A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Alps (IMAX, 2007)

Date Viewed: 10/6/07

Details:

Michael Gambon (narrator)

Adele Harlin

John Harlin III

Siena Harlin

Daniela Jasper

Robert Jasper

Written, directed & edited by: Stephen Judson

Score: 3/4

The Review: In the mold of a typical IMAX mostly-documentary: in this case following climber John Hardin (III) as he tackles the North Face of the Eiger -- in the process exorcizing the ghost of his father, who died attempting the same climb in 1966.

The Eiger North Face is infamous among the climbing community: one of the last "big walls" to be climbed (not just in the Swiss Alps, but globally), an extreme climb nearly a vertical mile up rock, ice and snow. It must be climbed during those limited times of the year when the snow & ice glues together an otherwise fractious and flaky rock -- counterpoised by the fact that if it's too cold and deep into winter, the snow & ice will overpower the face, concealing rock surfaces and adding the danger of avalanche. Harlin (senior) was a remarkable climber for his day, but was caught by a fatal accident. His son is no less remarkable.

The cinematography of the Alps from the air is wonderful and breathtaking, the highlight of this short film. It is no less amazing to consider how the summit climb itself was filmed, because (as with Everest) the camera and crew pretty much had to do the same climb.

(20-Oct-07)

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