Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.5

Everest Blu-ray Movie Review

The climb to the top was the easy part.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 12, 2016

Human beings simply aren't built to function at the cruising altitude of a 747.

Everest may have all the earmarks of a Disaster film and a special effects film, but while those are certainly in play the greater narrative pushes them aside in favor of a much more organic, heartfelt, and straightforward story of man versus nature, the human spirit, and the fragility of life. Everest recounts the true story of a successful expedition to the top of Mount Everest that cost the lives of several climbers who became trapped in a terrible storm after reaching the summit. Director Baltasar Kormákur (2 Guns, Contraband) tells their story with an honest grace and directness. The film captures the hardships of the journey, the triumph of success, and the awful details of their deaths. It's an exceedingly well done film from a technical perspective, too, boasting gorgeous photography and an all-star cast in what is one of 2015's top films, both aesthetically and dramatically alike.

Ascension.

By 1996, scaling Mount Everest had become easier and a commercial endeavor. Several outfits, including Adventure Consultants, began guiding amateur climbers to the mountain's summit, and with terrific results. The death toll plummeted to nothing and, suddenly, a feat of superhuman accomplishment was accessible to anyone with the time and money to devote to the climb. One particular climb, however, would change everything. Adventure Consultant's Rob Hall (Jason Clarke) would lead a group to a successful ascension that included, amongst others, a Texas doctor named Beck Weathers (Josh Brolin), a Japanese woman named Yasuko Namba (Naoko Mori) who had previous scaled six of the world's highest peaks, a postal worker named Doug Hansen (John Hawkes) on his second try in as many years, and an outdoors journalist named Jon Krakauer (Michael Kelly). Along with other guide leaders and their clients from competing firms -- Scott Fischer (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Guy Cotter (Sam Worthington) -- the trek to the top is hazardously dense, but the expedition proves successful. Unfortunately, a massive storm rolls in just as the climbers begin their descent, a storm that's strong enough to kill even the most prepared amongst them.

Everest can essentially be whittled down to two unique elements that work in rugged but beautiful harmony: the humanity behind the story and the technical prowess that makes the movie happen. At the center of the movie is the human drive and man's determination to conquer, in this case to conquer not one another but nature. But why? Is "because it's there" worth a life and the very real risks associated with such an endeavor? One of the few areas where the film slightly stutters comes from its lack of deeper psychological insights into the climbers' psyches. That endless determination to beat the mountain is there -- Doug is the single best example -- but that determination never quite feels grounded in a relatable dramatic mechanism. Nevertheless, the film demonstrates the human will at its most determined and its most vulnerable, simultaneously, which is what makes the movie, and this particular true-to-life story, so fascinating. It's sort of like the metaphorical unstoppable force, in this case the human condition, meeting the immovable object, in this case Everest, with mother nature ultimately deciding the outcome. The film is, at its most superficial core, about the struggles up and down the mountain -- the energy and will necessary to ascend and the much more dangerous descent -- but beyond the cold, the lack of oxygen, the frostbite, the body's inability to cope is the question of why, of the human spirit, of man's thirst to prove his worth. The film examines that, often more in the guise of a pure Adventure film, on both extremes in the struggle to the top, the fleeting moment of triumph, and the descent into near certain death.

The film's impeccable technical merits only accentuate its spirited representation of the battle of man versus nature and the drive of the human condition. Director Baltasar Kormákur plays the film in a largely straightforward manner, capturing the scale and majesty of the mountain and, often, in contrast against man himself. Once the ascent begins, and particularly following the climb to the summit and the dangers that emerge with the descent, Kormákur does a wonderful job of juxtaposing the courage, fear, determination, and impossible physical conditions on the mountain with the uncertainties at base camp, producing some of the most raw and honest emotions as the climbers are essentially cut off by the conditions and a physical distance that only crackly radios can penetrate. The actors are extraordinary in every moment, whether in their wide-eyed and, for some of them, rather cocky attitudes before the climb and the effortless emotions they portray after. As they climb, reach the peak, and come back down, so too do the emotions travel along the same curve, and the entire cast proves remarkable in the task of conveying those intimate emotions -- the highs and lows alike -- with enough of a genuine push that the movie's bleakest moments may not leave a dry eye in the theater.

Everest Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Everest opens with a barrage of beautiful colors. The film's first shot pops with a beautiful assortment of bright, cheerful colors seen on tents and winter clothing, standing out particularly well against the otherwise frigidly white and gray backdrops. Indeed, colors explode throughout the film, more pronounced early on before the storm rolls in. Even in the various cityscape shots and moments there's an endless assortment of attractive hues on display. Details are just as impressive. Even as there's an ever-so-mild digital flatness to the image, textures are superb, refined and tactile across the board. Rocky bits at the base and along the path up the mountain are terrific, as are clumps of snow. Skin textures, both before and after frostbite, are intimately revealing. Clothing textures are excellent, even on the otherwise rather smooth heavy winter jackets. Black levels and shadow detail are terrific and skin tones appear neutral. Banding and noise are present in scant amounts that most won't even notice. This is a sensational transfer from Universal.

Everest Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Everest features a Dolby Atmos (core Dolby TrueHD 7.1 lossless) soundtrack. The 7.1 track has been screened for the purpose of this review, and it's fantastic. The film opens with blustery winds swirling around the stage, and even considering the raw rush of sound, there's an elegance to the presentation, a balance, an immersion, that instantly conveys the feeling of frigid hopelessness that will come to define the film's second half. Bass is hefty and healthy in this windy moment and all that come later, leaving the listening audience all but feeling the chill on their skin. Music is likewise prominent but graceful. Clarity extends throughout the entire range, wide front and surrounding back channel details are constant, and the low end is prominent but not overwhelming. Various locations spring to life with effortless totality, particularly in the film's first act where dense city din, background airport details, and the varied sounds at base camp are richly full and pleasing with a complete stage saturation. Dialogue comes through with expert clarity and natural center placement. Prioritization is excellent, though the film does, deliberately, lessen the ability to make out every last detail in the midst of the storm or over the crackly radio signals. This is a tremendous soundtrack from Universal and every bit a reference listen.

Everest Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Everest contains several featurettes and an audio commentary track. A DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy are included with purchase.

• Race to the Summit: The Making of Everest (1080p, 10:59): A look at the importance of story and filmmaking authenticity, working in Nepal and filming on and around Everest, locations in Italy, harsh conditions during the shoot, Baltasar Kormákur's work on the shoot, and more.
• Learning to Climb (1080p, 4:42): Cast discuss physical preparations for the film, challenges on the shoot, and more.
• A Mountain of Work (1080p, 5:13): A look at constructing and working on a few key mountain set pieces on a soundstage and the digital effects that supported them.
• Aspiring to Authenticity: The Real Story (1080p, 6:47): Cast, crew, the loved ones of those lost on the mountain, and survivors of the event discuss the importance of authenticity in the film.
• Audio Commentary: Director Baltasar Kormákur offers a richly detailed and well spoken track that covers all of the usual angles -- performances, technical details of the shoot, shooting locations, challenges of the shoot -- but also infuses plenty of heart into the track, discussing the real people and story along the way. This is a quality supportive track that fans of the film should enjoy.

Everest Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Everest intermixes the intimacy of man's essence with the scope of the world's highest peak to near perfection. The film is dazzling in construction but more a fascinating, though not quite 100% complete, look at man's will and determination both to succeed and survive. Far more than a simple "Disaster" or "Survival" film, Everest proves more emotionally complex, partly for its realism and conveyance of a true story and partly for the filmmakers' and actors' abilities to so easily entwine humanity with disaster and survival. It's a great film from every angle and Universal's Blu-ray is also top-tier. Perfect video and audio are supported by several featurettes and an audio commentary. Very highly recommended.