LastingAware The greatest movie ever!

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

ClassyWas Excellent, smart action film.

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Screen_Blitz Disasters are part of our nature, but what comes of a disaster is a test to your willpower to survive, and sometimes maybe your faith. When a miracle occurs following the wake of a tragic event, a story almost always must be told. The courage and hardships of the Uruguayan rugby team in 1972 in the face of an ill-fated airline disaster is explicitly demonstrated here in this biographical adventure directed by Frank Marshall who is normally seen in the producer's chair for works by Touchstone. This film was set for development by Disney in the early 80s. But as Disney sparked disapproval for violent content in films, it wasn't until the founding of the Touchstone division to allow films of the lesser family-friendly. After all, the gruesome disaster images and occasionally earned the R-rating here. Based on true events involving bravery, determination, and survival; the film focuses on the 1972 Uruguayan Rubgy team along with some family members on a plane ride as they travel to Chile for a championship game. But when they reach through the Andes mountains, it's not long before the weather gets ugly and blizzards began arriving. Soon, the storm takes a toll on them when their plane crashes and shatters into the snowy fields of the Andes mountain range, killing several passengers. With scarce food supply and no available radio signal, the survivors are force to take extreme measures including cannibalism to survive the blistering subzero conditions until help arrives.Featuring a large ensemble cast of Ethan Hawke, Vincent Spano, Josh Hamilton, Bruce Ramsey, John Newton, David Kriegal, Kevin Breznahan, Sam Renhans, Illeana Douglas, Jack Noseworthy, Christian J. Neoli, Jake Carpenter, Michael DeLorenzo, Jose Zinuga, and a few others; the tense, survival adventure pulls no almost punches when depicting the horrifying disaster followed by the aftermath the team must endure. Powerfully capturing the fateful events on both a technical and narrative level, the film showcases a harrowing portrayal of the tragedy to left the rugby team and their family members fighting vigorously for their survival but questioning their spirituality. Following a solid narration from John Malvoich in the opening scene, viewers reach the film's highest point of intensity in one of the most graphic and authentic plane crash scenes ever encountered on film, with the half of the plane tearing to pieces and passengers sucked off-board, tossed around, and cut by debris resulting in their bloody injuries (or deaths). And after his heart-racing scene, the tension doesn't stop there. The story captures the punishing fight for survival with vast detail, exploring through gritty character studies including their distasteful experience of resourcing to using the dead as food, the physical brutality of the blistering cold temperatures, and the test of their faith. Contrary to many faith-based flicks, the film does a nice job as executing the religious aspect of the story effectively without making it heavy-handed or manipulative. But the movie's most powerful caliber lies in the emotional investment incorporated in the story. From the bonding between the team- turned family and their will to make it out alive hits hard and ignites a strong emotional core.Alive is a deeply moving tale of survival brought together by the ingenious efforts by director Frank Marshall. Blossoming with arresting performances, an inspiring screenplay, and a powerful message about surviving through harsh circumstances; this movie is a profound story that well deserved your attention, even if it the physical (and emotional) intensity packs a punch to your gut.

l_rawjalaurence Superficially ALIVE follows the plot of most disaster movies. A plane crashes in the Andes, leaving the Uruguayan rugby team and their fellow-passengers stranded. Some are already dead; the survivors have to learn to cope with an adverse situation in which help never comes and they are left for dead. The plot has distinct echoes of classic ice-bound thrillers such as SCOTT OF THE ANTARCTIC (1948), especially when three members of the team (Josh Hamilton, John Hames Newton, and Ethan Hawke) volunteer to cross the mountains on their own, despite the potential risks involved.Yet Frank Marshall's film makes some serious points about the ways in which we can deal with traumatic situations. At the beginning the rugby team resemble any set of boisterous young men enjoying themselves, as they throw a ball about on the plane, make fun of the harassed cabin staff and willfully break the no-smoking rule. Once the disaster has happened, they are forced to learn the importance of true teamwork, where individuals have to sublimate their inclinations to the group ethic. It is not easy - especially for some of the team - but it is the only way to survive.As time passes, so the rugby players understand more about their lives. They try their best to survive using primitive materials (and even choosing to eat the dead, despite their religious scruples), but they come to realize that this might not be enough to guarantee their collective futures. Nonetheless they continue to work together; it is the act of doing that ensures their future, coupled with a belief that God might help them, should they pray fervently enough.The environment is not always friendly; sometimes it can destroy as well as support. The survivors have to cope with an avalanche that kills some of their number; but they come to realize that acceptance is an important strategy for survival. You have to take the rough with the smooth and try to move on, however painful that might be, while understanding that everyone around you shares that experience.Acceptance and action; community endeavor and mutual support; these are the qualities that ensure the future of at least some of the survivors, who admit at the same time that their lives are insignificant when compared with the universe around them. They have been brought together "by a grand experience," as the narrator (John Malkovich) tells us.

n-mo "Alive" is not an easy film to watch or to understand. This is not a cheap Armageddon-like disaster flick: everything in the movie really happened and with the same timing that it happens on screen. One might imagine, though, that BECAUSE it is so true-to-life, it would be difficult to tie it together with any sort of unifying underlying theme.Yet the film is extremely coherent both thematically and plot-wise. I would argue it is coherent because of the coherence of the society from which the survivors sprang: most of them had gone to the same school, all of them had grown up in the same small country and, perhaps most importantly, all of them were Roman Catholics. Would a more cosmopolitan and less tight-knit mix have been able to feel each other out and understand one another enough to form such a coherent survival group?But this is only the most existential of the many fascinating lines of thought provoked by this beautiful film. What would you do to survive? is another, but it is not a particularly deep question. (You do what you have to, that's what.)Perhaps other questions might be: what does it mean to be alive? What is it like to be confronted with barbaric conditions and maintain a civilized composure? What strength of character does it take? Or what strength of character does it confer?And in particular: how can one permit onesself to love one's neighbors so deeply knowing that many of them may soon be taken away by death? Or is that the point? Are the bonds of friendship and kinship just all the more precious for the constant threat of loss?A truly fascinating piece of art.

MattyGibbs This is the true story of a plane crash in the Andes and tells of the fate of the survivors.From the outset this film never fails to hold the attention. The plane crash is remarkably filmed and genuinely disturbing. The rest of the film concentrates on how the survivors cope with their predicament.The film successfully captures the fear felt by the survivors and the sense of dread that they would die on the mountain. The acting is pitch perfect and realistic. Although the film covers disturbing material it is dealt with sensitively and there a moments of humour throughout to lighten the mood a touch.In conclusion this is a wonderfully filmed and enjoyable film and comes highly recommended.