Mountainclimbing Madness

Let me start by saying that I love watching good mountaineering films, whether they be hollywood blockbusters like Cliffhanger or Vertical Limit, or simple, down-to-earth documentaries like Touching The Void. If I have a particular favourite mountain, it is the Eiger.

This film puts the hero from Touching The Void, Joe Simpson, on the Eiger trying to retrace some of the steps taken by his inspiration for climbing, Tony Kurz. It is a story I have come across 3 times now. Firstly in the excellent German film Nordwand and then a BBC documentary about the Eiger, the name of which escapes me at the moment. So I was familiar with the story. This was however different because Joe Simpson shared a similar experience climbing in Peru (which is shown in Touching The Void). His personal step-by-step commentary of the 1936 climb Kurz, Hinterstoisser & 2 Austrians made somehow makes it feel more real. As if he is stepping into the minds of the climbers. He tells us what they are thinking and some specific details non-climbers simply wouldn't think about.

Recommended for anyone who likes a good documentary or fans of mountainclimbing.

The first half builds up the tension very nicely, while also showing a lot of fabulous mountain scenery. The second half however lets the film down. Suddenly it seems we are not really in a mountainous area, but instead a forest and there is someone out there intent on mayhem. Some of the decisions along the way, both by characters in the film, as well as general plot points, make little to no sense. The ending didn't do it for me at all. The only thing that raises this out of the quagmire of B-grade horror movies is the first half an hour or so. Such a shame.. this truly could have been so much better!

A group of five climbers come across a little girl buried in a box in the highlands. Their decision to save her leads them down a dangerous path, chased by the girl's kidnappers. Although only the first bit of the film is focussed on actual mountaineering, from the moment they find the little girl, the film goes into breakneck speed. Strangely it actually slows down a bit towards the end, only to speed up again for the finale.

Ever since seeing Melissa George in Triangle, I have been a huge fan. Not only is she very talented, she is also quite attractive. In this film she doesn't disappoint at all and although I have read mixed reviews and not every one will agree with me, I actually really like this film. Not quite a classic, but definitely better than most.

The perfect film... if you are an adrenaline junkie. For the rest of us mere mortals it still makes for a somewhat interesting hour-long documentary. It is mostly about a couple of semi-insane people doing things that would make your sphincter close up shop.

If you really REALLY like mountaineering, then this is a good documentary for you. If not, then it offers little extra compared with other documentaries. It certainly feels more like an "insider" type film, where knowing those involved would make it more interesting. Also it focuses a lot more on the specifics, techniques involved and getting you close-up shots, than the mindset or the before and after. It watches more like a weekly tv-show doing segments, than a feature-length documentary.

Good mountainclimbing film about the Huber brothers who set themselves the target of speedclimbing the "Nose" in the Yosemites. Beautifully shot and an interesting character study.

A truly beautifully shot film and an interesting documentary.

And I think I am in love with Ingrid Bergstrom...

Some very good scenery, some shoddy camerawork and lighting and clear use of a greenscreen. Nevertheless a compelling film with Spencer Tracy delivering the goods and a thoroughly unlikeable Robert Wagner. The two of them play brothers, but their interactions remind me more of a caring parent and a petulant child. Definitely worth a watch if you like "mountain" films.

Glenn Ford is good in this sometimes slow film about a woman who wants to climb "The White Tower" to honour her father, who died while trying to finally reach the top. The film is a little heavy on dialogue, but has some excellent cinematography. The main theme the film delivers is about the need for teamwork when trying to complete a tough task.

This has Disney written all over it. It is a sanitized version of mountain-climbing where people climb in suits and without gloves (yet don't risk frostbite or snow-blindness). The central theme of the film is about earning respect by working towards a goal and persevering. Disney films tend to be most appreciated by a younger audience, and parents. This is no different. If you are looking for a film to watch together with your son or daughter, then this is a good film. For most others it is a mediocre film with some nice scenery.

This Christian film starts out well enough, being interesting and fun, with only a hint of it being Christian. Unfortunately the ending is way to sentimental and preachy. It is a shame as "less is more" and most people who are not hugely religious will be put off by it, thus defeating the entire purpose of the film. If you don't want the heavy preaching, turn off the film about 10-15 minutes before the end.

A good documentary about snowboarding, touching on all aspects. Its beginnings, how it grew and where it is now (2005 when the documentary was made). To balance it out they gave 5 snowboarders do all kind of freestyle stuff in Alaska.

Supposedly biographical account of Reinhold Messner's siege of the Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, together with his brother Gunther.

It was difficult for me to follow everything, as I am not fluent in German and the version I watched didn't have subtitles. However what I did see was a quite beautifully shot film, although the connection between the beautiful panoramic shots of the mountains and the close-ups of the various climbers actually on the mountain seemed lacking, which to me makes it less like you are really there in the thick of it with the climbers.

The acting was ok, but it felt like a battle to get through the film. There was little suspense throughout the film and the story seemed disjointed and at times painfully slow.

The Germans have done this kind of film much better with "Nordwand". Nanga Parbat is only for the real die-hard fans of mountain-climbing films.