Everest

It is not an adaptation of Krakauer's well-known original "about the event", which will surprise many in a bad way. And it is even more surprising that it lacks any significant ambitions with regard to the creator and the cast. From the whole expedition we only get to know a trio "Hall - Texas guy - postman" properly. What is a biggest disappointment is that given that the disproportionately more interesting trio "Krakauer - Yasuko - Fischer" is clearly only a makeweight here (not to mention the other participants who are present only out of duty "because they were also there at the time" rather than playing a more significant role in the movie. The same goes for Sherpas. Likewise, what is completely ignored are the controversial topics surrounding Hall's and his company's involvement in this disaster “we get the people to the top even though they cannot make it". They failed to make proper preparation, and even at the top they made a bunch of incomprehensible decisions. The movie completely avoids any dark undertones what a person is capable of when things go wrong. And the fate of the three Indians who were caught by surprise by the same storm is not even mentioned. So, these are the weak points what this movie is not and what it is not about. What is more important is, however, what the movie is at the end of the day. And it's a damn successful manly adventure movie with Hollywood-style human warming emotions about the invincibility of the human spirit and with heartbreaking phone calls to the pregnant wife. Once you get it and understand that the main role is not played by the actors, but by the truly impressive camera (by the way, it was made in 3D after years again, which is not just a way to increase the ticket price, but an integral part of the experience; especially when watched in IMAX), showing the beauty of the Himalayas that will intoxicate you, you will really enjoy it. That is for sure. Yes, it's surprisingly cold not only in terms of atmosphere but also in terms for emotions and the first half is better than the second half that describes tragedy, but it doesn't matter that much, because it's still quite impressive and very intense, which is undoubtedly the best non-documentary climbing film of the last few years along with German Nordwand. (09/18/2015)

Everyone you develop a fondness for gets in big trouble. That is Everest’s only dramaturgical ambition. An IMAX marketing product that uses only half of the IMAX screen with its widescreen format. The script is purely average without any memorable dialogue, moments or characters. The excellent international cast has practically nothing to do, and Jake Gyllenhaal’s character, which we looked forward to most, gets only about three times more space than in the trailer. However, the visuals are nice and the Everest environment authentic, and the footage of the famous passage below the Hillary step is impressive. The key weapon in the film’s arsenal is the intensity of the whirlwind, which shoves you back in your seat in a cinema with a high-quality sound system (such as Dolby Atmos). Commendably, the film does not embellish reality, avoids pathos and is not dragged down by its own stupidity (Vertical Limit). But all of this is also true of Nordwand, which is not a rushed studio hit but, with narrative enthusiasm and interest in the characters, describes a historically more significant and dramatic climb on the Swiss Eiger (which is a completely different level of climbing than the “walk” up Everest). (09/22/2015)

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)

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)