Now Available on Blu-ray, DVD, and Ultraviolet -- Chasing Mavericks (Review)

Available Now at Amazon for only $17.99 on Blu-Ray and $12.99 for DVD.

"In Chasing Mavericks, Frosty gives Jay some lessons outside of the basic surfing protocol, including his ‘Four Pillars of Strength.’ In this feature we’ll outline each pillar and give you tips for how you can use these in your day-to-day life, including memory tricks, healthy eating, facing your fears and thinking big.  Be sure to catch Chasing Mavericks on Blu-ray, DVD, and Ultraviolet now!

PHYSICAL

In Chasing Mavericks, Jay must demonstrate his physical strength by paddling 28.5 miles from Santa Cruz to Monterey Bay. This is a tough challenge, as it requires incredible strength to complete. This pillar is about taking care of your health and well-being.

·         Walking three times a week for 30-minutes can improve your health.

·         Balance your diet, try having vegetables as half of each meal and see the difference

·         Sleep well, 7-9 hours of sleep is a must if you are serious about your physical strength

MENTAL

To prepare for Mavericks, Jay had to study the ocean current, tides and wave patterns, and how these different elements work together. Understanding when to paddle out, when to drop in on a wave, how to use an ocean current to save energy can be the difference between life and death when dealing with 40 to 60 foot waves. Mental strength is key and memory tricks are a great mental workout:

·         Next time you're on a bus or in the car, limber up your memory by thinking of as many words as possible that begin with the letter A, then work your way through the alphabet.

·         Try to remember 15 details of your life at a particular time, such as Obama’s inauguration

·         Try remembering a list of objects or people from one category in the space of one minute, for example: American presidents, capital cities, famous scientists or types of fruit.

EMOTIONAL

Jay learns that he must face his fears head on when he gets in a situation that causes anxiety such as seeing a Shark. When fear becomes too overwhelming it can drown a person. Jay is able to address his fear and let go of the pain of his father leaving his mother and this frees him.

·         Address your emotions, know when your stressed and take steps rather than burying it

·         Don’t fear change, the unknown can make us anxious but embrace change as it comes

·         Know your weaknesses and when to ask for help, this will stop you getting overwhelmed

SPIRITUAL

While this pillar is not addressed extensively in the movie, Jay does mention that his life purpose is to surf Mavericks. His passion and drive to push his limits helps him achieve an iconic status in the surfing world. Having spiritual strength is not limited to people with religious affiliations.

·         See the big picture, do not limit life to only your viewpoint

·         Seek a higher purpose, this stops complacency and encourages us to achieve

·         Have faith, trusting in something or someone other than yourself will help your spiritual strength

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Movie Synopsis:

Chasing Mavericks is the inspirational true story of real life surfing phenom Jay Moriarity (played by newcomer Jonny Weston). When 15 year old Jay discovers that the mythic Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth, is not only real, but exists just miles from his Santa Cruz home, he enlists the help of local legend Frosty Hesson (played by Gerard Butler) to train him to survive it. As Jay and Frosty embark on their quest to accomplish the impossible, they form a unique friendship that transforms both their lives, and their quest to tame Mavericks becomes about far more than surfing. Chasing Mavericks was made with the help of some of the biggest names in the surfing world, and features some of the most mind-blowing real wave footage ever captured on film."

Blu-ray Special Features:
    ●    Deleted Scenes
        ○    Frosty and Jay Paddle
        ○    Jay Plays the Bills
        ○    Power of Money
        ○    Jay Laments
    ●    Surf City
    ●    Shooting Waves
    ●    Live Like Jay
    ●    Surfer Zen
    ●    Commentary from Director Michael Apted and
Writers Brandon Hooper and Jim Meenaghan
    ●    Ultraviolet

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My Thoughts:

 

I love watching movies that are based on actual people, and in this case Chasing Mavericks is based on the life of Santa Cruz surfer Jay Moriarty.  Jay is taken up the wings of his neighbor, Frosty Hesson, played by Gerard Butler, and a passion for surfer is developed.  And, as Jay gets older, he sets his sights on the 'Mavericks' -- "mythical monster breakers that appear only at a specific spot on the California coast near Big Sur, and only when storm systems and atmospheric conditions are exactly right. Not only are they big and beautiful, they're also seriously dangerous because of the rocky shore and the tidal strength that builds them."

You don't have to be a lover of surfing to appreciate this heartwarming film, which the whole family will enjoy watching together.  My husband and I watched it last night after the girls went to bed.  We are both fans of Gerard Butler, and loved how he came off as a great mentor for Jay, guiding him not only on the right path in life, but also teaching him about surfing, as they chase the 'Mavericks.'

I don't know about you, but every time I see a surfing movie, I am in awe of the surfers and the magical waves they ride.  They make it look so effortless, and really make you want to pick up a surfboard and try it out.  But, I haven't yet.  Have you?  And, if you are an Elisabeth Shue fan, you are in luck, as she also stars in this movie.  I am so glad I sat down to watch this movie, and will be doing so again and again -- it is that good!


Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this movie from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  The views above are mine and mine alone.