Soul Surfer, released in 2011, tells the true story of champion surfer Bethany Hamilton who lost an arm due to a shark attack. It features 22 songs by artists such as Britt Nicole, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Two Door Cinema Club and Bla Pahinui on its soundtrack.
Surfing purists have long been known as “soul surfers.” This term refers to their passion for preserving nature’s roots while at the same time honoring cultural history.
Sound of Sunshine
Soul Surfer, based on a true tale, tells the inspirational tale of one girl’s triumphant battle against hardship through faith and her support of family. Boasting an impressive cast including Helen Hunt, Denis Quaid and Craig T Nelson alongside AnnaSophia Robb as Bethany Hamilton; this family film will warm hearts everywhere!
This film boasts a modest budget while not skimping on visual effects, including an eye-catching sea creature which briefly appears in one key scene and provides a good example of high-definition CGI without being cartoonish or silly; surf-action shots are great too, which adds another level to this inspiring family flick. Plus, big Hollywood names are making inspirational family fare on moderate budget rather than opting for bigger paychecks from Syfy movies!
As is fitting of a movie about surfing, this flick features stunning visuals from start to finish. The cinematography is sublime with plenty of attention paid to details and brilliant lighting that never pushes skin tones into fake territory.
Carrie Underwood comes across as a bit too self-indulgent in this movie, while real Bethany Hamilton has always been outspoken about her Christianity – yet her presence in this film results in awkward, preachy Christian messages that come across more as distractions than drama. Furthermore, an unnecessary heartless rival who should add drama instead becomes an unnecessary source of distractions.
Ho’oheno Keia No Beauty
An action movie about an exuberant surfer girl who loses an arm to shark attack demands an equally exuberant soundtrack, and this album delivers with its engaging blend of alternative rock, CCM, teen pop and Hawaiian music. Beginning with “Sound of Sunshine”, nine more amiable tracks from former American Idol contestant Chris Sligh include Katy Perry’s “Firework”, among others.
Mailani hails from Oahu’s West Side and is an award-winning composer, ukulele instructor and founder of Na Kama – an innovative Hawaiian music group. To date he has recorded three albums and one Christmas CD with Na Kama, his 2009 release Crossroads being honored with a Hawai’i Music Award for Contemporary Hawaiian.
Ho’oheno Keia No Beauty was featured in the movie Soul Surfer and depicts a singer’s fascination with an attractive flower she discovers while seeking shelter from rainstorms. This stunning bloom captures her senses and leads her to imagine that their ancestors once cared for it and imbued it with sacred significance; eventually its beauty seduces her so completely that she drinks its waters for sustenance.
Firework
Soul Surfer starts out like many films: you wait and hope that it will happen soon. Helicopter shots whiz across the screen, camera pans down through crystal-clear water towards arms and legs dangling off surf boards, fireworks burst above a nighttime surfing party… but no CGI shark appears out of nowhere to bite Bethany Hamilton off! Director Sean McNamara has created an anti-Jaws by keeping bloodshed to an absolute minimum while emphasizing Bethany Hamilton’s bravery under such incredible duress.
Once underway, this movie becomes an uplifting sports drama similar to “Rudy” or “Miracle”. Additionally, it is family friendly, without any instances of foul language and only one brief shark attack scene that may upset younger viewers.
Marco Beltrami, best known for his work in horror and science fiction films, also composed the musical score for this drama, showing a keen emotional and thematic sensibility by including traditional Hawaiian mele chants to capture Bethany’s spiritual life.
Soul Surfer marks an exciting new chapter for faith-based films. Produced by Affirm Studios – a division of Sony Pictures dedicated to producing mainstream Christian movies – it tells an inspiring tale about family love and faith amid immense tragedy. Though likely targeting younger audiences first, Soul Surfer should appeal to viewers across generations with its upbeat message and inspiring spirit.
Runaway
Runaway’s music video draws its inspiration from Bethany Hamilton’s true story as a surfer who lost an arm after an attack from sharks but managed to overcome these odds through sheer determination and faith in God – unlike most mainstream music videos that simply promote dance trends or trends; Runaway goes deeper by challenging its audience to take its artistic statements seriously.
Kanye uses the phoenix as a metaphor for his rise to fame and ultimate fall, creating visuals not simply intended to impress with flashiness but that capture the essence of each song itself. He may sometimes veer into self-referential territory but few artists make such grandiose artistic statements through just one music video as Kanye does.
Runaway clocks in at just under 35 minutes, giving it enough time for a long ballet scene, multiple explosions, gadget/interior design porn and subtle digs at both media and vain artists. As such, this video pushes viewer patience limits but remains so engaging and compelling that it’s hard to ignore.
Kanye West’s talent shines through even in this age of video content with tired tropes and mindless flash. Although his ego sometimes gets in his way, few other artists can rival his ability to convey an idea fully in its complexity – something Runaway still does six years after its debut.
This Is the Life
Soul Surfer is based on the true story of surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost an arm due to a shark attack, yet went on to compete in surfing competitions afterwards. Its central message is faith can overcome any obstacle; even its soundtrack echoes this sentiment with songs by various Christian artists.
Though most songs on the soundtrack celebrate life’s beauty, some contain more subtle undercurrents. One such song is Amy Macdonald’s tune “This Is the Life”, in which she references an event she attended as part of his fan club: an appearance by Pete Doherty at an arena show she and her friends attended together – though she does not directly address him throughout.
As the song continues, it suggests that everyone experiences hardship and disappointment at some point; these difficulties should be used as opportunities to appreciate life more fully and embrace their individual beliefs more fully. Listeners of this song are encouraged to appreciate every small joy in life as much as they can and learn to appreciate those little pleasures of everyday living that bring great pleasure and comfort.
This release also boasts two exclusive recordings made exclusively for this release, such as Nashville singer-songwriter Mat Kearney’s “Runaway” and Chris Sligh, an American Idol finalist who performed Katy Perry’s “Firework.” Overall, the album offers a diverse blend of alternative rock, CCM and teen pop genres that is available to be downloaded at Amazon, iTunes or other online music stores.