FIRE by Mike Stewart and Scott Carter
This long awaited surf flick has been talked about for years and years, while it was even made about 10 years ago but never released due Mike’s sponsorship issues with Morey. So while everyone has been waiting for what seems like an eternity, the film has become like a mythical legend – not knowing if or when it exists. With the release finally here and the expectations very high, it is easy to get lost in your own illusion of what you thought it would bring. I know I imagined it being a documentary style film of the life of Mike Stewart with fast, exciting editing but that it isn’t. The creative minds of Stewart and Scott Carter are no ordinary individuals and that has been show in the film. Instead of going down the normal path of a bodyboarding film they have created there own creation that is a visual experience like nothing seen before. They have slipped in subliminal messages that they believe in but not many people will really understand because it is done in such a psychedelic way. What I’m trying to say is that you need an open mind to watch this film and one word to describe it would be ‘arthouse’. Some of the points they are expressing are about energy, the universe and enjoying what you do. The majority of the film is about 80% barrel riding and the board camera is simply amazing. It opens a whole new way you will look at barrels and the quality is also as good as it gets. The footage is a compilation of Tahiti, Hawaii, Indonesia and even Box and North Point get a run which is good to see. The best parts are some of the old school footage of Stewart in his prime and some recent clips of him at an unknown right hander which looks like his home break on Hawaii. I think Mike has put all his energy into making it a visual spectacle instead of trying to explain his message verbally. While you want to find out all about the life of a legend, it only adds to the mystery of the man. This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but he has made it for a wider audience and by doing so completed a unique, arty film. A must see and I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Joey J
|
