Everest
[3.0/4.0]
The latest Imax production is a documentary following three climbers in their pursuit of the world's highest peak. One member, Ed Viesturs, is an Everest veteran, but the other two, Spaniard Araceli Segarra and Nepali Jamling Norgay (whose father Tenzing Norgay was the partner of Sir Edmund Hillary in the first successful scaling of the summit) are making the attempt for the first time.
The main draw of this film is the spectacular scenery of the beautiful but deadly Himalaya. Often grand, sweeping shots of the mountainside are shown, with the sense of scale unapparent until the tiny outline of the climbers and their tents appears. The crew was making their attempt immediately following the infamous group that was caught in sudden storm, with several members losing their lives. The story of the ill-fated expedition provides much of the tension and drama, and serves as a reminder that even this group of experts are risking their lives.
The only real criticism of the film is that the static, panoramic views of the Himalaya are not the best use of the Imax format. I personally enjoy the more dynamic scenes, such as a helicopter winding through a river valley, that capitalize on the full range of view that is the hallmark of the Imax format. In fact, I enjoyed the short scenes of Viesturs and his fiancee biking through a Utah national park (filmed from a helicopter) and of Segarra rock-climbing, as much as the remainder of the Everest scenes. There is also some wasted (in the sense that the Imax format did not contribute) time detailing Norgay's desires to follow the accomplishments of his father, in an attempt to construct a narrative for the story.
Recommended. This may not be the best in the Imax series, but certainly is enjoyable. Everyone who likes Imax films will also enjoy this one.
(c) 1999 Murali Krishnan The Art House Squatter http://pages.hotbot.com/movies/murali24/
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