Imax / Everest (Spec) [DVD] [1998] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

It is recommended to read in advance, (for those that are interested and hadn't already), the large format book 'Everest Mountain without Mercy' (National Geographic Society) which contains numerous photos and provides a comprehensive background to the dvd's content. The complete IMAX film version is/was best seen on a large format cinema screen, as those who had the chance to watch the film originally will agree.Anyway, despite the dvd arriving with an almost crushed case, the disk was OK and is worth watching for the great scenic shots and the abbreviated storey-line of the above mentioned book. The quality is fine also.As an aside, the book by Jon Krakauer 'Into Thin Air', and, by David Breashears 'High Exposure' provides alternative perspectives to this period (1996 Everest season).

Just to clarify, this is a 40-minute American documentary from the 90s, shot in IMAX format. Although this DVD is a Dutch import, there's no problem playing it on standard British DVD players, and all the dialogue is in the original English. It does have Dutch subtitles, but they can be turned off easily enough.Those who have read any of the books describing the events of 10 May 1996, when eight climbers lost their lives high on Everest in a storm, will already be familiar with this IMAX expedition from the same year. (If you haven't read any of them, you may wish to, as they'll add a lot of background to what you'll see here. While this documentary was never intended to be about the tragedy, the IMAX crew happened to be on the spot at the time, and were deeply involved with events as they unfolded. As far as books go, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer is probably the best place to start.)The resultant documentary seems to stick to its original (rather jolly, squeaky-clean) script, while inevitably having to show some of the darker side of what happened. We witness climber Ed Viesturs urging the dying Rob Hall to keep going, via radio link... also the astonishingly easy-on-the-eye Spanish climber, Araceli Segarra, tearful and almost lost for words. The full horror of the story is kept to a minimum, however, and the documentary quickly gets back on its original track with a successful summit attempt, lots of back-slapping, and fabulous shots of the scenery.Which brings me to the whole point of the documentary: the scenery. While the rousing orchestral music is dreadful and the climbers' commentaries wooden and unnatural, the scenery really is spectacular. I viewed the DVD on a tiny 6" portable screen. IMAX films are shot at great expense in high resolution, and are intended for screens some 180 times that size, so the bigger the screen you've got, the better! It's not wide screen format, so looks a bit boxy by modern standards, but still looks pretty incredible fifteen years on. And let's face it, it's the closest most of us will ever get to Everest.Narrated by Liam Neeson, and starring Beck Weathers, Jamling Tenzing Norgay, Araceli Segarra, Ed Viesturs, Paula Viesturs. There's also some British geologist called Roger with the poshest English accent ever.Incidentally, I've read that the original 1999 Miramax DVD included a 'Making Of' featurette, an extended interview with Beck Weathers, deleted scenes, climber video journals, and a 3D map of Everest. Note that this DVD contains NONE of that... just the documentary.

I saw this in Futurescope in France in about 2001. I knew nothing about the disaster until then but found the film moving. Of course it's filmed to be screened on a huge IMAX screen, and I'll never forget "Everest" towering over us!When I saw Everest the movie this year I was sure that this was the same disaster, although everyone I told said it wasn't. But I clearly heard the IMAX crew mentioned in the film. They even helped with the rescue. I now know this IS the same incident.I never thought I'd see this film again, and am so glad it is available. As it was filmed for an IMAX cinema you are not going to get the impact that was originally intended, but if you want to see this incident actually unfold, watch this! The IMAX crew were on Everest filming a documentary about a team climbing this iconic peak, and much of the film was about that team. They had no way of knowing that this tragedy would occur to Rob Hall's team, also on the mountain at the same time, so don't expect footage to focus exclusively on the build up to the disaster.I've seen a comment that the film is amateurish. Filming at those altitudes where the human body is not meant to survive, and often doesn't, was pretty amazing. This was climbers filming a place most of us can never reach. This is also not a Hollywood movie, this is real, as it happened, documentary.For me it provides the perfect companion to the 2015 film Everest, which in itself proved to be very faithful to actual events, in my opinion.The DVD is an import and has sleeve notes and subtitles in Dutch. Don't let this put you off. The subtitles are easily switched off, and everything else is in English as the original would have been.

HAVEN'T ACTUALLY WATCHED THIS YET, BUT I FOUND AN ANOMALY - TRIED TO PLAY ON MY HOME DVD PLAYER BUT NO SOUND ??? EVEN A FAMILY MEMBER WHO KNOWS ABOUT THESE THINGS, GAVE UP. THEN I TOOK TO WORK LOADED IT ON MY PC DVD AND I HAVE SOUND !!! AM I DOING SOMETHING WRONG ? I READ INTO THIN AIR AND THIS INCIDENT FEATURES IN THE BOOK AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT ON A 40" SCREEN. CAN YOU ADVISE ? IF I GET THE SOUND TO WORK I WILL POST NEW REVIEW AFTER WATCHING.J~M

Great watch seen it in Caesars palace on the big screen

This is an amazing film which visually makes for a stunning spectacle. There are clearly scenes which are filled with the Imax screen in mind and these don't quite come off on a normal tv but it still manages to convey the scale of the mountain better than most Everest films.the personal stories in the film add to the story. Worth every penny. Yes it's an import but no problem playing it in the UK.