--- title: "Vertical Limit: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/vertical-limit/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/vertical-limit" critics_score: 54 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Vertical Limit (2000): what the critics said Critics' score 54 from 11 reviews: 3 positive, 3 mixed, 5 negative. The reviews lean towards disappointment, though praise repeatedly centres on Campbell’s handling of the mountain action. Even several detractors find effective moments of vertiginous danger, while the more enthusiastic critics regard the stunts and sustained tension as enough to carry a familiar adventure. The aerial photography and James Newton Howard’s score also draw praise, and Digital Spy singles out Scott Glenn’s performance for bringing depth to the brooding mountain man. The main reservations concern thin characters, predictable plotting and unnecessary subplots, but critics differ sharply over how much these weaknesses matter. For some, the action compensates; for others, the script drains the danger of urgency and leaves too few convincing thrills. The effects are another point of disagreement: the Evening Standard enjoys the snow-and-ice spectacle, whereas Total Film finds the artificial-looking effects and sets damaging to the suspense. The spread runs from enthusiastic entertainment to weary frustration with the formula. ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film wildly entertaining despite its absurd, over-the-top approach. They single out its nonstop action, stunts and snow-and-ice effects as the source of its appeal. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/vertical-limit-7433382.html) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 29 November 2000. McCarthy finds the film an exciting, muscular adventure despite its one-dimensional characters and hokey plot elements. He especially praises Campbell’s tense, visually inventive action sequences, including a breathtaking camera shot during a climber’s fall. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/vertical-limit-1200465120/) ## Screen Daily — Mike Goodridge Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 5 December 2000. The page identifies this as a review, but the review text is unavailable. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined from the accessible text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/vertical-limit/404415.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 8 December 2000. The review’s verdict cannot be verified because the page returned an access-denial message. Its specific praise or criticism is likewise unavailable. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/08/movies/film-review-man-vs-mountain-the-nth-round.html) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2001. French finds the film effective at sustaining tension, though its characters are less interesting than its dramatic background. He praises the spectacular settings and singles out the absurd Pakistani army ritual and the wealthy climbers’ destructive self-discovery. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Observer_review/0,,425888,00.html) ## Radio Times — Dave Aldridge Rating 2/5. The critic finds the adventure predictable but watchable, with an uncharismatic hero. Enjoyable action sequences help compensate for clichéd characterisations. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-z5lmis/vertical-limit/) ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 2/5. 19 January 2001. The critic finds the film formulaic and ultimately dull, with too few effective thrills to overcome its weaknesses. They especially fault the artificial-looking effects and sets, which undermine the mountain action and suspense. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/vertical-limit-review/) ## Time Out — TJ Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). The review is broadly negative, finding the film’s contrived, over-plotted screenplay and second-rank stars hard to overcome. It gives Campbell credit for making effective use of vertiginous jeopardy. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/vertical-limit) ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 8 December 2000. Rabin finds the film weighed down by clichés, needless subplots, and thin characterization. He praises Campbell’s impressive action sequences but says the weak script drains the story of urgency and suspense. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/vertical-limit-1798192556) ## Digital Spy — Dek Hogan Rating 7/10. 9 July 2002. The review finds the formulaic plot outweighed by Campbell’s energetic command of action. It especially praises Scott Glenn’s layered performance as the brooding mountain man. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a8504/vertical-limit/) ## Eye for Film — Nicola Osborne Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 26 July 2001. The critic finds the film entertaining in places but ultimately undermined by a weak story and average script. She praises the aerial photography and James Newton Howard’s score, while criticizing the CGI and characterization. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/vertical-limit-film-review-by-nicola-osborne) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/vertical-limit.md