Film Reviews

Everest

• Rating:
• Director: David Breashears and Stephen Judson
• Starring: Araceli Segarra
• Details: NZ / 40 mins / (PG).

'Everest' is one of the most emotive movies available showing a selection of climbers struggle to reach the peak. The movie features guide Ed Viesturs, who is climbing Everest while on honeymoon, Araceli Segarra, who wants to become the first Spanish woman ever to climb the mountain and the touching journey of Jamling Tenzing Norgay. Jamling wants to follow in the footsteps of his famous father, who accompanied Hillary to the top in 1953. His story is told beautifully, with a few well-chosen words and some magnificent imagery. The second story is of the single worst disaster in Everest history. On May 10, 1996 five climbers died during a freak storm at the top of the mountain. The filmmakers made a tasteful decision not to film any of the victims, alluding quietly to their grief at this great loss.

The IMAX Everest Experience is an emotionally profound one, and it certainly takes the pain out of climbing the world's highest peak.

Review by Garreth Murphy