This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 at 2:19 pm and is filed under Action, K. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Director: Franc Roddam
Starring: Michael Biehn, Matt Craven, Luca Bercovici, Patricia Charbonneau, Raymond J. Barry,
This fabulous film is one of the best mountain climbing movies ever made, surpassed only by the Imax film, Everest. Look for absolutely, stunning mountain cinematography and breathtaking climbing scenes that make other movies of this type look like Saturday morning cartoons. This is not all it has to offer, however. There are excellent characters placed in a simple, but complete, storyline that climbs steadily to a razor-sharp third act that will have you gripping your armrest and clenching your teeth.
Michael Biehn is Taylor Brooks, a cocky adrenaline-addicted lawyer who lives life on the edge. His friend, and climbing partner, Harold Jamieson (Matt Craven), is the opposite. He is a staid family man who climbs for the high of triumph and accomplishment, despite the concerns of his family. The story takes off when these two get the chance to join an expedition to climb the world’s second highest mountain, K2. Unlike virtually every other climbing movie, this one has no stalking killers or explosions, just the real danger of being in sub-zero temperatures, out of the reach of any help, in an area where you are slowly dying from lack of oxygen. It doesn’t need bullets to be life threatening. There are a few little weaknesses here and there (there is no way first time death zone ascenders would leave oxygen behind!), but the strengths more than compensate.
This is a truly impressive action/adventure movie that lets us have a glimpse into the techniques, motivations and realities of a dangerous, but fascinating obsession that has drawn humans since we first saw those majestic peaks poking through the clouds.
