Thursday, September 17, 2015

Review of EVEREST: An Adventure Glorious and Gloomy

September 17, 2015




This film tells the true story of a group of men who dared to climb to the peak, braving a harsh environment physiologically-incompatible with human life. Bob Cotter ran Adventures Consultants, a service to guide climbers willing to shell out $75,000 up to the Everest summit. His support staff includes base camp manager Helen Wilton, medic Dr. Caroline Mackenzie, along with a number of expert climbers and native sherpas for guides. 

For the fateful climb on May 10, 1976, we follow expedition group leader Rob Hall and his group composed of doctor Beck Weathers, mailman Doug Hansen, journalist Jon Krakauer (who eventually wrote the book about this climb), female Japanese veteran climber Yasuko Namba and others. Before their big climb on May 10, they first had a month-long training camp on the lower levels of the mountain in order to acclimatize their bodies to the inhospitable conditions. While the group was up the mountain though, a deadly blizzard descends upon the mountain, placing all the men on the mountain in extreme peril.

Jason Clarke radiated a lot of warmth as compassionate New Zealander expedition group leader Rob Hall. His conversations with his pregnant wife Jan (played by Keira Knightley in a brief yet remarkable supporting performance) were touching and heartbreaking. 

Josh Brolin was loud and arrogant as the wealthy Texan climber Beck. John Hawkes was perfectly self-effacing as Doug, a poor working man whose climb was partially sponsored by school children. Despite his prominent billing, Jake Gyllenhaal plays only a small role as an unconventional surfer-type rival guide. As in his previous films, Sam Worthington was not really very memorable as Bob Cotter. Emily Watson was motherly as the distressed manager Helen. 

I am partial to mountain adventures more than the beach. Based on my limited number of hikes up mountains like Pinatubo or Diamondhead, reaching the peak gives such a victorious feeling of exhilaration and accomplishment. Knowing my limitations as a climber, I know that climbing even a segment of Everest is but an impossible pipe dream. 

That is why I liked this movie a lot. With its spectacular cinematography, this film brought me up to the summit of Everest in such a realistic, involving way. The places on the majestic mountain which I never would have even dreamed of seeing, like the Base Camp (17,000 ft), the Balcony (27,390 ft) or the Hillary Step (28,740 ft), were right there in front of my eyes! 

We see everything along their snowy way -- those elegant yaks, those serene Buddhist monks, all the way up to the legendary peak with the little flags summiteers have planted their as a sign of their successful conquest. We will also see the various faces of the human spirit when challenged by the elements -- from triumph, valor and brotherhood to despair, defeat and resignation. 

Thankfully, the very real dangers of the climb, like the wide crevasses to be crossed on rickety ladders, the icy wind burning the skin off your face, the nasty frostbite that could cost you to lose frozen body parts, or the avalanches that can rumble down on you at anytime, are to be experienced from the safety of your theater seats. 

The parts of the film when the characters were just making their way up the mountain and training for the big climb may be slow for certain audience members. You will learn a lot about the medical aspect of climbing up to an oxygen-poor altitude such as that of Everest. For me, I vicariously immersed myself in that literally breathtaking climbing experience which for certain I will never have myself. 

Man, in his quest to prove that he the master of this world, has this unquenchable desire to conquer the earth's highest peak -- Mt. Everest. However in climbing Everest, the last word, as the film tells us, always belonged to the mountain. 8/10.


24 comments:

  1. Yes, your last sentence is absolutely true and only man wanted to explore things that belongs to nature. But specifically, human beings have the right to explore the earth even in the deepest sea.

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  2. Okay because I want to see this, I didn't read everything on your review because I want the element of surprise when I watch this. I'm really excited to see this, hope I like it as much as you do. Lately I've been really into hiking, although not to this extremes.

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  3. woah. this is an interesting watch. id love to see if he conquers the world's tallest mountain.

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  4. I admit I'd love to be able to climb the Everest. But I know I'll never be able to (due to a knee problem), so it's movies like this one that can help me get a closer glimpse at what it is like to go on Everest. Sounds like a movie to watch!

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  5. Man by nature is curious and daring to explore the unknown, to climb the heights even a normal person is too afraid to do it. I am interested on how this film is done and has come a successful movie of adventure of scaling the Mt. Everest height by a human.

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  6. Sounds like a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is something I'd like to see.

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  7. Sounds awesome, and now I want to see it. Adventure and travel movies are always worth the time in my book. Thanks for the review. Looking forward to watching this.

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  8. No spoilers please! haha. Count me in! im already convinced to watch.

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  9. This movie sounds epic. I can't wait to see it in the DVDs :)

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  10. It's going to be out in my country's cinema soon, so I might catch it soon too! Gonna take your word for it!

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  11. Wow such a high rating, 8 out of 10. Haven't even heard of this movie before, now you've just made me curious. Going to watch it with the hubby soon. :)

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  12. i haven't heard or seen anything about this film. this sounds like a great film that will keep you enticed

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  13. I love both hiking and diving but of course, I'm aware how dangerous those activities are. I would like to climb the Everest someday but just by seeing this movie, I know it will be very difficult to the point that I might not be able to reach the summit.

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  14. This sounds like a great movie and mountains, hiking is all so fascinating.

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  15. This is a movie i had my eye on and wanted to watch. Good to know you;ve reviewed it favourably.

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  16. Everest looks like one of those super surreal movies that makes you contemplate your life afterwards. Such a cool movie! :D

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  17. Just watched this one today. Just wondering, Did the climb happened on 1976? The film I've watched said otherwise, 1996. Nevertheless, it was a good film though I anticipated more action-packed scenes. While watching, I can't helped but be awed that our own Romy Garduce was one of those lucky ones who have planted their country flag.

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  18. Everest is like the ultimate climb. I agree with the last statement that the mountain always have the final word since we don't really conquer the mountain but we conquer ourselves, or limitations and our fears.

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  19. This is my must watch movie! I have not been to everest nor even the foot hill but I always inspired and admired those who had brave the weather and height to go up there. I watch it through Nat Geo, documentaries and movies.

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  20. I didn't go for this movie. Was trying to watch Heneral Luna yesterday but it was fully booked on both screening time. So was left with no other choice but go home. I should have watched this instead. Anyway, I might reconsider watching this one.

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  21. This sounds like a great movie. I have seen a documentary about those that have climbed Mt Everest. The conditions are way to extreme for me to even dream of climbing it.

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  22. This review makes me want to see it in the big screen.

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  23. I remember one of our kababayans who tried "conquering" Mt. Everest. The mountain really is very scary to climb and dangerous even to professionals. This movie will show them what they could really face if they try climbing Mt. Everest.

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  24. I missed this movie though I have read some good reviews about Jake Gyllenhaal's performance. I remember my mountaineering moments here though climbing Mt Everest is far more challenging

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