The Climbers (2019) Review

The Climbers (2019)

Directed By: Daniel Lee

Starring: Wu Jing, Zhang Ziyi, Zhang Yi, Jing Boran, and a guest appearance by Jackie Chan

Synopsis: Based on a true story from award winning director Daniel Lee (Three Kingdoms, 14 Blades), featuring China’s biggest stars Wu Jing (Wandering Earth, Wolf Warrior 2) and Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Grandmaster), and with a special guest appearance from superstar Jackie Chan. THE CLIMBERS is a cinematic retelling of the first Chinese climbers to summit Mount Everest – the first ever to do so from the North Ridge. Well-known as the most challenging side of the mountain, the perilous journey takes its toll on the mountaineers, physically and mentally, forcing them to make life or death decisions at every turn.

Review: I have been eagerly awaiting my next Wu Jing fix since watching Wolf Warrior 2 and awaiting Wolf Warrior 3. Once I saw Wu Jing was going to be starring this I was on board and of course having Tsui Hark was producing was an added bonus.

The movie mixed action and adventure with suspense and of course a dash of romance between Wu Jing and Zhang Ziyi who both put in tremendous performances and have such natural chemistry together on screen.

The story never slows down and I never found myself glancing away or bored which in this day and age can happen quite often. The movie offers up some great set pieces. My personal favourite would have to be when they are climbing the mountain and are caught in storm and within a matter of seconds the teams base camp is blown away and they are fighting to stay on the mountain with everything they have.

The special effects and stunts are incredibly done and you truly cannot fault any of it. Some green screen work is visible but in a movie of this spectacle you can expect it. Unlike American movies and having it all filmed at a studio, I do belive this was mainly shot on location in Tibet.

In these sorts of movies I always love a good avalanche scene and we are treated to two of them. Each is spectacularly done and shows us the pure force of the mountain. The second avalanche scene truly had me on the edge of my seat.

Action legend Jackie Chan makes a cameo at the end. I found it kind of fitting and did enjoy seeing him appear in the movie.

Overall I loved the movie and would recommend giving it a watch as you won’t be disappointed.