Vertical Limit (2000)

Vertical Limit: Directed by Martin Campbell. With Chris O’Donnell, Robin Tunney, Stuart Wilson, Augie Davis. A climber must rescue his sister on top of K2, one of the world’s biggest mountains.

“Having climbed in the Andes, Tian Shan, St. Elias and otheru003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003emountain ranges across the planet, I was often asked what Iu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ethought of this movie, and itu0026#39;s accuracy. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThis is, without doubt, the least accurate film on climbing I haveu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eever seen. This movie is simply absurd. I consider it about asu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;accurateu0026quot; as, say, Spy Kids is to global espionage. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn addition to the gaffs pointed out, I wanted to state what wasu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003emost amusing to me: Inside the crevasse, the climbers ice toolsu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ebounce off the crevasse walls like theyu0026#39;re made out of solid steelu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e(and u0026#39;pingu0026#39; just like it). But when Chris Ou0026#39;Donnall does his fullu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003esprint (at altitude!) and huge leap across a cavernous abyss, heu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003edrives his ice tools into the other side – made of solid rock – andu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003esticks like Spiderman. The film is filled with many other absurdu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eimplausabilities that insult the sport it manipulates in the guise ofu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eentertainment. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAside from that, as so many others have noted, the movie isu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003esimple minded action. If you donu0026#39;t mind laughing at much of it, andu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003edonu0026#39;t for a moment think it represents realistic climbing, leave youru003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ebrain at the door and you might have some fun. But most peopleu003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ewill just find it absurd rubbish.”