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Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Admirable film.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

I had the pleasure of watching THE ASCENT, a few weeks ago, and I really like this film.***This short review is on the official director's version of THE ASCENT. Not the version that has aired overseas, which I have also seen. And oh boy, like watching two different films in some parts. The additions that were made are just strange, and very poorly done. And that's being kind.Why I like (director's version) THE ASCENT? Story! This was a good story about a woman, a strong and tough woman, who goes on a sorrow-fueled revenge quest. And this, I do not remember ever seeing done before on screen. There's always some get outta jail free card where the woman, or man, cops out or changes their mind in the end, but not here.Emily Wilks does some pretty bad things to get what she wants, and there is a cost, and there is a price to be paid.I thought the cast was overall very good. I found the lead bad guy very creepy, and very desperate to get what he wants, making him very dangerous. No question I found a couple of the supporting characters a little thin, but this film was all on the shoulders of Josie Davis, playing Emily Wilks, and she was fantastic. It's her journey you're taken on. And where it goes you will not be able to guess.The actor who played the part of Thomas (William Duffy) was so great. And I totally remember him for THE WEST WING. Also, it was so great seeing Martin Kove (THE KARATE KID) playing a real good guy, and not the baddies he usually plays.In short, I found THE ASCENT a very well written, well directed, and well acted film... If you can find the director's version, check it out!

I got invited to a screening for The Ascent and i gotta tell ya, I really enjoyed this film. First, I'm a rock climber and mountaineer and even though the scale of this film was constrained due to what has to be a lack of budget, what they used, they used to the fullest. The film also goes out of it's way to be accurate with it's climbing and mountaineering terminology. Really can't say that for films like Cliffhanger and The Vertical Limit. Who cares? Some of us do. This could be considered an ensemble film but it really is Josie Davis's baby. She does a great job capturing the essence of Emily and the pain and turmoil that she has endured to get to this day and then through it. The writer/director must love the films of his youth like I do, because he cast actors I've always loved but always felt were never fully utilized. Guys like Courtney Gains and William McNamara really shine as does the cooler than cool Martin Cove. I love writer/directors who pull from talent they love as an audience member themselves, and this film is a prime example of that. The story was good and never felt slow or bogged down. I really wish they had more money to do the film bigger and as I said, the cut I saw still need to be finished on some tech aspects like sound and score. All in all a really great little mountain climbing film that in allot of respects has nothing to do with climbing. Just one woman's journey of revenge, redemption and loss...and a swinging ice axe duel never hurt anyone either.

I recently had the opportunity of attending a screening of the new film, "The Ascent," by writer/director Steven Creazzo and producer Kerry Wallum. And I was pleasantly surprised.In some ways, the director was definitely trying to reach beyond the budget he appeared to have. Which was most likely less than 1M. In my opinion, the settings/locations were not entirely vast enough to tell the story they were telling. Such a dangerous mountain, with such a deadly history, should have been more dangerous looking than it was. I'm not sure where they shot this film, but it didn't appear to be very mountainous. Some of the terrain was really cool, and there are some cliff/climbing scenes, but not enough in my opinion. That aside, the reason this film, and story work so well is the emotional journey of the lead character, Emily Wilks.Emily, played by Josie Davis, is the center of the film. It's not an "action film" at all, but more the journey of a person who is so broken she makes choices that will forever change her life. And not in the greatest of ways. I was truly taken by Josie Davis' performance. I remember her from years ago, in "Charles in Charge," and I was really blown away by her focused and passionate performance in this film.William McNamara plays the "slightly crazy" villain, Joel. And I mean he's really a bit crazy, but in that cool, creepy way. Yeah, he creeped me out.Courtney Gains, from so many great films, was really wonderful as Andrew. And I must say, kinda under used in my opinion. For me, Courtney Gains and Josie Davis shared one of the best scenes in the film.Other featured cast members are; William Duffy, Joe Estevez, Anne Griffin, and the great ("Sweep the Leg") Martin Kove, from the original, and one and only "The Karate Kid." To summarize the story. "The Ascent" takes us on a journey of a great mislead. We think one story is happening, when really, an entire other story had been happening right in front of our eyes. On its surface, it is a story of a mountaineer who takes a group of novice climbers up a dangerous mountain. Or it's a story of a mountaineer who is forced to take a group of thieves to a buried treasure in gold. Or it's a story of how far a person will go to avenge a loved one... For me, it was all these things.I really loved this film. Good acting. Good pacing. It had a nice slow burn. And most of all, fleshed out main characters. Indeed, some of the secondary characters needed a bit more, but I was taken with Emily, Josie Davis' character, I didn't much care. And note a great, small scene, with Martin Kove and Anne Griffin.I hope this film comes out on DVD, or airs on cable, soon. I recommend "The Ascent" to anyone looking to rent/watch a good film, with a real story, and real emotions, that really entertained me.I also hope the film is given the proper technical completion, as the cut I saw still needed its score, sound, and color grading to be completed.I give "The Ascent" two thumbs up, and I look forward to the sequel.

Some mild spoilers.I caught the last half of this on TV last night, and seeing there wasn't a single review here on IMDb, thought I would scribble a few words.Well I can't believe this was actually released - the acting is poor & hammy, the dialogue stilted and the 'action' scenes completely unbelievable.With such an obvious small budget, the director has been too adventurous - far better to have concentrated on character dialogue rather than such poor 'adventure' scenes. With TV shows such as '24' and 'Dexter' managing to be fun & exciting, as well as reasonably realistic, there really doesn't seem to be a place for this type of movie any more. Cave scene - the interior is obviously fake cement 'rock' and there are no wide shots at all.2 characters fall over a cliff, and are then shown hanging by their fingertips, somehow *beneath* an overhang, on an obvious climbing-wall !1 character gets stabbed in the stomach, apparently so badly that his bandages get blood-soaked every few minutes, but he hardly experiences any pain and is able to carry on OK, albeit with a limp !Some characters are killed, and there is no emotion or tension at all in the survivors.After trekking & struggling across some quite rugged terrain, there is suddenly a path with a guide rail !1/10, with a bonus point for "so bad, it's good".