Playing to type almost knowingly - Gary Busey's ageing Fed, Swayze's philosophising surfer guru - even Keanu Reeves was willing to poke fun at his surfer dude image.

But it's not the stars that own this movie, so much as a sharp-as-razors script and director Kathryn Bigelow's wonderful eye for a shot.

The premise centres on four surfin' nuts who spend their spare time robbing banks as the 'Ex-Presidents', wearing masks of ex-prezzies Carter, Reagan, Johnson and Nixon.

Bad as they may seem, they never shoot anyone, and never go into the banks' vaults.

Enter sharp young FBI agent Johnny Utah (Reeves), fresh off the shooting-range. He meets Lori Petty's surfer chick, who soon invites him into the world of surfin' guru Boadi (Swayze).

'If you want the ultimate,' Boadi tells him, in one of the movies many brililant but vacuous statements, 'you've got to be willing pay the ultimate price.'

Most of the memorable moments come in the form of these ridiculous one liners, but the true heart of the movie is the scenery. Bigelow is at her best when given the task of providing action on land, sea and in the air, including the screen's first freefall fist fight.

Meanwhile, the post-bank robbery foot chase is frenetic and oft imitated to minimal effect.

Young, dumb and full of fun, Point Break set the standard for 90s actioners early in the decade, and it's arguable as to whether this was ever bettered. Voya Con Dios.

Rich Phippen