Brilliant Adaptation of a Great Book
Added 10/26/2009
The success of this recreation of Christopher McCandless's journey across America can be attributed largely to the outstanding work of three of its principal contributors.
Writer/director Sean Penn painstakingly retraces McCandless's steps and beautifully stages the scenes with those whom he met along the way. It would have been easy for him to be judgmental either in favor of the idealism that inspired McCandless to venture out in the first place, or chastising him for his foolishness. Instead, however, he takes a step back and lets the audience make their own judgments but hints at an understanding of both points of view along the way.
Emile Hirsch gives a breakout performance as McCandless. He embodies his character's single-mindedness and determination in spite of the many hardships he faces along the way. He reminds the audience what it's like to be young, idealistic, and full of moral indignation towards society.
Eddie Vedder, a veteran of the music scene that emerged when the events of this story took place, puts together a folksy arrangement of songs that rhapsodize the main character's thoughts and feelings. The coiled-up energy he's always had still comes through in every song, but so does a maturity that only comes with experience. It's as if he's speaking for someone in McCandless who represented his core audience with a sympathetic voice that shows his deep understanding of everything he's going through.
Remarkable supporting performances are also given by Jena Malone, Marcia Gay Harden, and William Hurt as the family he left behind, Catherine Keener and Brian Dierker as a couple of free-wheeling hippies he meets up with twice along his way, and Hal Holbrook, in one of his greatest performances ever, as the last person McCandless connects with along his way.
"Into the Wild" captures the wanderlust many people feel, but few ever act upon, and illustrates both the wonder and the danger of it in poignant detail.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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This movie is awesome! I would recommend reading the book first and then watching the movie as I did. The movie will flow more smoothly for you if do becuase it jumps around in time (I have trouble following stuff like that). Emile Hirsch did a great job. If you have a primitive urge to experience life in the raw with next to nothing then this movie should be to your liking.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Into the wild dvd
Added 9/11/2009
Yes the dvd came in when it was to the dvd was in great shape brand new condition thank you very much
0 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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Favorite movie
Added 9/2/2009
I had to own it. It's inspired me to go travel and experience the world
1 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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Ode to a pyscho!! Not worth the celluloid it took to make it.
Added 9/1/2009
This was made into a movie??!! Such tripe!! This guy wasn't a hero, he was a true mental case that couldn't deal with his issues and injected everything and everyone he met with shallow, selfish quotes. I wish people would do that thing they did with disco albums in the 80's at that baseball stadium - gather all the copies of this movie they can and build a bonfire and burn they all. The WORST movie I've ever seen!!
1 out of 18 people found this helpful.
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Brilliant Adaptation of a Great Book
Added 10/26/2009
The success of this recreation of Christopher McCandless's journey across America can be attributed largely to the outstanding work of three of its principal contributors.
Writer/director Sean Penn painstakingly retraces McCandless's steps and beautifully stages the scenes with those whom he met along the way. It would have been easy for him to be judgmental either in favor of the idealism that inspired McCandless to venture out in the first place, or chastising him for his foolishness. Instead, however, he takes a step back and lets the audience make their own judgments but hints at an understanding of both points of view along the way.
Emile Hirsch gives a breakout performance as McCandless. He embodies his character's single-mindedness and determination in spite of the many hardships he faces along the way. He reminds the audience what it's like to be young, idealistic, and full of moral indignation towards society.
Eddie Vedder, a veteran of the music scene that emerged when the events of this story took place, puts together a folksy arrangement of songs that rhapsodize the main character's thoughts and feelings. The coiled-up energy he's always had still comes through in every song, but so does a maturity that only comes with experience. It's as if he's speaking for someone in McCandless who represented his core audience with a sympathetic voice that shows his deep understanding of everything he's going through.
Remarkable supporting performances are also given by Jena Malone, Marcia Gay Harden, and William Hurt as the family he left behind, Catherine Keener and Brian Dierker as a couple of free-wheeling hippies he meets up with twice along his way, and Hal Holbrook, in one of his greatest performances ever, as the last person McCandless connects with along his way.
"Into the Wild" captures the wanderlust many people feel, but few ever act upon, and illustrates both the wonder and the danger of it in poignant detail.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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This movie is awesome! I would recommend reading the book first and then watching the movie as I did. The movie will flow more smoothly for you if do becuase it jumps around in time (I have trouble following stuff like that). Emile Hirsch did a great job. If you have a primitive urge to experience life in the raw with next to nothing then this movie should be to your liking.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Into the wild dvd
Added 9/11/2009
Yes the dvd came in when it was to the dvd was in great shape brand new condition thank you very much
0 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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