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daviesuk
Reviews
Five Days One Summer (1982)
Glacial.
The good points - beautiful scenery, and some viewers might appreciate the insight into mountain climbing in the 1930's.
Bad points - the flashbacks are tedious, the ending obvious (to this viewer anyway)and - apart from Connery, who plays himself, as always - the acting uninvolving. And personally I don't care much about mountaineering in the 1930's, and this film didn't do anything to quicken my interest.
There are some surprises, but I feel the movie really lacks from characters whom one can care about: in particular Betsy Brantley, who plays Kate, seems desperately out of her depth here.
I found it to be pretentious and glacially slow. I'd rather have that ninety minutes of my life back.
North & South (2004)
Absolutely fantastic - couldn't *be* more highly recommended!
This is the *best* adaptation I have ever seen, and if you don't know the book at all, that doesn't matter - you're in for a treat!
As a teacher of Eng Lit for 25 years, I don't know how it happened that I managed to miss this when the Beeb first showed it, but I caught up with it on Teleport this week and have watched it all over two days. I saw the first episode and waited until the next day for the second, but then couldn't help myself and watched the third and fourth too all on the same afternoon!
There are a few reviews here from poor, benighted souls who didn't like it, but almost everyone else has given it a well-deserved TEN. The acting is fantastic, the cinematography is stunning, the screenplay gripping and moving.
Very highly recommended - watch it: you won't be sorry.
Into Thin Air: Death on Everest (1997)
Compelling and moving.
I'm a non-mountaineer who has no desire ever to become one, but I found this film totally compelling and most moving. I defy anyone not to weep at the scene where Rob Hall speaks to his wife as he lies dying.
I have seen it three times now, and intend to read the book upon which it is based, and others. I appreciate that the film may be a partial view, based as it is on one man's account, and I agree that at times it can be confusing, but the story and action are so strong that they carry you through.
As most of the audience won't be expert mountaineers, and as anyone interested can find out as much as they like by reading the books, I think this film is an admirable success.