Alive (1993)

A lot of unfair and plainly wrong assumptions from critics. Fact: these were handsome, strong atheltes. Tough from playing rugby..very religious, but also part of uruguay's upper class. The actors are caucasion, but that's who uruguayans are.,decscendents of german, spanish and italian.,very caucasian., very european., However, as is often the case,, the two books " alive: miracle in the andes" and nando's book are far better., Still, this movie touches on survival, heroes, perservarence, indominatble spirit and a connection with god., I would have liked to gsve grown up with and been friends with these guys. I have nothing but admiration for them amd have zero problems with what they did to survive.,no matter how controversial, it was the right call to make and i would have done the same thing. Most of us would. That should not be the story here. It was their heroism and faith in god that is the real story.,

I think I can safely say now that 'Alive' is a classic. It is a family-oriented movie and at the same time true to the story. It is not a personal film or gory, as it would be if made today.I was lucky to experience it when it hit the theatres in 1993, I have the book at home that my mother bought when it came out, so I was already familiar with the story.We all have seen various plane crash sequences in movies, each time more elaborate, but there is not any that impressed me like this one and felt more realistic. I felt chills the first time the plane appeared, with the dark beginning of the interview setting just the right mood.The rest of the movie is entertaining, we get to feel like the characters, and the snow and mountains looked so real on celluloid. I admit that some moments were made for tension, like the hanging from the rock, but it's all right. It explains the camaraderie, faith and hope that drives the story. I will never forget the take when they finally reach the green valley and the water with that camera panning.It was one of the truly cinematic moments of the 90s, before the actual era where movies come just one more out of hundreds. When we all went to bed at night reliving the images and music that we saw at the theatres. Alive was one of them.

In 1972, "A South American rugby team, together with some friends and relatives crosses the Andes to play a game in neighboring Chile." Their plane loses both wings and its tail, then crashes into the snowy mountains. In order to survive, the living must eat the dead. This was based on a actual tragedy, and tells an unsavory story; for these reasons, it seems much more realistic than your average "plane crash" story. Also helping is the decision to not insert the usual stereotypes; there is no added romance, no movie star on board, and so on... There are some things to lower your suspension of disbelief, however. We could have done without the opening visual of moody John Malkovich in a dark room pumped with blue smoke, although his narration is fine. The large cast is sometimes confusing. They always appear too hale and hearty during this ordeal, but otherwise act appropriately. Best of all, director Frank Marshall and his production team give you a real sense of being in the Andes, at the mercy of a majestic and terrifying Earth God.****** Alive (1/15/93) Frank Marshall ~ Ethan Hawke, Vincent Spano, Josh Hamilton, John Haymes Newton

No Poseidon Adventure here! Just a gritty real-life disaster. How realistic CAN one make something as horrific as this, or, if one COULD make this as graphic and real as it was, who could bear seeing it? The Hollywood slightly glossed-over version is nasty enough. I cannot get the image out of my head of people getting sucked out of the back of the plane screaming during the crash. This was truly 50 days of hell for all involved, living with dead bodies of former friends, eating them, etc. The Hollywood version is far graphic enough. I could barely watch it as it was, as much for, if not more for, the reality and pain behind such events. I could easily see this as a great vehicle for someone like Hitchcock, who liked to play survivor egos against each other for great drama, ala "Liveboat". This director kept it more peaceful and amicable, though I can imagine there was far worse infighting during the actual event. Keep in mind these are not special forces landing on the Andes, but relatively pampered rich kids playing for a rugby team. All the more amazing they were able to survive this. This is def not a "Popcorn" movie, so leave your tub of buttered popcorn/nachos in the fridge and cabinet. One hell of a movie....and finally a unique plot and scenario...no superheros or explosions, just one crash....and a whole lot of aftermath..