7.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Three elite climbers struggle to find their way through obsession and loss as they attempt to climb Mount Meru, one of the most coveted prizes in the high stakes game of Himalayan big wall climbing.
Starring: Jimmy Chin (III)Documentary | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Trust Wikipedia to cite The Odyssey as one of the first literary uses of what later became known as a cliffhanger, a term which is probably more commonly thought of in the context of early film serials where the hero (or heroine in the case of that oft-periled Pauline) would encounter some life threatening calamity at the close of any given episode, only to escape from the clutches of death (or at least immolation) at the beginning of the next episode. Some serials did in fact feature their leading character hanging off the side of a precipice on occasion, but it wasn’t until the 1993 Sylvester Stallone mountain climbing thriller Cliffhanger that the word was used cinematically in a title that at least approximated the correct mountaineering context. Meru, a fascinating and at times unbelievably scenic documentary, recounts two different attempts to ascend to the summit of Meru Peak in the Himalyas, a notoriously difficult climb which had never been successfully completed, despite numerous attempts and differing strategies. The film in fact begins with a “cliffhanger” of sorts, showing the precariously perched “portaledge” tent that the three climbers at the center of the story have artfully “attached” to a frightening cliffside, as they attempt to outlast a storm. The film therefore intentionally begins in media res, thrusting the viewer into the claustrophobic confines of this pretty flimsy looking structure, before venturing out, both literally and figuratively, to start filling in the rest of the story.
Meru is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Music Box Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. There's a spectacular aspect to so much of the footage captured in this documentary that some of the quality differentiations can be forgiven. It appears that Chin and Vasarhelyi utilized a variety of different cameras, including (according to the IMDb) the Canon 5D Mark II, the Panasonic HC-V and Red Epic. Some of the footage is virtually crystalline, offering beautifully precise views of impressive vistas, with good differentiation of sometimes minute gradations between shades of white on the mountainside. Other footages are a bit fuzzier in ambience, including what looks like some drone shots of base camp being set up and similar scenes. Detail is quite impressive, given the rigors of the shoot, and some close-ups offer precise looks at elements like beard stubble or even bloodshot eyes. There are no issues with image instability and aside from a few passing moments of noise no compression issues of any note.
Meru features a surprisingly immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that gets off to a whirly, swirly maelstrom as the climbers are stuck at an insane height in the midst of a windy winter storm. There are a number of other standout moments, including some great footage at the incredible little village of Gangotri, India, where the guys visit the roaring headwaters of the Ganges. Individual elements like the clink of metal into granite rockfaces reverberate with authenticity and precision. First person confessionals and on the fly conversations are rendered cleanly and clearly, with excellent fidelity. The evocative score by J. Ralph adds significant impact and sounds great throughout the film.
Both of these commentaries are fairly sporadic, with large quiet swaths passing by. The Chin-Vasarehelyi commentary is an interesting listen for some of the technical data on the actual shoot, which is absolutely hair raising. Anker's commentary is a bit more introspective, getting more into what the climb meant to him and how he was feeling about things at any given moment.- Audio Commentary with Directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
- Audio Commentary with Conrad Anker
- Gangotri, India (1080i; 7:04)
- First Descent (1080p; 5:04)
- The Calling (1080p; 1:39)
- Spiritual Energy (1080p; 4:44)
- Portaledge at 20,000 Feet (1080p; 6:10)
As a travelogue, Meru is unbelievably scenic, if often incredibly frightening. As a depiction of the resilience of the human spirit, Meru is unbelievable in a completely different if no less affecting way. Stirring and moving, but also exciting enough to fulfill most adrenaline junkie's "needs", Meru is a fascinating documentary that comes Highly recommended.
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