Review: The Windsurfing Movie II

1.  The Windsurfing Movie II is much, much better than The Windsurfing Movie.

2.   It is not more of the first movie.  It is different.

That may be all you need to know.   Here’s more anyway:

Like the first film, “II” features absolutely spectacular footage of brilliant windsurfing in extraordinary conditions.  Filmmakers Johnny DeCesare and Jace Panebianco have actually improved their skills at capturing the beauty and kinetic energy of windsurfing as practiced by the masters.    But unlike the first film, “II” has some meaningful story lines that hold it all together more elegantly than the Interview/Rad footage/Interview/Rad footage motif of the first movie.

Did I just say “motif”?  Slap me.

Maybe this is what I should say:  I watched the first film twice, but haven’t taken out the DVD since.   I’ve watched the new one twice, and I think I’m going to watch it again this weekend.  And many times more.    I’m still trying to wrap my head around some of the wavesailing!

I have no interest in full disclosure (secrets are cool) but I’ll remind the regular reader and tell the irregular that one of the filmmakers (Jace Panebiano) is a friend, and was part of the original Peconic Puffin community way back in 1993.   I asked Jace for a quote for this piece, and he waxed Peconic:

“The community of windsurfing is really tight, I feel like I've got friends all over the world because of windsurfing.  But it all started in the Peconic Bay.

I went home a month ago and took the boat to Homes' Hill, ran up the sand dune and looked out over the Peconic; to my house, then to New Suffolk, then way out past Jessups'. It really made me homesick in that moment, being away from it so much of the time.  Then I just thought back to being a kid; how cool was it for a 14 year old kid to be able to visit friends by windsurfing to their house.  Those friends, the OG Puffins, a fun loving, creative bunch really influenced some of myformative years. I've been really lucky that the people closest to me always reinforced the idea that you could choose your own path. “

Another time we’ll have to get more from Jace on his windsurfing to the Puffin House…he once arrived by board unannounced at midnight!   But enough about Jace Panebianco…this is a review of The Windsurfing Movie II”:

It’s outstanding.  Better even than you think it’s going to be.    See genuinely wonderful windsurfing by featured riders Levi Siver, Kai Lenny, Mark Angulo, Robby Naish, Jason Polakow, Baptiste Gossein and others I forget.

 

Comments

[Damien]

Liked it too...but I found the story line a little cheesy though...
Damien

[Rotorhead]

I don't know, the first one was a big disappointment. Thought it was going to be the "Step Into Liquid" for windsurfing - you know, the movie you could show to your non-windsurfing friends and they would "get it" - but turned out to be just high-quality windsurf porn. Does the new one stand the test, or would you say it's just for windsurfers?
-RH

[Michael]

Rotorhead, for me the video most like your description of Step Into Liquid is "Hard Winds a Blowing"...an 80's vid made in the Gorge. I love that. If hooking the non-windsurfer is what you're looking for, I don't think this is it. What I DO think the new movie is, is much better than the first, and well worth getting a hold of. For me as a poor but enthusiastic wave sailor, it is tremendous to watch. "Eye candy" doesn't do it justice. Eye ice-cream, perhaps.

[Rotorhead]

How's the music? The best segment in TWM 1, the Cabo Verde wave event, was destroyed with inane Nina Simone howling. Had to press MUTE.

[George]

Rotohead your nuts. That was the best tune on the Cabo Verde wave event. I have repeatedly played that scene at late night parties and non windsurfers love it. With the music cranking!

[Rotorhead]

I must have a different version of the DVD than you. On mine, during that segment, it sounds like a bag of cats being electrocuted.
-RH

[Michael]

Arguing about music is great fun! I've spent a lot of my life doing it. Best part is that people with great musical taste will often vehemently disagree. In the Nina Simone case, I agree it was a poor choice for the scene (so I disagree with George) but "inane" and Nina Simone have no business being in the same sentence.

Anyhow Rotorhead if I tell you the music in the second movie is better than in the first (which in my opinion it is) that has no bearing on whether or not you'll like it. I just cruised the credits...on my disk at least they don't list the songs so I can't help there.

[rotorhead]

I'd buy it even if the whole thing was Nina Simone and Tom Waits doing duets. Decent surf flicks are rare; good windsurf flicks are gems even if the music doesn't hit on every cylinder.

Still not sure I don't have a different movie. Mine sounds like a walrus giving birth to a piano.
-RH

[Dennis]

Just saw the WMII last night. The only problem I had with it was that it ended too soon!!