Into Thin Air

Everest

Rating 7 out of 10

Around fifteen years ago I read the book Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.  One of the best books I have ever read (listened to). and Krakauer is now one of my favorite authors.  I have always been intrigued by mountain climbing books and movies even though I have no desire to try it myself.  In Krakauer's book he details a climb back in 1996 where he was a writer for a popular climbing magazine and was given free passage on an expedition for Mount Everest (normally $50-65,000 fee per climber) in trade for writing a big article and cover picture on that magazine.  It was a busy year that had record numbers of climbers trying to plant a little flag on the top of a mountain at altitudes where Delta jets normally fly.  On the top of Everest your brain is getting maybe 25% of the oxygen it gets at sea level.  Man has a very limited time at that altitude before the body shuts down and you die.

On this climb there were many climbers trying to reach the summit on the same day.  Many of which had no business giving it a try.  The weather went from very good to VERY bad quickly and stranded climbers.  Eight people lost their lives that day and Krakauer's book details the expedition in a very understandable way.

It's much harder to encapsulate all that went on those few days into a two hour movie.  Everest has a fantastic cast.  The scenery is incredible. I saw this on a normal screen and may have to go back and see on an IMAX as it almost seemed to small for what I was seeing.  As Misty said earlier this is not an action packed thriller such as Vertical Limit (a movie climbers laugh at how unrealistic it is- much like fighter pilots watching Top Gun), but more of a well made documentary type movie.  Even having read the book I found it a little difficult at times to remember who's who on the mountain.

I was entertained.  Glad I went.  I think this movie is made to be seen in a theater.  If you do rent it try to get the movie K2 with Michael Biehn.  I would rate it a little higher than this one.

The Intern

The Intern

Rating 8 out of 10

This was a movie I wanted to see from the first preview.  I like the cast.  Like an old guy being useful again.  While there is nothing groundbreaking here I found it entertaining from start to finish.

Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway)  is a young woman that started her own fashion website that dwells on the customer service and making sure above all that every customer is well taken care of.  In eighteen months it has become more successful than she ever dreamed.  She works night and day and now has 240 employees.

Her second in command is very cutting edge and decides to start a senior intern program.  Retired people from business that have a wealth of knowledge and nothing to do.  Ben Whittaker (Robert DeNiro) retired and not long after had his wife pass away.  He misses the hustle and gives the intern job a try.  He is clearly nothing like any of the others.  Very well dressed and professional.  Jules wants nothing to do with him.  She soon realizes what a wealth of information he can be to her in business and personal too.

Like I said this movie doesn't reinvent the wheel it just makes you laugh and feel good when you leave the theater. I was entertained and recommend it.

Black Mass

Black Mass

Rating 8 out of 10

I tend to like gangster movies as a whole although many of them seem to be too over the top and not that good.  I wanted to see this movie but it was not real high on my list.  Everest came out this weekend except it was only in 3D.  I am not a fan of 3D so Black Mass here I come.

This movie is based on the true story of the rise and eventually fall of Boston wise guy James "Whitey" Bulger.  He was mostly a small time thug back in the 1960's and early 70s.  He spent time in jail including a stint in Alcatraz.  He didn't really come to power until he joined forces with childhood friend, now FBI agent, John Connolly.  The FBI had good intentions in the beginning.  Willing to trade Bulger's small time crimes for intel on the big mafia goons running rampant in the city.  The problem was with the help of the FBI Bulger cleaned out all his competition and turned out to be as bad or worse than what they had.  Connolly became drunk with the promotions at the FBI and the perks Bulger threw his way.

The casting is mostly pitch perfect.  Johnny Depp does a good job and would not be surprised to see him get an Oscar nod later in the year.  When he casts his steely evil eyes toward someone it gives you a chill.  The rest of the cast is also good as is the way it was filmed.  The movie does a good job of telling the story without dragging it out in a three hour overblown movie like many do.

Overall I was entertained and if you like these type movies at all you will be too.

A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods

Rating 4 out of 10

I really liked the idea of this movie.  A retired successful writer, Bill Bryson, is bored.  It's been several years since his last book and now pushes his rereleasing of older books.  He goes out for a walk and decides he is going to walk the Appalachian Trail.  Not part of the trail.  The whole thing!  2000 + miles of trail.  Without really training.  Of course everyone thinks he is nuts.  He sets out to find a friend to walk it with him.  No one else is as crazy as he is.  An old guy he knew thirty years ago hears about the walk and wants to do it with him.  They go off to the sporting goods store to buy their gear and they are on their way.

This is where the writing falters.  They run into all the cliches.  Crazy woman walker that won't leave them alone.  Bears in their campsites.  Falling into creeks. You name it. The biggest problem with the movie is the casting.  Robert Redford is pushing eighty and is still the best looking guy in the room.  He looks fit for his age but no way in shape to do a walk like this.  Even worse is Nick Nolte.  Not sure how old he is but he looks over a hundred.  He looks real rough. I don't see him being able to make the walk around the mall much less walking thousands of miles on rough trails.

This is supposed to be a male bonding movie yet they never really bond.  I like the idea of the movie. It just was not very well written or cast.  Besides that it is pretty good. : >  Not a terrible movie.  Unfortunately not a good one either.

The Transporter Refueled

The Transporter Refueled

Rating 6 out of 10

I saw both Transporter I & Transporter II with Jason Statham in the theater.  So I can't say I didn't know what I was in for.  You don't go to one of these movies for a plot that makes much if any sense. You get action, lots of fast cars and a few pretty women.  Statham is off doing Fast and Furious movies so pretty boy new comer Ed Skrein takes over the steering wheel as Frank Martin.

Martin is an expert driver that sells his talents to high priced anonymous clients that need something or someone moved quickly from point A to point B.  When a beautiful woman hires him for what should be an easy job things go wrong.  Never trust a beautiful woman in these type movies.

You don't need a crystal ball to figure out what happens from this point forward.  Several cool car chases and some fight scenes. If you like this type of movie or liked either of the first two you will be entertained.  I was mildly entertained and found it a decent way to kill a couple hours.