Alive (1993)

In 1972 a chartered plane carrying a Uruguayan rugby squad and various family members crashed in the Andes. If that sounds dry and matter-of-fact, you haven't seen director Frank Marshall's harrowing re-creation Alive, an adrenaline-pounding, heart-in-your-mouth spectacle that kicks off this famous story of survival. The real-life against-all-odds odyssey made worldwide headlines when it became known that the survivors ate their own dead to survive. What could have easily become sensationalistic exploitation is treated with compassion and dignity by Marshall as he explores their moral and spiritual struggles as well as their physical ordeal. As team captain and base-camp cheerleader Vincent Spano slowly collapses under the stress and Ethan Hawke rouses from mourning his dead family to taking charge of saving himself, it also becomes a portrait in leadership, hope, and emotional courage. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

GREAT MOVIE ALL THE WAY AROUND

THIS MOVIE IS THE BEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN IN A TRUE LIFE EVENT.
I REMEMBER AS A CHILD,THESE MEN ALMOST WENT TO PRISON FOR EATING PEOPLE TO SURVIVE.THIS MOVIE WILL PUT YOU THERE,FEEL LIKE YOUR THERE,YOU GET TO KNOW THESE BRAVE PEOPLE,I SEEN IT LATE ONE NIGHT ON PBS ABOUT 13 YEARS AGO.I NEVER FORGOT THIS MOVIE.YOU WANT TO SEE AND FEEL SURVIVAL WATCH THIS MOVIE.NEVER WILL YOU SEE A MOVIE THAT PUTS YOU THERE. JENN B PA October 13, 2008

An amazing film

This is an amazing depiction of a true story about an airplane crash in the Andes and the people who survived - and those who didn't. Cannibalism is one aspect of the film, but I found I could easily understand how that happened. Several of the survivors in this movie were true heroes. Although parts of this film were very disturbing and difficult to watch, I found it to be a great reminder of the good fortune and lack of true tragedy that many of us take for granted. A must see, but not before a flight! October 5, 2008

Unbelievable hope in the face of tragedy

After reading Nando Parrado's book entitled "Miracle in the Andes" I had to see this movie. It made me more aware of the "living" conditions in the Andes, the survival techniques used and and leadership it took for them to walk out of the mountains June 6, 2008

Incredible story!

Being a movie buff I have seen many but this one is certainly one of the most impressive stories I have ever come across - wow! The challenges of survival people are faced with after crashing in the Andes and the strength of spirit that can emerge when human beings are forced to deal with ultimate life threatening circumstances leaves an unforgettable imprint in your mind and heart. I don't want to give away details but highly recommend to see this remarkable film and let yourself be touched and truly humbled as I was after first seeing it years ago.. May 8, 2008

I'm boggled. Others really think it's so good??!

This film's got really stella reviews here, which led me to doubt amazon review system somewhat. Is it really that good movie? I disagree. The performance of the hero Nando, acted by Ethan Hawke, is really lacking and it's really unconvincing that he could have a strong enough personality to lead the group. The film is too tongue-in-cheek at time (the sled, the jokes, etc.) that it really doesn't feel like the real life of distraught people who look death in the eyes every moment they are on the mountain. What bothers me most is that these group of survivors, upon being on the mountain for some two months, still look well and wholesome, with no sign of wear and tear. They haven't got thinner, their teeth are still glittering. Probably it's because the movie was made before Tom Hanks has raised the bar in his movie Cast Away where he lost hugh amount of weight, or because it's impossible to get all the casts to commit, but I still find it ruins the taste somewhat.

Plus note, the crash scene is excellent. But then to me the movie goes downhill from there. January 28, 2008

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