Soul Surfer (2011)

Genre: Drama (Based On True Story)

Tag Line: When You Come Back from A Loss, Beat The Odds, and Never Say Never, You Find A Champion

Running Time: 1 Hours 46 Minutes

Casts:  AnnaSophia Robb, Helen Hunt, Dennis Quaid, Kevin Sorbo, Ross Thomas

Directed by: Sean McNamara

Produced by: David Tice, David Zelon, Ricardo S. Galindez

Story:

Bethany was born to surf. A natural talent who took to the waves at a young age, she was leading an idyllic, sun-drenched, surfer girl's life on the Kauai Coast, competing in national competitions with her best friend Alana, when everything changed in a heartbeat. On Halloween morning, Bethany was on a typical ocean outing when a 14-foot tiger shark came out of nowhere and seemed to shatter all her dreams. In the moving aftermath of this headline-making story, Bethany fights to recover and grapples with the future. Strengthened by the love of her parents, Tom and Cheri, she refuses to give in or give up, and begins a bold return to the water. Still, the questions keep hammering her: Why did this happen? Why did she have to lose everything? Will she ever feel the joy and power of riding the waves again? And if she can't be a surfer, then who is she? 
The devastating 2004 tsunami in the Pacific Ocean unexpectedly gives Bethany a new perspective. Traveling to Phuket, Thailand with her youth-group leader Sara Hill, she witnesses life beyond her own shoreline and discovers her greater purpose--she can make a difference in the lives of others. Filled with a new sense of hope and direction, she returns home with a renewed resolve to conquer her own limitations and set an encouraging example for people facing adversity. At the National Championships, Bethany bravely faces off with her fiercest rival, Malia Birch, and takes her astonishing one-armed surfing technique to the limit. But as the horn blows, and the suspenseful competition kicks off, Bethany is no longer thinking about the challenges of her body. Now, her surfing, her biggest dreams and her life have become about pushing her own physical limits to touch the souls of others.

Written by Official Site  

Review: 

At first, I have no expectation for this movie. My cousin told me few months ago, he said that it's gotta be a great movie. It's worth waiting for, I just said yeah yeah yeah, maybe it's good, let's see when the movie's out. It's because I don't really like drama thing, I don't like to see all the sad things going around but this time and now, after I watched few hours ago I will say that this one is really good. It's a great inspirational movie, and my cousin was right. Thank him for telling me such a great movie. This review I'll dedicate to him especially. Watch it bro... :D
The story tells us about Bethany Hamilton who lost his left arm because of shark attack when she was surfing back then. The story is an usual drama but since it's a true story, It becomes something that you must watch. I really like how the story tells the truth of a "Bethany Hamilton". When you see the credit, you will see who is the real Bethany, and the story really reflects who is she, and what she'd done after getting shark attack. Maybe some of you will say that the story is just like any other drama created by Disney or something, but let me tell you that this one is different. It really give an inspiration, great one to all the people in the world who also had that suffering like Bethany. I believe she had given so much to everybody with her heroic and brave personality. 
The scenery is really beautiful. Maui, Phuket, and all the other beaches are really beautiful and amazing. It's really God's gifts to human race so that we can enjoy it and also protect it. I wish I have a house like Hamilton's who lives beside the sea. The most beautiful scene for me is when the girls do that night surfing when celebrating Halloween, I always dream to be in that situation, at the beach at night, party and celebrating something with fireworks. It must be wonderful and unforgettable. 
I give my credit to AnnaSophia Robb who plays Bethany, I think she is a good actress who reflects the real life one so great. She makes me feel how if I am on her side. She really do a solid work here. She can shows us she is brave and strong, never give up but still she's only a girl who can cries too. Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt, great two acts also play it great as parents of Bethany. What surprise me the most is the appearance of Carrie Underwood. She is pretty but she really have to learn much about acting. 
 Last one is for the effects, since it's drama, it doesn't have too much effects except Bethany's hand and maybe the shark attack but it just ok. I think we don't need the visual effect like Transformers or Harry Potter thing to this kind of drama, but it still can give us a great show. I don't like the shark attack part because it happens suddenly and the sound is like going shrinking and I bet you will not surprise at all. 
One thing that I also give a notice is when the groups are in Phuket, the residents should chit chat in Thai language right. But when a resident is interviewed by Sarah's (Carrie Underwood) friend, I wonder why she talks in Indonesian language. That's unreasonable since they are in Phuket not Indonesia. 
Overall, this movie really gives us inspiration that we shouldn't give up in any situation whether it's good or bad because God has planned something great for us. Chase your dream no matter what happened. Maybe you are in bad shape but there are so many people is worse than you, so you have to be thankful whenever, wherever, whatever you are now. Again, thank you for this inspiring story, Bethany, you are one of the great inspiring hero in this world. :)

Good points: 
-   The story is great and inspiring
-   All the acts play great and do a solid work especially Anna, Dennis and Helen
-   The scenery is really beautiful. The beaches is wonderful. 

 Bad points:
-   The sound effect when the shark attack is bad for me. It doesn't surprise me at all
-   The Thai resident uses Indonesian language??? 

 Rating: 8.5/10.0