Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

Sadly Over-hyped

Fantastic!

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

Based on a true story, "North Face"is a suspenseful adventure film about a competition to climb the most dangerous rock face in the Alps. Set in 1936, as Nazi Germany urges the nation's mountain climbers to conquer the unclimbed north face - the Eiger ("Ogre" in German) - two reluctant German climbers begin their daring ascent despite knowing their exploits will be used as propaganda. After being refused leave from the German army, they volunteer to make the climb, disinterested in Third Reich politics. (Nazi politics play only a historical role as the backdrop for the historic climb.)The German climbers play into the Nazis' superiority obsession as they face off against a rival Austrian duo in an attempt to be the first team to scale the infamous Eiger. Although the movie starts a little slowly in initiating the ascent of Eiger, it really picks up pace about one third the way in as the challenges of the climb become evident. The contrast between the plight of the mountain climbers and that of the rich bystanders who watch the life-threatening climb through telescopes while drinking champagne becomes increasingly and emotionally riveting. The two mountain climbers and female love interest are all solid actors, well directed, and well casted. The director did a superb job at capturing the climb. Everything was so convincingly shot, it makes you wonder if they actually filmed some of it on a real mountain. Convincing images that are both majestic and harrowing are actually achieved through CGI, but it was used sparingly and realistically for some frightening scenes. A gripping story in which the journey to the top is enough. See other movie reviews at: www.unhealedwound.com

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.

This is one of the best mountaineering films -- up there with Touching the Void. It is artfully constructed, beginning with a lighthearted romp in the Alps by the two protagonist climbers and ending with the full menacing power of the Eiger pounding them as they fight for their lives. It evokes the terror of people off for an adventure and getting in way over their heads. The terrorizing scenes on the mountain contrast with the spectators below, who warm themselves by a cozy fire and drink wine and eat fine food, dimly aware of what the mountaineers are going through, yet caught up in the romance of a first ascent of the North Face, as seen through a telescope on the deck of the restaurant. The movie is a meditation on the role of the press and the chasm between the news account of an event and the reality of the event itself. News reports are as detached from the reality of what is occurring on the mountain as the spectators with their telescopes down below.The climbing seems authentic -- there is no Sylvester Stallone swinging by one hand with a grimace on his face, no Tom Cruise doing a fancy back-to-the-wall climbing move never before seen on a rock wall. These are either very competent mountaineers or very good facsimiles.The female love interest evolves through the movie. At first she is a mousy secretary, easily bullied by her supervisors. Eventually she finds her own strength, and in doing so she begins acting on the basis of what she thinks is important and becomes an appealing person in her own right. The photography is stunning.