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Into Thin Air: Death on Everest ( Sony Pictures )
Release Date: 2001-05-22
Average Customer Rating:
List Price: $9.95
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Product Description
A taut gripping true-life adventure chronicling the suspensef struggle for survival on the peaks of the worlds highest mountain. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 08/31/2004 Starring: Peter Horton Christopher Mcdonald Run time: 90 minutes Rating: Nr Director: Robert Markowitz
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Amazon.com
Based on Jon Krakauer's bestselling book, Into Thin Air re-creates an ill-fated 1996 expedition to Everest that claimed at least five lives, including those of two world-class climbers. Only 90 minutes in length, the film jumps right into the action at Everest base camp and compresses the two-month trek into just a few days of exhilarating adventure. Periodic voice-overs by Krakauer (Christopher McDonald) provide essential background information and guide us through the invisible, intensifying effects of altitude and stress. Krakauer joined the trip to write an article on the commercialization of Everest, but as conditions on the mountain deteriorate he is forced to focus all his energy on survival. Unfortunately the film fails to really develop any of its characters before thrusting them onto the harrowing face of Everest. As a result, it's difficult to understand the relationships that play out as the group struggles to the summit and back. While the trio of leading actors is solid, only Nat Parker (who plays guide Rob Hall) has enough screen time to develop an interesting, complex character. Peter Horton's portrayal of unconventional guide Scott Fischer is almost hyperbolic and McDonald's Krakauer is stiff and difficult to read. While the film succeeds in creating a palpable sense of agony and suspense, those in search of a more thoughtful, detailed account of the expedition will be better served by reading the book. --Claire Campbell
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 Not quite the book but good!
Movie does a good job of capturing the suspense and tension of the tragedy on Everest. A limited setting (on the mountain) slows the pacing at times. My freshmen and sophomore students enjoyed the movie, but loved the book. It's unrated, but the material is suitable for high school students. A good supplement.
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 Definitely made for TV ( lizmstanley )
This movie does follow the story in the book pretty well, but definitely has a cheap, made for TV disaster movie feel to it. The women in the story contribute nothing except for the occasional cheesy scream of terror. I wouldn't say it was horrible, but not that great either. Certainly not something I'd watch twice.
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Compelling, moving - and very exciting! ( daviesuk )
I'm a non-mountaineer who has no desire ever to become one, but I found this film totally compelling and most moving. I defy anyone not to weep at the scene where Rob Hall speaks to his wife as he lies dying.
I have seen it three times now, and have read the book upon which it is based, and others. I appreciate that the film may be a partial view, based as it is on one man's account, and I agree that at times it can be confusing, but the story and action are so strong that they carry you through.
As most of the audience won't be expert mountaineers, and as anyone interested can find out as much as they like by reading the books, I think this film is an admirable success.
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Decent adjunct to the book
Saw this after reading the book and also seeing the PBS doc Storm Over Everest. It's a semi-cheesy tv movie, but does have some strengths, including some decent climbing scenes. It's funny to watch McDonald play Krakauer, as he's always the villain in so many B-movies. He does a good job as the author here, but the biases of the book are repeated and there are some overly sharp portraits drawn, especially of Fischer, who comes off as more of a jerk than in the book. Too much happened up there to squueze into 90 minutes of drama, seems like; this feels too compressed.
Worth seeing if you've read the book, otherwise the PBS doc is far superior.
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 Save Your Money ( lenore1964 )
This DVD is good as a coaster for your drink and not much else. The most charitable thing I can say about the acting in this is that I've seen cardboard more animated. Instead I'd suggest spending your time with the books Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster and The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest and Everest to give yourself a good perspective on what happened during the 1996 climbing season.
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