Step into Liquid

By boasting no special effects, no stuntman, and no stereotypes, writer-director Dana Brown attempts to portray why surfers are addicted to their sport. Some of the photography here stands among the best of its kind, capturing some of the more amazing ocean-riding visuals ever put to film. Somehow, the camera gets within riding distance of swells reaching up to 66 feet, and often winds up underwater while remaining smooth and steady. Brown captures the joy of the sport all over the world, from children riding 2-foot waves to experts powering through water "pipelines" that seem to never end. The film even goes to Lake Michigan, where surfing fanatics get stoked on what look like pond swells. The movie’s highlight would be its finale, where a crew goes 100 miles off the California coast and challenges waves that seem unreal. Not just for fans of the sport.