Summary:Only three centuries ago, setting out to climb a mountain would have been considered close to lunacy. Mountains were places of peril, not beauty, an upper world to be shunned, not sought out. Why do mountains now hold us spellbound, drawing us into their dominion, often at the cost of our lives? From Tibet to Australia, Alaska to NorwayOnly three centuries ago, setting out to climb a mountain would have been considered close to lunacy. Mountains were places of peril, not beauty, an upper world to be shunned, not sought out. Why do mountains now hold us spellbound, drawing us into their dominion, often at the cost of our lives? From Tibet to Australia, Alaska to Norway armed with drones, Go-Pros and helicopters, director Jennifer Peedom has fashioned an astonishing symphony of mountaineers, ice climbers, free soloists, heliskiers, snowboarders, wingsuiters and parachuting mountain bikers. Willem Dafoe provides a narration sampled from British mountaineer Robert Macfarlane’s acclaimed memoir Mountains of the Mind, and a classical score from the Australian Chamber Orchestra accompanies this majestic cinematic experience.…Expand
A visually stunning and beautifully orchestrated feast for the senses, featuring breathtaking shots of some of the world's most dramatic mountain peaks and those who attempt to conquer them., all set to a moving musical score. While the voiceover narration is occasionally compelling andA visually stunning and beautifully orchestrated feast for the senses, featuring breathtaking shots of some of the world's most dramatic mountain peaks and those who attempt to conquer them., all set to a moving musical score. While the voiceover narration is occasionally compelling and insightful, it nevertheless sometimes comes up a little thin in providing meaning and relevance. In all, a nice visual and auditory diversion for 75 minutes; just don't expect the heavens to part or the ground beneath your feet to rumble.…Expand
it's not something terribly new (we've all seen mountaineering, base jumping, etc daredevil feats, we've all heard about the transformation of Everest into a giant and stupid ego-trip etc...) but the juxtaposition of the shots (i.e. editing) combined with very popular music choices (Vivaldi,it's not something terribly new (we've all seen mountaineering, base jumping, etc daredevil feats, we've all heard about the transformation of Everest into a giant and stupid ego-trip etc...) but the juxtaposition of the shots (i.e. editing) combined with very popular music choices (Vivaldi, score of Tree of Life if I'm correct) makes it a nice little break from everyday life. Nice escapism.…Expand