Into the Cold: A Journey of the Soul (2010)

That was an excellent one.

Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The acting in this movie is really good.

This film is in serious need of an edit -- way, way too long and a complete ego trip for the filmmaker. A mere nod to the so much more harrowing Arctic expeditions that went before them and, really, didn't he realize where all that fancy high tech gear they were using comes from? That maybe, just maybe it's our love of high tech causing the problem of climate change the filmmaker preaches against? I bought this movie thinking it would take me to places I would never see in person, but all I saw were young men making endless preparations (boring), finally getting to their starting point, and then walking, walking, walking. The most interesting part were the still photographs, which were included at one point. Like another reviewer said, wait for TV -- save your money.

For over 90 minutes Sebastian Copeland takes us step-by-step on a fascinating and dangerous trip to the North Pole. Two men, on skis, brave incredible odds to do what few people have done before.The most important message to us all is the ecological one: and this is rightly and forcibly impressed upon us throughout the film. It's easy to sit back in an armchair in - for example - Glen Cove, New York, and decree that the film has "way too much talk about climate change"!! It's never "enough" to "drone on" about the appalling state of the earth that this generation is going to leave for the next ones! And how many people almost risk their lives to impress this upon us? The film is beautifully shot and the narration takes us from the beginning germ of an idea in Copeland's head, to his meeting, much later on, with Keith Heger, his companion on the trek, and the many agonizing days and nights they risk in order to reach their goal.I cannot urge you enough to see this film (I believe is is coming out on DVD). Show it to your kids! Not for one minute does one get bored with the fascinating account of what goes on in Copeland's head as he endures an eerie silence day after day, only broken by the scrape of skis on brittle snow. It is truly a wonderful opportunity that Copeland has given to us to share in this exciting adventure: one that we were actually able to follow on a daily basis exactly a year ago on his Face Book blog as the trek progressed --- from our armchairs all over the world.

During a time when our attentions are focused on many different global issues, this film is a welcome reminder that if we do not continue to work on protecting the planet - quite simply - nothing else will matter.So few people have made this dangerous expedition to the North Pole successfully. And nobody has covered it in this way - with such stunning camera work and images. The film allows us to really connect with a part of the planet that is so remote, and largely impossible to truly imagine. Mr. Copeland should be applauded for delivering the chilling Arctic ice cap to us (and so beautifully) in the comfort of our living rooms - so that we may connect with it and appreciate how very valuable it is to the future of humankind.

Sebastian Copeland's disappointing film about his trip to the North Pole on the anniversary of Perry and Henson's first trip there a hundred years before.Visually stunning the film gives a good idea what its like to be alone on the ice. The visuals in this film are amazing and and are the reason the film should be seen.The trouble is that the film is kind of a mess other wise. The film is very much a self love letter to Copeland with narration that is much too purple and self congratulatory. I came to despise the central figure of the film because its all about him.How much is it about him? We get a good look at his life, but at the same time we learn almost nothing about Keith Heger who made the trip with Copeland. Sure he's there, but he's more a body than anything else, its all Copeland. The film also gives almost no background on the original trip of Perry and Henson. It was something that happened and other than a couple of pictures and an odd mention about how they had to walk back and were not helicoptered home (as Heger and Copeland were).There is also way too much talk of climate change. Its clear that there is a problem, but Copeland the director drones on repeatedly about it at every opportunity so that it isn't long before we want to scream "enough". It would be fine if he had managed to work the subject into relevant parts of the narration, but he doesn't with the result it seems out of place. (actually it's like being hit over the head with a toaster).However with all that is wrong with the narrative, there is the images. the images are amazing. The images are the films saving grace. If it wasn't for the spectacular images the film would be a major bust.If you want to see great images that really put you into the arctic you must see this film. Its really clear from the footage that its just Copeland and Heger and no one else. It makes an impression on you that hangs with you in a way nothing else in this film does. (How much better this would have been if Copeland had gone into the Perry and Henson story since he would have single handedly explained what a monumental achievement they had made.) Worth seeing but wait for TV.