Andes To Amazon DVD

Advantages: Wonderful special effects, inspiring, miraculous story
Disadvantages: Harrowing at times

...and overcomes his grief at the death of his sister in order to go on to be one of the two heroes who manages to breach the Andes and get help for his team mates. He is ably supported by an excellent cast including Vincent Spano and Josh Hamilton, but really no one character stands out any more than any other. The group really are a team in all things, and it is the story itself that is the star of this film. I cannot recommend this film highly enough. It is testament to the immense bravery and sheer will power of those who survived the crash in the Andes, and is a wonderful, sensitive tribute to those who died. The film is a 15 certificate, due to some graphic scenes of horrific injuries and a fairly adult subject matter. The running time is 121 minutes and I bought the DVD (which includes a documentary about the making of the film) as part... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Superb photography, gripping story
Disadvantages: None

...If you love mountains, if you love climbing, if you love beautiful photography, or if you just love a really good thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, then you will love this film. The film shows the true story of a climb in the Peruvian Andes that went spectacularly wrong, and the incredible battle for survival that followed. The story is portrayed in a semi-documentary style, accompanied by hauntingly beautiful photography in the Andes and the Alps, which works really well. The film manages to get across what it actually feels like to climb mountains - both the highs and the lowest of the lows! I can honestly say that I have never seen a cinema audience so mesmerised - some people were literally gripping their seats! If you get the chance to see this at a cinema, don't miss it, because it definitely needs a big... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A story better than any fiction.
Disadvantages: Absolutely none

...I can imagine the Director, Kevin Macdonald, had a bit of trouble pitching this film to potential investors. “ Half of the film is going to be interviews, sitting in a studio, head and shoulders only, staring into the camera. The other half is going to be reconstruction, using unknown actors.” Doesn’t sound like the best way of delivering one of the most dramatic climbing stories ever told, but it works superbly. Joe Simpson and Simon Yates are the climbers doing the storytelling. In 1986 they set off to the Andes to attempt the first successful ascent of the West face of the Siula Grande, a 21,000ft peak in Peru. They pick up a traveller on the way, who has nothing better to do at the time, and use him as their contact at base camp. The ascent goes to plan and they summit quite happily, little realising what is in store for them... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful