Surf's Up - Preview

Surf's Up has several things going for it which make it stand out. First, has anyone noticed the amazing water in this movie? It's absolutely beautiful. It makes you want to surf. CG water is a notoriously difficult thing to pull off. And this movie has at least twenty minutes of in-your-face surfing, waves, whitewater, splashes, and wipe-outs... and all the water is completely computer generated - even though some rumor mills incorrectly speculate that filmed photography plates were used.

Secondly, Surf's Up has a great look with a beautiful color palette. Happy Feet had some stunning shots as well but, overall, it suffered from the classic CG "hard edge." Surf's Up has a much softer, almost painterly, look utilizing film grains appropriate to 8mm, 16mm, and 35mm film that is typically used in film documentaries. But even without the film grain, the lighting and the visual journey though the various moods of the ocean are quite enjoyable.

I appreciate the research that went into this film. It represents the surfer community in a true light without idolizing them or dumbing them down. Read any surfing magazine... they are very pleased with what they've seen so far. Not only is the surf culture well represented, but the ocean environment itself was well studied. Happy Feet made you want to dance... Surf's Up makes you want to surf. In some shots you can feel the sparkling warm sun dance on the water, and in others the cold damp air of an overcast morning.

I think there's room for all the penguin movies. But what most don't realize is that Surf's Up was in production long before Happy Feet came along. Studios always try to steal the steam from one another. But in the end, if a movie is good, it's good. People will watch as many penguin movies that are good. Surf's Up has some great natural dialog and an easy humor style. This is refreshingly contrary to the contrived two-jokes-a-minute-over-acted-characters you get in a a lot of recent CG animated movies.

To the author of the above Preview Pulp I say this: I can clearly see why people flock to CG animated films despite their relative success. CG animation is an inventive and evolving art form. Movies created and told with CG visuals HAVE THE POTENTIAL to go beyond conventional characters, places, and ideas. Unlike live-action films, in an animated movie, your disbelief is already suspended when you walk into the theater. You don't need to be coaxed into it. Looking at sales figures alone, the public is saying, "Yes!, Let's explore this..." and ultimately, they are giving CG filmmakers the benefit of the doubt. Many films will undoubtedly fail.

Like any new tool or fashion, CG animation will get over-used and exploited until it ultimately settles into a finely-tuned craft. Don't criticize the prolific nature of CG films... If you enjoy animation, be glad that the CG medium is being heavily experimented with and refined. Just like any traditional movie, if you don't think it looks good, then simply don't watch it. But don't imply they shouldn't be made. The statements you give regarding Surf's Up in your Preview Pulp are completely jaded in tone. I can only suspect that you WANT it to fail. Only then can you be happy. Go see Surf's Up... It probably won't heal you, but you might feel good for 90 minutes.

This is the most original looking CGI movie since the genre became big with Pixar's Toy Story. It is the first mockumentary of the genre and seems to have a genuine charisma about it. I'm no surfer, but this movie (from the previews) is the first one to have me interested in the sport since Step Into Liquid, which I might add is the only decent surfing movie ever made. This movie could be the only other decent one out there... and it's not even realistic. Shrek 3, Ratatouille, Cars, Over the Hedge and many more are either big name sequels or stem from well known names or franchises in CGI production, and that's all they need to rake in the dough. A decent story is very low on the list of priorities for such box office dominating giants. I don't know about the rest of the movie-goers out there, but if I will be going to watch Surf's Up because a) it doesn't have a franchise or name out there to allow it some 'dumbing down', b) it is taking an original twist in the world of CGI by following the style of a mock ducumentary and lastly c) the story and characters look more compelling than those of the worn out Shrek 3, Pirates 3 or any of the other sequel or big name productions coming out over the next several months.