Everest

Every time I watched the trailer for Everest my room shook and I got goosebumps all the way up my ass. The movie, however, gave me that feeling only three times at most and that's a damn shame. There are a lot and issues that I would have liked to see differently. The film is a big mess in places mainly because of the many characters (there are so many names that you can't manage to remember everyone in one screening), the deaths weren’t impressive at all, I understand that the film is based on true events, but with so many characters it’s a damn shame that the film doesn't go for a gritty survival thriller; I would definitely have welcomed some villain here as well as a comedy-relief character to lighten the atmosphere, and unfortunately for me the emotions don’t work either. Jake Gyllenhaal ????... and 25 more question marks. But not to merely criticise, the film has stunning visuals, a likeable Jason Clarke, nicely paced sequences, an unexpected ending and a decent atmosphere, but I personally would have liked a more intense style and execution. A reluctant four stars. 70% (09/22/2015)

The journey to a place where the human body dies, in the story of people who knew very well how much they were risking, but still went for it. Nothing more, but certainly nothing less. And even though I don't understand the self-destructive behavior of the main heroes, thanks to the brilliant cast, I feel like I have at least glimpsed beyond the first summit. The intensity with which the highest mountain in the world siccs its pitfalls on climbers nails you to your seat, and the moment a storm appears, the cinema is already shaken to the core and the viewer knows they are in for a rough ride. And every gasp for breath almost hurts in your own lungs. (09/24/2015)

A precise survival drama with a fantastic cast that in some cases is too good given the few lines they have. The experiential capacity of the film is substantial. In some scenes it manages to grip and amaze, not only through the mountain setting, but also with the convincingly performed suffering of the leading characters. Things get unfortunately a little chaotic after some time with them covered in jackets and hoods and with the snow falling, they all look very similar and there were moments that I wasn’t really sure who was who. But overall, a recommending thumbs up. (09/26/2015)

A pleasantly civil, down-to-earth, and male spectacle (despite the presence of female elements) that wrings pathos from the fact that the protagonists are really hurting and the adrenaline pumps as if only in the background. This is because they die without grand gestures and the returns from the brink of death are dogged to the last breath. The casting couldn't be better because these actors cut through liters of emotion and personal feelings even over the phone, and in the audiovisual mode it's borderline hypnotic at times. I might have trimmed the more rambling first half a bit, but the second half is a pure action adventure that will have you locked in your seat by the time the credits roll. (09/24/2015)

Baltasar Kormákur knows how to make manly films and Hollywood obviously likes him. After the heist thriller Contraband and the action comedy 2 Guns, he's here with Everest, his most ambitious project yet. And he has succeeded. The director more or less ignores the pathetic scenes and tries to approach the story realistically. During the climb up the highest mountain in the world and the fight for life on the descent, we don't see scenes of a half-dressed hero holding his friend over a precipice with one hand and beating a chamois with the other. When there's dying, it's no bullshit. When there's a fight for life, it's over the top. And the fact that it's got really good actors makes it great to watch. (09/23/2015)