First and foremost, this is just a great documentary. To be able to delve into the origin story of hard-core climbing in the Yosemite Valley, which is at least a half-century old, and have nearly all of the pioneers providing current interviews and background information, and have the rest at least represented in supplemental footage, just seemed to put the entire story on really solid ground. Having not had any substantive knowledge of the genesis (or evolution) of Yosemite climbing, I found all of this to be highly informative, and entertaining.
Even for someone with no knowledge of climbing at all, just delving into the lifestyle, personal dynamics, and continuous cycle of one-upmanship, generated by this rogue's gallery of mountaineers, is as engaging as any multifaceted drama, and certainly as hand-wringing as the most high octane horror film.
My title above, alludes to the nature of that last point. Unless you are heavy into climbing, or some other dangerous sporting activity, this is one of those films where you need to keep a hand-towel nearby. If you are into terror/horror films, or any other genre that leaves you sweating with fear or trepidation, then this film can certainly be a temporary stand-in for one of those film outings. Most people would consider standard mountaineering to be a "hazardous sport", but as you watch that comparatively tame activity evolve, over time, into some of its newer variations, where someone is climbing a 3000 foot, vertical face, with absolutely nothing other than their bare hands (i.e. no ropes, or safety equipment of any kind), you are almost certainly going to need that towel, to wipe off the sweat that will be pouring from the palms of your hands.
Even for someone with no knowledge of climbing at all, just delving into the lifestyle, personal dynamics, and continuous cycle of one-upmanship, generated by this rogue's gallery of mountaineers, is as engaging as any multifaceted drama, and certainly as hand-wringing as the most high octane horror film.
My title above, alludes to the nature of that last point. Unless you are heavy into climbing, or some other dangerous sporting activity, this is one of those films where you need to keep a hand-towel nearby. If you are into terror/horror films, or any other genre that leaves you sweating with fear or trepidation, then this film can certainly be a temporary stand-in for one of those film outings. Most people would consider standard mountaineering to be a "hazardous sport", but as you watch that comparatively tame activity evolve, over time, into some of its newer variations, where someone is climbing a 3000 foot, vertical face, with absolutely nothing other than their bare hands (i.e. no ropes, or safety equipment of any kind), you are almost certainly going to need that towel, to wipe off the sweat that will be pouring from the palms of your hands.