Rate INTO THE WILD

[abcdefz]

I'm not sure where I'm going to land on this. I've watched about two hours so far. At first, I wasn't much into it -- I don't care much for Chris/Alexander, there's not a very strong narrative and the flash-forwards to the bus weren't entirely working, and I'm sure sick as fuck of Chris striking a Christ pose again and again. But then, about 100 minutes in, all the sudden the real sense of adventure did kick in, and now I really want to get home and see how it ends.

I'm not much crazy about the way Penn keeps putting words across the screen, whether handwritten or pulling text or whatever, and the phrase "Into the wild" is getting overused, as well. I'd probably be less irritated if I were more interested in Chris, but I think that his selfishness and the fact that a real part of the reason he's doing this is to be a prick to his parents -- that really is being reflected.

I think Moot said this was a favorite from last year. Just curious what Moot and everybody else who's seen this thinks.

[MC Moot]

The text was one of my fave features,it's his actual handwriting taken from the manifesto/diary....really moved me emotionally as it did when published in the book...I liked the film very,very,much...loved the soundtrack....watch for a spokenless scene with William Hurt towards the end that is devastating acting...(y)

[abcdefz]

I'm looking forward to Hal Holbrook, too.

I did like the way that they manage so much voice over in a natural way. there's a scene where he's carving his letter into the table top, and
he's basically just doing voice over while he's carving. That was nice.

And his sister's observations are good.

The scene wit Catherine Keenar, and she talks about her boy she hasn't seen for two years, then pleads, "Do your parents know where
you are?" and he's got that shit eating grin and just turns on her. I know he knows that he's hurting his family, but I wonder if he's
not so self-absorbed that he doesn't realize how much he's hurting her, right there.

[MC Moot]

The scene wit Catherine Keenar, and she talks about her boy she hasn't seen for two years, then pleads, "Do your parents know where you are?" and he's got that shit eating grin and just turns on her. I know he knows that he's hurting his family, but I wonder if he's
not so self-absorbed that he doesn't realize how much he's hurting her, right there.

again that Hurt scene is gonna get you deep...since reading the re-release of the book in which Kraukeur investigated the events that led to his demise,outside the obvious,I've thought more than once that a really interesting place to have started the movie would have been the day he was discovered...the way that day unfolds is spine tingling...like 3 different party's of people showing up at the bus on the same day and the resulting events...very bizarre...

[abcdefz]

I'll report back tomorrow. :D

[roosta]

7

I really liked it. I can understand alot of the criticisms, he can be seen to be unlikable and the text on screen doesn't really work, but I found it to be a very moving film.

I suspect a-z you will detest the final scene though.

The book is great too.

[abcdefz]

I suspect a-z you will detest the final scene though.




Do the future A.I.'s give him one last creepy/Oedipal day with his "mommy"?

[YoungRemy]

6.5

I agree about the text across the screen.

too much force-feeding the audience. for example, every time the setting and time is established with text on screen (1991- Atlanta), there was too much establishing the timeline within his world...

it would say "Two months before Magic Bus," "Ten weeks into Magic Bus," etc...

they(Sean Penn) could have used better plot devices to tell us (the audience) where we were in the two year adventure.

using notches on the belt or on the bus would have worked fine. I don't need to be treated like a five year old viewer to figure out a timeline...

I didn't think Hal Holbrook deserved an Oscar Nomination

[hpdrifter]

I can't imagine Emile Hirsch being unlikeable. This is high on my list of things to see.

[YoungRemy]

for what it's worth, I loved Emile's performance, and the last scene, entry into his journal, and final thought was moving...

it was also interesting to see the last picture he took of himself.

did they design the scene based on that single photo alone?

I am curious about how the family honored and respected his journal entries while adapting his story onto the screen

[abcdefz]

I can't imagine Emile Hirsch being unlikeable. This is high on my list of things to see.



Well, he's got a good smile and he's all "free," so it might pass for charisma, but it's the undercurrent of what's going on where you, as an
adult, realize what a selfish little shit he's being.

I mean, it's not black and white. There's nothing about adventure or a nomadic lifestyle that's inherently selfish or anything. It can be
admirable. But there are ways to do these things responsibly and by respecting your community. But basically, when it comes down to it,
Chris just does what he wants without regard for other people (for the most part; he does decline to sleep with an underage girl).

Well... no, not charisma... he seems too desperately "free" to actually have charisma.

I dunno.

[MC Moot]

7

II suspect a-z you will detest the final scene though.




*A-Z SPOILER AHEAD READ NO FURTHER BELOW*





















Really?

I loved the final scene!

The flashback/montage set to his slowing heart beat!!!

It was all "going into the light' like...

I really liked it,I'll be damned if it didn't make me well right up...

:(

[alien autopsy]

i wished there was more of his writing, or that he had written more.

to any traveller, this movie will hit home. i think you're right about the "sense of adventure" a-z. thats what keeps the movie going.

travelling alone and not letting your parents know where you are when you are young, kills them. i had been at it for years, hitching and backpacking, farting around europe and the U.S. and i only just recently realized how much hurt i caused my folks over it. they literally flew to rome to convince me not to walk across spain (shortly after the madrid bombing). i was told i'd be eaten by a mountain lion or caught in a mudslide when i was hitching the california coast. i didnt care how they felt, i thought their fear was ridiculous. i told them worrying is only asking for what you dont want. and i took off, repeatedly. they cried in great pain, and i walked off into the sunset.

i look back now, and feel terrible about it. after all they have done for me, the least i could do was respect them and their feelings. i think that sometimes you are so blinded by what you are after that you lose sight of some really important shit. there are many situations where i could have handled my parents fear much better, making them feel better about what i was doing. there are many times i could have reacted differently and forgotten about all the bullshit. see things for what they are.

...the parents and their issues, the whole university suburban middle class thing, and then the search for something more real, and in an anarchistic sense, rebellion.....it all resonated with me, and i think its not all uncommon for american kids growing up in similar situations. you grow up comfortable, think your invincible, fearless, soul searching for the real, in the wilderness. and in the end, you die. i loved the movie for all of that.

[hpdrifter]

Well, he's got a good smile and he's all "free," so it might pass for charisma, but it's the undercurrent of what's going on where you, as an
adult, realize what a selfish little shit he's being.

I mean, it's not black and white. There's nothing about adventure or a nomadic lifestyle that's inherently selfish or anything. It can be
admirable. But there are ways to do these things responsibly and by respecting your community. But basically, when it comes down to it,
Chris just does what he wants without regard for other people (for the most part; he does decline to sleep with an underage girl).

Well... no, not charisma... he seems too desperately "free" to actually have charisma.

I dunno.

I could see that. I guess if he can irritate you that much its a credit to his performance. I think he's one of the most exciting young actors to come along in awhile.

I had the same experience while reading House of Sand and Fog. I have never gotten so worked up or felt so much disgust for characters. I didn't like the book because it made me so angry but its a credit to the writing that I could have such a reaction to something that wasn't even real.

[abcdefz]

See, that's the nice thing about having parents who don't give a shit about you... :D

[MC Moot]

And you know this is the first time in years i've seen people cry at the theatre,my girl,included...I can still see her finger print impressions fromcrushing my hand...:rolleyes:...it was like a chain reaction in the theatre she kind of choked up and people around us started as well...also when the lights came up alot of couples just sat there like they were composing themselves...i thought it was quite special for a movie in this day and age to evoke such a audible audience response...(y)

[roosta]

RE: Moot *****POSSIBLE SPOILERS *********















I didn't mind the final scene, its pretty good....BUT....I could see how someone would hate it. Its slightly overblown, bit too much "christ" imagery going on.

As I said, i really loved this film, but that final scene could have been handled better.

[MC Moot]

You know what else I enjoyed about it?...the foreshadowing be it through the dialogue or visual indicators...i'm a big fan of the foreshadow as a narrative tool,when done well and not screamingly blatant....when it rolls around and you feel like "ahhhh yes!"...(y)

[Echewta]

I enjoyed the movie but more importantly, love the fact that it made you think about it, the lessons, and how it relates to your life.

I loved Perfume but it didn't make me think about what I'm doing here.

[MC Moot]

In past,I've half heartedley podered a pilgrimage to the bus... I think it's so touching his Mom and Dad went,placed a plaque and left behind food and survival and first aid gear...and since reading the book I've read almost everything that he mentioned reading and that was found on the bus...except "War and Peace' which he described as the most influential piece of literature in his life...and I loved that he choose to give his inheritance to OXFAM what a fantastic organization...the part of the story that gut's me the most is that in end,through his isolation he came to realize that life was truly about sharing the experience with others....:(

http://www.oxfam.org/en/


P.S: If you come across "Into Thin Air" don't rent it...sooo bad...:o

[roosta]

I enjoyed the movie but more importantly, love the fact that it made you think about it, the lessons, and how it relates to your life.

I loved Perfume but it didn't make me think about what I'm doing here.

Yup. I came out of the cinema slightly ashamed about my want for shit I really don't need.

[BBboy20]

Was the movie focusing on a main positive light on the character or did it let the audience decide, just like the book?

[alien autopsy]

i felt like the movie was passive in that sense, it was more or lease unbiased as to whether he was a good man or a bad man. he was just, a man, trying to figure it out. and he did, alone, lonely. maybe in the next life.

[abcdefz]

The last 50 minutes or whatever didn't do much for me at all. The only time I got involved was when he left the bus, ready to head back south
and he got to the river and realized it had risen so much and he was truly fucked. I didn't dislike him enough to be glad that it happened,
but at the same time it was like he was getting his comeuppance, in a way.

Holbrook's performance was fine, but, yeah -- waaaaaaayyy overrated. Hirsch did a terrific job.

B-.

[MC Moot]

I believe that when you watch a film for the first time in split or interupted viewings your opinion becomes highly moot...:rolleyes:

[abcdefz]

It doesn't change it that much for me. The movie landed pretty much where I thought it would, from the first almost-two-hours.

It would bee one thing if there had been some sort of narrative tension going on and I broke it up, but Into the Wild is pretty slack.

There's also the weird thing where there were titles titles titles all over the place until after he returns to the bus when the river had risen.
Next thing you see, he's goes into town and winds up meeting the Holbrook character. I honestly didn't realize we had jumped in time,
so any tension from the "now you're fucked" river rising scene totally evaporated. I got my bearings pretty quickly, but... that was
just weird.