Mt. Everest: The Fatal Climb

Initially true to its sensational title, this account of two men who scaled Mt. Everest in 1994 (one returned, the other did not) begins not on the legendary highest peak, but on the "6th highest," Cho Oyu (which I saw variously listed anywhere between 7th and 9th highest, but never 6th), where, in 1996, the Everest survivor Mark Whetu, having lost all of his toes to frostbite, is nevertheless leading another expedition. Rather cheesy voiceover narration (which, fortunately, disappears about 20 minutes in) sets the dramatic stage, leading us into the flashback to 1994 on Everest with guide Whetu, his client Mike Rhineberger and other members of the expedition. Just like the ill-fated Everest expedition chronicled in Jon Krakauer's chilling Into Thin Air, the tragedy that resulted in the death of Mike Rhineberger occurred due to a combination of poor judgement, obsession (Rhineberger had failed in six previous summit attempts) and simple bad luck. And it's utterly compelling--not from a sensational point of view (I don't think), but because the viewer is drawn into the complex psychology of guilt, blame, and simple overweening hubris (the stuff of Greek tragedy) which lie at the heart of this unfortunate incident. Viewers will definitely draw their own conclusions and I can almost guarantee that they'll vary. Sure to be popular. Recommended. (R. Pitman)