Messner

Cannot disagree more strongly with the first posted review: Messner was an enjoyable abridged biography of the climbing legend. A film of this duration can never do justice to such a subject but instead highlights some landmark achievements, and having not read a biography on Messner, found it paced just right.

The dramatised enactments are beautifully shot, however fall short on conveying the real drama of events and rely on the viewers background knowledge as to the story unfolding. Also the subtitles were not entirely accurate.

Could have offered greater insights into his character given the valuable contributions. But the film alludes to the deep trauma he still obviously harbours regarding the death of his brother in 1970 on Nanga Parbat, but it does paint a picture of an insular man which is no great surprise as it takes some steel to complete the achievements he has completed.

There are better technical climbers, more interesting climbing characters, there are more daring climbing feats, there are others in the 14 8000m club who have climbed alternative more difficult approaches, but you have to appreciate he was a trail blazer, a genuine pioneer, bringing an alpine approach to high altitude climbing, not to mention the first to summit Everest without oxygen when the general view was that it was impossible. He broke the mould - worth watching for any Mountain fan.