What a difference the DIRECTOR'S CUT makes...Attended a private screening for this film, of which, I had no idea about, called THE ASCENT. All I knew was that it was an indie-action flick, and my friend, who is in the business, dragged me to this screening... And wow was I blown away.Really good story. Strong, solid performances, especially the lead actress, JOSIE DAVIS. And the two elements that impressed me the most - the slow-burn and the "real" twist ending."THE ASCENT" (director's cut) really has a great intense build up to a great twist ending, that I never anticipated. I was so impressed how the director allowed the film, and the story, evolve at a very natural, and unforced pace.After the screening, there was a Q&A. And that's when I learned all about the "OTHER VERSION" of the film that was put out briefly by REGENT ENTERTAINMENT... Be aware, if you have seen the REGENT VERSION of "THE ASCENT" then you have not even come close to seeing the REAL VERSION, by the director Steven James Creazzo, of "THE ASCENT."I hope someone releases that version of "THE ASCENT" someday.

I saw "The Ascent" about 8 months ago, and I really loved it. It's nothing ground breaking, but it's got a real good story, and a real great twist at the end. And it's much weightier than I thought it would be.Now let me be very clear. This is not a review of "another version" of this film, floating around, which has aired on cable overseas. At the screening I attended (8 months ago in L.A.) it was titled (the director's cut) of "The Ascent.""The Ascent" centers around a very experienced mountain guide (Emily Wilks) on The Devil's Peak, (very cool name) a mountain somewhere in the U.S. The film never specifics where this story takes place, and I wish it had, but no biggie.Emily (as does the film) starts off in a very somber, and even retrospective way. This film, which I love, does not throw a lot of crap (action for the sake of action) at you in the first 30min. It takes its time and slowly builds the characters, and mystery, over the first act. And then when the crap hits the fan, boy yes it does.Now, don't get me wrong, this film does not have amazing (big budget) action sequences. But what it does have is a very good story, which I am finding very rare these days.The lead characters are fleshed out and very strong. The supporting characters are a bit thin, but I really didn't mind, as I was invested in Emily's story.Once the first twist hits, "The Ascent" has its share of nice action scenes, and a great dramatic/action scene with two characters hanging from the bottom of an overhang.At the end, I really enjoyed the great Ice Ax Fight, (I've never seen that before on screen) between Emily and Joel, the lead baddie.But I must say, I never saw the twist coming. Just Great! What a dark turn that completely changed everything that came before.I just really love this film, and wish there were more films made with this level of weight, of heart, of drama.Peter J.

I got invited to a screening for The Ascent and i gotta tell ya, I really enjoyed this film. First, I'm a rock climber and mountaineer and even though the scale of this film was constrained due to what has to be a lack of budget, what they used, they used to the fullest. The film also goes out of it's way to be accurate with it's climbing and mountaineering terminology. Really can't say that for films like Cliffhanger and The Vertical Limit. Who cares? Some of us do. This could be considered an ensemble film but it really is Josie Davis's baby. She does a great job capturing the essence of Emily and the pain and turmoil that she has endured to get to this day and then through it. The writer/director must love the films of his youth like I do, because he cast actors I've always loved but always felt were never fully utilized. Guys like Courtney Gains and William McNamara really shine as does the cooler than cool Martin Cove. I love writer/directors who pull from talent they love as an audience member themselves, and this film is a prime example of that. The story was good and never felt slow or bogged down. I really wish they had more money to do the film bigger and as I said, the cut I saw still need to be finished on some tech aspects like sound and score. All in all a really great little mountain climbing film that in allot of respects has nothing to do with climbing. Just one woman's journey of revenge, redemption and loss...and a swinging ice axe duel never hurt anyone either.

I watched this late one night while staying at a hotel in Vientiane, Laos. Needless to say, there wasn't much else on to watch. It played on Star Movies - a Fox movie network and a subsidiary of News Corporation.I have to say I do indeed have a lot of respect for independent writer-director-producers of film (the budget was approx. $1.5M), but this movie just doesn't work. It says in the 'Fun Facts' that this movie was to be shot in Alaska. However, it was shot near Austin, Texas - and suffers as a result as the mountains shown on screen don't match the ferocity in which the characters speak and act around them, at times laughably so. Hence, the movie would've been better if the setting at least matched the story - or brought a twink of an eyebrow at least.What follows is quite a trite plot, notwithstanding the problems with the setting. It centers around Emily (Josie Davis), a mountain-climber guide, and her emotional struggles a year after her fiancé's unfortunate early demise. As it happens, she is meant to take a crew of people up a deadly mountain on the one-year anniversary of her fiancé's death. Surprise! They are the naughty outlaws that are responsible for his death. While climbing the mountain (hiking is more like it - there would be no possible need for a guide), they take her hostage and force her to take them to some gold that she and her fiancé had previously found. What follows is at best an illogical and clichéd-to-the-max story - filled with flat and uninspired over-acting and dopey dialogue. It is one of those movies that is so bad, it's fun to watch and laugh at. However, on this budget, I think they did somewhat of a good job.Ergo, I give it a more-than-fair three stars.