Johnny Tsunami (1999 TV Movie) User Reviews

Skiers Versus Boarders

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 5 April 2008]

Young Johnny Kapahala from Hawaii has two great loves in life, surfing and his grandfather, the latter teaching him all about the former. The grandfather is known throughout the Hawaiians Islands as the legendary Johnny Tsunami. And young Mr. Kapahala shows every indication of inheriting that name and all that goes with it.

But Johnny's parents played by Yuji Okumoto and Mary Page Keller are going to be moving to Vermont where Johnny is going to get to go to a fashionable prep school because Okumoto is going to teach computer programming.

The free and easy life of Hawaii contrasts with the snobbery he finds among all the young yuppies of the future. And while Johnny finds he's managed to adapt his surfing skills to snowboarding, the ruling elite in the school are skiers as headed by an especially snotty young preppie in Zachary Bostrum.

It's a Disney Channel production so don't expect the best in the way of acting, but Johnny Tsunami has two very good things going for it. Nice location photography both in Hawaii and Vermont and very good chemistry between Brandon Baker and Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa as the junior and senior Tsunamis. Their scenes together are really something special.

Johnny Tsunami proved to be one of the most popular of Disney features, warranting a sequel, Johnny Kapahala, Back on Board with most of the same cast. I've always maintained Hawaii is so beautiful it's almost impossible to make a bad picture there. At least I've seen very few of them.

Look also for a good performance by Gregory Itzin as the headmaster of the prep school whose attitudes are most reflected by the student body.

Get real-that's not Vermont!

[mimiquag · 7/10 · 25 March 2020]

I really enjoyed the surfing, skiing and snow boarding scenes. Johnny Tsunami and his grandson and his friends were very like able characters.

On the other hand, The prep school characters were stereotyped and hard to believe and, having lived and skied in Vermont, I was disappointed with their poor imitation of that awesome state. Background info implies that they were actually skiing in Utah- so why couldn't they use Utah in the story line? The most ridiculous scene is the "luau" they have in the backyard of their Vermont home right after a snow sport race: some people are bundled in winter coats and hats while others are in Hawaiian shirts with no coat and it's obviously warm with no snow to be seen! Come on-Winter on the mountain and summer in the valley? Maybe in Hollywood, but not in Vermont!

SPOILERS

[BreakingGood84 · 7/10 · 28 January 2022]

If someone watched the movie for the first time right now, it may come off as just an average movie. But it's from my childhood so I give it a higher score. Biggest issue is the huge plothole in it that nobody else seems to spot.

There is a race at the end between Johnny and that jerk face Jeff (what the heck was his issue anyway? ). If Johnny wins, everyone is welcome to the entire mountain. If Jeff wins then Johnny and his urchin friends can only snowboard on the lame side of the mountain. However, right after the race the two brothers who own the mountain announce that they have put aside their differences and will re-open the mountain to everyone. They would have done this even if Jeff had won the race, thus making the entire race meaningless.

Anyway, it's definitely worth a watch. Might just be the best movie about surf/ski/snowboard out there.

Cute...

[RosanaBotafogo · 7/10 · 11 March 2023]

A 13-year-old surfing champion and his adjustment process when the family moves from the Hawaiian beaches to the cold, mountainous state of Vermont. There, he finds himself in the middle of the rivalry between two groups of young people, but, with the help of his grandfather, a surfing legend, Johnny tries to adapt to his new home and get closer to his father...

I don't understand this old and cute jealousy entered Bottom, it's silly and cliché ok, but they always bring a cute message like every Disney movie, and just for that reason I already validate the movie, no matter how simple it is... A movie of adventure brushed with drama of father and son of two different generations...

I suppose it is okay...

[chrishewittpiano · 6/10 · 25 July 2002]

This movie is okay, but it really sets a bad example for skiing. In the movie, it says that skiing is much harder than snowboarding. It depends on what you really want to learn and what you are used to. Being a skiier myself, I consider skiing easier because you go straight down the hill, not sideways. But back to the movie. Brandon Baker does a pretty good job of playing Johnny, but I have seen better actors his age. As like all other Disney Channel movies, the main character (in this case it is Johnny), have the perfect life except for the one little problem in which the movie is centered on as the plot. The school is perfect with just a few bullies, the setting is perfect, but Johnny just doesn't want to live there, and they have the perfect ski area, but Johnny just doesn't want to give up surfing. So with all of the things that I have managed to say, I give this movie a 6 out of 10. The main reason I give it that is because of it giving skiing a bad name. But all of you snowborders and surfers out there would probably like it, but I think that people who really like skiing would think the same as what I think.

I admit it, it was good

[LittleRascal-15 · 9/10 · 16 August 1999]

The only Disney Channel original movie i ever enjoyed was "Brink!" the rest i thought were dumb. When I watched "JOhnny Tsunami" I got hooked! I thought it was sooooooo good. It's about a laid back, slang talking 13-year old Hawaiian surfer named Johnny Kapphala. When his uptight father gets transferred to Vermont, Johnny has to make quick adaptions. Johnny has to go to a preppy school where he only considers one student his friend which is Emily(Kirsten Storms-Zenon Girl of the 21st Century) who's father is the headmaster. After skiing with the preps Johnny meets Sam, a laid back snow boarder. Johnny learns that preps ski and public schoolers board. Inspite of the differences Johnny is the first prep to turn urchin. Now his fellow schoolmates consider him a traitor. And he is challenged to a race w/ Brett, the main prep. I truly adore this movie.

Best DCOM

[jacksonboyd-97884 · 10/10 · 11 April 2020]

The reason i started snowboarding was because this movie. Great soundtrack and a great message from it as well

Surprisingly Good

[Jarek-6 · 9/10 · 1 August 1999]

I never expected to enjoy this movie, but trust it was really good. The movie's your classic teen trying to fit in story. Johnny, a Hawaiian surfer moves to Vermont. He doesn't fit in with his preppy peers at his school, so he makes friends with kids from a rival school. His peers consider him a traitor, and soon they get him in trouble with his principal and his parents. Guided by his grandfather's wisdom, Johnny finds a way to solve problems. What makes this movie so good, is the way Johnny struggles to fit in. Reminds me of "Angus."

great movie!

[amuletleopard · 10/10 · 20 October 2018]

Always liked this movie. I feel like it's fun when I watch the snowboarding and surfing.

This is awesome!!!!!

[sethn172 · 10/10 · 8 September 2006]

Go "Richter" with this 1999 Old DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie), "Johnny Tsunami." It is about a boy from Hawaii who liked to surf, but because his father had found a great job opportunity way, way, WAY far away from Hawaii (like, say, Vermont), Johnny had to give up on his surfing and make adjustments to his life. He attended a very nice private school and, while a silly rule stated that everyone there had to ski, Johnny decided to try snowboarding, likely because it's like surfing, but on snow. So this leads me to the $64,000 question:

"Which side will he choose?????"

This movie, as well as the question above, teaches us a lesson about how we should live life and what type of friends we should have. It almost reminds me of Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken:"

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I; I had taken the road less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."

"Johnny Tsunami" is just like that. Watch it!

10/10

Heartwarming tale of perseverance, or metaphorically quest to find one's inner self? You decide.

[Jwolffy25 · 10/10 · 19 November 2006]

I would like to begin this comment by saying that I am disappointed in the IMDd aficionados of America (and other countries where broadband internet is prevalent, nay, rampant). Why do I say these things? Better yet, why has nobody said these things before?! That which has left me so angered is the 5.4 rating on Johnny Tsunami. While normally I would tell myself upon seeing this devastatingly low rating: "Its OK, many people just don't see the intricacies, and beauty of such a well made, loving, and cinematographically powerful film" However, as a Disney Channel Original movie fan/ expert/ life liver, I feel I must say the following: Brink! (Notice the ! for exclamatory purposes), received a higher score than Johnny Tsunami. This is outrageous. While I feel as though Brink was groundbreaking in its own regard, it palled in comparison to the awe inspiring film that is Johnny Tsunami. Johnny Tsunami is beautiful, flawless, gripping, and inspirational for Hawaii-American surfers like myself.

The fact remains, Johnny Tsunami managed to interweave every possible story line/ tale of adversity/ racial conflict that engulfed the era in which this film was released. It tackled problems of parents being too controlling, young love, as well as radical grandparents who serf. Honestly, what more you could ask you in a film/ work of art? One may argue, in fact, I will be that one to do so, that this film was the greatest film of our generation. You may think I am jumping the gun on this one (or, Jumping Ship, in Disney Chanel Original Movie language), but frankly, I feel that we all connected with Johnny's struggle against the mountain, while struggling against his inner demons as well. This film is amazing, outstanding, and swell. A must see. No... not just a a must, rather, it is a must live and experience.

A Tsunami of Greatness...according to me.

[robertsays2182 · 8/10 · 9 November 2011]

I have this thing where I have too much time on my hands, I look through over the years and decide who would be nominated for certain awards...you know like the Oscars. Well this is one of those movies. Great acting, directing, writing. But there is one beef I have with this movie. It seems like it takes no time in one scene to get from Vermont to Hawaii. Other than that great. Nice photography, I love the music score. 8 Like the T.V. show 8 is enough. Is it me or does Lee J. Thompson seem lost at times? Well it was nice to see him in his part...Which in the sequel is played by someone who totally craps on it. But that's the other movie. A Disney channel classic.

This movie is Unique

[Chrisx001 · 10/10 · 1 June 2007]

I think i may be the only one that thinks that Emily in the film is kind of cute. Buh As i've seen her pictures lately, She kind of changed (as for gotten a little non-attractive) Or maybe she's not so photogenic? Well besides that, this movie was pretty OK. It shows how most people act toward newcomers from another state. And it also shows how to handle bully's and love which is very unique. It makes it better that the settings are in Hawaii, and sometimes in America. Also it shows how people are enemies just to support there higher authorities. There are a lot of "jealousy" that goes on in schools which is still childish.

Go Big or Go Home

[genik10 · 10/10 · 27 January 2006]

Johnny Tsunami is the perfect blend of extreme surfing/snowboarding action, memorable quotes/characters, emotionally and morally draining subject matter, and guilty pleasure. It is the ultimate Disney channel movie. Brandon Baker does a superb job portraying Johnny, or Puno, grandson of famous hawaiian big wave surfer(and the coolest movie character ever) Johnny Tsunami. The other characters in this film are like a big swell coming in from north shore.

Johnny goes from shredding raging monsters down at pipeline with Jake to workin' the hill with Sam all with wonderful transitions and excellent story lines. I wouldn't want to give too much away, but he even gets the girl.

Johnny:"How come you never told me you could snowboard grandpa?" Grandpa:"How come you never asked?"

Great movie

[danielcarterjones · 10/10 · 11 September 2019]

This movie is awesome. I thought the same guy played the snowboard shop owner that played the guy who owned the ski shop but I couldn't prove it online anywhere. Everytime they showed one they wouldn't show the others face.

A fine, fun, family film, although the title doesn't seem funny any more

[inkblot11 · 8/10 · 30 January 2007]

Johnny lives with his parents in Hawaii, where his grandfather is the legendary Johnny Tsunami, an accomplished surfer. Young Johnny's father, Pete, has serious misgivings about his own father's more unconventional lifestyle and decides to move the family to Vermont. He does this, in part, to get the teenage Johnny away from his love of surfing and into a more serious role as a dedicated student. As one can see, to travel from Hawaii to snowy Vermont is quite a change in venue and 13 year old Johnny has some big adjustments to make. He has to find new friends and new activities. But, the stuffy students at the private academy his father chose tend to snub him. Instead, Johnny makes friends with the so-called urchins (public school students) in town and takes up snowboarding. Yet, complications continue to present themselves. Will Johnny adjust to his new life? This is a fine and funny film for families everywhere. Despite all of his problems, young Johnny continues to have an attitude as sunny as the beach on Oahu and it is very infectious. All of the actors do a great job and the production values are quite nice. Most of all, the settings, in both Hawaii and Vermont, are picture perfect and wonderful to behold. Are you looking tonight for a film to entertain your loved ones? This lovely film is an excellent choice that will have everyone cheering.

very fantastic movie

[weatherman4jesus · 10/10 · 2 August 2005]

This movie is a fantastic movie that involves skiing, surfing, and snowboarding. The setting begins in Hawaii, and then the family involved has to move to Vermont. THE SETTING IS VERMONT. I have seen user comments saying it takes place in Virginia, in Colorado, etc. IT TAKES PLACE IN VERMONT. Further more, it doesn't discourage skiing. It just shows some competition between skiing and surfboarding. This movie is very cool, and although some people may find that this movie is "kids only", it is extremely cool! I must say that it was somewhat educational on the differences between surfing and skiing. Wouldn't it be weird to see a surfer using a snowboard on the ocean? LOL! Johny Tsunami rocks as a movie and has no foul language or inexplicit content! GREAT MOVIE!