Sep 24, 2001 06:21 PM
3296 Views
Vertical limit is one of those films you will either love or I loved it! Yet despite my fear of heights, I really enjoyed this film. Okay some scenes did have me looking at the screen from my hands strategically placed over my eyes!
The story open with four climbers on a ‘vertical’ mountain face! Three are related, namely Father, Son and daughter. As they climb their way to the peak, the unthinkable happens, the rope breaks free and they begin their long plunge to the earth ‘miles’ below! Luckily one rope holds and the son is then ordered by his father to cut the rope-thus - his father and another climber. But does he have the guts to cut the rope, and k-ill his father?
A few years later, and surprisingly enough they haven’t been put off climbing through the terrible experience of years ago. A millionaire wishes to make a ‘statement’ not to mention an ‘advert’. They gather together a team of the best climbers to scale the tall mountain K2 (which is the worlds second tallest peak).
Chris O’Donnell plays Peter Garrett whose sister (Robin Tunney) has been assigned to assist in the climb! The climbing team leader has a grudge to mend with the millionaire, will her settle it – high up the mountain?
Unluckily the event takes a turn for the worse, and they need rescuing. They are reckoned to have just 36 hours to live, before their lungs fill with fluid and they drown within their own body! Oedema is quick to set in at these heights.
The film has some e action (literally), with some great effects. The main photography began in the mountain ranges of Mt Cook and town-New Zealand!
Forbidding mountain sets were designed and created to match and enhance conditions of the exterior filming. Sets were sprayed with wax to make them look icy, and covered with frozen snow foam! Two stage areas were created, one at 60 feet and one at 65 feet. This enabled a camera to drop over ledges and arc around the set, which gave more realism to the film.
Directed by Martin Campbell and produced by Lloyd Phillips, the film is certified as certificated 12, and runs for about 2 hours.
Vertical limits is one of those films that I would watch again, which doesn’t often happen with me and films. The scenery is awesome, the acting is great, the special effects are excellent, and the storyline is believable. Well worth a watch.
