Vertical Limit (Superbit Collection)

Starring:Chris O'Donnell, Robin Tunney, Scott Glenn, Izabella Scorupco, Bill Paxton, Nicholas Lea, Alexander Siddig, Robert Taylor (VII), Temuera Morrison, Stuart Wilson (II), Augie Davis, Steve Le Marquand, Ben Mendelsohn, Roshan Seth, Alejandro Valdes-Rochin, Rod Brown, Ed Viesturs, David Hayman, Robert Mammone, Campbell Cooley
Director: Martin Campbell
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Finally, a movie for the REI set! For all those mountain-climbing aficionados who devoured Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air and similar books (as well as the IMAX film Everest), Vertical Limit attempts to translate man-against-the-mountain adventure into compelling, albeit fictional, drama. And while the climbing action is pretty darn breathtaking, somebody forgot to put the brakes on the cliché machine while penning the screenplay. Two siblings (Chris O'Donnell and Robin Tunney) are mentally scarred by a climbing accident in which their father died to save them. She becomes a famous mountain climber (catch that Sports Illustrated cover?); he never climbs again, and becomes a National Geographic photographer. She agrees to accompany a shady billionaire (Bill Paxton) up the icy carapace of K2, the world's second highest mountain; he just happens to be "in the neighborhood" when she starts. After the requisite argument, she sets out, but an avalanche strands her and the billionaire in some kind of underground cavern, and bad weather forbids a daring rescue. It's up to her determined brother to bring her back, along with a ragtag team of rescuers that includes a French-Canadian babe, two wisecracking Aussies, and a crusty old sage (Scott Glenn) who has a few scores to settle.

It's easy to pick out the rest of the story from here (though you probably didn't count on that faulty nitroglycerine, now did you?), but Vertical Limit is less about the hackneyed plot than it is about putting its characters into increasingly dangerous situations and hanging them precariously over various mountainsides. It's a credit to director Martin Campbell (GoldenEye) that the impressive action keeps the film moving along past the bordering-on-absurd plot twists. O'Donnell tosses his mane of fluffy hair admirably, but it's still disheartening to see this once-promising actor turning into a pretty-boy stand-in; only Glenn manages to overcome his character's predictability. Mountaineering enthusiasts will recognize a cameo by world-renowned climber Ed Viesturs, who as an actor proves that he's... a very good mountain climber. --Mark Englehart
Description
The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the DVD video format.

Vertical Limit [Blu-ray]
Average customer rating:

Great Demo Material

Great Color, Great Sound

mixed feelings

Modestly Engaging

Vertical Limit [Blu-ray]

Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: Blu-ray

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Deja Vu [Blu-ray]

ASIN: B000LPRHLO
Release Date: 2007-02-20

Product Description

K2, a 28,250-foot mountain in Pakistan's Karakoram Range, is the setting for this adrenaline-pumping action-adventure. It's a race against time when a retired mountain climber (Chris O'Donnell) leadsa rescue mission to save his estranged sister (Robin Tunney) and other members of her team who havebecome trapped on K2 after a deadly avalanche. Martin Campbell, the celebrated director of The Maskof Zorro and GoldenEye, delivers high-voltage action and exhilarating suspense in a film that pits man against his own limitations and the awesome power of nature's uncontrollable elements.

Customer Reviews:

Great Demo Material.......2007-03-25

Corny plot but it has some amazing moments both visually and aurally that really show-off the benefits of high-definition DVDs and especially uncompressed 5.1 PCM.

Great Color, Great Sound.......2007-03-16

The best of this BD is the color and the helicopter scene.
Excellent definition for a few years film.
The sound is great, with a lot of use of subwoofer and surround speakers.
Recommended for action movie fans.

mixed feelings.......2007-02-26

This film left me with mixted emotions. Although the plot is interesting some of the acting and specila effects are rather bad. There is the excuse that it was a low budget film and and thus the mixed emotions. So is it worth buying? The photography is not bad and you do not get bored watching it. If you can get by the unbelievable effects then you will enjoy it.

Modestly Engaging.......2007-02-02

This is really not a bad movie. However, with the proliferation of CG effects one action film is starting to look like the next one and the next and so on and so forth. I think we are seeing the beginning of a CG domino effect. We are losing the reality base for action films. You know that some of these stunts and camera angles are just impossible. The audience is more intelligent than the filmmakers give us credit for. Subconsciously we know many of the visuals are just not possible no matter how real the filmmakers try to make them. In the good old days before computer animated effects, there was a suspension of disbelief. We accepted what the filmmakers were trying to convey visually whether it looked absolutely real or not. Unfortunately this film has a phony look about it. Robin Tunney and Bill Paxton are trapped in a below freezing crevasse, yet they have no condensation of exhaled breath. The CG effects guys must have overlooked that one. However this film does have one of James Newton Howards' best scores even though he owes a lot of inspiration from Jerry Goldsmith.

Average customer rating:

NOT BAD HIGH TENSION FILM WOULD RATE 2 1/2 STARS
Attention All Lunkheads
A high-adrenaline movie that takes you breath out
Ridiculous but fun
edge of the seat kind of movie

Vertical Limit (Special Edition)
Starring: Graham Charles , Scott Glenn , Nicholas Lea , Robert Mammone , and Ben Mendelsohn
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Cliffhanger (Collector's Edition)
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K2
Into Thin Air: Death on Everest
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ASIN: B00003CXQG
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com

Finally, a movie for the REI set! For all those mountain-climbing aficionados who devoured Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air and similar books (as well as the IMAX film Everest), Vertical Limit attempts to translate man-against-the-mountain adventure into compelling, albeit fictional, drama. And while the climbing action is pretty darn breathtaking, somebody forgot to put the brakes on the cliché machine while penning the screenplay. Two siblings (Chris O'Donnell and Robin Tunney) are mentally scarred by a climbing accident in which their father died to save them. She becomes a famous mountain climber (catch that Sports Illustrated cover?); he never climbs again, and becomes a National Geographic photographer. She agrees to accompany a shady billionaire (Bill Paxton) up the icy carapace of K2, the world's second highest mountain; he just happens to be "in the neighborhood" when she starts. After the requisite argument, she sets out, but an avalanche strands her and the billionaire in some kind of underground cavern, and bad weather forbids a daring rescue. It's up to her determined brother to bring her back, along with a ragtag team of rescuers that includes a French-Canadian babe, two wisecracking Aussies, and a crusty old sage (Scott Glenn) who has a few scores to settle.

It's easy to pick out the rest of the story from here (though you probably didn't count on that faulty nitroglycerine, now did you?), but Vertical Limit is less about the hackneyed plot than it is about putting its characters into increasingly dangerous situations and hanging them precariously over various mountainsides. It's a credit to director Martin Campbell (GoldenEye) that the impressive action keeps the film moving along past the bordering-on-absurd plot twists. O'Donnell tosses his mane of fluffy hair admirably, but it's still disheartening to see this once-promising actor turning into a pretty-boy stand-in; only Glenn manages to overcome his character's predictability. Mountaineering enthusiasts will recognize a cameo by world-renowned climber Ed Viesturs, who as an actor proves that he's... a very good mountain climber. --Mark Englehart

Customer Reviews:

NOT BAD HIGH TENSION FILM WOULD RATE 2 1/2 STARS.......2007-06-18

Watching this movie in my home theater really added something to this film. The beautiful scenery and high altitude camera views were enough to give anyone with a fear of heights a heart attack! The movie kept my interest and there were plenty of edge of your seat moments,but there were plenty of moments I was doubled over with laughter too! This movie is not to be taken too seriously. With all that aside I just don't understand why anyone would want to climb mountains. I know it is a sense of accomplishment,but so is taking a dump! To each their own,I guess? Well,...because of the danger involved with mountain climbing, I did not have the sympathy for the characters I would, if they had not put themselvies in the situation they were in. There are plenty of thrilling activities that don't involve this kind of risk. Hey I'm a big guy and there is no way I'm going to trust my life to a couple of thin ropes! Anyway the movie is pretty good "brain dead" fun and worth a 2 1/2 star rating.

Attention All Lunkheads.......2007-04-11

This is addressed to each of those mountaineering purists who have elected to chime in and complain about this film's lack of authenticity. Hello?!!! It's not supposed to be authentic! It's supposed to be exciting, which it is. It's supposed to have thrills, chills and spills, which it does. If they made this film with total authenticity do you know who'd be in the theater? You and 4 other mountain climbers. It's a Hollywood thriller, not a National Geographic documentary. So relax, put your brain in neutral and enjoy this for what it is.

A high-adrenaline movie that takes you breath out.......2007-01-22

The story goes about the most known mountain in the world - K2 (also known as Chogori). The mountain is situated on border between China and Pakistan.
It's the second highest peak in the world (8611m = 28,251 foots).

In 1939 this mountain opened the count to it's victims.
This movie is based on some of unfortunate times of conquest the "King of mountains". Brother and sister who don't talk much to each other after death of there father. And sister - Annie Garrett(Robin Tunney) and her summit team leads a millionaire to the top of mountain. But the mountain don't likes unexpected guests and bring them a little bit of surprise.
The team is trapped in an icy grave at 26,000 feet. Anni's brother don't wanna lose his sister and makes a team to save his sister. But they can't do it without one man, who knows the mountain as his five fingers - old friend of there father - Montgomery Wick. And rescue campaign starts.
What it will bring to them? This you just have to see.
Ice, danger, cold mountain, humour and action, action, action...

One of movies for Gold Home DVD Collection.

Ridiculous but fun.......2006-10-29

This is actually a fun movie to watch if you suspend reality for a couple of hours. Peter and his sister Annie are only barely on speaking terms after a tragic accident claims the life of their father while they are all climbing together. It was Peter's decision to cut a rope that saved the two of them at the cost of their father, and now Annie blames him for it.

Fast forward a few years and both of them are coincidentally at K-2 base camp. Annie is leading a WNN (CNN) news crew to cover the ascent of Elliot Vaughn (Bill Paxton with his usual awful performance with his stupid Bill Paxton acting school voice)a billionaire promoting his new airline. In the process things go awry and Annie gets trapped in an ice cave.

Here is where the ridiculous part comes in. Peter assembles a team of "Darwin Award" winners to climb the mountain and save the survivors. They take your standard climbing gear along with a tube of Nitro glisorine. They apparently don't check the containers which turn out to leak.

Well once you throw nitro into the mix the action gets pretty explosive. It is a race against time for the Darwin Crew to get to the top and blow up the mountain (I guess they are not too afraid of physics or avalanches) and save the survivors. The only disappointing thing about this movie was that no Yeti's either challenged the climbers or helped the survivors out. Yeah the movie is that outlandish. Scott GLenn does fill in slightly as the aged climbing guru with a vengeance.

Don't take this one serious and will be entertaining. The funniest part of the whole film after watching it a second time is with the Pakistani Colonel. He is complaining that he can't properly conduct a war because the climbers are monopolizing the helicopters. That is a shame when tourists (generally responsible ones too) bring in all kinds of money to a region that doesn't have many other options and are criticized because there actions are getting in the way of the war effort.

edge of the seat kind of movie.......2006-03-22

this movie is a great tear-jerker as well as on the edge of your seat exciting

Average customer rating:

NOT BAD HIGH TENSION FILM WOULD RATE 2 1/2 STARS
Attention All Lunkheads
A high-adrenaline movie that takes you breath out
Ridiculous but fun
edge of the seat kind of movie

Vertical Limit (Superbit Collection)
Starring: Chris O'Donnell , Robin Tunney , Scott Glenn , Izabella Scorupco , and Bill Paxton
Director: Martin Campbell
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005V5NW
Release Date: 2002-03-19

Amazon.com

Description

The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the DVD video format.

Customer Reviews:

NOT BAD HIGH TENSION FILM WOULD RATE 2 1/2 STARS.......2007-06-18

Attention All Lunkheads.......2007-04-11

A high-adrenaline movie that takes you breath out.......2007-01-22

Ridiculous but fun.......2006-10-29

edge of the seat kind of movie.......2006-03-22

this movie is a great tear-jerker as well as on the edge of your seat exciting

Altitude with Attitude (Vertical Limit/Into Thin Air/Cliffhanger)

Average customer rating:

6 Hours of thrill
A collection of unfunny comdies

Altitude with Attitude (Vertical Limit/Into Thin Air/Cliffhanger)
Starring: Peter Horton , Christopher McDonald , Nathaniel Parker , Richard Jenkins , and Tim Dutton
Director: Robert Markowitz , Martin Campbell , and Renny Harlin
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00005B1WB
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com

Vertical Limit
Finally, a movie for the REI set! For all those mountain-climbing aficionados who devoured Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air and similar books (as well as the IMAX film Everest), Vertical Limit attempts to translate man-against-the-mountain adventure into compelling, albeit fictional, drama. And while the climbing action is pretty darn breathtaking, somebody forgot to put the brakes on the cliché machine while penning the screenplay. Two siblings (Chris O'Donnell and Robin Tunney) are mentally scarred by a climbing accident in which their father died to save them. She becomes a famous mountain climber (catch that Sports Illustrated cover?); he never climbs again, and becomes a National Geographic photographer. She agrees to accompany a shady billionaire (Bill Paxton) up the icy carapace of K2, the world's second highest mountain; he just happens to be "in the neighborhood" when she starts. After the requisite argument, she sets out, but an avalanche strands her and the billionaire in some kind of underground cavern, and bad weather forbids a daring rescue. It's up to her determined brother to bring her back, along with a ragtag team of rescuers that includes a French-Canadian babe, two wisecracking Aussies, and a crusty old sage (Scott Glenn) who has a few scores to settle. It's easy to pick out the rest of the story from here (though you probably didn't count on that faulty nitroglycerine, now did you?), but Vertical Limit is less about the hackneyed plot than it is about putting its characters into increasingly dangerous situations and hanging them precariously over various mountainsides. It's a credit to director Martin Campbell (GoldenEye) that the impressive action keeps the film moving along past the bordering-on-absurd plot twists. O'Donnell tosses his mane of fluffy hair admirably, but it's still disheartening to see this once-promising actor turning into a pretty-boy stand-in; only Glenn manages to overcome his character's predictability. Mountaineering enthusiasts will recognize a cameo by world-renowned climber Ed Viesturs, who as an actor proves that he's... a very good mountain climber. --Mark Englehart

Into Thin Air
Based on Jon Krakauer's bestselling book, Into Thin Air re-creates an ill-fated 1996 expedition to Everest that claimed at least five lives, including those of two world-class climbers. Only 90 minutes in length, the film jumps right into the action at Everest base camp and compresses the two-month trek into just a few days of exhilarating adventure. Periodic voice-overs by Krakauer (Christopher McDonald) provide essential background information and guide us through the invisible, intensifying effects of altitude and stress. Krakauer joined the trip to write an article on the commercialization of Everest, but as conditions on the mountain deteriorate he is forced to focus all his energy on survival. Unfortunately the film fails to really develop any of its characters before thrusting them onto the harrowing face of Everest. As a result, it's difficult to understand the relationships that play out as the group struggles to the summit and back. While the trio of leading actors is solid, only Nat Parker (who plays guide Rob Hall) has enough screen time to develop an interesting, complex character. Peter Horton's portrayal of unconventional guide Scott Fischer is almost hyperbolic and McDonald's Krakauer is stiff and difficult to read. While the film succeeds in creating a palpable sense of agony and suspense, those in search of a more thoughtful, detailed account of the expedition will be better served by reading the book. --Claire Campbell

Cliffhanger
Cliffhanger was a 1994 comeback of sorts for action hero Sylvester Stallone, this time thanks to director Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2 and Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master) and some spectacularly rugged and vertigo-inducing high-mountain terrain. The opening sequence alone delivers what the title promises, and there's a doozy of an airplane stunt that was later reprised, with modifications, in Air Force One. Stallone, looking as tough and craggy as the mountains themselves, is a rescue climber who finds himself going after a gang of crooks (headed by John Lithgow in his bad-guy mode) who've hijacked a U.S. Treasury plane and crash landed in the Rockies (played by the Italian Dolomites) with millions of bucks. --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

6 Hours of thrill.......2001-11-05

I have seen the 3 movies, and they assure you 6 hours full of action, suspense and thrill.

A collection of unfunny comdies.......2001-05-26

I would be totally amazed if anyone is actually trying to get this set of items. "Vertical Limit" is simply one of the most ludicrous and self-indulgent action flicks I have ever seen. The plot was silly and the dialogue was uncomfortably boring. Why didn't they put the bombs INSIDE the bag?? Besides, Chris ended up the ultimate villain towards the end by not caring anyone but his sister. "Cliffhanger" was not so hopelessly hilarious, but it is definitely not a worth-buying. As for "Into Thin Air", I haven't even heard of such a film! I checked IMDB and found that it is a TV-movie with an average rating of 5.6/10.

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

NOT BAD HIGH TENSION FILM WOULD RATE 2 1/2 STARS.......2007-06-18

Attention All Lunkheads.......2007-04-11

A high-adrenaline movie that takes you breath out.......2007-01-22

Ridiculous but fun.......2006-10-29

edge of the seat kind of movie.......2006-03-22

this movie is a great tear-jerker as well as on the edge of your seat exciting

Average customer rating:

NOT BAD HIGH TENSION FILM WOULD RATE 2 1/2 STARS
Attention All Lunkheads
A high-adrenaline movie that takes you breath out
Ridiculous but fun
edge of the seat kind of movie

Vertical Limit [Region 2]
Starring: Chris O'Donnell , Robin Tunney , Scott Glenn , Izabella Scorupco , and Bill Paxton
Director: Martin Campbell
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Cliffhanger (Collector's Edition)
Hollow Man
K2
Into Thin Air: Death on Everest
The Perfect Storm

ASIN: B00006JNCJ

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

NOT BAD HIGH TENSION FILM WOULD RATE 2 1/2 STARS.......2007-06-18

Attention All Lunkheads.......2007-04-11

A high-adrenaline movie that takes you breath out.......2007-01-22

Ridiculous but fun.......2006-10-29

edge of the seat kind of movie.......2006-03-22

this movie is a great tear-jerker as well as on the edge of your seat exciting

Average customer rating:

NOT BAD HIGH TENSION FILM WOULD RATE 2 1/2 STARS
Attention All Lunkheads
A high-adrenaline movie that takes you breath out
Ridiculous but fun
edge of the seat kind of movie

Vertical Limit [Region 2]
Starring: Chris O'Donnell , Robin Tunney , Stuart Wilson (II) , Augie Davis , and Temuera Morrison
Director: Martin Campbell
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( V ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Cliffhanger (Collector's Edition)
Hollow Man
K2
Into Thin Air: Death on Everest
The Perfect Storm

ASIN: B00005MA9L

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

NOT BAD HIGH TENSION FILM WOULD RATE 2 1/2 STARS.......2007-06-18

Attention All Lunkheads.......2007-04-11

A high-adrenaline movie that takes you breath out.......2007-01-22

Ridiculous but fun.......2006-10-29

edge of the seat kind of movie.......2006-03-22

this movie is a great tear-jerker as well as on the edge of your seat exciting

Average customer rating:

NOT BAD HIGH TENSION FILM WOULD RATE 2 1/2 STARS
Attention All Lunkheads
A high-adrenaline movie that takes you breath out
Ridiculous but fun
edge of the seat kind of movie

Vertical Limit [Region 2]
Starring: Chris O'Donnell , Robin Tunney , Scott Glenn , Izabella Scorupco , and Bill Paxton
Director: Martin Campbell
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video