Chasing Mavericks

   This film is about the story of Jay Moriarity, a surfer from Santa Cruz, California who conquered Mavericks at the young age of Fifteen. Mavericks is a wave located at Half Moon Bay on the Northern Coast of California, is present only when conditions are favorable and attracts big wave surfers from all over the world. 

   Upon having snuck onto Frosty Hesson's van and hitching a ride to Half Moon Bay, Jay discovers the secret of Mavericks. Having felt guilty at the thought of potentially being responsible for the future death of Jay should he attempt to surf Mavericks on his own, Frosty decides to prepare Jay for the wave through sessions of extensive training. 

   Throughout the film we get to witness the development of a father-son like relationship between Frosty and Jay. I guess you could say this fills the void of Jay's absent father.  What I liked about this film was that it isn't only about surfing. It's also about learning. Jay is tested physically, mentally and emotionally yet his love and dedication for surfing allows him to persevere despite life's challenges.

   With the location of Mavericks having seen light towards the end of the film and gathering surfers from all over, we get to witness Jay's first drop into the monstrous wave .  After that epic day, Jay goes on to marry his childhood crush Kim who at the start of the film only sees him merely as a friend.

   I've read a lot of reviews on this film and some people were particularly upset at the "cheesiness" or sort of predictability that lies within similar inspirational films.

   I've watched this film a few times before and to be honest,I really enjoyed it. Keep in mind that I'm not looking at the movie from a reviewers perspective. I'm just a person who loves movies.

   Whether they are good or bad, if it's something I can watch once and say "hey, I would watch that again", then to me it's a good film. Why? Because there was something that either caught my attention, something I learned along the way or it just made me feel good.

   That doesn't mean it's the same for everyone else. You may watch this movie and think it's total crap, but that's the beauty of having your own brain. Everything is always open for interpretation and opinion.