I just watched "Into The Wild"

[North_Of_60]

I have pretty thick skin. I can't remember the last time I watched a movie and was left feeling... just... numb.

I read the book when it came out 10 (plus) years ago, so I knew how it ended, but wow, the movie was powerful. I then had to google Christopher Mccandless and was left with the chilling conclusion that Emile Hirsch actually resembled Christopher. Now there's a face to the story. And a family. Uhg. So, so sad.

I enjoyed his whimsicalness until he fell into the river on his way "out". That's when the butterflies started. I still have them.

[cjanelles]

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I did see Sean Penn and Emile Hirsch on Oprah a few months ago, and I have to say that the whole interview was very moving.

Something about the story, this movie and how everything aligned perfectly to make the most beautiful representation of this one young man's journey to find himself...poignant.

[JenLove]

I had never read the book, so I had no idea what was coming. I thought it was amazing story about a young man on his journey to "enlightenment." It was very moving, and I would watch it again. Maybe I should read the book too?

My DH brought up a good philosophical question at the end - do you think he was selfish for what he did? In order to be happy/enlightened/whatever you want to call it... do you have to be selfish and let go of others feelings? /end philosophical blabber

[North_Of_60]

Originally Posted by JenLove

My DH brought up a good philosophical question at the end - do you think he was selfish for what he did?

As an avid outdoor person, back country camper, and having come from a family of hunters, yes, I think going into the bush totally unprepared is selfish. I don't think his entire journey was selfish, but that aspect bothered me when I read the book, and it bothered me when I watched the movie. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent each year in search and rescue efforts to find and rescue people who have no idea what they're doing out there.

I know his goal was to live off the land and be self sufficient, and for the most part he did a good job at that through out his journey, but when you loose sight of the reality of the situation (Alaskan wilderness! he didn't even bring BOOTS for cripes sake!) to the point where you don't even think a map would be beneficial, it does come off as arrogant and selfish.

I think in many ways he was playing Russian roulette, and over the course of those two years he just got more and more confident in himself, which ultimately led to his demise. To think so highly of one's ability to thrive in the Alaskan wilderness with nothing but a pair of hiking boots, a collapsible fishing pool, a pop tent, a few sweaters, a bag of rice, and a gun which he had no training to use, you'd have to be a little arrogant, or maybe wanting to tempt fate? I don't know. He was a very smart man and loved to read, so I don't think it had much to with being uneducated about the realities of the wilderness, but more of a romanticized idea that he didn't need survival gear. He kayaked down the Colorado river without a helmet!

[alexsam]

I read the book (have not seen the movie) but what I remember thinking was that his time in Alaska was really what he was... lost. That he could not find himself without throwing away the map and the way back to others is like the ultimate definition of lost and that is what he was- emotionally and then physically. I don't think it was selfish as much as I think it was a personal last resort and potentially a partly suicidal guesture (I don't think he really wanted to die, but I think he wanted to tease death, which brushes against the idea of suicide). This young man, though he seemed to connect to some people sometimes, was really a lonely, immature and isolated person.

[eco_mama]

Today I read something that Jon Krakauer said about this on the Oprah show,

Many people have pointed to a few decisions Chris made—not taking a map, not having an axe and carrying a small-caliber rifle—saying he made critical mistakes that lead directly to his death. "But this was by design," Jon explains. "[Chris] believed that if you're going to have an adventure and you know the outcome, it's not an adventure. It's not a challenge. So he cut it down to the bare minimum that he thought he would need to survive."

When thought of in this context it makes sense to me.

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200..._350_111.jhtml

[North_Of_60]

I also love the soundtrack.

[mamalisa]

Originally Posted by North_Of_60

I also love the soundtrack.

I read the book a long time ago and dh bought the movie last week! We've all been too sick to stay up and watch it though.


The soundtrack is absolutely amazing. I can't wait to see how it meshes with the movie. I love Eddie Vedder

[mata]

Originally Posted by alexsam

This young man, though he seemed to connect to some people sometimes, was really a lonely, immature and isolated person.

you know-watching it as a 40 year old gave me a very different impression of him than the one I had of him from the book when it first came out years ago.

And this was my dh's biggest problem with the movie-he tuned out after the first half hour. He sometimes finds young American males to be self-absorbed, selfish, etc. and definitely found that to be so with Christopher. In my dh's mind, Christopher's privilege made him unable to see how his actions impacted others.

[ani'smama]

Originally Posted by North_Of_60

I have pretty thick skin. I can't remember the last time I watched a movie and was left feeling... just... numb.

I read the book when it came out 10 (plus) years ago, so I knew how it ended, but wow, the movie was powerful. I then had to google Christopher Mccandless and was left with the chilling conclusion that Emile Hirsch actually resembled Christopher. Now there's a face to the story. And a family. Uhg. So, so sad.

I enjoyed his whimsicalness until he fell into the river on his way "out". That's when the butterflies started. I still have them.

Dh and I watched it last night. I felt sort of like you did, numb, emotionally drained. I'm still processing it. Definitely a moving film, but I'm not so sure I liked it, if that makes sense.

[nonconformnmom]

I read the book years ago, then I saw the movie. I loved how the movie really did a good job of illustrating the book. Loved the scenery! Loved the soundtrack (own it! ).

I think the word that best summarizes his trek into the wilderness with so little preparation and equipment is: hubris.

But I think it's wonderful that he was true to himself and true to his view of Life. I was happy for him that he was able to live his dream; but sad that he suffered so much in the end, and so alone (though that was his chioce). I am sad for his family, too .....

I loved the song "Society". That was perfect.

[sogriffin]

Originally Posted by North_Of_60

As an avid outdoor person, back country camper, and having come from a family of hunters, yes, I think going into the bush totally unprepared is selfish. I don't think his entire journey was selfish, but that aspect bothered me when I read the book, and it bothered me when I watched the movie. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent each year in search and rescue efforts to find and rescue people who have no idea what they're doing out there.

I know his goal was to live off the land and be self sufficient, and for the most part he did a good job at that through out his journey, but when you loose sight of the reality of the situation (Alaskan wilderness! he didn't even bring BOOTS for cripes sake!) to the point where you don't even think a map would be beneficial, it does come off as arrogant and selfish.

I think in many ways he was playing Russian roulette, and over the course of those two years he just got more and more confident in himself, which ultimately led to his demise. To think so highly of one's ability to thrive in the Alaskan wilderness with nothing but a pair of hiking boots, a collapsible fishing pool, a pop tent, a few sweaters, a bag of rice, and a gun which he had no training to use, you'd have to be a little arrogant, or maybe wanting to tempt fate? I don't know. He was a very smart man and loved to read, so I don't think it had much to with being uneducated about the realities of the wilderness, but more of a romanticized idea that he didn't need survival gear. He kayaked down the Colorado river without a helmet!

Yeah, all of that^

[MelanieMC]

I loved both the book and the film. I guess b/c I am still young (22) I can sorta of relate to his thinking. It may have been selfish, what Chris did, but that is what he felt he had to do in order to truly test himself and learn who he was. If your goal in life is to be happy and satisfied with who you are as a person, you have to worry about yourself, and not always consider what other people will think. i don't mean that you should purposefully hurt others, but you can't always put everyone elses thoughts/feelings before your own. People do things every single day that are selfish and that their friends/families don't agree with or approve of, but in the end it's your life to do with as you please. Chris could have stayed at Emerson and went to law school like his parents wanted, and still be alive, but he wouldn't really be "living". He knew that death was a risk during his "Alaskan Adventure", and he was willing to take that risk, b/c to him he would rather be dead than stuck in a life he wanted no part of.

[TranscendentalMom]

Originally Posted by eco_mama

Today I read something that Jon Krakauer said about this on the Oprah show,


Many people have pointed to a few decisions Chris made—not taking a map, not having an axe and carrying a small-caliber rifle—saying he made critical mistakes that lead directly to his death. "But this was by design," Jon explains. "[Chris] believed that if you're going to have an adventure and you know the outcome, it's not an adventure. It's not a challenge. So he cut it down to the bare minimum that he thought he would need to survive."

Another word for this is "naive." I don't think he wanted to die and I do think he wanted an adventure but to not prepare yourself with basic supplies shows some immaturity. In the book ,they explain that there was a point to cross the river 2 miles north. He wouldn't have died if he'd had a map.

Overall, there were some things about his story that I related with and that were inspiring. I went on a similar 'adventure' when I was 19. I didn't cut off my parents but they were still devasted that I dropped out of prestigious university and was living on a beach in the Carribbean with no money. His perspective in the movie reminds me of the way I felt during that time. I felt very enlightened and in ways I was...in other ways I was naive. In the end, its wasn't a mistake but I did go back when I realized I was running from some things. I think if Chris had lived he would have ended up getting back in touch with his family and found a way to a little more balance. He was just a kid trying to figure things out.

[EmmaJean]

I was SO bummed that the DVD had ZERO bonus content!!! I had never heard the story or anything about the movie, so I wanted to know more backstory. Such a bummer. I really enjoyed the movie. Definitely haunting. Should've watched it twice. Any advice for sites with good info, or should I just google? I need to be in the mood for it, you know??

Oh, and I loved the imagery at the end where he was wrapped up in a hug from his parents, mirrored with being wrapped up in his fur coat, looking into the sun, like imagining that he had some completeness, closure, felt that love as he beathed his last. I found that intriguing, haunting, and lovely.

[ananas]

This movie was so amazing. The book was hard for me to get through, I'll have to try again. But the movie was amazingly inspiring. I was on a high for days afterwards and just feeling so wonderful about life...kind of odd for a movie with such a tragic ending, huh? It wasn't the ending, though, it was the carefree, live for the moment, attitude of the movie that was just so powerful.

The actor does resemble the actual person a LOT. I feel he did a wonderful job.

[eco_mama]

Aparently, he had a map with him. It was one of the things listed among the possessions given back to his family. Check out Into the Wild Debunked for some more facts that were left out of the movie.

[eco_mama]

dp*

[Pinoikoi]

I don't teach the grade level that this book is taught at, but it IS on our curriculum guide and the filming of the movie was a BIG deal.. Unfortunately, it has actually encouraged people to try to recreate the actions... the State of Alaska has had to pay to "rescue" people from the wilderness specifically because of this film. It makes me pretty angry. People KNOW they are acting irresponsibly and then are happy to have someone else foot their bill..