Everest's uncanny realism is a big part of what keeps you in its icy thrall.

For all the natural spectacle, the characters are what hold one's attention.

It's unlikely to have the massive success of Gravity, as it doesn't have quite the uplifting ending of that film (though God knows it tries), but it's worth watching just to see the places human beings should probably never tread.

Marrying top-notch technical alchemy with excellent performances across the board and a narrative that's universally powerful, 'Everest' is a big picture triumph.