Ghost of the Mountains

Wow, I'm stunned, after watching this incredible outstanding Film. 1st- I'd like to thank the good people who braved 9 mos of grueling filming, in the harshest of conditions, "on top of the world".

Never have I read, or seen film, pictures, let alone Video of this Quality, and overall amount of actual continued footage of not one, or 2 Snow Leopard's, but included Cubs also. Wow. Words fall short of the emotions one receives in seeing this very special and rare footage. Rare as many dozens of expeditions have climbed atop the world in the Himalayas to document, photograph or TRY to film these elusive gorgeous creatures.

I've had some experiences with Snow Leopards, that have been bred in Captivity, at the nearby Endangered Feline Breeding Complex in Rosamond, Ca. Of all the big or small non-domestic cats, I've always felt the Snow Leopards have a look unlike any Feline I've yet to meet. Of course there is nothing much more special than playing with a Bengal or Siberian Cub, (bred in captivity), 'tho the Snow Leopards look deep into one's Soul, unlike any Feline. If I didn't know better, I'd swear these heavenly elusive creatures are all reincarnated Tibetan Lama's, Rinpoche's, great Masters of Life.

Can't praise enough those film crew members, who supported and filmed with pure brevity; to carry on, endure these elements high altitude elements of extreme cold, winds, and high thin air altitudes; to obtain this footage. I more than admire their approach to not trying to get that elusive close up picture, for fear of losing the Leopards trust, of which they seemed to obtain. A feat very uncharacteristic of any snow leopard, IE trust in humans, especially when the cats know humans are nearby let alone in plain sight.

However one aspect of production, and narrative of this movie, deeply disturbed me, which IMHO, downgrades the perfect 10 score I gave this. I almost downgraded this films experience and rating, based on hearing how these gorgeous animals were in the "Chinese" Himalayan's. With not a brief mention, that this IS/WAS Tibet proper, and has been since the Chinese bloody occupation of Tibet and hostile take over of 1957. A simple brief admission would of been nice, instead of a failure to mention Tibet as once home of the largest quantities of these special creatures.

To this day Tibet exists in those persons hearts who have not forgot this bloody time in History. The Snow Leopards diminished greatly over the time of China's military invasion.

and of course Tibet was not the only home of the Snow Leopard, IE these nations have or had snow leopards since mankind first met them: Tibet, Afghanistan, Bhutan, China's Mongolian Plains, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Great work Disneyture, and outstanding work and kudos (hats off) to those who made this possible, IE those who physically ensured this film made it to the studio.... Bravo!!!

I love animal docs. This was well edited and put together. I cried.

Disneynature's international team of filmmakers travel to the mountains of China to find and film the elusive snow leopard on the highest plateau on Earth, while enduring brutal weather and unsettled terrain.

Facing brutal weather and highly unstable terrain, documentary filmmakers head into the mountains of China to find and film the elusive snow leopard on the highest plateau on Earth.

I really like the narrated documentaries, with the stories already ready, however I think those that show the backstage, behind the scenes, the tireless search, the hope and the joy in obtaining success in the images are very valid, it's beautiful, it's cute, it's important, it's exhausting... Without intervening, without disturbing or destroying nature, with the help of the local community, and it was sweet of them helping to capture a baby Yak, beautiful beautiful... The Snow Leopard is beautiful... I didn't know... .S2.

In bonus features, Disney film crew boasts how they had 24/7 access to ER care & air transport. This super mother snow leopard WAS a legend to local Mongolians, thus she was tracked, darted & UNNATURALLY COLLARED for THIS film. Those reviews admiring all filmography are NOT informed how Disney film crew caused her death & her twin cubs deaths bc streaming fails to show bonus clips. The film crew boasted they "laughed & ate food for 5 days few feet away" watching her slow death, her 2 nearby teen female cubs shivering & starving to death. The entire snow leopard family's death is entertaining to this horrible film crew.

IF she wasn't darted & filmed, the super mom snow leopard in her PRIME yrs would've raised her 2 cubs- an extraordinary feat, & she herself would remain alive, her incredible genes passed down to populate a near extinct species.

Disney crew caused her death by refusing to aide her after an illegally grazing ram severely injured her during a hunt. That's why she looks pleadingly into the camera lens often at the end. The worthless crap quote of "life's balance being Ying/ yang" is akin to Pinocchio's nose growing 10 feet long. Disney crew justifies their greedy motives & INaction to aide her by stating "it's nature." Is it "nature" to hunt her, dart her & Force a collar on her while she's raising 2 cubs so the crew can easily film her? She entrusted them- a huge gift, & Disney crew betrayed her. All reviews who mention her death due to THIS film have been removed.

I never would watch any film that causes the death a critically endangered creature, esp the lead.. I discovered this AFTER on blue ray bonus features.

Def SKIP this abhorrent profit only purpose film. There are better films of snow leopards filmed with hidden cameras that do not dart them nor Jeopardize their lives, esp when raising young.

10/9/17. Was Antoine Fuqua involved with this documentary? I am really surprised because I really like his work. When they did catch a glimpse of the snow leopard family, the cinematography was great. But, since the photogs were not that successful all the time, this documentary was filled with uninteresting back stories that didn't add much to the film.