Messner (2012) User Reviews

Beautifully Filmed Overview of Messner's Life

[davidgdaniel-799-4049 · 7/10 · 23 November 2016]

Cannot disagree more strongly with the first posted review: Messner was an enjoyable abridged biography of the climbing legend. A film of this duration can never do justice to such a subject but instead highlights some landmark achievements, and having not read a biography on Messner, found it paced just right.

The dramatised enactments are beautifully shot, however fall short on conveying the real drama of events and rely on the viewers background knowledge as to the story unfolding. Also the subtitles were not entirely accurate.

Could have offered greater insights into his character given the valuable contributions. But the film alludes to the deep trauma he still obviously harbours regarding the death of his brother in 1970 on Nanga Parbat, but it does paint a picture of an insular man which is no great surprise as it takes some steel to complete the achievements he has completed.

There are better technical climbers, more interesting climbing characters, there are more daring climbing feats, there are others in the 14 8000m club who have climbed alternative more difficult approaches, but you have to appreciate he was a trail blazer, a genuine pioneer, bringing an alpine approach to high altitude climbing, not to mention the first to summit Everest without oxygen when the general view was that it was impossible. He broke the mould - worth watching for any Mountain fan.

On top (of things)

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 26 July 2021]

Who doesn't know Reinhold Messner? I would argue that a lot do know him at least periphically speaking. Like heard of him and that he likes to climb mountains. Now this documentary right here, gets you inside the mind of this individual ... but also the people close to him (family and friends).

Because while there may not be a lot of company when you climb a mountain (especially if you try to do it alone), who better to describe the person and his drive, than those that should know him. Very thorough and well done - good research and well edited. Even those who will never climb a mountain (certainly not the ones he did climb), can take something from this ...

Messner was a failure

[Horst_In_Translation · 2/10 · 5 April 2016]

"Messner" is a 105-minute documentary from almost 5 years ago and as the title already says it tells us about the achievements of famous German mountaineer Reinhold Messner, in his 70s today. The writer and director is Andreas Nickel. Let me elaborate why I call this film a failure. It is because I do not care the slightest bit about the entire concept behind it. This has a lot more to do with Messner than with Nickel though. II can't deny I always found him unlikeable and even if he is not as unlikeable as usual in here, I still don't want to see or hear about him. Why do we have to get to heights that no other people have been before? To prove we are bigger than nature. Nope, you are not. The actual reason is to prove you are complete idiots looking at all the people who have died up there. You love climbing and want to experienced the snowy mountains? that is perfectly fine. Pick some minor mountain in the Alps then and have a great time. But do not go to the Himalayas in your desperate attempt to become famous.

The only somewhat good thing here were the old recordings. The interviews weren't good at all and often felt scripted even. Those people certainly did not deserve the attention. But the worst thing here were the re-enactments and this is one area where Nickel is actually to blame and not Messner. Man these fights for live by amateur actors apparently up in the mountains were truly painful to watch. And these scenes are also the reason why I give this (far too long) film a 2/10 and not a 4/10. I'd have preferred it to run for one hour max. If you are really interested in climbing history or are actually a climber yourself, then this may be an okay watch, otherwise stay far far away and skip it. Major thumbs-down from me.