I find it funny that the only times he hurt his hand was either as a kid or in a climbing gym and not out on the rocks. I guess that tells you where you really are in trouble and it is while practicing or just being a kid.
I climbed the Burj Khalifa 2 years ago but decided to use a series of stairs and elevators on the inside of the building. Still it was an amazing ascent. Great view too.
LOL! Sounds like Hollywood; TC has "little man syndrome" like Napoleon and Putin, so those people take risks to show off, but Hollywood has ways of protecting them that you can't see so, well, that's Hollywood, which is a pretend world! They can be crawling on glass 5' off the ground stretched between two sturdy prop projections with the cameras under them shooting up and the cameras can make it look like they're climbing up! They use reflection techniques, all kinds of special effects to make something look real and YOU BUY IT when it gets on the big screen! But Alex Honnold is the REAL THING!
It's a strange slippery slope. I always told myself I would never do lead. Then I started doing lead. At that point I was like "okay... but I'll never do any trad or crack climbing" and then eventually found myself doing that. At this rate, I'll be free soloing within a decade.
I was with you until the soloing part. I've got friends that have been climbing for decades. I was kinda embarrassed when I went to Joshua Tree with one of them, none of them solo @@chickenspy1854
28:35 It's insane that Nirmal Purja and his team got so little recognition for doing one of the most incredible things in climbing history. Not only were they the first to summit K2 in winter, they also climbed the rest of the 14 tallest peaks on the planet, and they did it all in _six months._ All 14. In 6 months. Incredible. Everyone should be talking about it.
@@ghostgurl17 I think the 14 highest are "8000ers" i.e the only mountains above 8000m. Presumably the 15th highest mountain in the world is less than 8000m tall.
@@Fyr35555 oh ok.. thats really cool.. so the mountaineers already rated the highest mountains but i cant stop thinking is the 14 highest mountains are also the 14 most difficult to climb, like it cant be right? theres gotta be smaller ones that are much steeper.
I love that Alex Honnold can simultaneously relate to Tom Cruise scaling the world's largest building and Sheldon Cooper passing out on a kiddie wall climbing with Barry.
i wish that Alex did the balance of the video to focus on the part of The Eiger Sanction climb of the Eiger itself---for realism: as i think they filmed the climbing scenes of the dramatic ascent on the deadly mountain face, (w/ 1 climber David Knowles killed, and another, Mike Hoover badly hurt).
Alex is the real deal and probably on the top scale of my respect for what he does. I hear he has a child now, so I wonder if he'll continue climbing or just settle for being a professional advisor now! There is no doubt he is the best free-climber in the world, but it's time to stop taking chances; climb, but don't free-climb anymore, I don't want to read about him falling -- PLEASE use equipment when you climb now, Alex! (Terrific scenes in the above video, I don't care if they are real or not, as an acrophobic, they make me queasy just watching them! I have to break away and look around the room to be sure I'm not up there somewhere -- yikes!) Years ago, I was an avid hiker because my dad was, and I could climb UP almost anything, but NOT DOWN and it was my physician father who realized I had acrophobia when I was about age 5. On our hikes, my Dad loved to go out to the edge of a cliff and look out at the view, I had to crawl out to him and climb up his leg, hanging on for dear life, and I didn't want to look down! We climbed Mt. Lassen and signed the book but there was a good safe trail and not near the edge of the mountain, and my Dad was with me so I felt safe! Later, as an adult, I skied in the Swiss Alps but I wouldn't ski near the edge (and I can hardly, today, watch those skiers ski off cliffs for Red Bull shoots)! I could ride chairlifts, I guess I trusted them but I didn't look down a lot. Strangely, if there was a rail at some lookout (like at the Grand Canyon), I was fairly good hanging on to something, but no rail or barrier, and I wouldn't get near the edge (I had the feeling I was being pulled out and down by the air at the edge of a cliff!) I wonder if Alex ever looks down past his feet when climbing; I hope not!
I like how Alex is so chill and generally positive in his observations. It would be so easy to just rip to shreds every single scene, but he chooses to just have fun with it instead. Love this guy.
Wow! After his comments about Clint Eastwood's scenes I went and found this... "Clint Eastwood did all of his own stunts, including the scene where he cuts his safety line over a drop of at least 1,000 feet. The only stunt he did not perform was a 2,500-foot drop, for which a dummy was used. One climber, David Knowles, was killed by a boulder on the second day of shooting." Wow.
absolutely. There was a big deal about it at the time too. Most everyone just wanted to stop production after the climber's death. Of course Clint would have none of it and Knowles family basically said if you stop filming, then what did he die for?
I love that he breaks down unrealistic scenes without being condescending. He still acknowledges the artistry and interpretation, and that there is enjoyment in that, even if it isn't completely 100% realistic.
when you start analysing movies in depth you basically have to do this for every single thing. It's about the story, the implementation is often terrible
@Train 2noplace I'm not a lawyer yet, but I'm in law school, and legal dramas are still some of my favorite movies and TV shows. Inaccuracy doesn't spoil the fun, for me.
@@anonymes2884 well, I meant more within the plot of the movie. Maybe they should start to throw away a line like "Oh, I am glad that Bob set everything up for us. Thanks Bob!" and you see the protagonist waving at somebody above but you never see him. Kind of like how all superhero movies now always have to make clear that the city has been evacuated before they proceed to destroy it fighting the villain, lol.
I used the same priorities when I was skating. Take a slam and get up and if you can still walk you're good, if you can still skate there's nothing much wrong with you lol. If you can't walk, or you can't get up, then you might have an injury. Best to sit there for a couple of minutes and then try again. I don't think there was ever a time I couldn't get up and walk under my own stream after a few minutes had passed. As for cuts and bruises and minor breaks, fractures and dislocations, if you could still skate it was no biggy really. And it's pretty rare to get more hurt in a fight or other sport than you can inflict on yourself every week with a plank with wheels on ;)
Love how this dude always points out the positive parts of things, instead of picking everything apart and being "holier-than-thou." Just an extremely likable fellow. Very down to earth, considering he's one of the best athletes on planet earth.
‘The way they are climbing is totally unrealistic and would never happen, although he has a red helmet and helmets do come in red which I guess is pretty realistic and accurate’
"I used to have a red helmet when I was a kid. A lot of people like red helmets. I could see someone wearing a red helmet in a situation like this, but I preffer blue, personaly."
this is so fun. i'm going to look for the first one. i go to Yosemite a lot and usually see Alex Honnold there giving tips to mere climbing mortals. he is the nicest, most humble superhero you will ever see IRL.
such a cool guy. i love that he gets to represent the climbing community. it's actually quite impressive how easily he breaks down certain techniques in a simple and understandable way
the absolute badassery implicit in what he says at 21:31 "if i thought i was going to fall off a cliff it would be very scary", he says it so nonchalantly and confidently, like its such a low risk of it happening that its not really worth worrying about.
I saw a video where he calmly freaked out for a couple minutes free soloing I think El Capitan. Climbing is one thing, free solo climbing is another. That's his thing though.
i love how in every episode the title is "expert reviews things in movies they're good at" but in this one its just "alex honnold reviews climbing scenes" like hes the free solo guy, you already know him
He talking about climbing all these rocks at all these heights, I’m laying in bed having butterflies in my stomach and getting physically scared of the heights on my phones screen. 😂 I also love how he’s so humble and not just downing every movie scene. He’s a true sportsman:
Watching this again and love how Alex breaks these scenes down, but still understands context. He breaks them down without being judgey and having fun with it.
Yea, he brings up lots of interesting things that I wouldn't have known or thought about. Like the updraft on the Burj Khalifa as an example. A lot of the other interviews in this format whether on GQ or other channels seem like they feature someone with unique credentials but they don't actually bring any unique or interesting perspective to their breakdowns. This one was really well done. Probably a credit to Alex as he's always interesting to listen to.
GQ… thank goodness you did this. This an incredible idea and one of the coolest videos ever. Alex is the greatest and the fact that y’all made this happen together is incredible.
Eastwood got permission to climb the Totem Pole by agreeing to remove all the pitons that had been left by previous climbers. I don't think anyone's climbed it since, because the Navajo Nation doesn't allow it. They were lifted off afterward by helicopter.
I'll never forget watching the documentary on Alex freeclimbing El Capitan. Free Solo it's called. AMAZING, emotional, thrilling. I hate heights and I love that he is such a nice guy and humbly approaches his goal to free solo the huge cliff in California.
I like how he adapts himself into those situations and see all possibilities, like instead of just saying wonder woman got powers it is unrealistic, he says if I had super powers, I would do this, this could be legit, like ice climbing, .. He's dope ! He got crazy adaptive skills and mindset and vision himself into other worlds. He got a very open mind, probably a huge mental strength too, brilliant !
"probably a huge mental strength"? My guy have zero fear of anything, i bet his heart rate is like 40 in very very stressful situations. As a highstakes pokerplayer i admire this mans calm and presence in life, he is one of my idols.
I love Alex's analysis of each of these. That fact that he pointed out so much that I never even noticed in the captain fantastic clip was dumbfounding for me. It makes all the sense in the world now that he broke each item, movement and placement down for even non climbers to understand. Pretty cool video!
You sound stupid like absolutely idiotic. He gets recognition, you act like you made it happen or like you’ve been telling people that he deserves it. You are just a person in the giant number of billions on earth, chances are your opinion doesn’t need to be heard and is probably wrong
I mean, he explains it when he says " the key is to make sure you don't fall" So he's spent years practicing every section there is on that climb. Not saying that it still isn't insane, but he was probably really confident doing Yosemite by that point.
I recorded Alex’s “free climb” of El Cap’, his daily preparations , and all of the photographers at various locations to record each stage of this historic event! It still makes me sweat each time I watch it! My hats off to you Alex!!!
think about the hands though. there are no muscles in the fingers at all , just connecting tissue and ligaments. for his hands to have grown to that size means his applicable force per finger is insane. He is a one of a kind, down to earth , super human beast.
@@howdareyou41 do you ever think about what you are saying or maybe come back and read it afterwards and think man I sound like a complete douchebag maybe I'll delete this or better yet not make the comment in the first place?
@@pilotflux8005 "Okay yeah so the guy di Solo Ell Cap Its Super Cool Hes even on sited 13 + and hes climbed solid 514 but have you seen him crimp? He crimps like a kitten... " I love this video th-cam.com/video/618eR-1zdoYc/w-d-xo.html
Equal parts awkward and confident, critical and giving leeway. This man is really great at this. I can see why he was brought back. I've never climbed but have considered it because all outdoor hobbies are a blast. But listening to him speak and be in his element is awesome.
Alex does the best Breakdowns, no question. He should review any type of movie, and just comment on whatever he feels like. It would be completely entertaining
"he probably should have looked at the weather before did this" I know the point of this is to be frank about the reality of the movies, but I LOVE how dryly frank Alex is.
Love it!! Alex Honnold is legend as a narrator: brilliant, insightful, incisive, and building affinity with the film production teams who were trying to create an environment for their films. *@GQ - thank you for producing this!*
The climbing scenes for K2 were filmed in British Columbia, specifically Steinbok Peak. The climbers were Perry Beckham, Dave Lane and Pat Post, all Canadians.
Me: “Kind of dumb they’re having him watch Ghost Proticol. It’s not like he’s climbed the Burg Khalifa.” Him: “So when I climbed the Burg Khalifa for this TV thing...” Hmmph...
I watched this guy’s documentary and it was the most incredible documentary I have ever watched. It was very touching and emotional and it gave me hope and realize that the impossible is possible.
12:45 If you have a foothold that's an inch and half wide, that's pretty good to be able to lean in and relax quite a bit. Alex just gave AN INCH AND HALF a whole new meaning!
Loved this. Haven’t kept up much on Alex since the release of his movie for some reason but so glad he’s doing things like this and getting the recognition he deserves; even if it’s not his thing.
He’s so easy to watch/listen to. Like I know nothing about climbing but I’m fascinated by his explanations and just his general good nature and friendly approach, always giving everyone the benefit of the doubt etc.
Maybe worth mentioning also, that in cliffhanger the climber doubling for Stallone in the climbing scenes was Wolfgang Gullich, by far the best and strongest climber of that generation. He must have had some good laughs.
His explanation at 27:58 of what happens in Cliffhanger should be printed on the Bluray: "It's very dramatic and they are doing some things on the side of a cliff"
@@bighoser ahhh, have you not seen the feature film of Alex climbing El Cap? 😂. Point taken of course, but any opportunity to share that film I'll take because it's amazing.
@@bighoser Funny comment. You should watch Alex's Free Solo documentary which is all him climbing a mountain for 2 hours and it's one of the most gripping documentaries I've ever seen.
@@chickenspy1854 when he was doing that thing for tv on the burj, he had wires/cables holding him as well. so is it possible to do without it? like, its not sheer fully due to the metal rungs, etc he mentions but that seems like it may not realistically be doable? not sure (i dont climb)
I do very much enjoy how he continues to critique everything that he sees, including the completely unbelievable ones without putting them down. Just tried to relate his personal experiences or climbing in general. Great sense of humor to boot
@@allantaylor6046 actually a lot of climbers prefer denim because it doesn’t tear easy and CAN be stretchy (breaking in, etc)... no one’s out there in brand new Levi 511’s trying to van damme split, but my buddy is always in his jeans when we climb
Remember watching sir Alex on the insane The Captain climb. Since then I have nothing but praises for the him. In this video he is humble AF as he always is. So much talent and self-confidence. Amazing person.
"This is pretty unrealistic, but I have done it"
Alex Honnold
this is gold
Top comment award!
I find it funny that the only times he hurt his hand was either as a kid or in a climbing gym and not out on the rocks. I guess that tells you where you really are in trouble and it is while practicing or just being a kid.
When?
@@justinkern3533 Climbing Gold?
I climbed the Burj Khalifa 2 years ago but decided to use a series of stairs and elevators on the inside of the building. Still it was an amazing ascent. Great view too.
Lol
LOL! Sounds like Hollywood; TC has "little man syndrome" like Napoleon and Putin, so those people take risks to show off, but Hollywood has ways of protecting them that you can't see so, well, that's Hollywood, which is a pretend world! They can be crawling on glass 5' off the ground stretched between two sturdy prop projections with the cameras under them shooting up and the cameras can make it look like they're climbing up! They use reflection techniques, all kinds of special effects to make something look real and YOU BUY IT when it gets on the big screen! But Alex Honnold is the REAL THING!
I commend you for your bravery!
this comment lol
That's why you're not in movies bro
They show him a crazy clip of Tom Cruise climbing the world's tallest building and Alex is just like "Well when I climbed it..." LoL
😂😂😂
lol
I had to rewind it I thought he was joking
@@billchubbler4584 when they started the clip I was just waiting for him to point out the absurdity and he was just like "...other than the gloves".
"He doesn't get tired tho, because he's Tom Cruise"
The fact that they play a clip of Tom Cruise climbing the tallest building in the world and Alex just casually goes "yeah i've done this" is insane.
He's like "yea I've done with without the magical gloves".
So many cool things were said in the video, yet all you smooth brains only care about the Tom Cruise part.
Sure, Tom climbs a horizontal "building" lying 4 feet off the set floor, with cameras above and beside him, LOL!
@@mjleger4555 Except Tom was actually climbing Burj Khalifa, but okay.
@@maxkho00 he wasnt. #1 no magic glove. #2 without magic glove mr tiny has not the wingspan to climb it. he did rope down in some scenes and thats it
"Presumably they should've brought jackets though." I am dead. His deadpan delivery of this line is hilarious.
"Jackets are for sissies." That drill sergeant father potty-trained his kids at gunpoint.
ha ha, that tickled me too.
_Tom Cruise climbing up the outside of the world's tallest building in an over the top action movie_
Alex: "Ok so I actually did this... "
I really want to see the video of him climbing the burj
and he broke it down to a series of V4 boulder problems. Just amazing.
@@howdareyou41 naw he was on wires he didnt literally climb it lol
@@ploopy8780 technically yes cuz that wires doesn’t pull him it’s just for safety
Technically so did Tom Cruise. He actually was out there for that stunt. Obviously on ropes and wires, but so was Alex.
Do I climb big walls? No.
Am I interested in climbing big walls? No.
Have I watched every single Alex interview? Yes.
I don't climb either, find him endlessly engaging.
His expert knowledge is fascinating to listen to. Easily the best one of these breakdowns.
It's a strange slippery slope. I always told myself I would never do lead. Then I started doing lead. At that point I was like "okay... but I'll never do any trad or crack climbing" and then eventually found myself doing that. At this rate, I'll be free soloing within a decade.
I was with you until the soloing part. I've got friends that have been climbing for decades. I was kinda embarrassed when I went to Joshua Tree with one of them, none of them solo @@chickenspy1854
Easily one of my favorite people to listen to
"I haven't actually been around that many giant explosions in the mountains." I finally found something I have in common with Alex Honnold.
did they turn off comments for you like dang 1.1k likes and nothing!!
@@enoch4392 YOu ruinEd iT bro wtf
@@shrekjunior6144 im sorry it had to be done
Humor
He probably has. Many places use explosives to trigger avalanche, before it gets too big. Even I have seen that.
I love how agreeable he is with the Wonder Woman scene.
"Does a one-arm pull-up...SICK..."
28:35 It's insane that Nirmal Purja and his team got so little recognition for doing one of the most incredible things in climbing history. Not only were they the first to summit K2 in winter, they also climbed the rest of the 14 tallest peaks on the planet, and they did it all in _six months._
All 14. In 6 months. Incredible. Everyone should be talking about it.
Wow glad I know that now, that's incredible. To think I thought it was impressive in the UK doing Snowden / Ben Nevis / Scarfell pike in 24 hours!
There probably wasn't a huge financial backer or sporting outlet sponsoring them. This world is all about money. Have you not noticed?
why they stopped at 14th thou? is the 15th and so on not worth climbing? im sorry i have no idea about highest peaks
@@ghostgurl17 I think the 14 highest are "8000ers" i.e the only mountains above 8000m. Presumably the 15th highest mountain in the world is less than 8000m tall.
@@Fyr35555 oh ok.. thats really cool.. so the mountaineers already rated the highest mountains but i cant stop thinking is the 14 highest mountains are also the 14 most difficult to climb, like it cant be right? theres gotta be smaller ones that are much steeper.
I’m more impressed with how Alex has gotten more comfortable talking to the camera. His presenting has improved a good amount for such an introvert
Yea in his first interviews he looked soooo uncomfortable
I thought the exact same thing. Been a while since I watched Free Solo, but I don't remember him being this eloquent and comfortable.
He’s almost too comfortable lol. He’s talking our heads off. His last Joe Rogan interview was like this too
He looked just as comfortable in part one which was in 2019
He has a surprising sense of humor!
Every so often I look for a new Alex interview just to check in to make sure he's still alive. Another day of relief.
Now that you say it I agree.
Same. When i saw this i was like 😅 phew
U should check out his podcasts, they not bad
I remember him mentioning that the guys who do sorta similar stuff to what he does usually die doing relatively regular climbing. And it makes sense
@@StormBlessed7 I think Climbing Gold might be fairly uninteresting for people completely outside the realm of rock climbing.
I love that Alex Honnold can simultaneously relate to Tom Cruise scaling the world's largest building and Sheldon Cooper passing out on a kiddie wall climbing with Barry.
i wish that Alex did the balance of the video to focus on the part of The Eiger Sanction climb of the Eiger itself---for realism: as i think they filmed the climbing scenes of the dramatic ascent on the deadly mountain face, (w/ 1 climber David Knowles killed, and another, Mike Hoover badly hurt).
Alex is the real deal and probably on the top scale of my respect for what he does. I hear he has a child now, so I wonder if he'll continue climbing or just settle for being a professional advisor now! There is no doubt he is the best free-climber in the world, but it's time to stop taking chances; climb, but don't free-climb anymore, I don't want to read about him falling -- PLEASE use equipment when you climb now, Alex! (Terrific scenes in the above video, I don't care if they are real or not, as an acrophobic, they make me queasy just watching them! I have to break away and look around the room to be sure I'm not up there somewhere -- yikes!)
Years ago, I was an avid hiker because my dad was, and I could climb UP almost anything, but NOT DOWN and it was my physician father who realized I had acrophobia when I was about age 5. On our hikes, my Dad loved to go out to the edge of a cliff and look out at the view, I had to crawl out to him and climb up his leg, hanging on for dear life, and I didn't want to look down! We climbed Mt. Lassen and signed the book but there was a good safe trail and not near the edge of the mountain, and my Dad was with me so I felt safe!
Later, as an adult, I skied in the Swiss Alps but I wouldn't ski near the edge (and I can hardly, today, watch those skiers ski off cliffs for Red Bull shoots)! I could ride chairlifts, I guess I trusted them but I didn't look down a lot. Strangely, if there was a rail at some lookout (like at the Grand Canyon), I was fairly good hanging on to something, but no rail or barrier, and I wouldn't get near the edge (I had the feeling I was being pulled out and down by the air at the edge of a cliff!) I wonder if Alex ever looks down past his feet when climbing; I hope not!
"The way I climbed Burj..." what a statement
@@magics902 "This is like a V4" Climbing the windows of the Burj. Ok, Alex.
Adaptive like a rock climber
I like how Alex is so chill and generally positive in his observations. It would be so easy to just rip to shreds every single scene, but he chooses to just have fun with it instead. Love this guy.
Wow! After his comments about Clint Eastwood's scenes I went and found this...
"Clint Eastwood did all of his own stunts, including the scene where he cuts his safety line over a drop of at least 1,000 feet. The only stunt he did not perform was a 2,500-foot drop, for which a dummy was used. One climber, David Knowles, was killed by a boulder on the second day of shooting."
Wow.
Loved this film, but had no idea he executed so many of his own stunts. Sorry to hear they lost a climber. RIP
What movie is that
@@jerrysellier6693 "The Eiger Sanction" - 1975 👍
Clint Eastwood is very hardcore.
absolutely. There was a big deal about it at the time too. Most everyone just wanted to stop production after the climber's death. Of course Clint would have none of it and Knowles family basically said if you stop filming, then what did he die for?
I love that he breaks down unrealistic scenes without being condescending. He still acknowledges the artistry and interpretation, and that there is enjoyment in that, even if it isn't completely 100% realistic.
when you start analysing movies in depth you basically have to do this for every single thing. It's about the story, the implementation is often terrible
lol you have a reddit pfp for TH-cam
Agreed, that's part of his "down to earth" charm! Funny saying that about someone who has been higher than I ever have except in an aircraft!
@Train 2noplace I'm not a lawyer yet, but I'm in law school, and legal dramas are still some of my favorite movies and TV shows. Inaccuracy doesn't spoil the fun, for me.
He doesn't do -descending 💯
One of Hollywood's unsung heroes: The unseen imaginary climber that has already set up everything above the protagonist in climbing scenes.
You mean the unknown stuntman, that makes Eastwood look so fine ?
There's _literally_ a song about them (but I know what you mean :).
@@anonymes2884 well, I meant more within the plot of the movie. Maybe they should start to throw away a line like "Oh, I am glad that Bob set everything up for us. Thanks Bob!" and you see the protagonist waving at somebody above but you never see him. Kind of like how all superhero movies now always have to make clear that the city has been evacuated before they proceed to destroy it fighting the villain, lol.
@@TheDaredevil816 please look up Vaush and Destiny streamers yourself
@Cindy Tartt if u believe him and r with truth u should look at and heavily consider Vaush and Destiny streamers too
@Cindy Tartt also lol
"I guess I'm not technically injured" is such a low key badass quote.
Especially with his casual delivery! Guy's a badass.
@@beckerqueiroz “I broke my nose haha” and then keeps going like nothing happened
I used the same priorities when I was skating. Take a slam and get up and if you can still walk you're good, if you can still skate there's nothing much wrong with you lol. If you can't walk, or you can't get up, then you might have an injury. Best to sit there for a couple of minutes and then try again. I don't think there was ever a time I couldn't get up and walk under my own stream after a few minutes had passed. As for cuts and bruises and minor breaks, fractures and dislocations, if you could still skate it was no biggy really. And it's pretty rare to get more hurt in a fight or other sport than you can inflict on yourself every week with a plank with wheels on ;)
And then continue to the peak🤐
"The key is to make sure you don't fall off" Nailed it. That's why I won't climb or go near a cliff
Smart man.
Love how this dude always points out the positive parts of things, instead of picking everything apart and being "holier-than-thou." Just an extremely likable fellow. Very down to earth, considering he's one of the best athletes on planet earth.
‘The way they are climbing is totally unrealistic and would never happen, although he has a red helmet and helmets do come in red which I guess is pretty realistic and accurate’
He is very generous.
I Love this comment lol
That's like the most polite mockery ever.
"I used to have a red helmet when I was a kid. A lot of people like red helmets. I could see someone wearing a red helmet in a situation like this, but I preffer blue, personaly."
Clint Eastwood. Not CG. He’s Hollywood so that is impressive. I realize some of the scenes was not him. Others were.
This guy is super nice. Not trashing any scene just being polite and optimistic the whole time.
That's the coolest username I'd ever seen, just gotta say that
@@nimm1135 thx
Agree. Just so zen and chill about it all, he can point out when it's not realistic but still find something cool to point out about it.
Alex is THE Climbing Guy!
that's Alex Honnold for you. I'm not sure I've ever seen a more chill human being, even in fiction
LOL the way he says at 9:48 - “he probably should’ve checked a weather report before free soloing the outside of the building.” Had me cracking up
Same that got me
😂
this is so fun. i'm going to look for the first one. i go to Yosemite a lot and usually see Alex Honnold there giving tips to mere climbing mortals. he is the nicest, most humble superhero you will ever see IRL.
such a cool guy. i love that he gets to represent the climbing community. it's actually quite impressive how easily he breaks down certain techniques in a simple and understandable way
"And it highlights Sylvesters physique. Let's see him curl a small woman."
This guy is so entertaining.
"So the way I was climbing the burj" Has never been spoken so casually
that is right. RIP all the slaves that build that building. Never forget.
This was hilarious. The expertise, the sarcasm, the pedantry, the dry humour... all top notch. 5 stars.
The pedantry.....really
5 stars? What is this, a hotel?
Natural born entertainer and public speaker, to add to the long list of his other talents. cool dude
Yep. His on the spectrum big time. Watch his doco.
5 stars? This isn’t 2009 TH-cam
"Now lets see him curl this small women" one of my favorite Alex Honnold quotes
the absolute badassery implicit in what he says at 21:31 "if i thought i was going to fall off a cliff it would be very scary", he says it so nonchalantly and confidently, like its such a low risk of it happening that its not really worth worrying about.
Alex is so brutally honest with heavy respect for silliness.
When Alex Honnold says something is "incredibly unnerving," you know it must be Incredibly Effing Unnerving.
I saw a video where he calmly freaked out for a couple minutes free soloing I think El Capitan. Climbing is one thing, free solo climbing is another. That's his thing though.
Didn't he take an mr or something in that movie wich showed he had less fear reaction than average?
@@mskjaer496 he basically had no fear reaction as shown in Free Solo. His amygdala didn’t fire at all.
@@NickRoman it was half dome
@HiveRobot His brain is wired differently or something.
i love how in every episode the title is "expert reviews things in movies they're good at" but in this one its just "alex honnold reviews climbing scenes" like hes the free solo guy, you already know him
He talking about climbing all these rocks at all these heights, I’m laying in bed having butterflies in my stomach and getting physically scared of the heights on my phones screen. 😂 I also love how he’s so humble and not just downing every movie scene. He’s a true sportsman:
Watching this again and love how Alex breaks these scenes down, but still understands context. He breaks them down without being judgey and having fun with it.
I like Alex’s breakdowns more than others, cause he will not only call out stuff that doesn’t make sense but explain the actual reason why
Yea, he brings up lots of interesting things that I wouldn't have known or thought about. Like the updraft on the Burj Khalifa as an example. A lot of the other interviews in this format whether on GQ or other channels seem like they feature someone with unique credentials but they don't actually bring any unique or interesting perspective to their breakdowns. This one was really well done. Probably a credit to Alex as he's always interesting to listen to.
@@chrestophir The WTF of the multiple routes was great ripping it to bits.
Almost everyone points out what’s wrong and explains why…
GQ… thank goodness you did this. This an incredible idea and one of the coolest videos ever. Alex is the greatest and the fact that y’all made this happen together is incredible.
Omg I did not expect to see Garrett in a comment section of a climbing video 😂
They did another video of him breaking down movies before a year or two ago, if you want to find that.
Hey??
Hi Garrett!
Alex has done one of these before
Eastwood got permission to climb the Totem Pole by agreeing to remove all the pitons that had been left by previous climbers. I don't think anyone's climbed it since, because the Navajo Nation doesn't allow it. They were lifted off afterward by helicopter.
Wait so Eatswood actually climbed it?
@@francoisthomas4930 - I think on the Totem Pole he just did the summit shot, but he did most of the other climbing stunts himself.
Navajo Nation to the pitons: Get off my totem pole.
@@johnnycucumber you can see it's him even when not seeing his face.
@@francoisthomas4930 of course not. They lowered him down via helicopter for the summit shot
Alex Honnel is a very good narrator! He's funny and looks for something positive in each scene no matter how foolish it is!
What an awesome guy! Super chill and doesn’t trash every seemingly unrealistic scene. We need more of Alex!!
Alex is one of those guys who dont just babble. What he is saying makes 100% sense and everything just fits. Could listen to him all day.
For those who don't know, this man zipped up El Capitan in less than four hours with only a bag of chalk attached to his belt.
Dont forget about the huge set of balls he carries with him.
Not forgetting the fact that he said he was a little bit slow and could have done better
@@Lokairn speedrunning El Cap, gearless category.
@@LeoStaley Frame perfect ?
@@Lokairn Zero damage run!
"I haven't actually been around all that many giant explosions in the mountains"
I don't believe you
The Ron Burgundy read, where he says it and immediately lights a cigarette
"all that many" means he's just seen a few!😅
I love Alex's positiveness. He's a pro and has right to dis all of these but he gives credit where credit is due. Kudos to Alex!
I'll never forget watching the documentary on Alex freeclimbing El Capitan. Free Solo it's called. AMAZING, emotional, thrilling. I hate heights and I love that he is such a nice guy and humbly approaches his goal to free solo the huge cliff in California.
Oh, yeah, the most unbelievable feat I've ever seen! He's a beast!
More than that - he free-soloed it, without the ropes used in free-climbing.
Love Alex' humor. He knows to explain real dangerous things in such a funny style.
I like how he adapts himself into those situations and see all possibilities, like instead of just saying wonder woman got powers it is unrealistic, he says if I had super powers, I would do this, this could be legit, like ice climbing, .. He's dope ! He got crazy adaptive skills and mindset and vision himself into other worlds. He got a very open mind, probably a huge mental strength too, brilliant !
I like this comment except for “probably a lot of mental strength”. Have you seen Free Solo?😂
@@v.demonaco3718 🤣🤣
and he also got huge balls
@@cinkhangin balls of pure gold
"probably a huge mental strength"? My guy have zero fear of anything, i bet his heart rate is like 40 in very very stressful situations.
As a highstakes pokerplayer i admire this mans calm and presence in life, he is one of my idols.
Everytime I see Alex, my palms start sweating uncontrollably.
Pavolvian response to what has to be one of the most stressful movie viewing experiences of my entire life.
It's SO GOOD.
bro i swear mine started sweating too??
Mine didn't, but they started sweating as soon as I read your comments for some reason
I love Alex's analysis of each of these. That fact that he pointed out so much that I never even noticed in the captain fantastic clip was dumbfounding for me. It makes all the sense in the world now that he broke each item, movement and placement down for even non climbers to understand. Pretty cool video!
I just watched the documentary with Alex and yeah, the pinnacle of badass.
I am so stoked that Alex is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He seems like such a genuine person. Stay safe!
You sound stupid like absolutely idiotic. He gets recognition, you act like you made it happen or like you’ve been telling people that he deserves it. You are just a person in the giant number of billions on earth, chances are your opinion doesn’t need to be heard and is probably wrong
I agree
"I'm afraid of dying too."
Proceeds to climb Yosemite with no safety gear
*while making an award winning film
@@fetralburns3466 I'm definitely not hating on him or questioning how impressive it is...it's just very ironic
You wouldn't be brave if you weren't also scared.
He spent years training with gear before he even attempted to climb it solo. He even did an attempt before and quit because he wasn't feeling it.
I mean, he explains it when he says " the key is to make sure you don't fall" So he's spent years practicing every section there is on that climb. Not saying that it still isn't insane, but he was probably really confident doing Yosemite by that point.
*Aliens abduct a man*
Alex: So yeah that's not that uncommon
Considering he looks like one, he's not wrong.
Underrated comment
@@scenepointjudge I think he looks normal? He just has large eyes 🤷♀️
@@janedoll3237 and MASSIVE HANDS
@@MilkT0ast all the better for climbing, my dear 🐺
I recorded Alex’s “free climb” of El Cap’, his daily preparations , and all of the photographers at various locations to record each stage of this historic event! It still makes me sweat each time I watch it!
My hats off to you Alex!!!
Alex has got to be one of the most entertaining people to hear just talk about something he loves.
"He doesn't get tired though, because he's Tom Cruise"
Alex Honnold
Someone said he has golden retriever eyes and catchers mitt hands, and I can’t unsee this 😂❤️
think about the hands though. there are no muscles in the fingers at all , just connecting tissue and ligaments. for his hands to have grown to that size means his applicable force per finger is insane.
He is a one of a kind, down to earth , super human beast.
@@howdareyou41 do you ever think about what you are saying or maybe come back and read it afterwards and think man I sound like a complete douchebag maybe I'll delete this or better yet not make the comment in the first place?
Soon enough he'll have a pancake everything
@@OneMouseGaming I think he just has freakishly insane hand genetics- he's said himself he doesn't have the greatest finger strength
@@pilotflux8005
"Okay yeah so the guy di Solo Ell Cap
Its Super Cool
Hes even on sited 13 + and hes climbed solid 514 but have you seen him crimp?
He crimps like a kitten... "
I love this video
th-cam.com/video/618eR-1zdoYc/w-d-xo.html
Can we get a 13 hour version of this please. Just ask him to review every climbing clip on the internet.
Alex is the very definition of a nice, very cool guy. His commentary is just great.
Equal parts awkward and confident, critical and giving leeway.
This man is really great at this. I can see why he was brought back. I've never climbed but have considered it because all outdoor hobbies are a blast. But listening to him speak and be in his element is awesome.
Alex does the best Breakdowns, no question. He should review any type of movie, and just comment on whatever he feels like. It would be completely entertaining
absolutely
I love the way Alex makes people laugh without any effort on being funny.. He's so honest and a nice guy!!!
He definitely and conspicuously makes an effort to be funny.
"he probably should have looked at the weather before did this" I know the point of this is to be frank about the reality of the movies, but I LOVE how dryly frank Alex is.
Love it!! Alex Honnold is legend as a narrator: brilliant, insightful, incisive, and building affinity with the film production teams who were trying to create an environment for their films. *@GQ - thank you for producing this!*
The way he said “oh, my hat! 🙁” during the Mission Impossible section was just so funny to me.
The climbing scenes for K2 were filmed in British Columbia, specifically Steinbok Peak. The climbers were Perry Beckham, Dave Lane and Pat Post, all Canadians.
It is depicting the 1978 climb, apparently shot in 1990 for release in 1991, so it all would have been old school equipment.
I'm just glad his face pops up in random videos every couple months so I know he's still alive and climbing:)
Me: “Kind of dumb they’re having him watch Ghost Proticol. It’s not like he’s climbed the Burg Khalifa.”
Him: “So when I climbed the Burg Khalifa for this TV thing...”
Hmmph...
A couple times!
@@sergiosaunier Never under estimate how nuts Alex can be.
@@JLilliquist -nuts- awesome*
I watched this guy’s documentary and it was the most incredible documentary I have ever watched. It was very touching and emotional and it gave me hope and realize that the impossible is possible.
I love Alex's humility...
He's like "oh yeah so I've climbed the Burj..." but he says it like almost everyone has. What a legend.
Free Solo: 'Totally unrealistic. Nobody would be crazy enough to do this.'
Totally. And get Oscar for that movie would be something even crazier
Then, Alex goes on and become one helluva free soloist.
Alex "... except me"
good to see this guy is still alive.
Anyone else never climb a day in their life, never plans to, but loves Alex. It amazes me how normal and chill he is for someone with 20 pound balls
12:45
If you have a foothold that's an inch and half wide, that's pretty good to be able to lean in and relax quite a bit.
Alex just gave AN INCH AND HALF a whole new meaning!
An inch and a half is actually quite a bit! You could get most of your toe box on that
Loved this. Haven’t kept up much on Alex since the release of his movie for some reason but so glad he’s doing things like this and getting the recognition he deserves; even if it’s not his thing.
He’s so easy to watch/listen to. Like I know nothing about climbing but I’m fascinated by his explanations and just his general good nature and friendly approach, always giving everyone the benefit of the doubt etc.
Maybe worth mentioning also, that in cliffhanger the climber doubling for Stallone in the climbing scenes was Wolfgang Gullich, by far the best and strongest climber of that generation. He must have had some good laughs.
RIP , WG was one of the greatest
Wolfgang Güllich and his methods still have a massive influence in today's climbing. He truly pushed the boundaries of climbing.
Really? Wild
His explanation at 27:58 of what happens in Cliffhanger should be printed on the Bluray: "It's very dramatic and they are doing some things on the side of a cliff"
This dude is clearly extremely knowledgeable about climbing and can talk about it for days. I love it.
I read about Alex in a college textbook 2 years ago and I’ve been obsessed with him ever since then
Take note movie creators: if you’re gonna make a movie about climbing, hire Alex as a consultant
Or.... get mercilessly trashed by Alex in a breakdown for how silly your climbing scene is, that’s for sure! 😜😂
I think they make it like they do because a 2 hour movie watching someone really climb a mountain would not be appealing to a broad audience.
@@bighoser ahhh, have you not seen the feature film of Alex climbing El Cap? 😂. Point taken of course, but any opportunity to share that film I'll take because it's amazing.
@@purklefluff Yes, I loved it and I am not a climber. Watching Tom Cruise bumble his way up an unremarkable clifside for hours not so much.
@@bighoser Funny comment. You should watch Alex's Free Solo documentary which is all him climbing a mountain for 2 hours and it's one of the most gripping documentaries I've ever seen.
Free Solo is one of the greatest documentaries
@@howdareyou41 it’s entirely up to you
It's ok. Not the best but just ok
Get sweaty palms everytime I watch it even though I know exactually what happens
He deserves a new award created for the highest feats accomplished in sport
@@herbalty754 single greatest solo athletic accomplishment EVER
11:05 - "For climbers out there, I thought it was like V4-ish." haha Thanks Alex
I absolutely love that he said this, we've all wondered how hard this would actually be haha
@@jamesmoakes6187 112 floors of V4, jesus christ my arms would fall off
@@Thrusthamster Outdoor V4 and the sandbagged Honnold grade... I would say I'd be dead before 20 floors.
I'm like V4ish indoor...VB outdoor. 120 floors of something I can't do to begin with 🥴
@@chickenspy1854 when he was doing that thing for tv on the burj, he had wires/cables holding him as well. so is it possible to do without it? like, its not sheer fully due to the metal rungs, etc he mentions but that seems like it may not realistically be doable? not sure (i dont climb)
He is charming and relaxed. When he sees something goofy he doesn’t judge or sneer, he smiles indulgently.
I do very much enjoy how he continues to critique everything that he sees, including the completely unbelievable ones without putting them down. Just tried to relate his personal experiences or climbing in general. Great sense of humor to boot
Can we mention that Clint Eastwood did all those climbing scenes...in JEANS! 👖
Yeah no wonder his mantle didn't involve legs.. no way those jeans would have stretched that far haha
Maybe they were jeggings.
@@allantaylor6046 actually a lot of climbers prefer denim because it doesn’t tear easy and CAN be stretchy (breaking in, etc)... no one’s out there in brand new Levi 511’s trying to van damme split, but my buddy is always in his jeans when we climb
I'm more concerned by the boots!! Haha
@@hellfish2309 came here to say this homie
Alex has gotten a lot better at interviewing and talking to people over the years.
Movie made about people Mount climbing on Mars...
Alex: so yea when I did that, it was totally rad. Sick views and totally legit
Alex is a gem. I love his humor .
I love how down your earth he is and giving the movies the benefit of the doubt.
Alex's hands absolutely fascinate me. They are almost other-worldly.
Free Solo is more exciting than any of these Hollywood dramas
I agree
Had my hands and feet sweating like crazy watching it
Wonder why...🤔
@@emilioguzmanalvarez420 lol
Scariest film I've ever seen, beats The Shining or any other horror movie all day long.
I don't climb nor am I into it, however Alex honnold is an incredible human and I can listen to him talk all day his such a fascinating humble human
I love that Alex still gives a lot of credit even if the climbing isn't accurate, really respectful towards the filmmakers!
Watching this makes me miss climbing. I never did any intense kind of outdoor climbing, just rec stuff but I still miss it
Aragorn, son of Arathorn, telling a kid that no magical cavalry is coming to save them at the end is rich.
This
"Presumably they should have brought jackets though..." -Alex Honnold is great at The Breakdown
but there's no cavalry coming, 'member. lol
11:20 'It's incredibly pumpy' This dude is an animal
Remember watching sir Alex on the insane The Captain climb. Since then I have nothing but praises for the him. In this video he is humble AF as he always is. So much talent and self-confidence. Amazing person.
I love Hannold so much, i watch him talking just to get some of his chill energy