3D EVEREST

A climbing expedition on Mt. Everest is devastated by a severe snow storm. — IMDB

EVEREST is disappointing. It’s based on a true story which is tragic given the high loss of life. But the movie doesn’t seem to be as engaging as it should be given the material. There is little character development which meant it was difficult to empathise with the characters. There is only one occasion in the story where I felt deeply moved by what was happening on the screen. Part of the problem is that the film is populated by celebrity actors which, for me, gave it an inauthentic feel - we I kept thinking that these were just actors. In my opinion, unknown actors would have given it a more documentary-like tone which would have suited the story better, making it feel more real. The director also used the strategy of cutting back to partners at home, worrying about their loved ones on the climb. But this aspect of the story wasn’t significantly developed and felt disconnected from the events happening on the mountain even though the support from family was key for some of the participants. Nor was the 3D used to maximum effect. In fact, I didn’t think the 3D added anything significant to the viewing experience. The whole movie seemed too much like a by-the-numbers adventure drama.