(Photo Credit: National Geographic)
(“Everest: The Other Side” trailer courtesy of National Geographic)
Not everyone can relate to mountain climbers or skiers.
But hopefully everyone can relate to that one passion in life that, if taken away, would make life feel boring and meaningless.
The documentary “Everest: The Other Side” is a traumatic, riveting depiction of pushing through adversity, and it also showcases breathtaking visuals of some of God’s most wondrous creations.
In “Everest: The Other Side,” Jim Morrison has experienced more devastation than any person should ever have to endure.
Many people would have thrown in the towel or completely lost their minds.
However, Jim perseveres and continues pursuing his passion, no matter the danger.
Jim feels alive in the mountains.
He also wants to do things no one has done.
Jim finds his adventurous soulmate in Hilaree Nelson.
The two meet while Hilaree is experiencing some marital difficulties.
But when she separates from her ex-husband, she and Jim become inseparable.
Jim even becomes an instant father to Hilaree’s young sons.
They try to teach the boys to love hiking and mountain climbing.
However, the boys do not immediately take a liking to their parents’ favorite pastime.
But what the boys do have is a fear for their mother’s safety every time she climbs a dangerous mountain.
They wonder how they will live if she does not come home one day.
After all, the climbs take her away from the boys for months at a time.
Furthermore, what happens if danger takes Jim and Hilaree?
Who will raise the young boys at an age when they desperately need the guidance of positive role models?
The youngest son even admits that if his mother is not around, he might go down the wrong path in life.
Despite the dangerous hobby that Jim and Hilaree have, they both share a great love for their new family.
The foursome operates as a unit.
Although things become hectic with their dangerous lifestyle, the family manages to make it work without having much of a work/life balance.
But what is life if a person cannot do what they are put on Earth to do?
In “Everest: The Other Side,” Hilaree feels closer to the Creator the higher she ascends a mountain, despite not being extremely religious.
The only bad thing about being an adventure seeker is that there is often another obstacle or mountain to conquer.
Success is not enough.
But succeeding where others have failed is what drives many adventure seekers like Jim and Hilaree.
In “Everest: The Other Side,” Jim and Hilaree have a dream of climbing the north face of Mount Everest, which is in China.
They have climbed the other side of Mount Everest in Nepal.
However, many people have accomplished that feat too.
The same thing cannot be said about the north face of the mountain because of the treacherous conditions.
Because of avalanches and other extreme weather conditions, climbing the north face of Mount Everest can only happen in a short window of time.
Even then, the chances of success and survival are slim.
Many people would not do something voluntarily if it put their lives on the line.
Sure, many people work in professions like law enforcement, the military or other first responder jobs that put their lives in danger.
However, those people often are doing so to help save others.
What about those who do it for sport?
But what seems dangerous for some is a way of life for others.
And Jim and Hilaree must pursue their passion because without it, life is not worth living.
Mountain climbing is their purpose.
But when adversity confronts them, will the dream of climbing the north face of Mount Everest become an afterthought or create more determination?
In “Everest: The Other Side,” Jim and Hilaree’s family become like family to audience members because the cameras allow access to their home life, which makes them relatable.
Although not everyone has such a dangerous passion, everyone can relate to taking risks.
Everyone can relate to worrying about the safety of their loved ones.
And everyone can relate to worrying about how one’s family will carry on when they close their eyes for the final time.
Parents all over the world will relate to the hustle and bustle of getting kids ready for school in time so that they will not miss their bus.
Children all over the world will relate to the pressure of living up to the legacy set by their parents.
Furthermore, children all over the world will relate to the pressure that some parents put on kids to have the same passions and interests that they have.
“Everest: The Other Side” succeeds on the human-interest side.
But it also succeeds on a cinematic level because the shots are just awesome.
To see cameras set up on certain points of a mountain to get once-in-a-lifetime footage is remarkable.
There is something about snow-capped mountains that is just remarkable and relaxing to look at.
But while enjoying the view of a snow-capped mountain is relaxing, it is not relaxing to climb it.
It is stressful.
It is dangerous.
And it can be extremely tragic.
But those dangers and challenges are what make people want to achieve what some see as impossible.
Unfortunately, those who are not interested in mountain climbing might find some scenes dull.
But everyone can relate to having a passion and a purpose that make life worth living.
“Everest: The Other Side” is currently in theaters.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
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