Vertical Limit is the right movie for those who have always wanted to climb the K2 mountain but unfortunately don’t have the right physique or preparation.
Obviously, I’m joking since the stunts we will see are far from realistic or even remotely close to the laws of physics.
To summarize, an egocentric billionaire wants to climb K2 by putting on a big TV show.
It’s payback for him after surviving an attempt that ultimately ended in tragedy many years earlier.
He wishes to make as much money as possible, organizing the event in conjunction with a major airline opening day.
The group will have to race against time, arriving at the summit precisely as the company’s first flight passes over their heads.
Two young but famous and experienced guides lead the tour group, taking care of everyone’s safety.
One of them is a girl who tragically lost her father a few years earlier in a tragic mountain accident.
Her brother, afraid of the extreme difficulty of the assignment she is about to undertake, begs her to let go while she still has time.
However, she embarks anyway on the ascent with the numerous group the billionaire has put together.
Unfortunately for them, the weather suddenly worsens, and almost everyone dies, while the two guides and the billionaire fall into a fissure with no way out.
At that point, the brother takes command of a rescue team to recover the survivors before they freeze to death.
On top of the world it can get very cold
As I said at the beginning, watching a movie like Vertical Limit, don’t expect a documentary or a mountaineering course.
The jumps and the acrobatics climb of the K2 mountain very often defy the laws of physics and the human body.
Except for the ambiguous Scott Glenn, the rest split too much into stereotypes of good, bad, and idiots people.
But it’s also unfair to judge this movie too harshly, which I still enjoyed and therefore would recommend to everyone.
Despite the climb flaws and exaggerations, you can breathe in K2 mountain fresh air with some incredible landscapes.
Also, while not very believable, the staging of the climb is still good for a classic adventure story.
The editing and pacing of the narrative are just right, even leaving room for drama and a few romantic moments.
The simple yet effective plot builds a decent amount of tension for the survival of the unfortunate characters.
Perhaps we can discuss the extreme bad luck of these characters, bordering on a divine curse.
Literally, there is not a single thing going right for them ever in any situation from start to finish.
Indeed, the crazy chain of events leading up to the disaster is at the very least a bit improbable.
Fate befalls them, ranging from freezing weather to the extremely unstable explosives the rescuers are carrying around.
However, like it or not, you can not deny that the movie can entertain, never dull throughout its entire duration.
The various scenes intend to be spectacular, sometimes too much perhaps, but ultimately no more than other Hollywood productions.
In conclusion, it is a classic show to enjoy in the theater, maybe with a pretty girl or some popcorns on your lap.
Vertical Limit has no limits, vertical or any other kind
Honestly, for a long time, Martin Campbell never really impressed me, except in 1994’s No Escape, an excellent dystopian adventure.
Otherwise, he was part of some rich productions like The Mask of Zorro or GoldenEye, entertaining but definitely not unforgettable.
I must pay homage to his recent Casino Royale, an excellent reboot, and my favorite chapter in James Bond‘s long-running saga.
In this spy movie, the director exploited his talent at its best, launching the career of Daniel Craig definitively.
Instead, Vertical Limit is a movie with the main protagonists, the couple of young actors Chris O’Donnell and Robin Tunney.
The beginning is canonically tragic, as they lose their father who sacrifices himself for them to survive.
These two young and beautiful actors are relatively similar, without particular infamy or laudation.
However, if I had to choose, I would prefer the actress, later appearing in TV series like The Mentalist.
Playing the role of the arrogant, murderous billionaire is the legendary Bill Paxton, famously frightened soldier in 1986’s Aliens.
The legendary phrase he uttered was “They’re coming outta the goddamn walls!” which has become a catchphrase over the years, iconic as the movie itself.
Since every villain needs a hero, we also have the excellent Scott Glenn, old friend/enemy of the Daredevil series, as a widowed mountain guru seeking revenge.
As mentioned, he is ambiguous, giving a little more intensity to the plot, making the final confrontation very interesting.
As usual, trying not to spoil too much of the story, it only remains for me to wish you enjoy.
I hope this is enough to get you interested in a movie that, if it wasn’t clear, really entertained me.
