User reviews

EXCELLENT...I am always amazed that the CAMERMEN are THERE TOO!!! Although mentioned, they are obviously making the CLIMB TOO, with the greater difficulty of HEAVY EQUIPMENT and often times keeping their "eyes" on the climbers, with less regard for their own safety. They are treated no differently, are kept out of view, risk their lives for the entertainment of the viewer...maybe many of them are experienced climbers, but still, they must have a great love of the "sport"...I feel a special on "behind the scenes" of "Everest: Beyond the Limit" and other documentary specials should be produced to show their dedication, commitment and daring to their profession.

As an armchair adventurer, I loved this series and the great camera and sound work that made it very real. The personalities are interesting and the dynamics between the expedition leader, the climbers and Sherpas provide plenty of drama for those of us who like to thrill-seek from the comfort of our living room. The only thing that might have made this series better was more of the in-depth interviews of the climbers and crew. I would have loved seeing the climbers returning home to their loved ones after their saga was over. Another thing I would have liked to have seen included is more of the behind- the-scenes footage of all the preparations that the leader, his crew, director and TV cameramen had to go through to get this documentary filmed .

Whatever moron wrote the "contrived hokum" post should remove it. He has no appreciation for this show, and only made it through 1 1/2 episodes. How can you write an honest review of a show when you don't even watch it. Everest is not a show about heroes, so I don't why this guy thought it was. It's a show on how any ordinary person can try to climb the greatest mountain in the world, even though most fail. The show does a great job of giving an absolute ton of credit to the Sherpas and all of their hard work. And no, this is nothing like jumping in the back of a truck or whatever that idiot had to say. These climbers still must physically climb the mountain. They hike in freezing temperatures with hardly any oxygen for countless hours. Hardly a walk in the park. This show is about 1/2 mountain climbing and 1/2 learning the personalities of the climbers. I don't miss a show.

Rare is the in-depth series on a great adventure such as climbing Mt. Everest. This mini-series is one such, and for armchair alpinists, it is time well spent to follow this crew up the longest hill on the planet.

The human element is very much in play throughout -- the New Zealand climber trying to summit Everest after losing his legs in another climbing tragedy before, the Hollywood Harley designer climbing against all odds after being pieced together with screws and wires following a horrific motorcycle accident, the French man attempting the climb a mere two weeks after having a cancerous kidney removed. By any of our normal standards, these people living normals lives is a heroic feat. But these are not normal lives: they are on a quest to summit the world's tallest mountain and perhaps one of its most dangerous forbidden zones. A tall order for you or I, but for them, an even taller one -- and a challenge they cannot resist.

They are led by one of the world's great climbers, who nurses, kicks, leads and cajoles them to go forward, or in some cases, turn around while they still are relatively certain to get back down alive. Having lost 80% of his mates to climbing accidents, Russell Brice knows tragedy. As he says to one climber over the radio in one episode "I don't want to have to call your wife and tell her you've died on Everest." You can tell Russell Brice means what he's saying. And that the news he brings, good or bad, is indeed the way things are.

Some make the top and get back down, and others do not, turning around at different points on the climb. All gave it their all, in a place where that statement is literal, not figurative.

In short, if you want to get a great idea of what climbers see on their way up Everest, and also see glimpses of the suffering required to complete such and extreme challenge, then this show is for you.

I am fascinated by Mount Everest and mountaineering in general. Climbers are usually admirable, courageous people who adapt and persevere using experience and thorough preparation and training. They often have fascinating life stories. This show is not about them. The main characters in Everest: Beyond the Limit are newbies who pay tens of thousands of dollars to have their hands held up the mountain.

There are plenty of interesting characters around, but the guides, sherpas and veteran climbers are just supporting actors who we learn little about. We actually don't learn much about anything, since this show is all about drama not education. The third-grade-level narration relies on about fifteen Everest facts and cliches that are repeated every episode. My wife and I eventually started laughing when our favorites came back. We still have one season to watch, and are considering a Bingo game for recurring statements like:

Even if they make it to the summit there's no guarantee they'll make it back down. As they got higher, so did the risks. If they can't find him, he's as good as dead. And at this altitude that's a death sentence. Eighty per cent of the fatalities happen on the way down. In the death zone the body starts eating itself. The effort has left them exhausted. He knows he's lucky to be alive. But this day isn't over yet. He needs to get down fast And X treads the line between life and death. X is at a higher altitude than he's ever been. X is in unknown territory. After x his dream may be shattered.

For all the work and risk that went into producing this show, it seems like an opportunity wasted. Despite the problems, we are still watching, mostly for the scenery. The mountain, and the heroism of the sherpas and guides are dramatic enough to fill a show, and I wish they had.

This show was amazing - highly recommended if you're interested in what it's like to climb Everest. Not for the faint of heart. It's all here - great storytelling, visuals, characters and events - and it's all real.

This 6 episode mini-series is brilliantly edited. Every episode keeps a brisk pace as you follow a team of climbers from base camp up the mountain. All of the episodes were engrossing as you follow the struggles and travails of the climbers ... all leading to the final 2 pulse-pounding episodes.

I really got a great appreciation of how major an undertaking climbing the mountain really is - even if you're in a commercial expedition like this (about $40K per person) and 'think' your life is going to be made a little easier. This show depicts what it's really like and it's tough - should be left to the best climbers.

The visuals are fantastic - you get a precise understanding of the camps locations, routes and topography by use of great 3-d graphics. Most spectacular is the use of cameras attached to various climbers' headgear ... you can see what's happening to the climbers all the time. Also fascinating was listening to the dialog (or lack thereof) with all the climbers via constant radio contact.

One more thing about the visuals - we've got a telescopic view from advanced base camp looking up at them so we can see where they are in relation to various parts of the mountain - how cool is that?

The climbers were also pretty interesting (though this series didn't really need it). They were all more or less amateurs. Among the climbers were a former Hell's Angels motorcycle designer, doctor, legless man (a double-amputee), and an asthmatic (climbing without oxygen supplement). They all come with different backgrounds and goals. It's kind of amazing to watch their mental and physical faculties drop as they get more and more oxygen deprived. This gives one a glimpse of how tough it is up there.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best reality shows I've seen - great intensity and learning involved - highly recommended.

Having seen the first four televised episodes I am very impressed with this documentary and look forward to it each week.

To me it represents a human struggle against severe elements both physiologically and psychologically, intertwined with human emotion and interaction in a competitive environment.

It's also quite a thrill to be able to see such a high quality production....and I applaud Discover Channel for televising it. This is a real reality show; people do and will continue to die up there each year.

It's all about calculated risks. So far we have seen two client climbers abort their attempts because they were listening to their own bodies. That, in my mind, the first line of defense. They are the smart ones in that by saving themselves they avoid putting others at risk higher up on the slopes. Self rescue is the #1 rule of survival in many extreme sports for the same reason. Plan your climb and climb your plan. If you are off plan for reasons within yourself or reasons beyond your control, GO DOWN.

We are getting a unique view of one particular team and I would say what we are seeing (and about to see) is repeated by many other teams up there during climbing season each year.

wmarzan1

I'm old, I'm isolating and running out of things that amuse me on the television. I came across this while looking through on demand shows. I am really enjoying it. I would never have climbed Everest even when I was young, but I have always been interested in stories about the people who do climb it. This is the best documentary I have seen with the combination of reality TV and kind of the inside story of how things work with these type of expeditions. I know it has its faults, but it's been something to loo forward to, to me. I am on series 2 and will watch series 3.

this show is produced excellently. My girlfriend and I started TiVoing it at the beginning and now it's become a must watch on Tuesday nights. the fact that a film crew is following these climbers to a location that normal people can't even think of doing is just Amazing. Last nights drama (12/12/06 episode) kept me on the edge of my sofa.....Cant' wait for next weeks episode......Tim turn your dumb ass around.......... Ten lines is to much......I said what I wanted to say and adding anymore is as if you are forcing words into my mouth.....how would you feel if someone was trying to force you to say more than you felt was pertinent to the thoughts you had.......simple, to the point is better than crappy filler that just rambles on........sorry. you forced me to write this!

As an Everest enthusiastic I've read a lot of books concerning the mountain. Lately I've been searching for good films and documentaries on the subject as well. When I checked IMDb for a series I found called 'Everest: Beyond the limit' I was thrilled. With an average grade of 8.6 and produced by the Discovery Channel this should be a blast. I was curious to see what it would be like.

The bottom-line of the show is simple. Every year, more and more commercial groups try to climb Everest. These groups consist of Westeners who have paid large sums of money to experienced Himalaya guides to get to the summit. 'Everest: Beyond the Limit' follows the commercial group lead by guide Russell Brice. The group consists of amateur climbers from all over the world, and his job is to get them to the summit. The series revolves around this struggle.

Interesting ingredients to make a stunning documentary, I'd say. Even more when considering this all happens on the steep faces of the highest mountain in the world. So, apart from the struggle to get to summit, I also expected to see impressive images, interesting background information on the mountain and an intriguing views in the lives of the Sherpa climbers who make the ascent possible.

But I can only say that after watching two seasons (I haven't seen the third yet) I am disappointed. Very disappointed. Instead of all the above, this show only focuses only on the Western climbers. The intelligence level of the show can be compared with MTV shows like 'Made' or 'My super sweet 16'. We are forced to watch the ups and downs of an asthmatic Dane and the mood swings of a Hell's Angel biker. We see a totally unprepared L.A.-journalist get pwned by the mountain. We watch them cry, suffer and struggle.

Off course, this has to be part of the show. It's the reality. But in my opinion it's a side-subject and the reason why I watch the show is Everest. I know that human interest can be very interesting, but in this show the center of attention is not the mountain or the way to the summit. The center of attention are the ups and downs of the climbers. The show revolves around it and for because of that it turned the pulp we already have too much of on TV. Really, it's 'The Real World goes Chomolungma'.

The first minutes of every episode are filled with flashbacks from the previous episode. I can understand that this is needed, to show the important things that happened before. But all the flashback focuses on is the human interest. After the flashback, we have to watch five minutes of previews of the coming episode. Off course, all focused on the human emotions. Every commercial break is preluded with a toe- wrenching cliffhanger. So dare not to swap your TV to another channel. In my personal opinion this is the exact opposite of the way the presentation should have been.

But, considering all this, I still rate the show a seven. Because when I look through all the mind-narrowing garbage the makers throw at me I see the most intriguing mountain of the world. I see a highly experienced guide trying to get through to novice stubborn clients. I see strong Sherpa's with interesting traditions (where the show obviously doesn't attends any attention to). But to see this, I have to fast forward through the all the melodrama and crap that fills up 25 minutes of every episode. But when I've done that, I see 20 minutes of high class TV.

Sorry if my review gets a little critical but here I go.

What I loved about the series is showing the mountain and the routes. The weather, and what it takes to climb from a mountaineering perspective.

Which is what I am.

I can assure you that the vast majority of paid clients could NEVER reach the summit on their own. But up they go because it's no longer a climb nor an expedition.

You have the real climbers, the heroes, doing all the technical work and turning this mountain into a multi-day hike. That's all it is. No skills required. It's a high altitude hike. Get lucky with your health and objective weather hazards and you are good to go. You walk, that's all you do.

The logjams of people is so annoying and ruins it for me. Yes, I like the personalities of a few (Tim) but I watch this series for the mountain.

Regarding all the "death" talk. That is nothing but media hype. Yes people die, but not even remotely at the rate they say. It's quite safe (relatively speaking) and very very few die in relation to those that try and those that make it.

Any mountain requires respect. Disrespect the mountain and you can die. The media dwells on Everest Death Rates. Get over it.

You have a mountain that is 29,035 feet tall encased in rock/snow/ice. You know that going in. You know the risks. You choose to do it.

More people have died in the Sierra/Cascades/Rockies/Alaska than all the 8000 meter peaks combined. Yet we don't hear about that. Why? It's not Everest and there is no dramatic media attention drawn to it.

But now they allow people with money to buy their way to the top....it's crazy.

Other than getting to the highest point on the planet what is really the point.

When Everest becomes old hat, what's next? K2? Nope, because that requires skill.

Great photography. I loved it. I also now have a far greater appreciation for the Sherpa's that make it all possible. They are mountaineers, the real mountain climbers.... not a bunch of wannabes with excess cash that can walk their way to the summit.

The professional guides and sherpas are the heroes and the ones that put their life on the line so people can walk to the top.

Great series.

This is extremely repetitive and overdramatized. The narration is particularly annoying - "oh, the drama, oh, the sacrifice, oh the risk!!!!" It becomes tiresome very quickly. And the overdramatic music is icing on the cake, turning this series into almost a SATIRE of mountain climbing stories. I'm left with the feeling that here are a bunch of overprivileged, over-entitled drama queens paying tons of money to risk their lives AND more importantly, the lives of these sherpas. The ONLY heroes in this story are the sherpas. I'm happy they've found a decent way to make a living, given the economic conditions in their countries but they must secretly despise the almost-exclusively white, rich tourists who pay for these expeditions.

Mount Everest is the ultimate of climbs. Program follows people's quest to conquer it. You will learn the steps climbers go through in acclimation and become familiar with the base camps and stages in the climb. Successes, Perils, and disappointments are highlighted. Cameras chronicle the events as they unfold. The program suffers from repetitiveness, overdramatics, and horrible graphical effects, and focusing on the worst climbers. Without stating the same things 20 times the program could be watched in half the time. The drama they created was The Bachelor worthy. They were really proud of their computerized recreation of a climbers internal hardware as we are shown this stupid clip no fewer than 25 times. I longed for snow blindness every time they showed the clip. After watching the idiots with very few prerequisites you realize why so many people die here. The reporter who was on the second season especially had no business there. Pretty much anyone with a wallet can attempt the climb. I recommend just watching the first season as 2nd season focuses far to much on the dramatics of 1 person.

The camera crew and writers do a great job in putting together the best show I've seen yet on climbing Everest while managing to stay alive! You are taken to the Base Camp to meet climbers from all over the world with one wish - to summit the highest mountain in the world. As the quest to reach the top unfolds, the viewer learns a lot more about the climbers and what some are willing to give up to reach the top. You will want to watch every episode. This is much better than the Imax film and more in depth. The Discovery website also is a good source of information. This is a great show for kids also. We look forward to season 2007 and the live feeds from Mt. Everest.

I enjoy high altitude mountaineering and have read / watched every classic Himalayan expedition I can find. The single greatest part of this series is the vast amount of stunning, detailed footage over both the north and south routes. Bravissimo to the camera crew!

But like other reviews here state, the emphasis on the human interest stories is pretty awful. I applaud amputees and elderly and bionic knees and hells angels and inexperienced rich people for taking on Everest. I just don't want to see their stories in detail with all the trumped-up, cliff-hanger, story-telling techniques.

I've raced the Hawaii Ironman multiple times. Kona is the Everest of triathlon. Yet the NBC coverage of the race is hugely disappointing year after year. They don't cover it like a race. They extrude the same, tired human interest stories and in doing so, discredit both the professional racers and the age groupers who have to qualify to get there.

Climbing Everest is not a freak show of the hopeful handicapped. It's the crown jewel of mountaineering.

Let me start with the positives.

Awesome photography. Those guys filming do an amazing job while risking their own lives to get those awesome shots and views. These guys aren't carrying a helmet cam, those are big cameras.

Sherpas are the real mountaineers of this show. Their dedication and ability to get up and down the mountain is amazing. More time spent with them, understanding their reasoning for being there (other than the obvious - money), their passion for climbing, etc. more about Sherpa life in conjunction with the mountain.

Russell seems like the kind of guy you'd want to have a beer with and talk about his life. Seems like a really cool guy with some great stories.

The negatives.

Redundancy. And there is a lot of it. If you cut out the repetitive narrative about illnesses, danger zone, near death, Tim's motorcycle accidents and metal plates, exhaustion, O's, Mogens' climbing wo oxygen/asthma, etc., you could cut the number of episodes in half.

Tim. Ugggghhhhh Tim. If he acts as arrogant, pompous, annoying, drama queen in real life, he needs a kick in the groin. I found myself hitting the fast forward in season two to get past his annoying, drama queen persona. If he was instructed to be an a$$ for the show, he did a good job and maybe should try his hand at acting. I get it, it's supposed to be a drama, but it's also supposed to be a documentary and annoying the viewer shouldn't be the main focus.

Who thought it was a good idea to bring a writer from LA that is almost completely mountaineering incompetent? This had to be the writers because I just don't see Russell as the kind of guide that would take someone's money that he knows has absolutely no chance of getting to the top.

Some of these clowns should be left on the mountain. Again, unless this is the writers and the dramatization of the show, the constant annoyance of some of these people makes this show damn near unbearable to watch at times.

Conclusion, if you just can't find anything else to watch, give this a try for the Sherpas and the photography. Just keep the fast forward close to the index finger.

I once enjoyed watching movie named "Vertical Limit" - a true hint of mountaineer's consciousness and spirit. Only this time the highest Mountain will put mens' guts to the test you can find nowhere else.

The cameramen-sherpas have done outstanding job so the viewer is literally on the mountain with the expedition members witnessing their pain and struggle, defeat and victory. Plus the panorama views are almost to die for. This is the rarest scenery I have seen in my life so far! Both seasons are strongly recommended!

However, may be, people who have never been to the mountains themselves will not be able to appreciate in full this excitement, almost awe of the mens' spirit. :(

Overall, for me it's like the final breakthrough of Tim Robbins in "Shawshank Redemtion" only this time there are real people not just movie characters.