The ability of people to endure harsh conditions is remarkable. Throughout human history, there are tales that continue to amaze, where explorers and adventurers were put to the test and managed to survive. There are also plenty of intriguing stories that have less-than-happy endings. After being recorded in newspapers and books, some of these adventures have made it to the big screen. The following are four feature-length films to look for on satellite TV.
'Alive' (1993). Flying high over the Andes Mountains, a flight carrying a sports team from Uruguay was involved in a terrible accident in 1972. Some of the flight's passengers were ejected prior to the crash, perishing instantly, and many more succumbed during the days that they were stranded in freezing temperatures and snow. Because the radio is broken, they cannot call for help and the search teams are unable to find them. John Malkovich narrates and Ethan Hawke plays the role of one of the survivors who actually advised during the filming. Be prepared, however, before checking it out on satellite TV: survival was not easy, and many passengers do not make it.
'Into the Wild' (2007). Sean Penn directed this adaption of the book that tells the story of Christopher McCandless. He grew up in a well-to-do area where he never lacked material comforts. However, frustrated by such a situation, he renounces such a life and donates his money before setting off on an adventure. Viewers get to see some of the great expanses of land and natural beauty around the country, as he travels in states throughout the Southwest and even into Mexico. Viewer-based rating sites such as Rotten Tomatoes as well as famous movie critics consider this movie to be a great one, definitely worth watching.
'The Donner Party' (2009). Unlike the other films, this movie will transport you far away from the world of plasmas and high definition screens. It tells the historical tale of settlers struggling to get to California in the 1840s. In that time period, a fast crossing of the mountains would have taken up to six months. The wagon party, however, suffers when early snowfall comes and traps them for nearly four months in one spot. They resort to gruesome means for survival and many never make it out of the mountains.
'127 Hours' (2010). Based on the experience of the mountain climber Aron Ralston, this film captures the tormenting decision he had to make after his arm became trapped under a boulder. Although he had a lot of experience, the climber had never had such a trying experience and the only thing he had to get out was a dull knife. His remarkable story of survival and his desire to live is captured in this movie, with actor James Franco portraying Ralston.
These are just four of many adventure films that will take you on a roller coaster of emotion. With a satellite TV signal streaming into your living room, they will all transport you to realities that are far removed from your own. Although most endings are bittersweet, they reflect the true life tales of incredible individuals.
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