The third film in a series is always going to get scrutiny.  Return of the Jedi, Return of the King, Alien3, sigh, Jurassic Park 3. Less so for climbing films, as I can only recall a few that made it that far; Dosage, some Japanese series (those are into the 20s!), Momentum Video Magazine, and this, Neil Hart’s Out of Sight III.

As with Out of Sight II, this film is an evolution of the last. Like the first sequel, it leans towards bigger name climbers, and in doing so cuts the cast list significantly.  It also features fairly high profile lines – I can’t speak to how far off the beaten path they are, but I found this a strange choice for a series that has previously focused on the underappreciated. Regardless the lines showcased are impressive, with a third of the 30+ problems checking in with suggestions in the V13 or above range.

Like the previous, the camera work it well thought out, the interview segments are meaningful, and the music is every-present electronic based, ranging from light and ephemeral to dubstep.  It is noticeably absent during the hardest ascent, which serves to focus the intensity. With a running time of 44 minutes, its ~5 minutes shorter than its predecessors, and like those that came before it, its available for free on the YouTubes.

The bookends of the film are what make it stand-out for me. At the jump, Marc Le Menestrel gives his history, which if you don’t know, includes some famously hard climbing for the time.  His famed boulder L’Alchemiste was one of the hardest before being smashed with a hammer, and even decades on his stoke and attitude are impressive. He turns the hobby on its head, questioning what it must look like from the perspective of the boulders, persisting long before us, and long after. 

On the tail end, Philippe Ribiere holds it down with his insights.  If you don’t know him, his profile, “Wild One” is absolutely worth your attention. He drives home the truth – climbing is for everyone. He has nothing to prove to the beginner climber, or to the top tier pro, only having to prove himself to himself. If there’s any disappointment in the film its that his boulders are disproportionately only shown in part and not all are given names in the same way as the majority that precede it.

Verdict: Watch It.  Here’s the thing, while I’m not sure the title is still  100%appropriate given what seems like a deviation from the ‘Out of Sight’ theme, the film stands as a very well produced work with or without the concept of a series. A special thank you to Neil Hart for sharing his works with us for free.

The Who
Jimmy Webb
Charles ALbert
Marc Le Menestrel
Dave Mason
Philippe Ribiere

The What
La Marie Rose
Fleurs de Rhum 7A+
La Balafre 6A
Le Jeu de Marc / La Merde 7B+
L’Alchemiste 8B+
Bleu Sacre 8B 8A+ – (RP+ Flash)
Le Toit du Greau 8A
Le Mur Lombard 7A 7A+
Megalight 7B
Millenium 8A 7C+
L’Art de la Fugue 8A
Délire Onirique (Assis) 8C (FAist)
La Pierre Philosophale 8B
Fil a Plomb 7B+
La Pied a Coulisse (Direct) 8B+ (FAist)
La Pied a Coulisse 8C+ 8C  (SA)
Recontre du Troisieme Type (Assis) 8A 8A+
Délire Onirique 8A+ 8B – Flash
Calimero 8A 7C+
Eden Roc (Assis) 7B+
Hip Hop (Assis) 8B
L’Arete de Boissy 7C+
L’Arete de Boissy (Assis) 8B+
The Big Island 8C
Le Teton Refractaire 7B+ 7C
Hue 7C
Pince Gendux (Assis) 7B+ 7C
Sans Papier 7B+ 7C
Trojan War 8A 7C+
Quoi De Neuf Acte 2 8B 8A+ – Flash
C’etait Demain 8A
The Bloc 8A
La Directe des Minets 5
La Mendicite 5