K2

K2
by Franc Roddam

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DVD Reviews of K2

DVD Review: Open Your Heart To The Mountain
Summary: 5 Stars

The story is loosely based on the first American ascent of K2. This is the second highest mountain on earth and arguably the most difficult to conquer. It clearly has been one of the most dangerous of all the earth's great peaks. By the end of the last century, fully 13% of all who summitted died during the descent--that's compared to only 3% on Everest and almost double that of any other 8000+ meter peak (there are 14 total). In addition, there is only one instance of a climber having reached the summit more than once, whereas Everest had seen 299 repeats by the end of 1999.

The movie's main characters are a lawyer (Taylor) and his not as technically adept (but very close) climbing buddy who's a biophysicist ("H"--for Harold). Taylor and H have the most extraordinary friendship that withstands little spats, but connects on a deep level. Though H is not as talented a climber, he's every bit as sharp, making important contributions in various ways. However, he's never been in the "death zone" (approx. 25,000+ feet) before, and Taylor has...

While the climbing sequences aren't necessarily technically precise, they are certainly among the very best that have ever been filmed for a "hollywood"-style movie. It's a shame that (according to other reviews) this is not letterbox--I don't know how the movie could survive without some of the incredible scenes of panorama and expanse, from the initial big wall climbing to the ridge camp with sprawling glacier below to the summit moments. I saw this movie 5+ times on the big screen and--wow!

Two scenes in particular are powerful. In one, H has to "sell" his wife on his taking another trip, after making a promise to spend time at home with her and their toddler son. During this scene he finds himself making another promise anew--that he'll come back--for she knows of the mountain's deadly nature. The tension in making a promise after having broken others really spills onto the screen, but you believe that he's sincere. It is this scene where he tries with inadequate and searching though profound words, to describe what it means to him to be able to stand on the top of a mountain that has challenged him to give all that he's got. Amazing!

The other scene of note occurs high on the mountain in a tragic moment of realization for the two friends. I can't imagine a more poignant moment in all of film history--faced with consequences of actions set in motion in a distant place seemingly removed from time, and helpless to change their outcome; a soul-searching sorrowing and lamenting, and in the same moment the most altruistic and lofty of sentiments--it rips a soul apart, if one is open to it's deeper message.

On the basis of this movie, I started actively climbing; not to do what they did, nor to find some extreme way to express myself physically. I somehow related to the ideas presented, that solace and the development of inner strength through exposure to the challenges and sublimity of the mountains would yield in me a better soul--one that could soar in this world of limitations.

One final note. I spoke with the author of "The Last Step", Rick Ridgeway--one of the first four Americans to summit in 1978 (the expedition upon which this movie was based). He was making a presentation at an REI flagship store in Denver and afterwards I asked him about this movie. He laughed, and said that he had been at the premier with the Japanese investors who underwrote the movie. He did mention that a scene where four climbers are lined up side by side on an ice wall with picks and crampons stabbing and crunching, and Pink Floyd-like rock music in the background beating, was "not like it is at all!" I guess Hollywood will always need to take some license...