7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Gerard Butler stars in this surfing drama. Santa Cruz teenager Jay Moriarty (Jonny Weston) discovers that the Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth, exists only a few miles from his home. Instantly gripped by the dream of surfing the wave, he begs local surfing legend Frosty Hesson (Butler) to help him achieve his goal. But with tide patterns dictating that the Mavericks is due to reappear in just 12 weeks, has Jay got what it takes to conquer this epic wave?
Starring: Gerard Butler, Jonny Weston, Elisabeth Shue, Abigail Spencer, Leven RambinSport | 100% |
Biography | 50% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: DTS 5.1
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Off the coast of Santa Cruz—a.k.a "Surf City"—there's a seasonal combination of winds and tides that occasionally produces swells as high as a
three-story building. These waves are called "mavericks," and before a well-publicized El Nińo in the mid-1990s brought them international attention,
they were the stuff of surfing legend, ridden only by a small, in-the-know cadre of local surf veterans. One of these privileged boarders was "Frosty"
Hesson, who took young grom Jay Moriarity under his water-wing, trained him up, and taught him how to drop in on the big ones. Moriarity
later became something of a legend himself in the surfing world, immortalized at a carefree twenty-two years old after drowning in a free diving
accident in the Maldives.
Chasing Mavericks gently fictionalizes the surrogate-father/son mentor relationship between Frosty and Jay, telling an inspirational story about
goal-setting, dedication, and conquering fear. Directed by Curtis Hanson and Up Series documentarian Michael Apted—who took over late in
production when Hanson had complications from heart surgery—the film is a production of Walden Media, known for conservative-leaning movies like
Won't Back Down and Waiting for Superman. Chasing Mavericks sets politics aside, however, and focuses on simple, family-
friendly storytelling. This isn't a film that takes many narrative risks—it generally follows the underdog sports movie formula—but it is warm and
entertaining and eager to please.
Chasing Mavericks was shot digitally using Arri Alexa and Red Epic camera systems, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are some occasional DSLR or action-cam inserts as well. Despite the all-digital production, the movie's 1080p/AVC-encoded Blu-ray presentation has a surprisingly filmic look, with a thin layer of source noise that doubles nicely for grain. As usual, 20th Century Fox has kept the fidelity of the picture intact, with no obvious noise reduction, edge enhancement, or compression issues. (Sitting on a dual-layer, 50GB disc, the film has plenty of room.) There are a few shots from the surfing sequences that look a little soft, but most of the time, clarity is excellent. Closeups, in particular, feature an abundance of tightly resolved detail in the areas you tend to notice it—hair, skin, and clothing textures. Color too is vivid and dynamic, from the bright sky blues and greenish water to funereal overcast grays. Contrast is consistant, and skin tones are accurate to the grading of each scene. On the whole, the image is very satisfying. No distractions here.
I was expecting the film to get 20th Century Fox's usual lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 treatment—which would've been just fine—but I was surprised by a full 7.1 mix that goes above and beyond the call of duty. The track makes great use of the extra aural real estate. The surfing sequences in particular really do come alive, with foamy spray, pounding waves—often triggering some deep low-end subwoofer engagement—and a wash of general oceany ambience, from soft wind to the distant caws of seabirds. During the quieter scenes, dialogue takes precedence, and the actors' voices are always, clear, balanced, and easy to understand. Garden State composer Chad Fischer provides a tonally complementary score, but what you'll really remember is the film's smattering of mid-1990s hits, from The Butthole Surfers' "Pepper" to Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You." The music frequently fills the entire soundfield, and has a strong sense of clarity. The disc includes several dub and subtitle options—see above for details—along with a descriptive audio track.
If you're looking for some wholesome, life-affirming, family-friendly entertainment, look no further. Chasing Mavericks is an inspirational true underdog story about the power of perseverance and dedication, and while it borders on cornball in two or three spots, it is a genuinely good- hearted movie. Some of the surfing footage is killer too, so if you're into the sport, it's probably worth checking out for that alone. It also works well— unexpectedly—as an early 1990s period piece. 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray is, uh, totally bodacious, with strong picture quality and a lossless 7.1 surround track that goes beyond the normal call of duty. A great choice for family movie night if you've tired of Pixar. Recommended.
Target Exclusive 30 mins of Bonus Content
2013
2011
2015
1993
Unrated Extended Edition
2005
2000
2014
Special Edition
2010
2006
2006
2006
2016
2011
2006
2014
Brother's Keeper
2010
2005
2008
2014
2014