Meru

source: Meru

WOW! As soon as the credits rolled - I hit start again and watched- it as intently as I did the first time. "Meru" is the best climbing documentary ever made, but, it's much, much more than that. A few years ago "U23D" became one of my under-rated "10's" (mostly due to it's incredible use of 3-D technology). "Meru" accomplishes a similar feat for high- altitude film. But, it's what happens on the ground that makes this film complete. This, unlike the IMAX film "Everest", is a finished and complete work. The people within have stories to tell, and that coupled with the clear and concise focus and climax of "Meru" make it a SPECTACULAR film. When Chin attacks the summit in the final scene it is something to behold. A perfect ending to an epic adventure film. There is absolutely NO reason to rent this movie. Buy it. I think that when all is said and done, years from now, this film will be the benchmark for this type of extreme film-making. Jimmy Chin has really out-done himself here, and we're talking about the guy that skied Everest for goodness sakes. I'm not a climber, I'm not a contributor or have any vested interest in the film, but this film will transport you to the mountain, and give you human stories that really magnify the achievement and risk. Solid 10/10. The 45th that I've awarded out of 3600+ ratings. 7.7 is a terribly misleading rating. Don't get me wrong, it's solid, but if this film doesn't deserve an 8+, nothing does! You'd like this if you liked:Touching the Void(great but nowhere near as great as this), Searching for Sugar Man(nearly this films equal), or The Crash Reel(not as good, but still solid). 95/100

Watched it after reading the good reviews on IMDb. The reviews are right in many ways, at least the positive ones. First this is not a movie . This is real life with real drama , tragedy , courage , hope and a celebration of human spirit. The documentary captures the eerie beauty and loneliness of the most amazing mountain range in the world. There is cracking footage of 3 courageous men slowly inching up to the summit 20000 ft above land. At times the viewer will feel the very real vertigo , the absolute silence , the sheer complexity of the climb. It is said that this route to Meru is the most difficult in the list of mountaineering challenges. The night sky looks like you are in space literally. I guess the climbers had the fortune of good weather resulting in beautiful cinematography . What some may find equally moving and beautiful is the story of each of their struggles and how they use the climb to the top as a catharsis of sorts. Best documentary in a long long time.

(Flash Review) Yes, these are some amazing mountain climbers. Highly skilled, smart, obsessive, no fear and a bit crazy...you have to be. Seeing their helmet cam footage while they climb is breathtaking. The film itself is not quite as impressive as the snow-covered peaks they ascend. Their back stories are fairly stereotypical for die hard mountain climbers and many risk losing their family if tragedy should occur yet they press on. There weren't any mind blowing unique facts about Meru and I didn't really learn anything beyond the climber's personal lives which would have magnified their efforts even more. So this is good at purely presenting good footage of some daring climbs.

Be careful around the shark's fin. It's a warning that swimmers might utter – and mountain climbers too. The Shark's Fin is the most challenging route up the most challenging of the three peaks of Meru, which is part of the Himalayas of northern India. The documentary "Meru" (R, 1:27) traces two separate attempts by a trio of climbers trying to be the first to reach the top of Meru Peak, via the Shark's Fin. Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk are three of the most famous mountain climbers in the world, largely for their experiences on Meru Peak. Anker had become famous for his climbs in Antarctica and the Himalayas, one of which led to his discovery of 1920s' climber George Mallory's body on Mount Everest. Jimmy Chin had made a name for himself as both a climber and videographer who documented his climbs, as well as the expeditions of others. Anker and Chin were climbing partners for years when they took on Ozturk, a young but accomplished climber, for their 2008 expedition up the Shark's Fin. This film tells us about and shows us the trio's 2008 and 2011 Meru expeditions and the momentous events in between. Heading up the mountain with them in 2008, we learn about why the Shark's Fin is uniquely challenging, uniquely dangerous and an irresistible goal for serious climbers like these. When the men come heartbreakingly close to reaching their goal, but have to turn back, we feel for them, even as we hear them talking about making another attempt. Their bodies and minds have to recover before they go back to India to try again, and life has to be lived. There are other climbs and other jobs for each of the three men to do while they plan their second trip to the Shark's Fin. When two of the three men have near-death experiences on separate occasions, serious questions arise. Who will make up the team on a second attempt? Given what's happened, can they succeed this time? Will they? "Meru" uses interviews with the trio to explain how they got together and describe their experiences on Meru. Anker's friend and fellow climber, Jon Krakauer, who wrote "Into Thin Air" (which was made into the 2015 film "Everest") also sits for an interview which sheds a significant amount of light on the story of the three Shark's Fin climbers, their expeditions, and mountain climbing in general. Most of "Meru", however, is made up of video shot by Chin and Ozturk on Meru Peak. The interview clips are succinct and informative, but it's the on-site video which gives this documentary its drama and its immediacy. I would have liked to hear more about what makes them do what they do and a bit of what happened in each of their lives after their second attempt to climb the Shark's Fin, but few criticisms can take much away from this remarkable film – one of the most fascinating and engaging documentaries of 2015. "A-"

Absolutely riveting movie. Be prepared to grab your seat many times, there are some really scary moments! I found the beginning quite meaningful as the climbers passed various Indian Holy men praying and meditating. What the 3 climbers were about to do really required divine protection. The photography is stunning, especially with the stars whirling around over Meru. What comes across to me is the supreme team work and total trust in your partners. Conrad puts together the team and sets the objective. His partners Jimmy and Renan add their enormous set of diverse skills to enable the successful completion of the climb. Conrad has the wisdom accumulated over many years of climbing to know when to pull the plug and when to push on. We are introduced to each climber and the serious setbacks that they all have but they still push on. Marvelous.

People always talk about Everest as the ultimate mountain to climb but that hasn't been true for a long time. On Everest you can hire Sherpas to carry your stuff , to fix your ropes for you and to take most of the risks. Most climbers worth their sorts have climbed it many times , some have even skied off of it. Mount Meru is a whole different ball game. This is documentary about three climbers who attempt to climb the unchartered "Shark Fin" summit of Meru and it tells their story along the way. In a way I enjoyed this more than the film Everest because this is real footage and of mountain I wasn't aware of before. You have to admire these people for their determination but on the other hand you can't help but think they have a death wish. I only wish I had an ounce of their determination and drive.

This documentary seemed to me to be about totally selfish immature grown men apparently trying to kill themselves with no regard for their families, loved ones and the emergency resources that are squandered trying to save their lives. These guys did not seem like professionals.I respect the skill, courage and endurance involved in mountain climbing but in this case the people involved came across as totally reckless and amateurish with no regard for the gift of life.I did not feel admiration or respect for these people.Their obsession to conquer Meru came across more as a sickness. Were their lives that empty that they had this desperate need for attention? The movie's one saving grace is that the scenery is spectacular.

Nothing like a good documentary about people doing spectacular things to inspire you to do great. Three mountain climbers attempt to reach the top of an impossible mountain. Despite failing to reach the top their first time around, the impossible task does not stop them from trying again. It's amazing insight about Mountain climbing as we watch these men doing what they love doing and were met to do. It's seems crazy what they are doing and the doc does not hide how crazy it is but it also makes you understand that they had to do it cause this is their passion. The footage from Jimmy Chin was perfect at capturing the harsh conditions of the weather on top of Meru. One image that really got to me was when the mountain started to poor down hard ice. You could not even call it rain or hale. It seemed brutal. Then they would switch it up with beautiful shoots of climbers going up the hill in such a beautiful atmosphere. I could feel the crisp air. It helps a lot how close the filmmakers are to the subject matter. Though the narration could be dull at times overall it's a beautiful picture.

Just got back from seeing the documentary film "Meru" in the theater. I will probably write more on it later, as there's just too many thoughts swirling now 'round me head. And perhaps none of you will see the writing (I'll stick it on IMDb. But the short story is it's truly a marvel. And not just one of the best docs I've seen but one of the greatest movies I've seen in a VERY long time. There's such an immersing story there, and the 3 principle characters are fleshed out so impressively that by the end you really are emotionally invested in each and feel you understand deeply what motivates and scares each of them. It's a film which really shines a light on big ideas of motivation, inspiration, brotherhood, insane, I mean INSANE perseverance and really broad almost sports movie clichés territory. But they nailed it! Honestly this film takes on such subjects in such a way as to put to shame most of the "feel-good", "overcome the impossible", "overcome so much to follow your dream" - type films. And the fact that it's a true story is just all the more awe inspiring. And yeah, can't stress it enough, each of the three climbers' back stories are just so dramatic, and interesting. Any one of the three could have a nice documentary film made about them. It actually is crazy how many awesome story lines exist here, how many twists and back stories exist in this documentary and how nicely they tie all three of their lives together so beautifully. Oh and it's about climbing a mountain, what more beautiful built-in cinematography can you ask for? And what better built-in metaphor can you want for any goddamn goal you may have in life? It's astounding. If you can see it, I highly recommend it. It is just about the most purely INSPIRING film I've ever seen.

Wow, this is one of the greatest viewing experiences I've ever had. The whole film put yourself as one of the team climbers with these three great, stubborn, die-hard, totally obsessed mountain climbers. What a cathartic therapy viewing journey! The Meru is just part of the Himalaya but more pure and an absolutely non-commercial summit unlike the Everest. We didn't see any littered garbage like what we usually saw along the route to Everest. When I watched this film, I couldn't help thinking of those films related to the mountain climbing: K2, Into The Thin Air, Everest, Cliff Hanger, Vertical Limit, even a old thriller, The Elgar Sanction. But this particular film would stand out quite uniquely. A simple narration, not exaggerated, not pretentious, not self-important or self-promoted with strong commercial stink. And the camera work, my, so crystal sharp and beautiful. I think 'Everest 2015' is way off the chart if compares to this one, plain and simple. If you have the chance to watch this film, don't miss it, folks.