K2 (1991)

Taylor and Harold are good friends and avid climbers. While climbing one day, they meet a man who it seems might be attempting to climb K2, the world's second-highest peak. Always pushy, ... See full summary »

Director:

Franc Roddam

Writers:

Patrick Meyers (screenplay), Scott Roberts (screenplay),

Stars:

Michael Biehn, Matt Craven, Annie Grindlay

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Biehn	...	Taylor
Matt Craven	...	Harold
Annie Grindlay	...	Lisa
Elena Wohl	...	Tracey (as Elena Stiteler)
Blu Mankuma	...	Man on Wheelchair
Charles Oberman	...	Tony
Julia Nickson	...	Cindy (as Julia Nickson-Soul)
Christopher M. Brown	...	Carl (as Christopher Brown)
Leslie Carlson	...	Dexter
David Cubitt	...	Peter
Luca Bercovici	...	Dallas
Edward Spatt	...	Mike
Andrew Spatt	...	Todd
Hiroshi Fujioka	...	Takane
Patricia Charbonneau	...	Jacki

Storyline

Taylor and Harold are good friends and avid climbers. While climbing one day, they meet a man who it seems might be attempting to climb K2, the world's second-highest peak. Always pushy, Taylor bugs the man for a spot on the team, claiming that he and Harold are good enough. They may be very good, but K2 is a very tough mountain.

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Plot Keywords:

k2 | mountain | climbing | friendship | snow | 

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Taglines:

Between the earth and the sky lies the sheer face of adventure.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK Japan USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 May 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

K2: The Ultimate High

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Trans Pacific Films, Miramax Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jeffrey DeMunn was nominated for the 1983 Tony Award (New York City) for Actor in a Drama for "K2" as 'Taylor'.

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Goofs

When the team are around 20,000 feet and complaining about the lack of oxygen, one of the characters says: "Welcome to the death zone." In fact, the death zone refers to the altitude at which there is insufficient oxygen properly to sustain life and this is generally accepted to be above 8,000m or around 26,000 feet.

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Quotes

Harold: What about, uh, Dallas? What's his name? What's his problem?
Taylor Brooks: Dallas Woolf. We went to Law School together. He was good in the classroom... I was better in the courtroom. There's no contest in the bedroom!

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Connections

Referenced in Incident at Loch Ness (2004)

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Soundtracks

"I Need Ya"
by Zahid Tarag
Courtesy of Todd Terry

User Reviews

A competent climb

I remember first seeing this movie when I was eleven or twelve. Then I saw 'Vertical Limit' a few months later and contrary to what I thought would be the case, I enjoyed K2 ten fold more than Martin's Campbell's weak adventure story on the same mountain. Contrary to what many people think, Everest may be the tallest mountain, but K2 is a far more difficult climb.

This film follows two young climbers, Taylor And Harold as they take on the mountain and succeed in reaching the highest peak, because of friendship and the hard team work which comes from loyalty to each other. The picture chooses to focus on characters and emotion, rather than edge of seat adventure. It is the right approach, but as a side effect, the story sometimes plods a little. As a lead role, Michael Biehn is surprisingly good. Typically a supporting actor, I find that many of his performances are a little weak, but not here. He does what is necessary to make a convincing character, far better than Chris O'Donnell in 'Vertical Limit'.

Free from clichés and artificial drama, K2 is a competent and touching movie, maybe not brilliant, but it lifts you.