Movie spotlight
Fantasea
This true classic from 1980 features the incredible surfing performances of Australia's Simon Anderson, Chris Byrne, Terry Fitzgerald, Wayne Lynch, Mark Warren, Col Smith and Mark Richards. Plus heavyweight Hawaii talent Dane Kealoha, Bobby Owens, Larry Bertlemann, Mark Liddell, Mark Foo, Buzzy Kerbox, Rory Russell, Reno Abellira and South Africa's Shaun Tomson. Fantasea opens with a powerful animated sequence that dissolves into one of Greenough's tube shots filmed from a camera mounted on his back and sets the mood for a full-on surfing epic covering Australia, South Africa and Hawaii.
Insights
Plot Summary
A young woman named Sarah discovers a magical world beneath the sea, inhabited by mermaids and other mythical creatures. She is drawn into an adventure when she learns that this underwater kingdom is under threat from a shadowy force. Sarah must team up with the ocean dwellers to save their home from destruction.
Critical Reception
Fantasea received a mixed to negative reception from critics, with many finding its special effects dated even for its time and its plot overly simplistic. Audiences, however, often appreciated its whimsical nature and imaginative underwater sequences, particularly younger viewers.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its colorful and imaginative underwater sets.
Criticized for a weak and predictable storyline.
Some found the performances charming, while others deemed them unremarkable.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce for Fantasea, but what little exists suggests a nostalgic appreciation for its fantastical elements and a somewhat forgiving view of its technical limitations.
Fun Fact
The film's ambitious underwater sequences required extensive use of miniatures and early special effects techniques, contributing to its distinct visual style.
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