Journey to Everest Movie Review

Be prepared for a welcomed assault on the senses as you watch Journey to Everest, a cinematically stunning and culturally immersive documentary written, directed and co-produced by David Kiern.

Epiphany Productions (company of multiple Emmy winning producer, Mitchell Galin) and Ed Smith (Executive Producer) have put together a documentary that is not only fascinating, but breathtakingly beautiful.

A tale of adventure and adversity, a story of perspective and ministry, all exquisitely packaged with some of the most arresting shots of the Himalayan region that you’ll ever see on the screen.

Journey to Everest is the story of six Americans (Ed Smith, Mike Yarborough, Mark and Anne Bortz, Doug Perry and Wayne Cole) who set off on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, they discover much more about the world and their place in it than they had ever anticipated.


The beauty of this documentary lies not only in the amazing footage and cultural immersion that Kiern provides, but also in a tragic part of the story that neither the adventurers nor the filmmakers ever anticipated.

So strap on your hiking boots and dress warm because this documentary makes the viewer feel like part of the Journey to Everest.

Starting off with magnificent shots of Mount Everest, known to the locals as Chomolungma (the mother goddess of the world), and chronicling the six adventurers' story, the journey begins in Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu. The team prepares to board a small propeller plane which will take them to a runway carved into the side of a mountain, in the tiny Himalayan village of Lukla. This airport is rated as the most dangerous in the world.

But as the team is preparing to board the 6:15 plane to Lukla, they find out that they have been bumped from their scheduled flight because of earlier cancellations. Another team that has been waiting gets to take their flight instead. They await hopefully, eager to start their hike, but eventually learn that all flights for Lukla have been cancelled. Expedition leader Ed Smith leaves the terminal to make arrangements for the delay and the team returns to their hotel frustrated, to find out what happens next.

Later when the team is back at the hotel, individuals in the lobby have grave looks on their faces, several are on their cell phones and many simply look shocked.

The team approaches their fellow hotel guests to inquire as to what is going on. They are informed that Yeti Airlines Flight 109 that departed Nepal at 6:15 heading to Lukla has just crashed, killing all but one of the passengers aboard.

At this point, the team has to prayerfully make a decision on how, and if, to proceed.

My favorite line in the documentary comes to mind here, when expedition leader Ed Smith states, "To live life without risk is to risk not living."

They prayerfully decide to press on.

Kiern documents the entire journey in extraordinary fashion. There is the cultural immersion aspect, the ministry aspect with the team’s local guide Bishwa Karmachaya, an encouraging reunion of team members, the extreme difficulty of the trek to 17,400 ft. above sea level to Everest Base Camp, a heartwarming story involving a school, a computer and a promise. There is even a mystery discussed in the documentary involving a theft, a real Yeti and famed actor Jimmy Stewart. Sound jam-packed? It is.

So here is my thought: Don’t miss out on the depth of this documentary; pick up a copy for yourself and your family. You’ll be blessed and you can thank me later.

Here’s the scoop:


Good

• Quality. The production quality is fantastic. Of course, I expect nothing less from Epiphany Productions. If Journey to Everest wasn’t high quality, I would have honestly been shocked.
• Narration. Byron Warner, the narrator, is amazing. Where did Kiern find this guy? His voice is engrossing and compelling to listen to, and is reminiscent of top quality narrators in higher production cost, secular documentaries.
• Footage. Stunning and majestic. Both the shots of the trek to Everest Base Camp and the shots in the city of Kathmandu are outstanding. The viewer really feels immersed in this adventure. The nighttime shots are also amazing.
• Informative. Learning about the culture, beliefs and customs of the local Nepalese people is fascinating. Plus, the difficulty of some of the climbs is put in terms that the viewer can relate to.
• Music. Composed by Bob Farnsworth, and orchestrated and performed by Larry Hal, the music is in keeping with the documentary and a blessing to the film.
• Ministry. The ministry aspect that is included in the documentary is special and adds so much to the film. Bishwa Karmachaya and his bride have an important ministry to the Nepalese people, though they had to meet in underground Christian churches until 1990. Journey to Everest takes you on a brief behind the scenes tour of this ministry.







• Guides. I have to say something about the Sherpa Guides and porters in the film. They are incredible, they make me smile and the personal Sherpa Guide on this journey, Dandi Sherpa, is a joy to watch.
• Maps and Artwork. Natalie Kiern does an impressive job and adds much to the value and feel of the film.

• Random Facts. There is one point in Journey to Everest where the narrator speaks about Nashville, the origin of the team members and how many churches are in the city. An interesting fact, but it seems out of place and doesn’t connect to what comes before or after.
• Climax. The climax of Journey to Everest feels like it is supposed to come when our adventurers finally make it to Everest Base Camp. But when the moment comes, there is a bit of anti-climax. To the adventurers, I’m sure it is the thrill of a lifetime and the accomplishment of a major life goal. To me as the viewer, it was decidedly awkward and unfulfilling. I don’t know what I was expecting, but whatever it was, it wasn’t there and I wanted it to be. Maybe they could get attacked by an Everest snow leopard or something…or a Yeti with a missing hand! I digress.

• Journey to Everest is a documentary that should be watched. It is humbling because the viewer is faced with so much that causes him to reflect on himself and his own mortality. It is also a documentary that deals with the haves and the have-nots; it is a reflection on our privilege as Americans. It is soaked in rich cinematography and solid storytelling, and immerses the viewer in the culture of the Himalayas. The documentary is interesting and makes viewers feel as if they too are taking part in the adventure.

Perhaps the best compliment that I can give Journey to Everest is that you know a movie is good and intriguing when, as a reviewer, you forget you are writing a review and sit back to enjoy the story and cinematography, then have to rewind the movie once you remember you are reviewing it for others. How can I give a documentary a better compliment? Honestly, Journey to Everest rivals anything I’ve seen on the History Channel or Travel Channel, but with a message of faith, determination, hope and purpose.

Thanks David Kiern, Ed Smith and Epiphany Productions for putting this together – what an amazing journey. We at HOSFU look forward to the next journey that you’ll take us on.

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