Technology gives new Point Break the edge

Curiously, the new Point Break exists as neither a true remake nor a sequel to the original.

It is also not as much fun as the 1991 film.

Where it does leave the original for dead is in its mind-blowing action scenes and breathtaking cinematography — call it 24 years of progress.

There are enough cues linking the two films, however, such as main antagonist Bohdi’s anti-establishment views, FBI protagonist Johnny Utah’s errant conservatism, high crime and extreme sports, but it easily separates itself from the original in most other areas.

Like the original, instead of an ex-football star, Utah (Luke Bracey) joins the FBI from a sports background — namely freestyle motocross. Instead of die-hard surfers, Bohdi (Edgar Ramirez) and his band of merry men are extreme sports junkies, living off the grid.

At this point the two films connect as newly FBI-minted Utah recognises a link between a series of risky crimes as being only possible by criminals of the extreme sports persuasion.

Utah infiltrates the group as an undercover agent to find some tangible dirt on the crimes but soon finds himself swept up in the rush of Bodhi and co’s lifestyle.

Utah and Bodhi bond but always with a sense of distrust, and Utah’s FBI superiors have trouble understanding why it’s taking him so long to unravel the case.

Cue a series of extreme tests which serve to bolster trust among the group and keep audiences on the edge of their seats. The Teahupoo surfing sequence is epic, as is the winged suit flying and diabolical cliff-climbing scenes.

An interesting motif is the theory of the Ozaki 8, a series of extreme global challenges the group is aiming to achieve for ultimate spiritual enlightenment.

Utah and the FBI cotton on to the order of the challenges, giving them the edge on the group’s movements, right up until the end.

But without giving the end away, and while I hate to keep comparing it to the original, one downside is the film’s lack of humour or larrikinism.

From its casting right down to its dark and edgy visuals, it isn’t as fun a ride as the original. What it lacks in humour it more than makes up for in thrills, so strap in.