Fans of extreme sports should definitely watch this documentary. At the center of the plot is Carlos, a climber who discovers BASE jumping and becomes drawn into a world where mountains, buildings, and cliffs are no longer obstacles, but launch points that need to be conquered. There he meets fellow jumpers Dario and Armando. Thus begins their new pursuit, which gradually becomes a deeper story about friendship, camaraderie, and the costs of testing the limits of human survival and audacity.
This isn’t just any ordinary plot. If you are someone who has experienced such extreme sports, you will definitely relate to what is being shown on the screen. And truly so, if you haven’t had an experience like that, To the Max will appear to be just any other movie that you are watching. The story is based on the experiences of Carlos Suarez, Manolo Chana, Alvaro Bulto, Dario Barrio, and Armando del Rey, who are the pioneers of BASE jumping. All of this cost them as the jumps took the lives of Chana, Bulto, and Barrie. This will make you think twice that the extreme adrenaline isn’t something that is easy to undertake. And no, these are novice people. They are the ones who know the risks and did it anyway.
One of the best things about To the Max is how cinematically it has been made. The mountains and the open skies will propel you to try this as well. The movie has been shot in such a way that at one point you will feel as if you are also skydiving with these people.
Having said all of that, To the Max isn’t a fully flawless movie. The female characters, for starters, aren’t as developed as their counterparts. We see a lot of screen time being occupied by the males. But when it came to the females, not as much emphasis has been given as one expected.
Additionally, when you come to know the back story of To the Max, it becomes less of a film celebrating the jumpers and more of a plot that haunts you and makes you think twice about whether one should be undertaking such a sport when the cost involved is one’s own life. So at one point you will be truly confused about what you watched. But this contraction of theme is what makes To the Max worth a watch. The plot keeps the memories of these jumpers alive and shows you what true passion means. It is bittersweet, yes, yet it teaches you the value of friendship and morality.
The pacing is uneven, but that isn’t something that bothers you much. Some scenes hardly get any time while others rush as fast as they can. However, a smooth execution ensures that you aren’t confused or bored while watching To the Max. All in all, the makers want us, the audience, to watch beyond the jumps, to see and feel the emotions involved. Once you manage to see beyond that, the plot starts to make sense.
Final Score - [5/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times