Rating: 
Summary: DECENT ADVENTURE STORY FOR ARMCHAIR CLIMBERS...
Review: This is essentially a buddy movie clothed in mountaineering garb. It is a story about two climbers: one, a Seattle based attorney, the other, a physics instructor. They are a mismatched pair of friends who are brought together because of their love for climbing. The story line is about the ultimate test that their friendship endures while high on K2, the second highest mountain in the world but the most perilous to climb.The rock climbing scenes, which take place in the first fifteen minutes of the movie, are terrific to watch, even though they may not be technically correct. After all, it's a movie, not a documentary. The scenery is spectacular and the cinematography is excellent. These friends decide to grab an opportunity to climb K2 with an expedition that had lost two of its team members to an avalanche on Denali and needed to replace them. The attorney has no problem going to K2, but the physics instructor leaves behind his weeping wife and child. Yet, his friendship with the attorney and his own desire to climb K2 compel him to leave his distraught family for this chance of a lifetime. There are a number of scenes in the movie which seem to be taken from real life. While on expedition to K2, the porters leave them stranded, refusing to go any further on the mountain, as they have portents of doom. They also want more money. One scene has the attorney burning rupees in defiance of the porters' strike. World-class mountaineer Jim Wickwire did the same thing, when he climbed K2, and under similar circumstances. Animosity on the mountain between the climbing leader and the attorney over who will be part of the first summit team is also reminiscent of real life expeditions. It is here that the attorney's friendship with the physics instructor becomes strained, as he lays claim to be on the first summit team and does not include his friend, even though they had been climbing partners for ten years. So much for the brotherhood of the rope. What happens to the two friends on the mountain will be a true test of their friendship, especially when tragedy strikes while in the death zone of K2. Since this is a buddy movie, one of them comes up with a plan to try and save the other. I won't tell you what it is, but I will give you a hint. It is to be found in Joe Simpson's book "Touching the Void". Interestingly enough, the movie is dedicated to two mountaineers of renown: Seattle attorney, Jim Wickwire, and physicist, Lou Reichardt, both of whom were among the first Americans to summit K2 in 1978. This film seems to be loosely based upon some of their mountaineering exploits. It is a moderately enjoyable film that should appeal to armchair climbing enthusiasts everywhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Open Your Heart To The Mountain
Review: This movie changed my life (is that a bit over the top?!)! 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...
Rating:
Summary: A great movie for climbers, even good for non-climbers
Review: This movie does a fantastic job of showing the bond between two friends whose relationship centers on climbing. The friendship gets pushed to extremes by circumstances, and this shows us more about the characters and their relationship. The cinematography is the best I've ever seen- you will feel like you're really up in the mountains! While major liberties were taken, there was enough in the story to show that it was based, very loosely, on the first American ascent of K2, best chronicled in "Last Step: The American Ascent of K2" by Rick Ridgeway. While not necessary, having read that book further enhanced my enjoyment of this movie.
Rating:
Summary: A great movie for climbers, even good for non-climbers
Review: This movie does a fantastic job of showing the bond between two friends whose relationship centers on climbing. The friendship gets pushed to extremes by circumstances, and this shows us more about the characters and their relationship. The cinematography is the best I've ever seen- you will feel like you're really up in the mountains! While major liberties were taken, there was enough in the story to show that it was based, very loosely, on the first American ascent of K2, best chronicled in "Last Step: The American Ascent of K2" by Rick Ridgeway. While not necessary, having read that book further enhanced my enjoyment of this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: It contains a good deal of truth about people and climbers.
Review: This movie is about two friends who are dedicated (not to say compulsive) mountain climbers. It is based loosely on Lou Reichart and Jim Whitacker who were among the first four Americans to climb K2-probably the world's most difficult mountain. The story is woven around the contrast and conflict between the two friends, one apparently being primarily self-oriented and the other believing in the importance of interpersonal responsibility. The climbing is a useful vehicle because it makes plausible that a close relationship between two such dissimilar people could exist. The mentality and mechanics of big mountain climbing are well depicted as the film moves to a resolution of its central issue. The acting is competent and the depiction of the mountain climbing is excellent. This movie is better than the obscurity into which it has sunken. I suspect that it is because most people are simply unable to empathize with the motivation that would drive climbers to deliberately put themselves in a situation in which they have a 30% chance of dying.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Climbing movie but bad DVD transfer
Review: When I found a copy of K2 on DVD I was really excited. However, when I came home and watched it I was very disappointed about the film tranfer to DVD. The picture looks a bit clouded and soft. During some of the darkers scences I could see pixels in the character's movement and background. The sound is Ok but not too impressive. The DVD has very little extras. Even though the DVD is disappointing it doesn't take away from the incredible climbing scenes. This is a great climbling movie despite the DVD flaws. Wait for a better release if it ever happens.
Rating:
Summary: Good film done in by mediocre DVD release
Review: While K2 suffers from a certain predictability, it has some of the most spectacular mountain climbing scenes ever filmed. Michael Biehn and Matt Craven are two professionals from Seattle who join billionaire Raymond J. Barry and his team as they attempt to climb K2, the world's second largest peak. It's simply a story of how the team comes together to conquer the mountain. There is tragedy along the way and a test of personal friendship as the team makes its ascent to the top. It's somewhat remarkable that this Paramount/Miramax co-production of relatively recent vintage (1991) has been relegated to a release through a budget video company. The DVD presentation is extremely disappointing; the film has a soft look. I remember it looking much clearer and crisper in the theater at the time of its initial release. Most unfortunately, this DVD has been released in pan & scan rather than in widescreen; viewers are really being cheated of some outstanding cinematography. Also, the extras are minimal . . . there's a brief synopsis of the film, credits of the principal film makers, and short biographies of the film's two main stars, Michael Biehn and Matt Craven. This is the type of film where a "Making of" featurette would have been a great and welcome addition. Let's hope that sometime in he future, that Paramount or Miramax will see fit to give K2 the DVD release that it truly deserves.
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