The Wildest Dream: Conquest Of Everest IMAX

[Preston1990]

I saw this documentary at the Mighty Metrocentre Odeon IMAX today.

What can I say?

Well for a start it's a fantastic story, set amongst epically inhospitable scenery, and featuring some of the world's most fantastically brave, some would say foolhardy, mountaineers!

Did George Mallory and fellow climber Andrew "Sandy" Irvine really succeed in climbing Everest in 1924, some 29 years before Sir Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay?

Using archive film footage, discussion, old newspaper clippings and a practical recreation of events, this film presents some fascinating and quite compelling evidence to explore the possibility of just exactly that.

7.5 out of 10 for this enjoyable and thought provoking armchair adventure. Make sure you take a fleece and Kendal mint cake! Don't look down though

[kevinknapman]

I managed to get free tickets through the BFI member's ballot for this on October 17th at the BFI IMAX. Looking forward to it.

[superhero]

I was lucky enough too, I guess it helps to p*y off the membership fee

[superhero]

Tricky film to assess, the love of the filmmakers is undeniable for Everest and the Mallory/Irvine Story, but this Julie and Julia-esque dual storyline does feel like excessive padding to make a film. One moment we see the filmmakers do a climb, then we see archive footage of what Mallory did then we go back and then forth etc... Some moments it did work and was very touching like the ending, others in the middle didn't.
Maybe I am used to old fashioned documentaries, the film score was a little OTT, there were acted out scenes about Mallory's wife which felt a little too "fake" and they even threw in a pop song when the end credits came (although I did actually like that song!)
You also wonder the virtues of showing it on IMAX screen, when there were alot of grainy black and white archive footage, which shows up quite badly on a giant IMAX screen. On the other hand, some of those amazing modern day climbing scenes, you can't help wonder what it would be like if it was in 3D....
Other random thoughts included how surprised I was at how close they could drive up to a pass near Mount Everest (that spoilt the mystique for me a little) and what was happening with the person actually doing the filming??? Was he not struggling in the cold?
Despite various reservations, I was sold by the majestic ending, it was very touching. 7/10

[kevinknapman]

I was at the screening this morning too. I enjoyed it. A little dry at times and probably a bit too much of Conrad Anker's story though. I didn't feel I needed to see his family, although I can understand the reason for the filmmakers doing it, to draw parallels with Mallory and his family.
There was definitely a lot of spectacular footage to keep you interested though and the final moments were very thrilling. I particularly enjoyed the moment when they showed the approach to the mountain that Mallory finally discovered. The camera swooping through the valley and up Everest worked really well on the IMAX screen.
It was also moving for unexpected reasons too. This was Natasha Richardson's final performance. She does the voiceover of Mallory's wife, reading the letters she wrote to him. To hear her voice alongside her husband Liam Neeson's narration was undeniably touching.
An occasionally worthy but often thrilling documentary.