Hey folks, Harry here with a newbie reviewer... meaning until he writes again he has no history with which to give us a context for his review.... He gives us only the basics and a brief byte or two of what happens in the film, including one major spoiler that you might very well want to avoid reading like the plague.... As for my anticipation for the film... well, they have a pretty decent trailer... but if you shot in the mountains of New Zealand and couldn't cut together a sharp trailer out of action scenes shot a billion feet up in snowy rocky hell... then... well, you're not even nearly as brilliant as Edward D Wood Jr. Speaking of whom, I'm not the biggest fan of Martin Campbell... the director of this film. In fact, I hated GOLDENEYE, and loved his ZORRO until I woke up one morning realizing what an empty film it was... how one sided and unbalanced and ape like in it's movements. I'm hoping he pulls this off and can make Chris look less like Bambi in the headlights than usual. Here's the look from DarkScribe...
Harry,
I've been a loyal subject of yours since i popped out of the womb some 23 years ago and this is the first time i've ever written you. Coolio...just knowing your going to read this (eventually) is tits.
Anywayz, the reason i'm writing is because i went to a screening of Vertical Limit. A mountain climbing movie starring Chris o' Donnell. I have to tell you i'm not the biggest fan of the boy(wonder) but he actually is pretty good.
The story line is pretty formulaic: Chris and his sister are scaling this sheer rock with their pops when (alas) tragedy strikes in a terrifyingly convincing chain of events that leads **spoiler** to Chris, his sister and his dad dangling on one line leaving Chris with the unenviable task of having to cut his dads's line in order to save himself and his sister from falling to certain death.
Fast forward 2 years later and chris and his sister have grown apart. He's a wildlife photographer and she has chosen to lead a huge privately funded expedition to the top of K-2, the worlds tallest mountain. Bill paxton (love this guy) assumes the role of the billinaire mogul who wants to scale the mountain and reach the summit in time to coincide with a flyover by an airplane from his to-be-launched airline.
Of course, trouble ensues ( in the form of an avalanche) that wipes out the climbing party and traps Bill, the sister (forgot her name), and a super expierienced climber in an ice canyon.
Of course Chris leads the ramshackle group of volunteers who have only 72 hours to get to the trapped party who have reached a VERTICAL LIMIT.
Well, as cheesy as it sounds this movie is wonderfully paced, and surprisingly suspensful. Of course it's eardrum shattering but that's the way i like it!
The opening scene in which Chris is climbing with his sister and dad and the cutting of the rope is reminiscent of cliffhanger. Aside from looking a little fake (which i attribute to the rough nature of the print) the movie did seem to pack a punch.
Surprisingly i liked Chris o' Donnell in this role. There were moments where the drama could have been strectched out or nixed (like in any movie) but it flowed very nicely. I think, if marketed correctly and they have a kick ass one sheet ( i'd like to give it a crack myself) it will do moderately well. I didn't get too much into detail but i can't wait to see what you say about it.
Until then, i will reteat back into my cave in the Valley and await my next opportunity to report to you.
Your darkest follower..........
DarkScribe........
