Is Burning the Flame Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2023)

📖 The Core Premise

Burning the Flame returns to the screen in 2023, bringing a fresh narrative to the Documentary genre. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "Big wall free climbing masters Babsi and Jacopo seek their greatest challenge yet: a free ascent of Eternal Flame, an elusive 3,000-ft. route up the legendary Nameless Tower in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. Facing extreme conditions and 5.13 trad climbing at high altitude, a two-year quest comes down to one short weather window. Captured with drones and on-mountain cameras in one of the most stunning places on earth, Burning the Flame transports viewers to a place normally off-limits to all but the world’s best climbers. See Pakistan through the eyes of Babsi and Jacopo with the Eternal Journal—a deep dive into their own thoughts and images from the trip, compiled into this beautiful journal chronicling their adventure to send the Eternal Flame. https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/stories/eternal-journal/"

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. Unfortunately, Jacopo Larcher feels underutilized in a role that lacks depth. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Documentary. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is Burning the Flame worth your time? If you appreciate Documentary films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, Burning the Flame misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 46 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.