Deep Winter

(2008) Deep Winter ADVENTURE

Acting is bad, and the plot is too cliche to be taken seriously as well as absolutely offers nothing professional skiers do not know themselves besides being very predictable, but if anyone were to be ignorant as much as I am about the dynamics of filming skiing videos this film succeeds at doing just that. Co-written and directed by Mikey Hilb directing a movie that has simplistic plot about a professional skier, Tyler Crowe (Eric Lively) who gets himself kicked off his ski team, he then visits a girl, Elisa Rider (Peyton List) working at a bar who the star Tyle is close to her brother and a professional snowboarder, Mark Rider (Kellan Lutz) who also knows about the star getting himself kicked off his skiing team, brings along and introduces to him a film crew who makes ski videos for a living and offers him a contract to showcase him to do some serious skiing on some of Alaska's most treacherous mountains. Michael Madson also stars as the helicopter pilot, Dean whose job is to drop skiers/ snowboarders to the mountains. The process of making skiing videos is what should be focused here than on anything else, otherwise it's pointless for this to be watched at all.

Tyler Crowe (Eric Lively) is a competitive downhill skier. His best friend is snowboarder Mark Rider (Kellan Lutz). Tyler starts dating Mark's sister Elisa Rider (Peyton List). The guys go to make an adventure helicopter skiing video on a dangerous Alaskan mountain side. Dean (Michael Madsen) is the local pilot and guide.

There is some good mountain skiing montages. Otherwise, there is nothing compelling. The plot is lackluster. The drama has no bite. There is no tension. The acting is functional at best. A skiing video would be better than trying to jerry-rig a movie plot around it.

Tyler (Eric Lively) is a hotshot skier with much talent but not enough self-control. His defiance of rules and instruction gets him tossed off the American ski team by his coach (Robert Carradine). Heading back to his Rocky Mountain home, he catches up with old friends, including Mark (Kellan Lutz) and his attractive younger sister, Elisa (Peyton List). Not having a good plan for his future, Tyler and Mark, also a skier, are asked to ski in a put-on-a-show video in Alaska! The concept is that a helicopter will take the duo up to a mountain in the 49th state, drop them off and have a camera rolling. It is one risky business, for small avalanches occur regularly. Only the most skilled athletes and fearless souls need apply. The two men go. There they meet a former Alaskan skier, Dean (Michael Madsen) who will be giving them advice and holding the recorder. Initially, things go well and some spectacular footage is shot. But, with both Mark and Tyler liking to compete "on the edge", will they return home safely? This movie has some of the most terrific scenery and skiing cinematography that most viewers will ever see. Imagine, skiing down a huge mountain in Alaska! Just looking at it makes one a bit dizzy! On the other hand, while the cast is talented and good looking, the plot is mediocre. It also has some drug related elements that might make some film fans uncomfortable. Nevertheless, the movie's unique setting and eye-popping ski stunts make the flick very worthwhile, winter or summer.

In "Deep Winter" Eric Lively and Kellan Lutz play two friends who join forces on a adventure of a lifetime: to be part of a documentary showing their risky performances while skiing on a dangerous mountain on Alaska. Followed by the filmmaker (Luke Goss) and a well trained guide (Michael Madsen) they're heading to something that can change their lives and not in a good way. And a film like this couldn't exist without some cracks on this beautiful friendship after Lively's character start to date Lutz's sister (played by Peyton List).

Lifeless and quite insignificant, there isn't much to be said about this flick since it's a movie that doesn't have much to say or show. Sure, there's some breathtaking skiing sequences and the two hotties as main stars but that's it; the rest of the movie isn't all that interesting and we only have endless skiing scenes and some other moments involving Madsen's character saying there's a storm coming which makes even more impossible the already impossible stunt, and the filmmaker always concerned about losing money and wasting time waiting for the weather to change so he can film his documentary. It repeat itself so much that it gets completely dull.

Almost enjoyable. Almost. 5/10

I totally dug this movie! It has great action and cool actors, the skiing is off the hizzle and the picture looks incredible. It is about time somebody made a decent story on the slopes without selling out to some typical Hollywood story. I felt like the pages of Powder Magazine came to life, literally. Hey it ain't Shakespeare, but there is a compelling buddy picture story, sort of man against nature vibe that takes you into the world of expert skiing and the majesty of the Alaskan Rockies. Emerging star Kellan Lutz commands as the snowboarder and Madsen rules as a grizzled pilot. I loved the soundtrack, too! This is the kind of movie that I can watch over and over on cable whenever it is on. Impressive effort, technically sound.