The plot in Vertical Limit is ludicrously contrived and cliched. Meanwhile, the action sequences are so over-the-top and piled one on top of another, they lessen the impact on the viewer.
The plot in Vertical Limit is ludicrously contrived and cliched. Meanwhile, the action sequences are so over-the-top and piled one on top of another, they lessen the impact on the viewer.
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Average Rating: 2.8/5
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Family differences and personal grudges add drama to an already tense situation as the lives of a team of mountain climbers hang in the balance in this action drama. Peter Garrett (Chris O'Donnell) and his sister Annie (Robin Tunney) are the children of Royce Garrett (Stuart Wilson), an avid outdoorsman and climbing enthusiast who died when an accident left all three hanging from a single rope; Royce ordered Peter to cut him loose to save the lives of his kids, even though he knew it would mean
his death. Years later, Peter has given up climbing and become a respected nature photographer, while Annie, who holds Peter responsible for her father's death, is a famous world-class mountain climber who is hired by Elliot Vaughn (Bill Paxton), a self-made billionaire, to help him scale K2, a mountain in the Himalayas that's the second-highest peak in the world. In the midst of the climb, dangerous weather strikes, and Elliot, Annie, and their crew find themselves trapped in a cavern that's been sealed tight by an avalanche. Peter, who is near K2 working on an assignment, quickly organizes a crew of expert climbers to save Annie and the other mountaineers, who must work under a tight deadline before the trapped climbers run out of air. Peter's partners in the rescue include beautiful medic Monique (Izabella Scorupco), radical climbers Cyril (Steve Le Marquand) and Malcolm (Ben Mendelsohn), disciplined Pakistani crewman Kareem (Alexander Siddig), and Montgomery (Scott Glenn), an eccentric outdoorsman who has a score to settle with Elliot. While backgrounds were shot on location in Pakistan, most of the climbing sequences in Vertical Limit were actually filmed on mountain ranges in New Zealand. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Certainly a movie in which people are forced to test themselves in unpleasant situations. But the people I have in mind are the people in the audience.
This rockumentary leaves Vertical Limit and Cliffhanger in the powder snow. The men's versions of the events are fascinating, often amusing and blatantly honest.
If you ever have the choice of being trapped, halfway up a mountain, or of watching this movie, than I advise you to don that parka and long underwear.
Vertical Limit is about as silly as movies come, but the only thing that really counts is whether or not the action sequences are exciting. And they are, in a big way.
This was the coolest movie when I was 11 years old and I still have to say that it's a lot of fun and delivers adrenaline with an icy cold fury. It's like an unofficial companion to Cliffhanger; this deals with a similar case of rock climbing guilt. There are so many crazy stunts, unwarranted destruction and deadly
situations that it's hard not to get wrapped up in the story and feel the power of snow terror running down your spine. Chris O'Donnell fares extremely well as his action star self, something that must've been hard to achieve post-Batman & Robin. Bill Paxton also works well as the movie's diabolical villain who somehow manages to outshine a natural disaster. With incredibly well shot action sequences, great pacing and fun characters, it's hard not to find something to enjoy about this.
Vertical Limit is an exciting Mountain Climbing, action packed guilty pleasure. The acting isnt great and the special effects are average at best but the storyline is well delivered and will have you hanging on the edge of your seat throughout.Twists and turns are what power this movie forward as we follow a rescue
mission up K2, against the elements and against time as Peter Garrett (Chris O'Donnell) tries to save his sister.Its the opening sequence that hooks you in though as its probably one of the most effective and emotionally draining opening scenes I've seen in a very long time. Very powerful and a great way to start the movie.As said, this is a guilty pleasure and Bill Paxton is always worth a watch!"That's a bloody great idea. Smoking next to the nitro. Although, bro and I always hoped that you'd blow us. "
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