SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Ceticultsot Beautiful, moving film.

Murphy Howard I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Davis P Soul Surfer is of course based upon a true story about a surfer girl who gets involved in a horrific shark attack that claims one of her arms. Really the movie centers around how this newly handicapped girl keeps on going and how she learns to still compete in surfing while missing a limb. The actors did a good job... for the most part. I liked AnnaSophia Robb, she played the lead role of Bethany well. I felt that her performance was very deep and powerful. I also like Helen Hunt in her role, she truthfully did play the mother very well, she also had good parent child on screen chemistry with Robb. Quaid is good, like always. But I wanna talk about what I can only see as one of the worst performances I've ever seen delivered. And that performance was by country singer Carrie Underwood. Underwood is a fantastic singer and that's where her entertainment career must stop because the acting is so bad. Like that was some of the fakest acting I've ever seen. I think underwood really did try but ultimately it failed. The writing is alright, everything is pretty formulaic Hollywood. Soul surfer gets a 6/10, an OK pick, could've been a lot better though.

cmaurer-70598 I loved this movie. I think that it is a inspirational to all. It is filled with ups, downs, hardships, and joy. They started out explaining the beginning of her life. It explained the amount of time she spent in the water as a child, she has "saltwater in her veins". Also, both Bethany and Alana spend more time wet then they did dry. Bethany's going from one competition to another, training all the time. Her faith is something that she has relied on for most of her entire life. On another note, they (Bethany's friends and herself) went night surfing, there were fireworks, and it was an amazing experience filled with laughs. That was the night before Halloween. That next morning Bethany was attacked by a shark. They were out in the water for a very short period of time before she was attacked. After it happened Alana and her father helped her back to the beach. After her attack she had to work four times as hard as she did before. It took strength and courage, something that Bethany has a lot of. Watch this movie, I totally recommend it. Soul Surfer is truly inspiring.

Python Hyena Soul Surfer (2011): Dir: Sean McNamara / Cast: AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Lorraine Nicholson, Carrie Underwood: Feel good surfer movie about propelling through God's strength. Based on a true story of Bethany Hamilton who was on her way to the nationals in terms of her surfing until a tragic accident occurs where she loses an arm in a shark attack. Now she must deal with the defect as well as the media press surrounding it. Very predictable as we know that Hamilton will conquer the odds and surf with one arm, however the film is extremely encouraging to anyone who ever felt held back in life. Director Sean McNamara shoots great surfing action but this is also a terrific break through performance for AnnaSophia Robb. As Bethany her discouragement is overturned through a mission trip where a famous tidal wave hit, as well as the fan mail encouraging her to return to surfing. Robb demonstrates the hardship of one arm but also the triumphant comeback. Dennis Quaid plays her father who is undergoing a knee surgery when the tragedy strikes. Her mother is played by Helen Hunt. Both parents struggle to adapt to their daughter's condition yet remain optimistic. Lorraine Nicholson plays her best friend and fellow surfer who experiences the trauma of the incident as well as being overprotective. Carrie Underwood makes a decent cameo appearance as a church youth worker who helps Bethany overcome her fears and encourages her to return to surfing. Anyone who wishes to be encouraged through the hard times in life then this film offers it in abundance as well as a lot of soul. Score: 9 / 10

conrode3-669-63067 This was one of the worst movies i have ever seen (i know that's a stretch) It was religious propaganda through and through. My biggest problem was the bad story telling and lack of any good performances. While the actual story of this girl is an interesting one the movie was not. it lacked realism (it was one of the worst shark attack effects i have ever seen. I watched this movie as part of a leadership class and by the end i wish i had of stayed home sick instead. This movie reminded me a lot of Patch Adams. everything was super happy and perfect. Every character felt so fake. Let me not forget Kevin Sorbo whom i have always loathed. This movie is not even so bad it's funny status. There is no redeeming qualities on display in this dreadful cinematic dive bomb. all and all bad movie, 1 star.