Mile... Mile & a Half

This is a really well put together film. Before it was released, I was only hoping for a really good documentary on the Muir Trail, but after seeing it, I realize it's about the people that visit the Muir Trail and as one of the participants put it, it's not about the places you go, it's the people you choose to do them with. Everything about this film is well done, from the cinematography, to the great music written by Opus Orange, to the great sound, to the storyline. The original intent was to come back from the hike and create a short, 3 minute feature, but upon their return they discover they have over 30 hours of footage. Raising over $80,000 for post-production on Kickstarter, they create more than a collection of footage, they make a real movie. It is inspiring and enlightening and makes you want to go hike the Muir Trail. This is 90 minutes well spent.

This documentary is about a group of friends who walk from Yosimite to Mt. Whitney along the John Muir Trail. To me, the reason to hike is to enjoy the solitude...the peace and quiet of the great outdoors. Because of this, it really makes watching this documentary difficult, as it is NEVER quiet...never. Instead of focusing on the glorious natural settings, the film always goes back to the relatively uninteresting group of friends so they can talk...and talk...and talk. It reminds me of most every reality TV show where the camera MUST periodically come back to the 'stars' to hear their thoughts about the trek--even if these thoughts are mostly irrelevant. In hindsight, I would have MUCH rather seen a ton of footage with only minimal narration to let you know what you're seeing. Plus, isn't it better to just get out and hike instead of watching people hike (a little) and talk a lot? A boring and rather pointless and thoroughly pretentious and self-absorbed film that folks either adore or totally hate....as you can tell if you read through the reviews. I am somewhat in the middle. I'd give the footage an 8 and everything else a 1...and an overall score of 3. Believe me, among those who didn't enjoy it, a 3 is VERY positive and I don't use the unnecessarily abusive and anti-rich people comments some used in describing and attacking this movie.

This film is advertised as a documentary, but I actually experienced it as a low- budget horror film along the lines of The Blair Witch Project. In fact, I wasn't sure whether it was more terrifying to imagine being forced to go on a 225-mile hike in the company of this insufferable coven of Starbucks yuppies or being on an innocent walk in the woods, stumbling across the filmmakers, and having to listen to them play finger-cymbals and talk about kale. The fact that none of them can stay off their freaking cell phones for more than an hour at a time is almost enough reason to leave them on the trail as bear chum (yes, these are the guys you come across on the banks of the most gorgeous lake you've ever seen who celebrate the occasion by calling someone in another state to talk about espresso capsules). If that doesn't do it for you, the documentary also features the Most Irritating White Man In North America (you'll recognize him by his hipster hat, his hipster beard, and his hipster humor-- he's so ironic that even his irony is ironic). Though the filmmakers quote John Muir incessantly, you can't help feeling Muir would have chosen to become a bricklayer if he'd known the trail that bears his name would one day be traversed by people like these.

As an avid hiker I was a little hesitant to hit play on this one. The film screen captures made me think I was about to watch a documentary about a bunch of novice, out of shape, middle aged hikers slog the JMT. What I found was a heartwarming and inspiring chronicle of a group of friends/artists sharing their collective experience unplugging from the world for 25 days and immersing themselves in the back country.

When I was 19-25 years old with no wife, kids or job it would be easy to dismiss this as not a big deal. However, at 45 I have a lot more appreciation for someone stepping away from it all and taking the time out do a hike like this.

I thought the scenery and images filmed during the trip were amazing and showing the dynamics of friendships that started the trip and the ones developed along the way really showed the bond that exists among hikers. I think I have watched about every Everest, Eiger and K2 documentary around and as good as they are, they all lacked the soul and cheerfulness of this film. The story follow the hikers as they settle into their routine surviving through the early physical adjustment (Feet), letting go of their life back home and settling in to appreciate the beauty around them.

Great movie about hiking the John Muir Trail. One thing I feel good about is not all of them look healthier than me. I could do this. Inspired. Interesting from beginning to end. Hi I am reviewing this movie from the perspective of a non-fiction movie about nature or sport. In that category it could not be much better.