Discussion
On Discovery channel, the award winning documentary.
Not one to watch if you don't like heights but my word! I don't remember ever feeling as tense or in awe as the last 20 mins.
It's so worth a watch. Bit long overall but its all good background I guess. I will not try hanging from my thumb 2 feet off the ground, let alone 2000!
Not one to watch if you don't like heights but my word! I don't remember ever feeling as tense or in awe as the last 20 mins.
It's so worth a watch. Bit long overall but its all good background I guess. I will not try hanging from my thumb 2 feet off the ground, let alone 2000!
I've watched it twice now. He's the best at what he does and seems like a pretty decent guy. Did laugh when he was talking about his fall and he seemed surprised that it hurt.
"How much money do you have"
"Similar to a moderately successful dentist"
Would not be surprised in the slightest to read his obituary. You literally have to be perfect to do what he does and no ones perfect.
"How much money do you have"
"Similar to a moderately successful dentist"
Would not be surprised in the slightest to read his obituary. You literally have to be perfect to do what he does and no ones perfect.
I liked the analogy that it's like having to be skilled and athletic enough to win an Olympic event, but if you don't get the gold medal you die. Some of the moves he pulled looked amazingly difficult but the exposure took them to another level.
My fear of heights kicks in quite quickly, even if there's no chance of actually falling, so I can't begin to understand this guys' mentality. It's impressive but completely alien. He seemed a little too comfortable with his mortality.
My fear of heights kicks in quite quickly, even if there's no chance of actually falling, so I can't begin to understand this guys' mentality. It's impressive but completely alien. He seemed a little too comfortable with his mortality.
I also really recommend another amazing climbing film called "Dawn Wall"
This is about Tommy Caldwell's attempt to climb the hardest El Capitan rout ever devised: the Dawn Wall.
Tommy features in Free Solo and has led a very interesting life. Dawn Wall is as good as Free Solo, in a slightly different way.
Definite 9.5/10
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7286916/
This is about Tommy Caldwell's attempt to climb the hardest El Capitan rout ever devised: the Dawn Wall.
Tommy features in Free Solo and has led a very interesting life. Dawn Wall is as good as Free Solo, in a slightly different way.
Definite 9.5/10
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7286916/
mdavids said:
I liked the analogy that it's like having to be skilled and athletic enough to win an Olympic event, but if you don't get the gold medal you die. Some of the moves he pulled looked amazingly difficult but the exposure took them to another level.
My fear of heights kicks in quite quickly, even if there's no chance of actually falling, so I can't begin to understand this guys' mentality. It's impressive but completely alien. He seemed a little too comfortable with his mortality.
Isn't he just striving for perfection. No matter how difficult the moves are, if he has everything ready, has visualised every eventuality, and has total confidence that his preparation means he's not going to make a mistake, in his mind there is no risk. It's that 'zone' which the elite describe when they get total clarity, when everything slows down and everything is calm. Ant Middleton described it when going into battle, same with champion boxers, rally drivers and cyclists etc, Lewis Hamilton in a perfect qualifying lap, ditto with Senna. My fear of heights kicks in quite quickly, even if there's no chance of actually falling, so I can't begin to understand this guys' mentality. It's impressive but completely alien. He seemed a little too comfortable with his mortality.
Very impressive.
Watched it twice now, once in a small cinema, once in the BFI Imax (which was amazing, sadly didn’t make the Q&A one) – I would recommend watching him on Lance Armstrong podcast, when Lance does shut up they have a great chat.
Quite clear he is not all that normal, doesn’t hug his mother, doesn’t value relationships all that much, clearly very intelligent, he’s very articulate and very quick witted. A really likable character, the confidence he shows later in the film to be smiling and joking while THAT high off the ground is staggering. I’ve watched most of the main climbing films in recent times, and its visually stunning, the Dawn Wall is also amazing for different reasons but Free Solo I think ANYONE could enjoy, which is a big deal.
And probably why it won an Oscar as it generated pretty big appeal to the masses.
I also like how humble Alex is, he says he’s not actually an AMAZING climber, just is hugely meticulous, focused and can attempt things that most peoples brain stops them doing. I saw another interview with him and someone posed the question “who is the best climber in the world” – his response was in a split second “Adam Ondra, no question” – I checked Adam out and its insane how hard some of the stuff he does is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRTNHDd0gL8 . It does make you realise that the El Cap climb isn’t actually ‘hard’ in climbing terms (as Alex alludes to) but obviously adding the lack of rope changes the game.
Quite clear he is not all that normal, doesn’t hug his mother, doesn’t value relationships all that much, clearly very intelligent, he’s very articulate and very quick witted. A really likable character, the confidence he shows later in the film to be smiling and joking while THAT high off the ground is staggering. I’ve watched most of the main climbing films in recent times, and its visually stunning, the Dawn Wall is also amazing for different reasons but Free Solo I think ANYONE could enjoy, which is a big deal.
And probably why it won an Oscar as it generated pretty big appeal to the masses.
I also like how humble Alex is, he says he’s not actually an AMAZING climber, just is hugely meticulous, focused and can attempt things that most peoples brain stops them doing. I saw another interview with him and someone posed the question “who is the best climber in the world” – his response was in a split second “Adam Ondra, no question” – I checked Adam out and its insane how hard some of the stuff he does is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRTNHDd0gL8 . It does make you realise that the El Cap climb isn’t actually ‘hard’ in climbing terms (as Alex alludes to) but obviously adding the lack of rope changes the game.
I knew he made the climb before I saw it at the cinema, but credit to the story telling because it was genuinely edge of the seat stuff on the climb.
I've seen some of the interviews and they talk about what they would or wouldn't do if he fell while they were filming.
Alex is brilliant though. really likeable. What was interesting is that he doesn't come across as a risk taker, but calculated and extremely dedicated to perfection.
Just hopes he stops!
I've seen some of the interviews and they talk about what they would or wouldn't do if he fell while they were filming.
Alex is brilliant though. really likeable. What was interesting is that he doesn't come across as a risk taker, but calculated and extremely dedicated to perfection.
Just hopes he stops!
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