Into Thin Air: Death on Everest

Into Thin Air: Death on Everest
by Robert Markowitz

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DVD details

Actor: Christopher McDonald, Nathaniel Parker, Peter Horton, Richard Jenkins, Tim Dutton
Director: Robert Markowitz
Brand: HORTON,PETER
DVD: Region Code 99
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Georgian (Subtitled); Chinese (Subtitled); Thai (Subtitled); French (Dubbed), Unknown; Portuguese (Dubbed), Unknown; Spanish (Dubbed), Unknown
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 90 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-05-22
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Sony Pictures

DVD Reviews of Into Thin Air: Death on Everest

DVD Review: Dramatic true story
Summary: 4 Stars

Not an all star cast, but a fairly true to life account of the tragedy on Mt. Everest.

DVD Review: This movie is the real disaster
Summary: 1 Stars

The true story of the Everest 1996 disaster is so compelling, it is almost unfathomable how that story could be taken, and made into a cheesy, poorly acted, poorly made film. I guess the actors aren't all bad, but the cinematography is awful, the characters are never developed, the script is choppy, and the way the story is fleshed out is almost anti-climactic.

If you want the real experience of the drama and devastation that happened, read Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer. This movie just does not capture any of the terror or convey the personal trauma or experience of the individuals involved.

Now, for a compelling, beautifully written and riveting account of tragedy and the will to survive, watch Touching the Void about the true story of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates. THAT is how a mountaineering movie should be made!

DVD Review: 1.5 stars out of 4
Summary: 2 Stars

The Bottom Line:

A quickly-put-together and unconvincing version of Krakauer's amazing book, Into Thin Air (and other movies like it, obviously) is the reason why "TV movie" is a pejorative term; rewriting real people to make heroes and villains and condensing everything into a tidy 100 minute block, Into Thin Air is depressingly bad.

DVD Review: I love Peter Horton movies
Summary: 4 Stars

I also chose this movie because Peter Horton played in it. Although I liked it i think I didn't like much the end of the movie. But it's good anyway.

DVD Review: High Value Metaphor
Summary: 5 Stars

Rather than for its entertainment value, "Into Thin Air" has its highest value as a docudrama and metaphor for crucial aspects of phenomenal successes and spectacular failures we witness and may experience in varying aspects of our lives. The film takes a full-frontal no-nonsense approach to the expedition, while the book bears a similarly terse attack on both the blatant and subtle errors in judgement and performance that would lead to death on everest. Both the book and movie are permanent members of my leadership library, and a frequent recommendation for my executive leadership, strategic planning and team building clients.

[...]

Description of Into Thin Air: Death on Everest

Re-creates the true-life struggle for survival on top of the world's highest mountain on May 10, 1996.
Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure
Rating: NR
Release Date: 31-AUG-2004
Media Type: DVD

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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