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Vertical Limit Reviews

2000 Certificate 12
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 5863 members

As action director Martin Campbell's heart-pumping thriller VERTICAL LIMIT begins, an eagle glides gracefully over the stunningly filmed mesas of Utah. Its shadow falls on a vertical rock face being climbed by Peter Garrett (Chris O'Donnell), his father (Stuart Wilson), and his sister Annie (Robin Tunney). Suddenly a backpack .. Read more

Starring Chris O'Donnell, Bill Paxton, Robin Tunney, Scott Glenn
Director Martin Campbell
Genres Action/Adventure, Thriller

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  • Critics' reviews (6) of Vertical Limit

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  • 2 stars out of 5

    Snapped ropes, dislodged boulders and crumbling ledges are just some of the perils facing mountaineer Chris O'Donnell in this predictable but watchable adventure from Mask of Zorro director Martin Campbell. Now working as a photographer, O'Donnell is still haunted by memories of the harrowing climb that ended in his father's death. When an expedition to scale K2 (the world's second-highest mountain) goes badly awry, a group that includes O'Donnell's estranged sister (Robin Tunney) and reckless airline boss Bill Paxton faces imminent death. O'Donnell makes a decidedly uncharismatic hero, but some enjoyable action sequences almost make up for the clichéd characterisations.

    • Radio Times
  • 1 stars out of 4

    Saturday morning matinee stuff, with one cliff-hanger after another: it's pulp fiction at its most unoriginal, but entertaining enough for the moment.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • "...The physical feats are inspiring, crowd-pleasing testaments to the stupendous extremes of human capabilities..."

    • Box Office
  • Most helpful members' reviews (3) of Vertical Limit

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  • 6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    VERY GOOD

    Very entertaining movie, fast and action packed with breathtaking scenery. the extras are very good too, showing how the effects were shot using blue screen and digital cg combined. The only unconvincing part was the cg animated eagle in the opening chapter.

      • A customer from Wigan
  • 4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    * * * This review contains spoilers * * *ShowHide

    Rated - 1 star

    throw logic out of the window.

      • ScaryJim from TROWBRIDGE
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Cliff hanger

    Greate thriller and well made thorouley enjoyed all the climbing scenes and the reality of the action.

      • Dave from Forest of Dean Gloucestershire UK
  • Most recent members' reviews (2) of Vertical Limit

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  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Cliff hanger

    Greate thriller and well made thorouley enjoyed all the climbing scenes and the reality of the action.

      • Dave from Forest of Dean Gloucestershire UK
  • Rated - 0 stars

    Awful

    The fantastic camera work fails to make up for the utterly pathetic by-the-numbers predictable-as-clockwork plot. Don't waste your time on this.

      • A customer from London
  • 6 out of 6 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    VERY GOOD

    Very entertaining movie, fast and action packed with breathtaking scenery. the extras are very good too, showing how the effects were shot using blue screen and digital cg combined. The only unconvincing part was the cg animated eagle in the opening chapter.

      • A customer from Wigan
  • 4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

    * * * This review contains spoilers * * *ShowHide

    Rated - 1 star

    throw logic out of the window.

      • ScaryJim from TROWBRIDGE
  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    Cliff hanger

    Greate thriller and well made thorouley enjoyed all the climbing scenes and the reality of the action.

      • Dave from Forest of Dean Gloucestershire UK
  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Vertical LIMIT

    Great on the edge of your seat action, it really captures the suspense, not knowing quite whats going to happen next. fast moving intense plot and some great location shots.

      • A customer from clitheroe, england
  • Rated - 5 stars

    wicked film, pure action i really enjoyed this film, you will see action straight from the start.

      • Shaun#44 from WEST BUCKLAND
  • Rated - 4 stars

    liked this one at lot , along the lines of cliff hanger but only coz its climbing mountains and snow. a lot of good actors and good story. its definately got a lot going for it and shouldn't disappoint !

      • A customer from HUNTINGDON
  • Rated - 4 stars

    cool thriller

    only reason this film didn't get five stars was because of the cheesy ending but the film as a whole is totally cool good gripping film which just tumbles along at breakneck speed till that cheesy end i would hire this film again though

      • A customer from carmarthenshire
  • Rated - 3 stars

    Very good

    This is a very good film. If, like myself,you enjoy mountaineering/hill-walking, you will especially enjoy this film. The opening scenes are very gripping and realistic. This film must have been a logistical nightmare to film as it is set thousands of feet up. A good mixture of special effects,good storyline & good acting ensure an enjoyable couple of hours.

      • A customer from llandudno, wales
  • Rated - 5 stars

    Great Film but first scene rubbish

    Sat down to watch it and the first scene came on. It looked compleatly rubbish, what a suprise it was a brilliant, breath taking film. The only downside is the very hollywood feel (slightly blue eyed, blonde hair) but other than that a great film.

      • A customer from Exeter, Devon
  • Rated - 3 stars

    Good adventure movie!!

    I thought this was going to be your usual action drama film with apredictable plot, but I was pleasantly surprised. Although it did have some predictability and there was a point where I thought a sense of urgency in the rescue would have been more realistic, this was quite a good movie. Lots of 'edge of your seat' moments.

    Well worth a watch even if not a blockbuster classic.

      • Kay from Worcester
  • Critics' reviews (6)

  • 2 stars out of 5

    Snapped ropes, dislodged boulders and crumbling ledges are just some of the perils facing mountaineer Chris O'Donnell in this predictable but watchable adventure from Mask of Zorro director Martin Campbell. Now working as a photographer, O'Donnell is still haunted by memories of the harrowing climb that ended in his father's death. When an expedition to scale K2 (the world's second-highest mountain) goes badly awry, a group that includes O'Donnell's estranged sister (Robin Tunney) and reckless airline boss Bill Paxton faces imminent death. O'Donnell makes a decidedly uncharismatic hero, but some enjoyable action sequences almost make up for the clichéd characterisations.

    • Radio Times
  • 1 stars out of 4

    Saturday morning matinee stuff, with one cliff-hanger after another: it's pulp fiction at its most unoriginal, but entertaining enough for the moment.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • "...The physical feats are inspiring, crowd-pleasing testaments to the stupendous extremes of human capabilities..."

    • Box Office
  • "...The stunt work and David Tattersall's lensing catch moments of the adrenaline rush that is mountain climbing..."

    • Hollywood Reporter
  • Campbell knows how to make the best of vertiginous jeopardy, but second-rank stars and a contrived, over-plotted... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • "The action scenes in VERTICAL LIMIT take cliffhanging to the highest peaks of excitement..."

    • USA Today

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    • As action director Martin Campbell's heart-pumping thriller VERTICAL LIMIT begins, an eagle glides gracefully over the stunningly filmed mesas of Utah. Its shadow falls on a vertical rock face being ...

    • Vertical Limit
      As action director Martin Campbell's heart-pumping thriller VERTICAL LIMIT begins, an eagle glides gracefully over the stunningly filmed mesas of Utah. Its shadow falls on a vertical rock face being climbed by Peter Garrett (Chris O'Donnell), his father (Stuart Wilson), and his sister Annie (Robin ...

Rating breakdown

5,863 Member ratings
  • 100
225
  • 90
208
  • 80
674
  • 70
972
  • 60
1,762
  • 50
779
  • 40
601
  • 30
272
  • 20
282
  • 10
88

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