Excellent, a Must See

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 funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The acting in this movie is really good.

This documentary is about a group of friends who walk from Yosimite to Mt. Whitney along the John Muir Trail. To me, the reason to hike is to enjoy the solitude...the peace and quiet of the great outdoors. Because of this, it really makes watching this documentary difficult, as it is NEVER quiet...never. Instead of focusing on the glorious natural settings, the film always goes back to the relatively uninteresting group of friends so they can talk...and talk...and talk. It reminds me of most every reality TV show where the camera MUST periodically come back to the 'stars' to hear their thoughts about the trek--even if these thoughts are mostly irrelevant. In hindsight, I would have MUCH rather seen a ton of footage with only minimal narration to let you know what you're seeing. Plus, isn't it better to just get out and hike instead of watching people hike (a little) and talk a lot? A boring and rather pointless and thoroughly pretentious and self-absorbed film that folks either adore or totally hate....as you can tell if you read through the reviews. I am somewhat in the middle. I'd give the footage an 8 and everything else a 1...and an overall score of 3. Believe me, among those who didn't enjoy it, a 3 is VERY positive and I don't use the unnecessarily abusive and anti-rich people comments some used in describing and attacking this movie.

Having viewed Ken Burns' National Parks again recently this film was recommended to me. I was disappointed. Its clear the John Muir Trail has some nice scenery - but this poorly made movie and the people in it are ridiculous Supposedly these people are all AMAZING artists gathered to have an AMAAAAAZING adventure and along they way they meet other people who are....(wait for it...) AMAZING!. Apparently some people are are easily amazed. Too much time is spent having them interview each other, hug each other and say AMAZING about things about each other than the trail itself. Actually its amazing you can having this many people in a movie and none of them are either interesting or talented.Prior to viewing this film I was interested in hiking the trail. Now, maybe I'd rather not. Would like to see the sights. Would rather not spend time running into an assortment of misfits trying to convince themselves they are doing something important. When the bear shows up at one point I was really rooting for an attack - but like everything else in this movie, the bear let me down too.Think creativity is always a good thing? This movie can make you think otherwise.

Filled with great cinematography and light-hearted stories/accounts, this doc is an enjoyable look at a 25-day hike along the JMT by a group of film professionals who also happen to be friends. Is it an Errol Morris-level documentary? No, but it is quite entertaining nonetheless, especially for the novice outdoor enthusiast or someone who is simply seeking to live vicariously through a group that is hiking through beautiful country.There are no hiking tips or technical discussions here because such is not the point. This is simply a film designed to provide the viewer with a pleasant "vacation" in the form of a hike that most will never have the time to complete.My recommendation is to just dispense with any cynicism and enjoy the journey.

The "Range of Light" piece in the extra features is enough to inspire, but the film does an even better job of bringing to life the beauty of the world around us, a world described in the film as "in our own backyard." The passion the film-makers have for their work is evidenced by their dedication - carrying pounds and pounds of extra gear through 211 grueling miles. They are not actors, they are film-makers who love the outdoors. This fact rings true throughout the film.While so many of us don't have the ability to leave our lives for a month and take on such a venture, this film brings that experience, as best it can, to your living room. However, I believe their goal is accomplished -- inspire you to get out and do it yourself. The soundtrack to the film is beautiful and perfectly accompanies the beautiful scenery.Five stars!