Let's
not fool ourselves; VERTICAL LIMIT ($28) is a popcorn movie plain
and simple. If you are looking for an action movie with a true level of
emotional depth, check out CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON because
you aren't going to find it in VERTICAL LIMIT. Those, however,
who are willing to check their brain at the door, will find that VERTICAL
LIMIT offers its own rewards. Fans of impossible stunt work; great
digital special effects and explosive soundtracks are going to go absolutely
gaga for this DVD.
Although
the film's opening sequence is strangely reminiscent of CLIFFHANGER,
VERTICAL LIMIT provides enough originality, with its story of a
reluctant hero who needs to redeem himself in the midst of high altitude
peril. Chris O'Donnell portrays Peter Garrett, a national geographic wildlife
photographer, who braves K2- the world's most dangerous mountain, in order
to rescue his sister Annie (Robin Tunney) and two other members of her
expedition, after an avalanche traps them in an ice cave near the summit.
Bill Paxton plays the film's requisite antagonist, Elliot Vaughn, a millionaire
industrialist, whose refusal to abandon his ill-advised climb ends in
disaster. Finally, there's Scott Glenn as obsessed climber Montgomery
Wick, who leads the rescue team despite having spent the last four years
of his life looking for his wife's body, which was lost in an earlier
climbing disaster.
Director
Martin Campbell effectively stages the film's numerous adrenaline pumping
action sequences. Campbell keeps the film's pacing as brisk as possible,
so that the audience won't have time to think about the plot's gaping
holes in logic. The mountaintop cinematography is awe inspiring, as are
jaw-dropping stunts- many of which test the level of credibility. A couple
of the digital composites are a bit obvious; but for the most part, the
digital effects appear seamless. VERTICAL LIMIT is one of those
films that make me question whether screenwriting has becomes a lost art
form, especially since the stunts and special effects are given emphasis
over characterization. The actors do try to bring their characters to
life, however the film's screenplay treats them as little more than walking
props. The cast of VERTICAL LIMIT also includes Izabella Scorupco,
Nicholas Lea, Alexander Siddig, Robert Taylor, Temuera Morrison, Stuart
Wilson, Augie Davis, Steve Le Marquand and Ben Mendelsohn.
Columbia
TriStar Home Entertainment has made VERTICAL LIMIT available in
a 1.85:1 wide screen presentation that has been enhanced for 16:9 playback.
VERTICAL LIMIT is a very good-looking new movie and the transfer
definitely reflects that fact. The image on the DVD appears very crisp
and highly detailed- coming very, very close to demo worthy material.
Colors are strongly rendered, with highly appealing flesh tones. A number
of the more vibrant hues almost seem to pop off the screen, especially
up against the film’s snowy white backgrounds. For the most part, colors
are highly stable, with no discernable signs of bleeding. Blacks are dead
on accurate, plus the whites are completely stable and the image produces
tremendous depth. Clean dual layer authoring prevents digital compression
artifacts from becoming noticeable during the presentation.
The
Dolby Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack is an absolute knockout! VERTICAL
LIMIT has got the fingerprints of aggressively mixed action movie
all over it. This is a completely immerse sound mix, which places the
viewer in the middle of the film's sonic environment from the moment the
film begins until the moment it ends. All of the channels are highly active
and completely convincing, especially the split surround channels, which
seem to be almost constantly engaged. The forward soundstage has a very
wide and spacious presence that convincingly wraps around the viewer into
the rear channels. Stationary sound effects have precise placement, while
others effortlessly pan around the entire 360-degree environment. Dialogue
is clean, fully intelligible and never buried in the film's avalanche
of sound effects. It should come as no surprise that the bass channel
is completely ground shaking and explosive. James Newton Howard 's score
is nicely recorded and integrated into the mix with its full musical integrity.
English and French Dolby Surround soundtracks are also encoded onto the
DVD, as are English and French subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound are present to enhance the interactive
menus. Through the menus, one has access to the standard scene selection
and set up features, as well as some nice supplemental features. Director
Martin Campbell and producer Lloyd Phillips participate in a very interesting
running audio commentary that contains a lot of behind-the-scenes technical
information. Also included on the DVD is the 24-minute HBO First Look
special: Surviving Vertical Limit. Although PR heavy, this
is a better than average making of feature with plenty of behind-the-scenes
footage and interviews. There is an interactive section entitled Search
and Rescue Tales, which takes a look at seven different elements
of the production. A cool feature is the included 13-minute National Geographic
program entitled Quest For K2. This documentary takes viewers
to the world most unrelenting mountain and introduces them to actual climbers
that have braved K2 and lived to talk about the experience. The VERTICAL
LIMIT also features its own theatrical trailer, as well as bonus trailers
for CLIFFHANGER, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and CHARLIE’S
ANGELS.
No
one will confuse VERTICAL LIMIT with great cinema, but if you are
willing to set your suspension of disbelief to auto-pilot, the DVD will
make for an enjoyable two hours of popcorn entertainment. In addition,
the DVD looks great and the soundtrack is demonstration quality, so you
may just want to check out the fine Columbia TriStar disc, just on its
technical merits alone.
Let's
not fool ourselves; VERTICAL LIMIT ($28) is a popcorn movie plain
and simple. If you are looking for an action movie with a true level of
emotional depth, check out CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON because
you aren't going to find it in VERTICAL LIMIT. Those, however,
who are willing to check their brain at the door, will find that VERTICAL
LIMIT offers its own rewards. Fans of impossible stunt work; great
digital special effects and explosive soundtracks are going to go absolutely
gaga for this DVD.
Although
the film's opening sequence is strangely reminiscent of CLIFFHANGER,
VERTICAL LIMIT provides enough originality, with its story of a
reluctant hero who needs to redeem himself in the midst of high altitude
peril. Chris O'Donnell portrays Peter Garrett, a national geographic wildlife
photographer, who braves K2- the world's most dangerous mountain, in order
to rescue his sister Annie (Robin Tunney) and two other members of her
expedition, after an avalanche traps them in an ice cave near the summit.
Bill Paxton plays the film's requisite antagonist, Elliot Vaughn, a millionaire
industrialist, whose refusal to abandon his ill-advised climb ends in
disaster. Finally, there's Scott Glenn as obsessed climber Montgomery
Wick, who leads the rescue team despite having spent the last four years
of his life looking for his wife's body, which was lost in an earlier
climbing disaster.
Director
Martin Campbell effectively stages the film's numerous adrenaline pumping
action sequences. Campbell keeps the film's pacing as brisk as possible,
so that the audience won't have time to think about the plot's gaping
holes in logic. The mountaintop cinematography is awe inspiring, as are
jaw-dropping stunts- many of which test the level of credibility. A couple
of the digital composites are a bit obvious; but for the most part, the
digital effects appear seamless. VERTICAL LIMIT is one of those
films that make me question whether screenwriting has becomes a lost art
form, especially since the stunts and special effects are given emphasis
over characterization. The actors do try to bring their characters to
life, however the film's screenplay treats them as little more than walking
props. The cast of VERTICAL LIMIT also includes Izabella Scorupco,
Nicholas Lea, Alexander Siddig, Robert Taylor, Temuera Morrison, Stuart
Wilson, Augie Davis, Steve Le Marquand and Ben Mendelsohn.
Columbia
TriStar Home Entertainment has made VERTICAL LIMIT available in
a 1.85:1 wide screen presentation that has been enhanced for 16:9 playback.
VERTICAL LIMIT is a very good-looking new movie and the transfer
definitely reflects that fact. The image on the DVD appears very crisp
and highly detailed- coming very, very close to demo worthy material.
Colors are strongly rendered, with highly appealing flesh tones. A number
of the more vibrant hues almost seem to pop off the screen, especially
up against the film’s snowy white backgrounds. For the most part, colors
are highly stable, with no discernable signs of bleeding. Blacks are dead
on accurate, plus the whites are completely stable and the image produces
tremendous depth. Clean dual layer authoring prevents digital compression
artifacts from becoming noticeable during the presentation.
The
Dolby Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack is an absolute knockout! VERTICAL
LIMIT has got the fingerprints of aggressively mixed action movie
all over it. This is a completely immerse sound mix, which places the
viewer in the middle of the film's sonic environment from the moment the
film begins until the moment it ends. All of the channels are highly active
and completely convincing, especially the split surround channels, which
seem to be almost constantly engaged. The forward soundstage has a very
wide and spacious presence that convincingly wraps around the viewer into
the rear channels. Stationary sound effects have precise placement, while
others effortlessly pan around the entire 360-degree environment. Dialogue
is clean, fully intelligible and never buried in the film's avalanche
of sound effects. It should come as no surprise that the bass channel
is completely ground shaking and explosive. James Newton Howard 's score
is nicely recorded and integrated into the mix with its full musical integrity.
English and French Dolby Surround soundtracks are also encoded onto the
DVD, as are English and French subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound are present to enhance the interactive
menus. Through the menus, one has access to the standard scene selection
and set up features, as well as some nice supplemental features. Director
Martin Campbell and producer Lloyd Phillips participate in a very interesting
running audio commentary that contains a lot of behind-the-scenes technical
information. Also included on the DVD is the 24-minute HBO First Look
special: Surviving Vertical Limit. Although PR heavy, this
is a better than average making of feature with plenty of behind-the-scenes
footage and interviews. There is an interactive section entitled Search
and Rescue Tales, which takes a look at seven different elements
of the production. A cool feature is the included 13-minute National Geographic
program entitled Quest For K2. This documentary takes viewers
to the world most unrelenting mountain and introduces them to actual climbers
that have braved K2 and lived to talk about the experience. The VERTICAL
LIMIT also features its own theatrical trailer, as well as bonus trailers
for CLIFFHANGER, CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and CHARLIE’S
ANGELS.
No
one will confuse VERTICAL LIMIT with great cinema, but if you are
willing to set your suspension of disbelief to auto-pilot, the DVD will
make for an enjoyable two hours of popcorn entertainment. In addition,
the DVD looks great and the soundtrack is demonstration quality, so you
may just want to check out the fine Columbia TriStar disc, just on its
technical merits alone.
