*** Official INTO THE WILD Discussion Thread

Steven Gebs · 10-05-2007, 11:15 PM

Has anyone seen this movie yet? This is my favorite book of all time and I can't wait to see this! I will be seeing the movie tomorrow and will post my thoughts then. Can't wait!

Holadem · 10-06-2007, 12:11 PM

I've gone back and forth on whether to see this or not. The trailer made it look like such a hippie wet dream / indie cliche (find one's true self away from civilization in the purity of nature, blah blah blah) I wrote it off immediately. But then later I found out it was based on a true story of reckless folly.

A fairly comprehensive article by the future author of the book: http://outside.away.com/magazine/0193/9301fdea.html

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Lucia Duran · 10-07-2007, 05:53 PM

Sadly, I'll have to wait till this comes to Netflix, since I've sworn off movie theaters for a while. I read the book a few months ago and loved it and when I heard they made it into a film I just knew I would have to see it.

Scene Unseen Movie Reviews just had a podcast about it and now I am even more amped to see it.

Steven Gebs · 10-07-2007, 07:11 PM

This one is worth a trip to the theater. The nature scenes are a sight to behold.

Robert Crawford · 10-08-2007, 05:40 AM

This thread is now designated the Official Discussion Thread for "Into the Wild". Please, post all comments, links to outside reviews, film and box office discussion items to this thread.

All HTF member film reviews of "Into the Wild" should be posted to the Official Review Thread.

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Brian D H · 10-08-2007, 10:33 AM

I'm torn about seeing this movie. The book (mainly many people's reactions to the book) makes Chris seem like a hero who was on a journey of self discovery attempting to "escape" from the grind of mundane life.

I knew Chris, and I'm angry that someone who had the same middle class upbringing I did, with no more problems than I did, someone who seemed so well adjusted and happy, could cut off everyone who cared about him for two years and do something so stupid. I'm sorry, but I don't see him as a later-day Kerouac. To me, he was selfishly caught up in his own mystique, too interested in creating an image for himself, or in "finding" himself, to even notice how he hurt those who loved him.

This comes from someone who didn't even know him that well, just someone who grew up in the same town, saw him in the classroom and graduated in the same high-school class. Chris was a smiling clown as a kid of 18. He had many friends, but no one would have ever accused him of being deep. He seemed more interested in being the center of attention among his chosen group of friends, and I just have to wonder if that was his goal all along.

-Brian
W.T. Woodson Class of 1986

Holadem · 10-08-2007, 01:04 PM

Interesting perspective Brian.

Quote:

I knew Chris, and I'm angry that someone who had the same middle class upbringing I did, with no more problems than I did

I can't speak for your conditions, but the movie makes a case for Chris's upbringing in a loveless marriage (which itself is a product of adultery, a devastating discovery he made after high school) as being a prime driver for his rebellion against society and search for "truth". Still, it is my understanding that the extent of the corruption beneath the shiny veneer of suburbia is somewhat overstated for dramatic purposes? I can't remember where I read that.

What I like most about the film is that though it refrains from judging, it never leaves any doubt that anyone other than Chris was responsible for his fate. That's what I got anyway.

A pragmatic perspective from a Park Ranger:

http://nmge.gmu.edu/textandcommunity...n_Response.pdf

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Brian D H · 10-08-2007, 02:48 PM

What I meant was simply that my parents are also divorced.

Quote:

Still, it is my understanding that the extent of the corruption beneath the shiny veneer of suburbia is somewhat overstated for dramatic purposes?

That about sums it up.

There's another connection. (Believe it or not) My next door neighbor is part of Chris's half-sibling's family (from his father's other wife). In fact, Sean Penn came to see my neighbors before he started filming to talk with them and get some perspective from that side of the family. As I understand it, while Chris's father was an adulter and had more than one family, once everything came out in the open (after high-school) the relationship between Chris and his father were relatively harmonious. Chris was taken on trips with his half-siblings and his father and, from the perspective of the siblings, they all got along fine.

_________
EDIT:
I just read that essay from the Park Ranger. Fantastic, I agree 100%. I cannot possibly say it better, so I won't try anymore. (BTW - I was a Park Ranger in college, though not in the wilderness. The connections keep coming - this is getting a little creepy for me.

)

Steven Gebs · 10-08-2007, 07:53 PM

Brian,

Maybe Chris was just pretending to get along with his dad until he finally graduated from Emory? Kind of like keeping up appearances until he could just finally break free and take off without telling anyone. A shock value type of a thing? That would definitely deepen the impact.

Holadem · 10-08-2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Maybe Chris was just pretending to get along with his dad until he finally graduated from Emory? Kind of like keeping up appearances until he could just finally break free and take off without telling anyone.

This sort of deceptiveness would be squarely at odds with the character as portrayed in the film (and book, from what I gather from various articles; but you read it, you tell me). More, it implies that he would need to fake things, which he didn't: Chris apparently enjoyed an significant level of autonomy. He was fully in charge of his college fund, and he was gone for several weeks before anyone started to get worried (relatively long periods of blackout must be the norm with him). He didn't need pretense to do what he did, just the time and space that he normally enjoyed.

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Brian D H · 10-09-2007, 10:32 AM

I could have a more in depth conversation with my neighbors, but it's kind of a touchy subject to bring up.

On the other hand, since the movie has just been released and they were willing to have lunch with Sean Penn to discuss it, I'm sure they'd talk to me. I think I'll just ask if they've seen (or are planning to see) the movie and take it from there.