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Plot Summary
SOUL SURFER is the inspiring true story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again, through her sheer determination and unwavering faith. The film features an all-star cast, including AnnaSophia Robb and Helen Hunt, with Carrie Underwood in her film debut, and Dennis Quaid. In the wake of this life-changing event that took her arm and nearly her life, Bethany's feisty determination and steadfast beliefs spur her toward an adventurous comeback that gives her the grit to turn her loss into a gift for others.
Credits
Director
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
46%- Reviews Counted: 101
- Fresh: 46
- Rotten: 55
- Average Rating: 5.3/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Rotten: A by-the-numbers biopic about young surfer Bethany Hamilton.
Rotten: Shamelessly pandering to the elusive Christian family audience, a committee of 18 producers and seven writers has removed nearly every trace of grit from this airbrushed portrait.
Fresh: It's Bethany and Alana's friendship - its sturdiness and vulnerability, its laughs and sincere apologies - that rules the day.
Fresh: For plenty of family viewers, this film will catch a wave.
Customer Reviews
Motivating, beautiful, and TRUE. What more can you want?
"Soul Surfer" really resonated with me when I first saw it on opening weekend, to the point where I went back to see it four more times before it completed its run in the theaters. Sadly, you don't see a lot of movies like this today, but it was obviously a welcome change and a pleasant treat for many people, because each time I went, the theater was packed with kids and adults alike. Aside from the full-on inspiration of the script, it boasts a nice cast, led by former child star AnnaSophia Robb, who has been known to play her characters with beyond-her-years wisdom and grace for years. She's one of those young actresses you want to keep seeing. Seasoned stars Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt are also effective as two parents who narrowly escape the trauma of a lost child, then must find a way to readjust as they help their daughter move forward with a whole new way of life. Carrie Underwood, too, is a pleasure to see in a smaller role that suits her personality well. As for the story (which happens to be very true), the criticisms are obvious. Some non-Christians may find it a little heavy-handed, and many others--although they admire Bethany's grit and determination--find her comeback too simplistic, too "easy". The argument here is that she is portrayed as having more saint-like qualities than human ones. To that, all I can say is that this really happened to a 13-year-old girl, and Bethany Hamilton's fearless, faith-driven attitude after a devastating loss is exactly why this film was made in the first place. A two-hour movie cannot show every part of the journey, but if you follow the real Bethany's story, you know that she continues to surf today, nearly eight years after the attack. Her competitions are a mixture of good and bad, success and disappointment, but what matters is that she's there, she gives it her all, and she has persevered in a situation that would have made many people throw in the towel. Rather than focusing on the mechanics of what is and isn't "realistic" about the story you're seeing on-screen, you're better off taking away the ultimate message: when life takes a swing at you (and it does to all of us at one point or another), nothing is impossible if you decide to adopt that positive outlook. Whether you are coming back from an injury, training for a marathon, or working toward any kind of goal, big or small, it's movies like this that help change your mind when you feel like quitting. For that reason alone, it is worth viewing, and the gorgeous Hawaiian scenery is just an added bonus. For me, I know this will be one of the most frequently viewed films on my iPad when it is released. I'm sorry that this review is long, but I feel very passionately about the movie and am hopeful that others love it as much as I do. ENJOY!
Inspiration
ummm.. 2 make a long story short, im 13 years old. and this movie changed my life. inspiration.
Soul Sufer
This was the best movie i ever saw it was so insperational
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- $12.99
- Genre: Drama
- Released: 2011
- © 2011 Enticing Entertainment LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Also Available
- Soul Surfer (Music from the Motion Picture)
- Various Artists