Customer Reviews

Into Thin Air: Death on Everest

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

By this time everyone knows what happened on Mt. Everest in 1996, so I'll spare you the replay. Forget the question of whether this film was true to the written accounts, it's just a dreadfully written, acted and produced film. Those associated with this project have managed to take one of the most compelling stories of recent years and turn it into a very flat account about a group of very one-dimensional characters. It's just incredibly bad on so many levels!

This movie is terrible. It's overacted and worse, magnifies the characatures that John Krakoar's (sp?) moralizing views of the disaster of Everest.

Having been fascinated with Mount Everest and the 1996 disaster ever since reading "Into Thin Air" a year ago, I was delighted to learn there was a movie based on the book. Admittingly I was skeptical after reading so many bad reviews about the movie. I thought the movie did a great job considering there was only 90 minutes to tell the story. I thought the special effects and scenery were excellent, much more believable than "vertical limits". I thought the actors did an honorable job in portraying Rob Hall, Scott Fisher, and the rest. I encourage anyone to watch it, just to have a visual of what those people went through.

The making of this movie was quite an undertaking. Unfortunately, it never quite makes the grade. The characters are not developed. Instead, they are caricatures of those whom they purport to be.

One expedition leader, the late Scott Fischer, comes across as a mellow, disorganized, bumbling dude. One of his expedition guides, the late Anatoli Boukreev, is depicted as a self centered, Neanderthal like he-man, who clearly differs with his boss on what his role as a guide is to be.

Another expedition leader, the late Rob Hall, fares somewhat better, in that he is portrayed as an organized, stand up expedition leader, who puts the welfare of his clients above his own. His much publicized radio farewll to his pregnant wife is included as part of the drama.

Socialite Sandy Hill Pittman seems to represent conspicuous consumption and is depicted as a self-absorbed, rich bitch with little regard for the Sherpas whom she treats as little more than human yaks. Texan Beck Weathers fares little better, as he is characterized as a buffoon. I am sure that, were he to see this movie, he would wish that they'd have left him on Everest.

The actor who plays Jon Krakauer's character has the thankless role of Greek chorus. He is there to basically tie up loose ends in the movie. He portrays Krakauer as a dour, humorless human being who, were it not for the fact that he is a talented writer, would have been pushed off the Lhotse face of Everest by some enterprising soul. Last, but certainly not least, are the Sherpas, who are shown as wise, brave, put upon souls. Now here, the movie is hitting its mark.

The cinematography is laughable. Numerous shots of a mountain purporting to be Everest are easily spotted as shots of a mountain other than Everest. Since when is Everest without its signature tell tale plume, waving banner like in the sky?

Let me cut to the chase. Read the well written book upon which the movie is based, "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer. Do not bother with this movie, unless, like me, you are an Everest junkie and a glutton for punishment. It is the only reason that I rated the movie with two stars instead of just one. Even so, it is still pretty much of a stinker.

Not wanting to effect Amazon's profit margin but 'PLEASE DON'T BUY THIS VIDEO' If you thought the 'Beach' was a dissapointing adaptation of a great book wait till you see this turkey. If you have read any of the growing number of books assosiated with the events of 1996 on Everest you will be familiar with the tragic,unfortunate list of circumstances which lead to misjudgement , human error and ultimately disaster. This film takes snippets of Krakaeurs book, exaggerates them grossly ( did Sandy Hill Pitman REALLY have a coffee making machine - and a big one at that - on the mountain with her ? ) and makes hammy drama out of the suffering of others. I am surprised that Krakauer even agreed to have his name associated with this piffle , and even more surprised that the events survivors havent sued ! No wonder tha poor climbers died on the mountain , they are constantly removing their oxygen masks to spout reels of poorly written dialogue. To be fair the whole thing is a wasted opportunity.

The story of the 1996 tragedy on Mt. Everest is a very complex one. As the crisis approached and once the climbers were webbed in it, the consequences of decisions and habits begun long ago became magnified and a true tragedy unfolded. This movie explored very little of this complexity, thus seriously compromising the fact that no climber in 1996 was either one thing or another, say, either a failure or a hero. Each climber was both. But, this movie sketched simplistic portrayals and so the depth and complexity of the story is lost. The movie has its compelling moments: Rob Hall and Jan Arnold naming their baby, soon to be born; the effects of high altitude on the climbers' minds and breathing; the fierceness of the storm. But, the movie portrays time poorly, thus flattening the plot rather than bringing it to any kind of emotional climax. I would hate to think that any person who cares about mountaineering and this particular climb would base any of their understanding on this movie.

Too much Hollywood show biz . . . not enough Everest. Not 5 Minutes of Everest shots in whole movie. Poor acting. Very disappointing.

Bad Movie

Please . . . a little less SHOW BIZ and more EVEREST? The video gave an account of the recent deaths of 5 climbers on Everest. With such a good plot, how could they fail so misserably! There is not 5 Minutes of Everest shots in the whole movie. This stinks!

For those that have read the book or know about the events, this is an over dramatized account. It is akin to tabloid journalism at it's worst. It is a meager attempt to compress the book into something for the mass media. Read the book instead - it is much more dramatic and appealing

As an employee of the IMAX theater, I was delighted to see that Everest (45 min omni story of into thin air) was now making a longer version of the tragedy that occured in 1996. Much to my dissapointment, the movie wasn't nearly as entertaining as that of the Imax version. I would recommend seeing the omni version over that of the vhs version.