Meru

Release Date: 14th August 2015
Rating: 7/10

“It’s defeated so many good climbers and maybe will defeat everybody for all time,” said Jon Krakauer of Mount Meru, a shark fin-like peak in the Himalayas. This documentary shows a group of climbers, including Jimmy Chin and Conrad Anker as they attempt to become the first people to reach the top.

The cinematography really is next-level, and there’s a great deal of poignancy along the way as each climber in the team reflects on some of the challenges they’ve faced in their lives leading up to the ascent.

Mountain

Release Date: 21st September 2017
Rating:  7/10

This is less so a documentary and more a piece of art – one to crank up the image quality and the sound as high as possible. It’s a curation of footage from some of the most talented nature, outdoor and adventure sports cinematographers, with narration from Willem Defoe and music throughout from a world-class orchestra. The purpose? To explore our connection with mountains throughout history.

Thai Cave Rescue

Release Date: 13th July, 2018
Rating: 7/10

There’s no point in us going through the story here really is there – we all remember the news reports, and, well, the title pretty much gives you the gist anyway, right?

A year on from that amazing rescue, this documentary pulls together on-the-scene footage from that incredible operation to save the 12 trapped schoolboys, plus interviews from key people involved. We all know what happens, but it’s still a gripping watch.

Under An Artic Sky

Release Date: 23rd April 2017
Rating: 7/10

Fancy surfing under an arctic sky up in Iceland as the worst storm in the region is about to come barrelling along the coast? No? Me neither, but it was good watching other people do just that while I was sat comfortably on my sofa.

This documentary follows six enthusiastic surfers (Sam Hammer, Heidar Logi, Elli Thor, Magnusson, Ingo Olson, Timmy Reyes and Justin Quintan) as they make a pilgrimage to surf where nobody has surfed before.

The storm ends up providing all the surfing goods, with the crew treated to some awesome waves alongside towering snowcapped peaks and with the Aurora Borealis dancing up above. A visually stunning watch.

Everest

Release Date: 18th September 2015
Rating: 7/10

Everest has everything you’d expect from a Hollywood adaptation of the disastrous 1996 season, where eight climbers sadly lost their life in an effort to reach the summit of the highest peak in the world. Jake Gyllenhaal cast as Scott Fischer, some questionable climbing techniques and a $55,000,000 budget; Everest has got the lot, and it’s now available to watch on Netflix.

And yes, of course, if you would rather have a first-hand, fact based account of this tragic season on Mount Everest, then do make sure you grab a copy of Jon Krakauer’s epic ‘Into Thin Air’. But, as much as this film lacks a fact-checked account of the story, it more than makes up for it in it’s epic cinematography, giving a fantastically visual enactment of this gripping story.

Wild

Release Date: 29th August 2014
Rating: 7/10

This is the story of a very long walk. A 1,100 mile-long walk to be exact, one along the entire length of the Pacific Crest Trail. Wild follows Cheryl Strayed (played by Reese Witherspoon), who in 1995 completed the trail solo after the death of her mother and the breakdown of her marriage. The film shows us the power that nature has upon us, through self reflection, danger and new friendships.

Both Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern (playing Cheryl’s mother) received Oscar nominations (Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress) for their roles in Wild. Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster through some stunning landscapes in Wild.

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