Wonderful character development!

Let's be realistic.

Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess

It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.

Refreshing! I'm a former cinematographer and I love the gorgeous visuals, especially the luscious water shots. The NW climate forces me to sublimate in water representations, so swim/surf scenes rank high. This film is better than a slick masterpiece because of the genuine love coloring each scene. I know the filmmakers had a blast making it. While some of the acting is not so transcendent, the film stands firmly rooted in it's innocence and natural beauty. The actor who portrays Duke, the antique Hawaiian surf legend, is fabulously natural, as are his "Beach Boy" buddies. The contemporary surf champ's "character arc" contains a great lesson for all kids. I heard about "The Ride" through Seattle's Hawaiian Radio and had a hard time finding it. Finally, Scarecrow Video manifested one and I savored it twice. Man, I cried like a baby! Not so much a response to manipulation as to the oceans of Aloha embodied within the vehicle. We can all use a reminder of what is truly relevant. Experiencing an alternative to the ultra hip, the spurting blood and the "duh" sex is great fun. Entertainment with a clever history lesson? I'm inspired to further explore Duke's life, as well as my own, in light of the few simple truths offered. The Hawaiian soundtrack is heaven on earth. With a limited production budget, Third Reef scored a major triumph with typical Hawaiian creativity and laid back excellence. Throw a few million bucks at 'em and watch miracles occur.

I had the pleasure of meeting a few cast and crew members when they came out to tour the movie in San Diego. A group of us from SDSU's Pacific Islander Student Association (PISA) were given the opportunity to view the movie for the first time and give our feed back to the cast and crew members that were present. And of course, without a doubt, we all agreed that this movie was the best any of us had ever seen about Duke Kahanamoku and the joys of surfing. The Ride illustrates the surreal connection between the early days of surfing and its growth over the years since the Duke. At the same time redefining the old cultural ways and the strong rooted connections among family and friends. What more is there to say, other than it's a great movie?!? Between the great cast, awesome location, sound track and most definitely the story line, this movie is definitely one of the best I've seen come from the Hawaii!

Growing up in Hawaii through the 1950's and 1960's and surfing most of my life, this movie touched my soul in ways that few other movies have. Underneath the relatively simple plot the message is simple and pure - Aloha, as it existed in a much simpler time and could exist now if we would just let it, is the essence of being at peace with yourself and the world around you. In addition to this spiritual element, the scenery behind the story is incredible and I felt transported back to my childhood and further back in time as I've seen it portrayed in old photos. Just as important, the portrayal of Duke and his contemporaries was well done and felt authentic, with the echoes of their energy having rippled forward in time. If you have any feelings for Hawaii or surfing this is a must see.

A must see for anyone who has lived in the islands for any length of time. The first thing you notice is the scenery, and the lack of buildings. And it's believable. You say to yourself " maybe this IS how is was in 1912?". This is not a surf movie. This is a movie about Hawaii and the Aloha spirit. It's so much more than a surf movie. It captures how Duke and his family and how they treated others. I saw this film with a friend, and the first thing I said was " I feel like I saw something really special" and she agreed. If you love Hawaii, you"ll love this film.I can't wait for it to come out on DVD. I plan to give them as Christmas gifts. I wish this film got more marketing and distribution here in Hawaii. I think it could become a local favorite if it was played in the regular theaters.