closing tag is in template navbar
timefactors watches



TZ-UK Fundraiser
Results 1 to 33 of 33

Thread: Free Solo

  1. #1

    Free Solo

    Went to see this last night (inc live q&a), totally epic. Madness of course but you have to admire Alex’s singular focus!

    https://youtu.be/89H0BHXjkXI

    Has anyone else seen it?

  2. #2
    Quote Originally Posted by dougair View Post
    Went to see this last night (inc live q&a), totally epic. Madness of course but you have to admire Alex’s singular focus!

    https://youtu.be/89H0BHXjkXI

    Has anyone else seen it?
    I’m looking forward to seeing it.

    Valley Uprising is also a good watch. Features the climbing but also the lifestyle and culture of the climbers in the Yosemite area. Joe Rogan did an interview with Alex not that long ago. The guy is certainly focused on climbing!!
    Last edited by Mr Tetley; 13th December 2018 at 00:38.

  3. #3
    Master Skier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Cheltenham, UK
    Posts
    2,938
    Thanks for this. I love films about extreme climbing (that I can't do) and extreme skiing (that I dabbled with when younger) but had not previously heard about it. l will definitely be seeing this.
    Last edited by Skier; 29th April 2019 at 00:35.

  4. #4
    Grand Master Foxy100's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Die Fuchsröhre
    Posts
    14,926
    I thought you were going to say there's a new Star Wars film coming.
    "A man of little significance"

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Foxy100 View Post
    I thought you were going to say there's a new Star Wars film coming.
    😂 there is isn’t there?!

  6. #6
    Grand Master Foxy100's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Die Fuchsröhre
    Posts
    14,926
    Quote Originally Posted by dougair View Post
     there is isn’t there?!
    Inevitably.
    "A man of little significance"

  7. #7
    I’d like to see it (and probably will) but I am slightly put off by the title as “free” climbing and “solo” climbing are two different things.

  8. #8
    Master Skier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Cheltenham, UK
    Posts
    2,938
    Quote Originally Posted by tertius View Post
    I’d like to see it (and probably will) but I am slightly put off by the title as “free” climbing and “solo” climbing are two different things.
    He's combined them.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Skier View Post
    He's combined them.
    Well I guess I have to see it to understand how, as in my climbing world (which to be fair is pretty out of date as I haven't climbed for nearly 30 years) "free" climbing means not "aid" climbing, but you still have ropes and gear and other protection; whereas "solo" climbing means just the climber, with no gear or protection of any sort.

    NB "aid" climbing was when climbers would pull up on and use artificial gear (i.e. the aid) that they had placed on the climb so they didn't have to just rely on the features of the rock face itself

  10. #10
    Master
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Dublin
    Posts
    1,891
    I was at the Dublin screening. Excellent movie with amazing cinematography. Would really recommend it.

  11. #11
    Craftsman
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Peterborough, Cambs
    Posts
    480
    Listened to an interview with the chap on BBCR4 the other afternoon. Absolutely bonkers IMO but definitely worthy of high praise. Looking forward to catching this.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  12. #12
    Apprentice
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    London
    Posts
    17
    I loved it - some bits were hilarious as he tried to navigate the new relationship with his girlfriend. An odd and likeable guy.

  13. #13
    Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    2,993
    Thought I’d bump this thread as I saw Free Solo last week on NatGeo and I have to say it blew me away. Please watch it if you can; a phenomenal film

  14. #14
    Available now on iTunes.

  15. #15
    Craftsman
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Belfast
    Posts
    722
    Quote Originally Posted by tertius View Post
    Well I guess I have to see it to understand how, as in my climbing world (which to be fair is pretty out of date as I haven't climbed for nearly 30 years) "free" climbing means not "aid" climbing, but you still have ropes and gear and other protection; whereas "solo" climbing means just the climber, with no gear or protection of any sort.

    NB "aid" climbing was when climbers would pull up on and use artificial gear (i.e. the aid) that they had placed on the climb so they didn't have to just rely on the features of the rock face itself
    Free Solo eschews rope, gear and partner, distinguished from Rope Solo- using gear and a rope, usually just on difficult sections. There's also Aid Solo, aid climbing on your own with a rope. Far more fun going climbing with a mate!

  16. #16
    Great film. He’s an amazing climber, a very odd guy and punching massively viz his girlfriend.
    Andy

    Wanted - Damasko DC57

  17. #17
    Master Skier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Cheltenham, UK
    Posts
    2,938
    I've just watched it; utterly nuts! To climb that in under 4 hrs is amazing. Echo the comment above re his girlfriend - very attractive.

  18. #18
    Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    London
    Posts
    1,614
    I've watched this recently and, I'm going to go against the grain and admit that I found the film a bit lacking.

    Don't get me wrong, Alex's achievement is absolutely monumental and there was some good imagery, but there were multiple aspects of the film that I didn't care for:

    - for a climbing film, there was very little climbing shown
    - quite a bit of filler like the stuff about Alex's foundation (it's great that he's doing something for charity, but does it really belong in a film about free soloing?)
    - a lot of whining from the camera crew ('oh, poor me, what if I have to watch him die'?)
    - his bird was extremely irritating, always trying to change his ways and get him to stop climbing (really, what were you expecting when you started dating one of the most prominent free soloists of our time?)

    Anyway, as I said, what Alex has achieved is immense, so my criticism is strictly about the film, not his climbing

    I've also watched The Dawn Wall (the 'other' big climbing film that launched recently) recently, and thought that was miles better in every way and definitely worth a watch (I think it's on Netflix if you're interested)

  19. #19
    Master John Wall's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Shropshire cuds.
    Posts
    2,726
    In a previous (5 stone) lighter life, I used to do a fair bit of climbing.
    Started watching this last evening.
    Truly amazing... but at times actually made me feel quite sick.
    The guy is completely bonkas.

  20. #20
    Quote Originally Posted by craggie View Post
    Free Solo eschews rope, gear and partner, distinguished from Rope Solo- using gear and a rope, usually just on difficult sections. There's also Aid Solo, aid climbing on your own with a rope. Far more fun going climbing with a mate!
    I understand what you are saying but that is not how I would use the terms:

    free climbing means not aid climbing but still uses rope, gear, partner, etc.

    soloing means no rope or gear at all

    I see that wiki says the following on the subject: Free solo climbing (known in the UK as soloing) is perhaps the best-known solo technique. The term describes climbing without the use of any rope or other forms of protection, wherein a fall could result in serious injury or death.

    I guess this is the cause of my confusion, what I call "soloing", others (presumably Americans) call "free solo"

  21. #21
    Grand Master hogthrob's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Essex, UK
    Posts
    16,844
    I remember being blown away by how big El Capitan is. Looking up at it, I though OK, that's a big bit of rock. Then slowly I started to notice there were tiny little dots on the face, and even more slowly realised that those dots were climbers. The thing is freaking huge.

  22. #22
    Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    2,993
    Quote Originally Posted by hogthrob View Post
    I remember being blown away by how big El Capitan is. Looking up at it, I though OK, that's a big bit of rock. Then slowly I started to notice there were tiny little dots on the face, and even more slowly realised that those dots were climbers. The thing is freaking huge.
    Yep I experienced exactly the same thing when I visited. Mind blowing

    Honnold climbed it in under four hours, solo!!!

  23. #23
    Master
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Surrey
    Posts
    1,176
    Quote Originally Posted by asteclaru View Post
    I've watched this recently and, I'm going to go against the grain and admit that I found the film a bit lacking.

    Don't get me wrong, Alex's achievement is absolutely monumental and there was some good imagery, but there were multiple aspects of the film that I didn't care for:

    ///

    I've also watched The Dawn Wall (the 'other' big climbing film that launched recently) recently, and thought that was miles better in every way and definitely worth a watch (I think it's on Netflix if you're interested)
    My sentiments exactly. Free Solo is an average documentary about an Oscar winning achievement - but unfortunately they don't give out Oscars to climbers so the documentary got one instead and it's not wholly justified. Dawn Wall is a much better story, and in many respects even Valley Uprising is a better documentary.

    Still utterly incredible mind you. If anyone is hungry for further recent Honnold adventures he was part of the recent North Face expedition to Queen Maud land with Conrad Anker, Cedar Wright, Jimmy Chin etc etc and there's lots of footage of him and Cedar climbing crazy stuff in an even crazier location.

  24. #24
    Master
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    London
    Posts
    1,614
    Quote Originally Posted by Hammond View Post
    Free Solo is an average documentary about an Oscar winning achievement - but unfortunately they don't give out Oscars to climbers so the documentary got one instead and it's not wholly justified. .
    I totally forgot about that, but you're right: I don't think it won for being the best film, but because of how extreme the climb was, coupled with the fact that most people that have watched it probably aren't even climbers or know the first thing about climbing (I'm just guessing based on how popular Free Solo was compared to any other climbing film, I don't have any hard evidence to back this up) , so the shock factor is even more profound.

  25. #25
    It was on C4 last night, anyone watch it?

  26. #26
    Master Christian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    London
    Posts
    9,876
    If you missed it, Free Solo is on All4 catchup to stream.

    Dawn Wall is on netflix...another great documentary.

  27. #27
    Master Christian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    London
    Posts
    9,876
    Quote Originally Posted by asteclaru View Post
    I've watched this recently and, I'm going to go against the grain and admit that I found the film a bit lacking.

    Don't get me wrong, Alex's achievement is absolutely monumental and there was some good imagery, but there were multiple aspects of the film that I didn't care for:

    - for a climbing film, there was very little climbing shown
    - quite a bit of filler like the stuff about Alex's foundation (it's great that he's doing something for charity, but does it really belong in a film about free soloing?)
    - a lot of whining from the camera crew ('oh, poor me, what if I have to watch him die'?)
    - his bird was extremely irritating, always trying to change his ways and get him to stop climbing (really, what were you expecting when you started dating one of the most prominent free soloists of our time?)

    Anyway, as I said, what Alex has achieved is immense, so my criticism is strictly about the film, not his climbing

    I've also watched The Dawn Wall (the 'other' big climbing film that launched recently) recently, and thought that was miles better in every way and definitely worth a watch (I think it's on Netflix if you're interested)
    Agree with this...there was not enough climbing shown and his missus didn’t come across well...a bit manipulative.

  28. #28
    Quote Originally Posted by dougair View Post
    It was on C4 last night, anyone watch it?
    It’s been recorded by me. Looking forward to it!

  29. #29
    Quote Originally Posted by dougair View Post
    It was on C4 last night, anyone watch it?

    I did, thankfully I recorded it as well as I'd like to watch it again. I considered my stomach to be flipped and mind blown, such an incredible achievement.

    I'll seek out the other couple of climbing documentaries mentioned for comparison however I thought that, as a whole, Free Solo was a great piece of work. It wasn't just about the climb of El Capitan, it was also about Alex himself and how his quest spilled over into the lives of those close to him - I thought it well balanced, personally.

  30. #30
    Quote Originally Posted by CardShark View Post
    I did, thankfully I recorded it as well as I'd like to watch it again. I considered my stomach to be flipped and mind blown, such an incredible achievement.

    I'll seek out the other couple of climbing documentaries mentioned for comparison however I thought that, as a whole, Free Solo was a great piece of work. It wasn't just about the climb of El Capitan, it was also about Alex himself and how his quest spilled over into the lives of those close to him - I thought it well balanced, personally.
    I’d agree with that. Definitely watch Dawn Wall too.

  31. #31
    Craftsman
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Dublin, irl
    Posts
    544
    Saw free solo also, agree with the comments. Alex was a bit of a 'Spock', the girlfriend having to educate him on matters of the heart. Could probably have a second film on the technical aspects of the climb.

    Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

  32. #32
    Master thegoat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    3,931
    Loved it .
    We were there last year and it is mind blowing.
    He is a really likeable odd bod . The bit that always gets to me is after the first real test of the climb, he negotiates the “down climb” to access the easier route and his leg slips ever so slightly. It probably doesn’t even register with Honnold but watching it gives me goosebumps.
    Brilliant film. and has been said, Dawn Wall is a belting watch too.

  33. #33
    Master petethegeek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Worcestershire
    Posts
    2,922
    Alex Honnold hosts the climbing support desk for Wired. An entertaining and informative, (for at me least,) ten minutes.

    https://youtu.be/kDUeh8nyLT0

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Do Not Sell My Personal Information