AnnaSophia Robb in Soul Surfer
SOUL SURFER SPLASHES INTO THEATERS
Many of you have heard the true story of Bethany Hamilton. She was a teen surfer from Hawaii who had her arm bitten off in a shark attack in 2003. Against all odds, she returned to the water to surf again. And now you can see the movie chronicling her experience, Soul Surfer (rated PG) in theaters.
It stars AnnaSophia Robb (from Race to Witch Mountain, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and The Bridge to Terabithia) as Bethany Hamilton. AnnaSophia worked with Bethany and became friends with her doing the movie, and you can tell on screen. I recently saw the movie at a media screening, and thought it was amazing. But warning: it's a tear jerker. I had to hold back tears several times, and judging from the sound of sniffles in the theater, so did my fellow movie reviewers (and these were adults by the way!).
Basically, the movie starts with Bethany as a kid, surfing in Hawaii. Born to famous surfing parents, she won her first surfing competition at age 8. She surfed with her best friend Alana, and they got sponsored by major surfing companies. On Halloween morning 2003, while they were surfing, a 14-foot tiger shark bit off her left arm. I swear I jumped a foot in my seat during this scene! I wasn't expecting it at that point.
After undergoing many surgeries, and refusing a prosthetic arm, Bethany returned to surfing. Her whole struggle was gut wrenching. Her faith in God helped her a lot. In the movie, her youth group leader (played by Carrie Underwood) took her to Thailand to help the victims of a tsunami. This opened her eyes to others' suffering, and eventually led her to leadership roles helping others. Not to mention, she also went on to win a 2007 National Surfing Championship, and turned pro!
On my way out of the movie, I was chatting with a New York City newspaper reporter, who was also reviewing the movie. She said she thought the acting was a bit melodramatic and overdone. I was like, "But the girl just got her arm bitten off by a shark!" Honestly, I forgave the drama in the movie. I thought it was really an amazing story, and the movie did it justice. I had known about the story from the news, but the movie really put a cool spin on it. It was very uplifting.
What do you guys think? Have you seen Soul Surfer or read the book? Drop a line in the Comments!
—Ratha, Stacks Writer
I really want to see it, her story is so inspiring! I love that through it all, she never lost Faith, and that she just kept going and had the strength to get back on her board! she is a seriously inspiring person and I can't wait to see the movie!!!!
Comment #1 | Posted by: ninjadragon99 on April 15, 2011 at 12:07 PM
i havent seen it yet.
Comment #2 | Posted by: acer12 on April 15, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Omg! that just broke my heart to hear that her arm got bitten off=(
Anyways i really want to see it its sounds like a good movie.
Comment #3 | Posted by: artblack2 on April 15, 2011 at 12:38 PM
this movie i have got to see it is sad this only has few coments so i wanna see it
Comment #4 | Posted by: hiissingcat on April 15, 2011 at 12:54 PM
saad she is my hero
Comment #5 | Posted by: Skygirl1205 on April 15, 2011 at 01:04 PM
oh my gosh! i feel very bad for her. but you got to stick to your dream, right?
Comment #6 | Posted by: sadie on April 15, 2011 at 01:27 PM
scary!!!!!
Comment #7 | Posted by: crushonjustinbieber on April 15, 2011 at 01:43 PM
i would totally stop surfing but your a brave person
Comment #8 | Posted by: crushonjustinbieber on April 15, 2011 at 01:44 PM
you are so cool in the movie
Comment #9 | Posted by: angel on April 15, 2011 at 02:03 PM
i think you are so cool in your movie
Comment #10 | Posted by: angel on April 15, 2011 at 02:04 PM
cool!i really want to see the movie!im really suprised they are talking about this on scholastic!
Comment #11 | Posted by: bookbuzz101 on April 15, 2011 at 02:28 PM
awsome story
Comment #12 | Posted by: k on April 15, 2011 at 02:33 PM
I REALLY want to see that movie! (Very Badly!)
Comment #13 | Posted by: Bieber24 on April 15, 2011 at 02:40 PM
Her arm was FULLY BITTEN OFF? That's insain, but it didn't look like she had lost an arm in the trailer and commercials. I wonder how Bethany Hamilton felt when her tragedy was first turned into a book, then a movie!
Comment #14 | Posted by: cutie3500 on April 15, 2011 at 03:21 PM
I WANNA SEE THIS MOVIE SO MUCH! Sounds AMAZING! :D
Comment #15 | Posted by: anya71 on April 15, 2011 at 04:32 PM
i saw it itwas dad
Comment #16 | Posted by: thalia grace on April 15, 2011 at 05:39 PM
I really want to see this so I hope I like it as much as you!!! Thanx! :)
Comment #17 | Posted by: peacelovebooks999 on April 15, 2011 at 06:10 PM
My father had his leg chopped off in accident.But he runs the ranch,water skis,and snow skis.Without help he has a sense of humor.When I tell peolpe they are in shock and say how sorry they are and ask what its like.Its the same as a real dad.People get weird when he says he has to put his leg on.
Comment #18 | Posted by: cnahk on April 15, 2011 at 08:32 PM
I want to see that!
Comment #19 | Posted by: Jenna on April 15, 2011 at 08:57 PM
You are a role model to many kids like me to encourage kids to never give up in what they love to do even if they can not do it the first time they try.
Comment #20 | Posted by: FashionArt2 on April 15, 2011 at 09:51 PM
i really wanna read that!no joke! add me as a friend!
-Artisticbrain3
Comment #21 | Posted by: nerdyperson101 on April 15, 2011 at 10:10 PM
I REALLY want to see that movie. It looks reeeeaaaly good. Isn't it a book??? Well, I cannot WAIT to see it.
Comment #22 | Posted by: GryffindorWolf on April 16, 2011 at 09:31 AM
want to read it sooooooo bad !!!!!!!
Comment #23 | Posted by: abeer on April 16, 2011 at 10:00 AM
wow
Comment #24 | Posted by: halle on April 16, 2011 at 10:26 AM
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to see this movie so badly, my friend said it was really, really, good. There is a book like the movie and it is very good. You should read it!
Comment #25 | Posted by: cheetahdancer on April 16, 2011 at 01:01 PM