Teacher Based Opinion
Added 11/23/2009
This item was purchased to supplement a novel unit of the same name. The movie is an excellent adaptation of the novel, not something often said from my mouth, however the "R" rating may make it difficult to show in class. The nudity scenes are easily skipped, without causing detriment to the movie. The movie highlights the most important part of the novel, while not losing the voice and randomness that Krakauer created in the novel. I would gladly recommend the movie to anyone.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Awesome Film
Added 11/19/2009
Shipment arrived on expected date. Smooth transaction. Good quality and good film make the time to purchase worthwhile.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Great movie about the meaning of life
Added 11/11/2009
Actually this review is about the movie. The dvd worked perfectly. The movie is simply a must for all who wish to see things, both past and present, from a unique and different perspective. The story of Chris McCandless makes you think about what's really important for you, in your life as a human being, and how hard can be to strive to achieve your ends.
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Into the Wild - Kosher Version
Added 11/8/2009
First off; I haven't read the book the film is based on, so this will be a stand-alone review. It is a wonderful film, yet it is a quite distorted message compared to the one Christopher McCandless attempted to send out. It is probably the most "radical Right-wing" and anti-materialistic (read: anti-American) film you'll ever see come out of America that will achieve relatively big mainstream success. A low-caste non-political friend of mine once exclaimed; "That's you!" when referring to the main character, and I found that very flattering. Christopher McCandless gave away all his money, packed a rucksack full of "Right-wing" authors and after he left his dysfunctional family and beloved sister, he went hiking on his own across the US. Eventually, he decided to try to hike to Alaska, where his spiritual quest would hopefully be completed. Quite inspired by Thoreau he decided to leave behind all the friends he had met during his travels across America and travel to his beloved Alaska.
The film manages to portray the so-called "Other America" quite skilfully, the one we don't usually get to see from other mainstream sources. A nature-loving, religious, European America that actually reads books and is the America that it was envisioned to be. That being said, I don't think Penn, Hirsch or Krakauer really understand the message of McCandless, at all. I mean, have YOU ever heard of a member of the Tribe that gave away all his money and went off to find himself and God in a protest against capitalist and hollow America? Hirsch does a very good role, but it would have been better to find an actor that was genetically and phenotypically similar to McCandless (in my view).
That being said, there are so many great qualities about this film; the scenery is breathtaking, the relationships gut wrenching, the idealism so strong and Eddie Vedder's music makes this one of those films you just have to see. If only everyone in the so-called "West" would go see (and understand) the message of McCandless, perhaps we could take a step back towards discovering our European soul. The film is almost too much to watch at times, as in the dialogues between the young Christopher and the aging Ronald Frantz. Brought tears to my eyes, something which hardly happens often, to say the least. Read the books McCandless did, watch the film several times and most importantly; go into nature and think about these issues. I'm sure you'll discover much about yourself and our future in the process. 4,5 stars.
0 out of 1 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.
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Teacher Based Opinion
Added 11/23/2009
This item was purchased to supplement a novel unit of the same name. The movie is an excellent adaptation of the novel, not something often said from my mouth, however the "R" rating may make it difficult to show in class. The nudity scenes are easily skipped, without causing detriment to the movie. The movie highlights the most important part of the novel, while not losing the voice and randomness that Krakauer created in the novel. I would gladly recommend the movie to anyone.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Awesome Film
Added 11/19/2009
Shipment arrived on expected date. Smooth transaction. Good quality and good film make the time to purchase worthwhile.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Great movie about the meaning of life
Added 11/11/2009
Actually this review is about the movie. The dvd worked perfectly. The movie is simply a must for all who wish to see things, both past and present, from a unique and different perspective. The story of Chris McCandless makes you think about what's really important for you, in your life as a human being, and how hard can be to strive to achieve your ends.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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