Saw this earlier this week in IMAX 3D. Let me say up front that this was not the movie I expected.
When I first saw the trailer for this, I was immediately excited, as it appeared to be an action/adventure type scenario with a group of climbers in peril in what is most likely, the most dangerous place on Earth.
What we actually have here is a $55 Million retelling of the true life events of the ill fated 1996 Everest summiting, which was made famous in Jon Krakauer's best seller, Into Thin Air.
Although I was aware of the events (and actually gave my Dad the novel for Christmas in 1997), I really hadn't thought about it for some time, so the names of the characters didn't really hit me, while watching the movie, meaning, I didn't know who would live and who would die, but I did recognize Krakauer's name, so I knew he was going to survive.
The scenery here is beautiful and stunning in IMAX. The views into crevasses over ledges, etc are actually quite scary. When the storm hits, it hits hard in IMAX, and IMO, this is the only way to see this if you're remotely interested.
As a movie, though, it leaves alot to be desired, IMO. It really doesn't play out like a movie, other than the obvious attempts at drama with families of climbers shoehorned in. It all comes across like a really expensive and intense documentary.
The action you've seen in the trailers is the majority of action in the entire movie, which was pretty shocking to me. In reality, this is a rather slow film, with a slow build, which culminates pretty much exactly how you figured...especially if you're up to speed on the real life events/the novel.
This is also a very dark and even depressing movie. Although I actually was rooting for our protags and hoping help was on the way, it was pretty clear most were doomed. And what really made this dark and depressing was the way things played out...the way peeps just pretty much died, unable to move, due to exhaustion, lack of oxygen, and the elements. Once near the summit, everyone moves in slow motion, and although realistic, it doesn't make for much excitement, IMO.
The film is well shot and well put together. The large cast of recognizable faces does a good job. For what it is, it works well. It's just not what I wanted.
Grade - C+/B-