Alternatives is the tagline feature for other forms of entertainment outside of discussing literature. These posts may encompass television, movies, games, and music with a randomized flavour of the moment approach to each post.
Alternatives
Movie Review – Everest (2015)
Genre: Biographical, Drama, Adventure
Duration: 150 Minutes
Directed By: Baltasar Kormákur
Written By: William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy
A climbing expedition on Mt. Everest is devastated by a severe snow storm.
Reaction
I feel like anytime the focus is “man versus element (or uncertainty and unknown)”, my hands get suuuuuper clammy. I’m sorry if that’s kinda gross to imagine but that’s a testament to how visually provoking this film was.
The production (?) or cinematography (?) or overall presentation (?)–something (?)–was good. In truth, I went into this film unknowing its biographical intent and it was great to be able to live vicariously through these adventurers. Everest doesn’t romanticize the dire circumstance of nature being nature, and through that, I felt saddened by what happens. It wasn’t tear-level sadness but it left me with a somber mood.
I don’t even know what other feeling I could have walked away with.
Casting
Everest is led by Jason Clarke spearheading the expedition that includes names I’m familiar with in Josh Brolin, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, and Jake Gyllenhaal. But all things being equal, I feel like Everest is one of those films that the delivery of the subject would have worked no matter the cast. It was still generally compelling but I’m sure I was caught up in the concept than the nuance in delivery. Not to forget that the level of care is spread thin with such a large cast; similar to a “oh that’s tragic…okay next character”.
That makes me sound terrible, doesn’t it?
Afterthoughts
Watching Everest in the winter makes me wish Canada had more snow this year. Dear Global Warming…fix it.
Cheers,
Joey
connect: afterthoughtAn // twitter | anotherafterthought // goodreads
thoughts and afterthoughts. 
I LOVE this movie! It’s based on the book Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.
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I hope you also had clammy hands when you watched it (just so I’m not the only anxious one getting nervous over a mountain I’m not even remotely trying to conquer).
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Oh me too! And I’m afraid of heights, so it’s a thousand times worse.
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I read the book it was based on, Into Thin Air, but I couldn’t connect too well with the movie!
I loved how everything was shot though – some beautiful scenery! 🙂
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Not gonna lie, I was kinda jealous there was so much snow in the film when I really wanted snow in Canada during the time I watched it LOL.
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It actually wasn’t based on the book Into Thin Air. But it was based on the tragic event that Jon Krakauer experienced. The OCD in me drives me a little crazy when people think that the movie was based on the book just because they are about the same event. In fact, Krakauer had a few issues with the film. The scene where Anatoli Boukreev comes into Krakauer’s tent to ask for help, he claims never happened. There is a lot of interesting controversy surrounding the event and Boukreev wrote a book about it as well with some notable differences from Krakauer’s book.
I really liked Into Thin Air and I also really enjoyed (although that doesn’t seem like the right word for it) the movie.
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Not that I’d venture out to read it but that’s a good bit of trivia there haha. It’s definitely an odd thing to say that we enjoy witnessing the triumphs and misfortunes of people being challenged by mother nature. Probably some weird human nature thing.
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Ah yeah. Those based on true events stories are never fun to watch. Learned by lesson many years ago when I watched Alive. Lol.
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Journeyman’s by proxy, Joy. We conquered and triumphed all from the comfort of dat couch or bed or whatever shit you cozy up to.
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After a quick google, the stills from the movie are stunning – was really great to be able to see your assorted musings on the film. I love how accessible and well-written your reviews are!!
By the way, I’ve tagged you in the “Totally Should’ve Book Tag” should you wish to do it – no obligations, of course! 🙂
https://introtoblurb.wordpress.com/2016/02/27/the-totally-shouldve-book-tag/
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Well-written and accessible? You must not have read one of my super long pointlessly draggy word vomit-y reviews that span over 2k+ words LOL (and you shouldn’t because it’s a waste of your time).
But yes the setting was incredibly atmospheric and reminded me of watching Gravity/Interstellar when my hands got clammy.
Thanks for the tag!
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