The Climb (2002)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

It is a performances centric movie

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Two mountain climbers partner in the rescue of tycoon Dabney Coleman's son off a high peak. Jason George and Ned Vaughn aren't just different racially they have serious different approaches to life. Vaughn is white and a Christian, George is black and a skeptic to say the least. George is also keeping company with a believer in Kylie Santiago and her father Clifton Davis really does not like his son-in-law.One reviewer is right about one thing, this Christian film from the Billy Graham Evangelical Association spent quite a bit of dough on this, especially the mountain climbing scenes. Coleman's company which got a windfall of good publicity decides to sponsor both these guys on a climb of the legendary Mount Chiconcagua in the Chilean Andes.I was actually quite impressed with the 21st century technology used for mountain climbing. That 3 dimensional holograph was really something.It's a Christian film, it's also a tragic one and it follows the usual parameters. But it's a great film technically if nothing else.

Your appreciation of this movie will be directly related to your own interest in matters of faith. Those of Christian faith (such as myself) and those with an interest in Christian faith will appreciate the values contained here; those who are antagonistic to Christian faith will find the evangelistic emphasis of the movie distasteful. Of course, my question would be why anyone antagonistic to an evangelical Christian message would watch a movie produced by World Wide Pictures, which is an arm of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association?I don't like movies that have a hidden agenda (even a hidden evangelistic agenda) but here the agenda is clear-cut and expected, so it didn't bother me. The story is interesting enough, focusing around two young mountain climbers (Jason George and Ned Vaughn) who suddenly find themselves with an unexpected opportunity to team up and climb the highest peak in the Chilean Andes. Derrick Williams (George) is an angry atheist, while Michael Harris (Vaughn) is a faithful Christian. The relationship between the two grows as they train and then climb together, culminating in the totally predictable religious conversion of Derrick. Of course, the real suspense in this kind of movie is not whether the atheist is going to convert; it's what the chain of events leading to the conversion will be, and that was a decent enough story.Featuring the likes of Dabney Coleman, Clifton Davis and Todd Bridges, you'll find this an entertaining story as long as the overtly religious tone of it isn't something that will turn you off.7/10

The story was very captivating and thought-provoking. The scenery of the mountains was beautiful, and the story brought tears to my eyes.One thing I didn't particularly like was the sort of cheesy acting of the Mackie's owner, but I guess he was just supposed to be that way.Great story...see it, and remember the high road!

How many mountains can a man climb in one lifetime? How many mountains can one climb in one movie? Racial bias, pride, loss, hurt, pregnancy, corporate success, painful past, family dysfunction, unreached dreams... after watching this gospel presentation you'll understand how God can use each problem we face in life as a part of the climb home. Next time, take the high road.