Plot: Everest: the ultimate challenge. Reaching the summit is a challenge of a life-time, the one thing that all climbers want to ascend to. Everyone has their own motivations for risking the elements, the mountains and their lives and nothing, not even the weather or lack of oxygen, is going to hold them back.
Based on the true, tragic story, Everest follows Rob Hall and his team as they attempt to reach the summit. As the weather closes in and conditions deteriorate, the race isn’t to get to the top. It is to get back down again with their lives.
Quote: We don’t need competition between people. There is competition between every person and this mountain. The last word always belongs to the mountain.
Opinion: Films based on fact and truth are always hard to review. You can’t comment on the characters or the plot in the same way. That is the trouble I am having forming my Everest review, especially as the events that took place were so harrowing. Two things I drew from this film. One: I never want to start climbing mountains. Two: nature will always win, no matter how experienced.
Everest follows a team of climbers as they attempt to tackle Everest. Rob Hall is a professional, paid to help people reach the top and back down again safely. He is joined by climbers who have their personal reasons for climbing: because they can, before it’s too late, dealing with depression and completing the challenge. But despite being experienced climbers, the film shows how reason and sensible thinking can vanish when your dream is in reach, despite the danger it may put you in.
Despite the majority of the film being shot against a green screen, there can be no denying the work both actors and crew put in to making this film. Shots of Everest were essential to make it look realistic, although the Icefall collapse prevented them from getting the shots that had originally been planned.
The actors, too, had their work cut out for them. Spending some time in the Dolomites mountain range not only provided footage for the film, but provided them with the experience that genuine climbers must have.
The crew must have been enormous. Experienced climbers were hired to help provide the footage of the mountain and the camera-crew had to battle the mountain itself to get the shots required. After the icefall, footage of the actual summit proved to be impossible and put too many people in danger. The making of this film must have certainly helped with the emotions required for the actual scenes.
Everest is not a film to watch for entertainment. It’s heart-breaking and heart-pounding as the weather closes in on them and there is no telling who will live. Experience saves no one when the mountain speaks.
Despite the slow beginning, I am glad to have finally seen this film. Not one to repeat in a hurry, but one that makes you aware of reality.
A Rambling Reviewer 