42) Featuring music montages for "Only One" by Jeremy Kay, "Windshield Wipers" by Jackpot. * Dale Webster - (7:53) A featurette about the man who has surfed for over 30 years, everyday consecutively. * Disc Production Credits - Production creditsJUDGMENT CALL:"Step Into Liquid" is definitely one of the best modern surf films to come out post-2000 and capturing surfing in variety of different situations, different countries and most of all, different surfers of different ages, ethnicities, etc. This film captures the passion of surfing. May you be living in Hawaii, California or the North Central part of the United States, people find ways to get stoked on surfing their way. May it be short or massive waves, people are enjoying surfing and I feel that Dana Brown did a great job of covering that in this film.Seeing it and hearing it on Blu-ray in High Definition is definitely a plus but one question that those who own the original DVD version may want to know is "if the Blu-ray is worth the double dip?". If you are wanting the film in 1080p High Definition and lossless audio, then yes. Personally, I love watching films in Blu-ray and on High Definition and wouldn't mind seeing a lot of my favorite films with the best picture and audio quality. But it's important to note that the original DVD from Artisan Home Entertainment has way more special features than the Lionsgate Blu-ray disc. So, you don't want to give or throw away your original DVD.Missing from the Blu-ray include the outtakes/behind-the scenes footage, Red Carpet Highlights from Fuel, Surfline features "The Bill of Rights and Lefts...the Final Word on Surfing Etiquette" and "Surfing Glossary A to Z", Robert August Surfboard Outfitter and the PC version of the Kelly Slater Pro Surfer video game. The DVD also came with a High-Definition DVD-Rom version for the PC at the time as well.And because that footage is missing from the Blu-ray, it's a bummer because one of my favorite featurettes on the original DVD was the Fuel TV Red Carpet Highlights. I can understand why the Kelly Slater Pro Surfer video game was not included and the Robert August Surfboard Outfitter is more or less a stand-alone DVD software to show what kind of board is for you and how you can purchase it from Robert August Surfboards. But to say the least, those special features that are not on the Blu-ray disc were fun and what made "Step Into Liquid" (along with the special features on the Blu-ray Disc), a super-solid DVD release at the time. You were definitely getting your money's worth.But despite the Blu-ray disc having less special features, those who want it on Blu-ray are looking forward to the 1080p HD picture quality and lossless audio quality and this is where "Step Into Liquid" shines.In 2009, years after the release of the DVD and a year after the Blu-ray was released, you can definitely find both pretty cheap these days. But if you are a surfer or a fan of well-done surfing films/documentaries, "Step Into Liquid" is definitely a title worth having in your surfing collection.

This movie captures, better than other surfing movies, why surfing is so much more than a sport. It illustrates the beauty, quirkiness, and poetry of the water and why it calls us. I watched it when it first came out and fire it up every year or so.

This is the best way I can describe the surfing experience. I have been surfing for about half of my life. I live in New Jersey and do not get the best waves on a consistent basis. Yet every single day, my heart is immersed in the activitiy, the lifestyle, the tenents of surfing. The reason being is that I have yet to find an activity that more metaphorically manifests the life-force I feel inside.That is why surfing is so surreally enjoyable; it connects you with something so much bigger than yourself. The divine, the cosmic energy as old as the universe, the rhythms of nature, the pulse of the human spirit. It is only in these reverential, humble admissions that one can truly appreciate the surfing experience... better yet, that one can truly appreciate life.That is what surfing is to me. surfing is a manifestation of a life well lived. It is a metaphor for life. After all, what else can you do but ride along?I think Dana Brown does a good job of capturing this essence in the surfing experience.Stay stoked. Stay humble. Keep listening. Trust your rail. In the end, we can be humbled to tears by the profound truth that this is all it is and yet it is more than we could ever handle.

I grew up surfing and in the "surf culture" of Southern California. I watched many, many movies over the years and found that most were good as far as the surf scenes (Pipeline, Java, Australia etc.) but ultimately became boring due to a lack of any examination about real watermen/women and what drives them in this art & sport. This sport/art is about a relationship with a vast and ever changing ocean. An eye on the weather, tides and several of other Mother Nature's elements is what the true "soul" surfer does on a daily basis to deepen that relationship.This movie successfully captures that essence through well placed & crafted interviews along with recording the many faces and moods of the ocean. Can you imagine a man paralyzed by this very sport, yet is still very keen to continue to have the same "stoke" (excitement) out enjoying waves again? Or a group of surfer atheletes daring to surf waves so big 100 miles off the Pacific shore that if any of these giant waves hit any cruise ship it would sink it in seconds. Why? What drives these individuals and others to brave the elements for what appears to be a silly ride? From the professional to the novice, all who surf on a regular basis possess this spirit.Watching this movie you will begin to discover the answers about a true modern day explorer's mindset.

Anyone who has surfed, thought about surfing, seen surfing or has just heard the word surfing knows the phrase 'The Endless Summer.' The Brown family have been producing their homey brand of surf documentaries for over 4 decades, and 'Step Into Liquid' is the latest and possibly greatest of these.Unlike the classic 'Summer' series, there is no attempt at a plot or travelogue in this movie. The overall theme is an attempt to find that which both connects surfers worldwide and defines them as individuals. From the Big Wave masters such as the Mavericks crew, and the god like Laird Hamilton, to the everyday Joes who catch waves wherever they can, even if that is on the wake of a supertanker.Interspersed with the surfing footage are some great interviews with every famous name from surfing past and present, and some truly heartwarming tales of struggle against adversity, and the breaking down of barriers through surfing.The problem is, however that although there is some genuinely jaw-dropping footage, notably on the Cortes Bank, a break 160 miles out in the pacific ocean where an underwater mountain throws up huge barreling waves, The overall quality of surfing on this film is mediocre at best. I expected more than footage of kids surfing for the first time or guys messing about surfing the great lakes. Unfortunately Dana Brown has inherited his Dad's hokey sense of humour and there are more than a few cheesy lines in the narration that will make you wince. There are also odd redubbing quirks that mean that in a crashing ocean of ten foot waves, all that is heard is the gentle splosh as a surfer dives off his board!This is a valiant attempt to capture the soul of surfing but doesn't quite pull it off. There are still enough pretty pictures to make this a great movie to own, (you just might need that FF button though.)The truly loaded extras disks are where this package truly wins out. Besides a full version of Kelly Slaters pro surfer for the PC, a great game in its own right, there are tons of extra and extended interviews which are probably more interesting than those in the film, video surflessons and tons of behind the scenes footage.BUT BEWARE! This is a region one package, and whilst it is possible to play the main disk in and multi-region player, the Windows Media High Definition version included WILL NOT play due to copyright and distribution protection included in Media player 9. This is a real pain as you will be teased with the distributors logo before the thing locks you out and the quality is stunning! It also means that in order to access the other special features on the second disk you will have to go exploring and find other ways in.I have searched to see if this is to be released in a package for our region, but it doesn't yet appear so. My advice would still be to buy this edition for the time being as the whole package is brilliant, and well worth owning despite some small quibbles.

This video is a must for all those interested in surfing.However it is more than that as it deals with life issues and is inspirational to young & old, male & female alike.Great camera shots and the personal experiences make this DVD a feel good movie.

Not bad

I dont surf,haven't ever wanted to,nevertheless its fascinating to watch and has the potential for a great documentary,unfortunately this isn't it.but dont let that put you off,particularly if,like me,youre a novice wanting to have a gentle nose around.the locations are lush the people interesting and the non preachy explanation and history lesson are just about spot on.the camera work is exemplary,soundtrack 5.1 and picture clear as a bell.the problems are created by the films efforts to include every sort of surfing and introducing vivid characters,you want to delve a little deeper,but theres not enough time as youre all too soon whisked off to a new arena.another gripe(this applies to ALL surf docs)is the lack of any grit,even the surfer in the wheelchair is presented as being only too happy to have been royally clobbered for the sake of the sacred tubes dude!who the film is aimed at is illustrated by the inclusion of a free surfing game for your pc!nontheless this is one of the better mass marketed surfing docs and for all those who have stood in their local quiksilver store not knowing which dvd is best and too embarressed to ask,this is a good intro.if you liked this you might try the september sessions,it takes less of a scattergun approach but is non the worse for it.

I think this is a really good documentary about Surfing. I saw it a number of years ago and just got it on Blu Ray. It is really well done and has some fascinating footage and interviews. So you will definately enjoy it.The downside is, the transfer to HD on Blu Ray really doesn't add anything. The footage still seemed like it was in Standard. I was hoping the footage would be so much more impressive and lifelike on HD, but it wasn't. There really isn't any advantage to getting this on Blu Ray. Just buy it on DVD and you'll get the same thing.