You won't be disappointed!

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

To be fair, I didn't know the story of Kurz & Hinterstoisser before watching the movie, and hence I had no idea of their struggle or the horrible result of their endeavor. So when I watched the movie, I believed it to be portraying a first ascent of the Eiger, not a miserable demise.I was stunned by the simplicity in mountaineering back then, and even more by the personal strength and courage it must have taken for them to do what they did… but even though they were real manly men, they all suffer agonizingly and slow deaths, and it just left me with a strong sensation of empathy, for their powerlessness, and futile efforts against the mountain.I can honestly say that I (naively)believed it to have a happy ending, but the reality of the movie left me in awe and deep respect for the forces of the mountains, and the effort of those trying to conquer them.Truly an amazing movie!

Great climbing shots - but also shot-for-shot ripoffs of Clint Eastwood's "Eiger Sanctions". Loved the history, but lost interest when it turned into a rehash of the earlier film. I can't think of anything more challenging than conquering this mountain. And the fact that there were no hard-hats, no down sleeping bags for bivouacs back then. Just like those whose made it to the top of Everest with no oxygen. They were stronger back then, and I have nothing but admiration for those who made it back to tell the tale. I also recommend Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air" for a very real taste of those who have the stamina to ascend, and those in our modern age who are instead carried to the summit.

Although I haven't seen many other films about mountain climbing, I would agree with some of the reviewers who say it is the best film ever made about this dangerous sport. Since 1935, at least fifty climbers have died attempting the north face.It is based on a true story, if one believes the publicity for the movie. Anyway, Wikipedia (if you trust the contributors to the site) confirms this, while providing many details that help explain the action; some parts of the movie are so gripping that the viewer can easily forget details.In one part of the movie the female lead pleads with a rescue team to reach the climbers, who got stuck for several days in a storm. They only agree to go on the mission when the she replies positively to a question, that one of the climbers is her man, although in the story it is not clear how developed their relationship is, apart and beyond a long-term childhood friendship. They ascend in a cog-wheel railcar through a tunnel in the mountain, towards a tunnel window from which they hope to reach the stranded climbers. The camera moves from face to face in the railcar, and it becomes evident that the rescuers and heroine consider themselves as one family (or clan). It's not clear to me if the camera operator and/or film editor manipulated anything, but the faces do look as if they are from the same genetic strand.***Spoilers below*** The film leaves out an important fact that sheds a different perspective on the chances of a successful return from the summit. The film plot would lead the viewer to believe the only back down is to retrace the route up. Given the perilous conditions, the viewer concludes that the climbers are crazy to risk their lives in this attempt. This is most likely true under any circumstances. However, from the top they could descend by the easy western route. This is what the successful 1938 team did; a four-man team of Austrian and German climbers reached the top in three days. Among them was Heinrich Harrar, author of "Seven Years in Tibet." A 1997 film was made of this true story, with Brad Pitt as the protagonist. In the foreword of his book, Harrar says that it was his dream to join the German-Austrian expedition to ascend the Diamir Face of Nanga Parbat (8125 m) in the Himalayas. Because he was a student from a modest family, he wasn't able to join the expedition as a contributing member, but, instead, felt that he had to distinguish himself in other ways and thus be selected to join the expedition. He decided to make a name for himself by climbing the north face of the Eiger. This he accomplished, with a team of three others, in 1938. The route they followed was the one identified by one of the 1936 team, and it includes the portion now known as the Hinterstoisser traverse. There is irony here: he wanted to be recognized as being capable for the ascent of the 8000+ m Nanga Parbat, and succeeded on the 3970 m Eiger where so many others had failed.

North Face (2008)Well, this is one exhausting, harrowing, amazing experience on film. Even the actors, acting and not actually fighting for their lives, look like they've been through hell. The filming holds back nothing on the horror of being caught in a storm on the infamous North Face of the Eiger, in the Alps. These very talented, likable chaps (even though Germans just before WWII, yes), are up against it big time. And the movie makes the most of it.It's a simple story, and a simple structure, contrasting the comfortable press corps down below with their fireplaces and wine, against the men on the cliff, night and day. A woman and a love story are a part of it as we go, but this is more a love/hate story of men against each other, against themselves, and against the mountain, weather systems included. It's a relief to see a movie without heroes. There is a lot of heroism, for sure, and admirable human behavior up and down. But none of the throbbing music as one or the other of the men performs an impossible feat. This is about a real life and death confrontation, and breakdown, and impossibility. Well done, well done. High frustrating and nerve wracking to watch, but well done.