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Review
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Today's
Date is:
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VERTICAL
LIMIT
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Reviewed
by: |
Christopher
J. Jarmick |
| Genre: |
Action |
| Video: |
Anamorphic
1.85:1 Widescreen |
| Audio: |
Dolby
Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 |
| Language: |
English,
French |
| Subtitle: |
English
(Captioned), French |
| Length: |
124
minutes |
| Rating: |
PG-13 |
| Release
Date: |
05/29/01
|
| Studio: |
Columbia/Tri
Star |
| Commentary:
|
The
disc includes commentary from Director Martin Campbell and Producer
Lloyd Phillips |
| Documentaries:
|
The
24 minute made for HBO special called Surviving Vertical Limit.
|
| Featurettes:
|
There are
several short featurettes contained on the disc. |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
Most
of the main members of the cast and crew are given a selected
filmography. |
|
Interviews: |
Several
interviews are included as part of the documentaries and featurettes
on this disc. |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Widescreen
trailers for Vertical Limit, Charlies Angels and Cliffhanger
are included. There is also a full frame type trailer for Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon. |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other: |
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Chris O'Donnell,
Bill Paxton, Scott Glenn, Robin Tunney, Izabella Scorupco, Nicholas
Lea, Alexander Siddig, Temeura Morrison |
| Screenplay
by: |
Robert King
(111) -Story; Robert King (111) and Terry Hayes screenplay. |
| Produced
by: |
Marcia Nasatir (executive
producer/producer), Lloyd Phillips (executive producer/producer),Mike
Medavoy (executive Producer), Martin Campbell (producer) Robert
King (V) (producer) |
| Directed
By: |
Martin Campbell |
| Music: |
James Newton Howard. |
| The
Review: |
Vertical
Limit will never appear on any list of great films, but compared
to other natural disaster films (even based on true story one's
like Perfect Storm) it's one of the better examples of how to
make an edge of your seat crowd pleaser. The film wastes no
time in delivering an exciting sequence. It opens with a Monument
Valley climbing sequence (which is far more believable and exciting
then the sequence that opened Mission Impossible 2). The sequence
ends in a tragedy and serves to introduce us to the film's main
protagonists --the brother sister climbing team of Peter (Chris
O'Donnel) and Annie (Robin Tunney) Garrett. We move ahead two
years and find Peter Garrett photographing Snow Leopards in
the Himalayas while his sister Annie Garrett is planning on
making a documentary on multi -millionaire Elliot Vaughn's attempt
to reach the summit of Pakistan's K2. The estranged Garrett's
meet up, but time has not healed the wounds created by the tragedy
that killed their father two years earlier. Before long Vaughn's
climbing team runs into bad weather. Annie Garrett plunges down
into a deep hidden crevice, but a terrifying Avalanche soon
wipes out most of the climbing team and joining Annie is Vaughn
and climbing expert and leader Tom Mclaren (Nicolas Lea). Since
they are beyond the Vertical Limit of 24,000 feet, their bodies
will quickly deteriorate if they do not have the proper medical
and food supplies. Can Peter Garrett organize a rescue team
and will they be able to rescue the trapped and stranded climbers
within 36 hours? Perhaps with the help of the mysterious mountain
man, Montgomery Wick (Scott Glenn) the impossible can be accomplished.
Director Martin Campbell (Goldeneye and The Mask of Zorro) whips
a pretty silly and cliché'd script into a decent action film
whose fast pace and impressive action sequences delivers all
the excitement you could ask for. There are several exciting
climbing sequences, which don't strain credibility (too much),
combined with the expected disasters, avalanches, fiery explosions,
an action film fan expects. Chris O'Donnell looking like a tanned
Southern California surfer makes an acceptable action movie
hero. Bill Paxton is again playing a colorful quirky supporting
character, while Scott Glenn demonstrates he can be almost as
colorful and fun as Lance Henricksen can be. Robin Tunney isn't
quite believable in her role but that doesn't deter from the
fun one bit. I might also mention this is not a film I suggest
you contemplate after watching it, as the silliness Of the script
does not withstand any kind of examination whatsoever. Tensions
are manufactured in extremely cliched manners and make less
than perfect logical sense. The film borrows ideas from films
as varied as Wages of Fear (transporting Nitro Glycerin) to
CliffHanger but it's made to be consumed by an audience that
wants a roller-coaster ride . It delivers the thrills with barely
a lull in the action. |
| Image
and Sound |
This film
looks pretty much flawless on DVD. Color brightness, saturation
and balances couldn't be better and black levels are fine. Reds
and Oranges stay red and orange and even through there is a
lot white snow on these mountains we do not get any flashing,
peaking, ghosting or the myriad of other problems which one
sometimes sees. From bright sun reflecting of snow , to nighttime
shots the picture remained stable, focused, and clear. The colors
never Faded. A few specks of dirt on the transfer print is the
only slight (very slight) nit-pick I can come up with. The Dolby
Digital 5.1 mix is extremely well done with the dialogue always
clear even during the loudest music stings and sound effects.
Many of the explosions, avalanche noises etc. are swirled in
surround sound manner moving from center channels to rear speakers
and back again. It fills your living room with a fully dimensional
sound detail, few DVD's offer. Nicely done. The 2.0 mix when
spot-checked also allowed one to hear the dialogue and while
it doesn't offer the full dimensionality of sound the 5.1 mix
offers it's pretty impressive. |
| The
Extras |
The 24 minute
made for HBO Surviving Vertical Limit is a better than average
behind the scenes mini-doc. It starts out with all the hype
you expect from these promotional short documentaries but adds
some very revealing behind the scenes footage either showing
or somewhat explaining some of the film-maker's tricks in making
the film. The star interviews have less ego than usual and wouldn't
you know it; Actor Scott Glenn really enjoyed doing some actual
ice climbing and insisted on being able to do some in the actual
film. His request was accommodated and makes for a good scene
in the film. There are several short featurettes contained on
the disc. 8 of them are grouped together under the Search and
Rescue Tales. These cover some of the same material covered
in the behind the scenes documentary but with more detail. They
offer a combination of interviews, film clips and behind the
scenes footage. VERTIGO MAGIC (5:30 minutes) is a look at how
the climbing scenes were shot with a combination of actors on
location, stunt men, blue screen and more. TREKKING TO K2 (7:15
minutes) shows how climbers actual prepare for attempting a
climb on K2, which begins with a 12-day hike. AS EASY AS FALLING
OFF A CLIFF (5:05 minutes) is a look at how the actors were
trained and taught how to climb. Yes they went to an intensive
climbing school and learned how to do it. AVALANCHE (3:22 minutes)
shows us what real avalanches are like and how they were created
for the film. PEAK PERFORMANCE (3:00) Looks at the professional
climbers who served as consultants on the film. THE ELIXIR OF
LIFE (4:07 minutes) examines the actual strain and stresses
your body experiences at extremely high altitudes. FEATURETTE
CREDITS (1:07) are the featurette credits shown over some brief
interview clips with the lead actors of the film. Also on the
disc is the short National Geographic Featurette: THE QUEST
FOR K2 (13 minutes) Is a look at the first team of American
climbers, which successfully reached the summit of K2. It includes
interviews with the climbers and actual footage from the 1978
expedition. A number of above average featurettes that go behind
the scenes and show us how the film was made are provided on
the disc. |
| Commentary |
The audio
commentary for director Martin Campbell and producer Lloyd Phillips
is a middle of the road type commentary which covers the usual
bases in discussing how various shots we achieved, the location
problems and challenges and being overly complimentary of the
actors. It doesn't provide enough detail for wanna-be-film-makers
to seek out, but should be of interests to fans of the film
and film buffs in general. |
| Final
Words: |
Vertical
Limit is an above average formula action film. Some of the plot
twists strain credibility but the action sequences are fun,
edge of your seat type stuff. It's more credible than Cliffhanger
and a whole lot better than K2. If you don't have too serious
a fear of heights you'll probably have fun munching popcorn
and watching this exciting time-killer. The DVD extras are also
informative and fun to watch. The film is not one that sets
it sights too high and delivers the goods with what today can
be considered a modest budget. Lack of huge box-office stars
and good use of locations work in this film's favor. ---Christopher
J. Jarmick, is the author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F.
Holder a critically acclaimed, steamy suspense thriller. For
information on Author readings/signings or availability of special
autographed editions of the novel email: glasscocoon@hotmail
for details. Original portions of this review Copyright© Christopher
J. Jarmick 2001. The above work is protected by international
copyright law. |
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