Into the Wild put me Into a Bad Mood

Hi. So. Last night I saw Into the Wild, a movie which I hated. I hated it so much that I have spent the past ten minutes reading A.O. Scott's glowing review of it in the Times, which has gotten me so worked up that I feel the need to write about it myself.

Here is the brief, sum-it-all-up Catherine take on this film: It is bad. I do not care that Sean Penn directed it. I do not care that Eddie Vedder wrote the soundtrack. I do not care that A.O. Scott found it to be "infused with an expansive, almost giddy sense of possibility," or that he believes it "communicates a pure, unaffected delight in open spaces, fresh air and bright sunshine."

It sucked.

Things I do care about?

1. That it is two and a half hours long. TWO AND A HALF HOURS. If it were an enjoyable film, this would not be such an issue; as it is, I kept checking my watch to see how long its protagonist had to go before he died.

2. The protagonist dies. Don't worry; it's not a spoiler. Everyone who hasn't spent the past 100 days locked in a "magic school bus" knows that. What's weird about this particular movie -- compared, that is, to other movies in which you know the protagonist gets knocked off -- is that you spend most of the movie wanting him to die. I mean, really. It's the story of a totally narcissistic, idealistic 23-year-old guy who decides to give his life savings (by which he means the money his parents gave him) to Ox-Fam, burns up his ID and social security cards (and his remaining $500, just for kicks) and heads out on the open road, spewing irritating, self-aggrandizing quotes from the likes of Emerson, Thoreau and Tolstoy along the way.

3. Regardless of how strained his relationship with his parents was, I'm still irritated that he abandoned his family for over a year. I say this because he's got a sister -- mostly seen through melodramatic voiceovers (i.e. "After a while Chris's absence began to lie down on me full length" and a story about Chris breaking into a neighbor's candy drawer that concludes, "Whatever drawer Chris was opening now, I knew must have something truly sweet inside"). And I mean, SHE sticks around. So why is he given the moral high ground for up and leaving everyone with no communication, pushing his parents to nervous breakdowns? Go on ahead to Alaska, I wanted to yell. Say hi to the bears!

4. Gratuitous sweaty hippie sex scene between Catherine Keener and Brian Dierker. Need I say more?

5. Way too many scenes of him appreciating the beauty of the outdoors by climbing up on hills/mountains/magic schoolbuses and stretching his arms toward the sky in a Leonardo DiCaprio's Titanic "I'm the king of the world!" pose as the camera pans in a wide circle around him.

6. Upsetting scenes of him starving to death because, as Penn has chosen to portray it, he eats berries that ruin his ability to digest food and, if left untreated, cause death. I was like, first of all, you headed to Alaska to live in the woods and don't know what kind of fucking berries are safe to eat? And secondly, fine, you made that mistake. But now I the movie goer have to sit here and watch you die. Also, the final aerial shot of the schoolbus with the dead body in it? Totally Dead Man Walking.

7. It was two and a half hours long. Did I mention that already? Fine, he starved to death. Do I have to suffer along with him?

In conclusion, I hated this movie. It pissed me off for the first two hours and twenty minutes, and then the final ten minutes made me so upset that I went home and started crying.

Rated R for stupidity, melodrama, explicit starvation, brief Christ-like male nudity, annoying 23-year-olds, and self-aggrandizing voiceovers by wispy voiced younger sisters.

(This is the blog for Salt Magazine.)

Comments

[bs]

Amen, sister. Just think what the Alaskans are saying about it.

Krakauer and Penn both went with that poison theory, by the way, that scientists disproved with lab tests, but Krak didn't want to wait for the results before he finished the book. The kid simply starved. The end.

[Patty Cho]

Your summary of that movie reminded me in some ways of the biblical parable of the return of the prodigal son, except in the movie, the son doesn't return home, he just dies; there is no hope. I wonder what was the purpose or the theme of that movie. . . I don't intend on seeing it anytime soon.

[laura]

I just saw this the other night, had a very similar reaction. At least I agree with the last ten minute sentiment. Why interpret his emotions, sensations with the camera zoomed in on his death? It seemed to be boldy showing what he went through, but the message in film was so unclear? Why show it the way he did? I left the theater feeling sad...that's it. I thought for all of the hubub this film has gotten around here that some lasting, important message would be made. Hmm...

[Catherine]

Did you read the book? If no, then maybe you should. It might help you understand Chris a little bit better.

[Knark]

You put me into a bad mood with that horrible critique of what is possibly one of the best movies this year. I don't need to tell you why it's a good movie because you can just look at any review almost anywhere for that information. There is a clear and obvious theme, it about separating himself from what he thought was a decadent society and family. He wanted to live in Pure nature which is what he achieved. He feels that hes living in perfect nature alone and free but at the very end he realizes that it's not worth it to live this happily unless theres someone to share it with. Moral of the story, he got what he wanted but he didn't realize how important it was to have other humans to share your feelings and experiences with.

By the way you must not of payed attention to the movie enough cause your #6 comment is simply idiotic. He clearly is seen reading the wrong page of his berry guide book and thats why he eats the poisonous berry's, not because he didn't prepare. He makes a simple mistake that is obvious IF YOU WATCHED THE MOVIE.

Don't bother trashing my post because I'm not coming back to this crappy website so I will never read what any of you say.

[sam]

ugh, you've put me in a bad mood as well. If you're going to critique a movie, you should really have better reasons than:
1) Too many shots of him enjoying nature
2) Spewing annoying quotes from Thoreau, Tolstoy, and Emerson.

Oh I'm at a loss of words. How dare they in a movie about someone who tries to find his true self in nature actually have shots of him enjoying nature?! How dare they quote Thoreau?! Didn't they know you hate him? Oh, and yeah, didn't they know that you get upset watching people starve to death? Gosh, why couldn't they have just had him live? Or really, he should have never left home and instead gone to college and become a lawyer, maybe an entertainment lawyer and he could have pled your case for trauma by watching too many shots of him starving to death. Were you at all aware that this was a true story? I hate it when they actually tell it the way it happened! I have some advice for you. Don't go to a movie that might make you feel, or think. It sounds like this kind of stuff really pisses you off. I think you might like Fantastic Four!

[Kate]

I think that Into The Wild was a beautiful film - I didnt bother the finish your critique because you are clearly not understanding the point. Alex Supertramp was clearly a troubled kid - his actions clearly point to a mental disorder. Regardless of this sad story - the cinematography was amazing as was the soundtrack. Look beyond the story and maybe you would apprecaite this movie a little more

[bs]

I can see why Catherine isn't blogging anymore. This is ridiculous, so was the film. I hope all of these people stay far from Alaska. Somebody should make a film about the people who struggle everyday to live normal lives in a place with the highest domestic violence, suicide, and alcoholism rates in the country. Glorifying a guy who thinks he's some sort of transient God and dies because he's delusional? Give me a break.

[Hesperus]

So, it wasn't just me after all? The watery gag reflex, I mean. Hal Holbrook had a good moment or two, otherwise, I wanted to shoot the Narcissistic little protagonist prick, not to put him out of his misery, which I think he deserved, but to put me out of mine. This preening hippie paean may be the worst piece of scat since "Gummo," but at least Gummo made some kind of sense, kind of. But then, there he is, the director guy, Monsieur Penn -- and suddenly it becomes clear. Consider the sewerce. Well, I bought two tickets, anyway, so I must make amends; pass me some of those veiny beans, please.

[Andew]

Dead on; the Thoreau quotes irritated me because of Alex's holier-than-thou attitude from beginning to end. Not to mention he was a hypocrite - "I don't need money, EXCEPT to buy a kayak, rifle with scope, survival books..."

[Joe]

First of all, you're an idiot. It's a good thing you did not write the script, because Chris would have ended up running back to his abusive father and highly materialistic mother and spent his entire life making money...oh and being miserable. I think you need to keep your conservative comments to yourself because this is a movie about a kid who followed his heart, lived his ideal life, and died knowing that he loved life fully....oh yea and he has a movie written on him, unlike you. Let's not forget that experts in the film industry (unlike you) seem to agree that "Into the Wild" is an exceptional film, leading the SAG nominations list with 4, beating out movies like "No country for old men" or "American Gangster". Or my favorite is Emile Hirsch winning a best actor nomination but not Johnny Depp for Sweeney Todd.
However let's stop looking at the professional viewpoints of this movie. You mentioned that it made you uneasy that Chris, the protagonist, died at the end. Well let's put aside the fact that this was based on a true story. Now let me to ask you; how old are you? If you cannot handle the good guy getting killed then clean out your diaper and turn on some of your favorite Disney movies. That being said, i hope you have not seen movies such as Armageddon ,Troy, Gladiator, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Saving Private Ryan, or The Departed, because your lovable protagonist heroes die in all of these.

One final note: Your dislike with nature is evident and your conservative nature is not fit to be critiquing movies. And your knowledge of movies is not either: "Into the Wild" purposefully parallels Jack in "Titanic" during the "I'm the king of the world pose" with Chris, showing the relationship between the two rebellious, adventurous youngsters looking for a new life, and both of them being the protagonist die knowing their life has been a success. That is all.

Warnie

[Joe]

Oh and Kate if you want a movie on people who live with domestic violence, suicide, or alcoholism you might want to check out what we like to call a "typical hollywood movie". Here's a a little check list for you: American Tragedy, Fried Green Tomatoes, Shawshank Redemption, Dr. Strangelove, Clean and Sober, and When a man loves a woman. That is all.

Warnie

[Joe]

First of all, you're an idiot. It's a good thing you did not write the script, because Chris would have ended up running back to his abusive father and highly materialistic mother and spent his entire life making money...oh and being miserable. I think you need to keep your conservative comments to yourself because this is a movie about a kid who followed his heart, lived his ideal life, and died knowing that he loved life fully....oh yea and he has a movie written on him, unlike you. Let's not forget that experts in the film industry (unlike you) seem to agree that "Into the Wild" is an exceptional film, leading the SAG nominations list with 4, beating out movies like "No country for old men" or "American Gangster". Or my favorite is Emile Hirsch winning a best actor nomination but not Johnny Depp for Sweeney Todd.
However let's stop looking at the professional viewpoints of this movie. You mentioned that it made you uneasy that Chris, the protagonist, died at the end. Well let's put aside the fact that this was based on a true story. Now let me to ask you; how old are you? If you cannot handle the good guy getting killed then clean out your diaper and turn on some of your favorite Disney movies. That being said, i hope you have not seen movies such as Armageddon ,Troy, Gladiator, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Saving Private Ryan, or The Departed, because your lovable protagonist heroes die in all of these.

One final note: Your dislike with nature is evident and your conservative nature is not fit to be critiquing movies. And your knowledge of movies is not either: "Into the Wild" purposefully parallels Jack in "Titanic" during the "I'm the king of the world pose" with Chris, showing the relationship between the two rebellious, adventurous youngsters looking for a new life, and both of them being the protagonist die knowing their life has been a success. That is all.

Warnie

[Joe]

sorry for posting that twice

[Tamara Lelie]

"Rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness... give me truth."
by Henry Thoreau (quoted by Chris)
Last night, after watching the movie I sat down in my seat long after everyone had left the theater and looked up at the screen feeling sadness for Chris.
He learned too late the answer to his question that he had embarked on his Alaskan journey to seek. Quoting Thoreau, Tolstoy and others---he made the mistake of refering to intellect rather than his heart. He stated that he wanted to get rid of the false being within....well he relied too much on dead writers' narratives of what the spiritual journey is about.

In the end I believe that he found out that his hero Thoreau was wrong in seeking truth at any cost. The real truth is love and as Chris wrote in his journal, happiness came to him most easily when he was doing the loving and also when he had someone to share his happiness with... i.e. the hippy couple, the people at Slab City, the German couple on the river,the older man).

I hope that this is the real message that people take away from watching the story of Chris Mccandless' life. People are at different levels of understanding this simple spiritual truth. And at different paths on the journey. Some are still in the Beginning Chapter...while some are on the magic bus wrapped up in their sleeping bags and comforted by a rare peace and a "knowing" as they look up into the clouds.

[Chris Hanson]

He should have totally banged the 16 year old.....

[Chris]

quote:"He should have totally banged the 16 year old....."

Your view of the movie makes about as much sense as that quote.

If you didn't appreciate into the wild for at least a well made movie, you need to "turn on your thinking cap"

also to this quote: "Not to mention he was a hypocrite - 'I don't need money, EXCEPT to buy a kayak, rifle with scope, survival books...'"

the point was that he didn't want the money given to him, he worked for the money that he needed to buy these supplies for his survival and get to his destination. It would have been unrealistic for them to have him stealing or just 'finding ' everything he needed.

and finally you yourself support my opinion on your own review with this statement "4. Gratuitous sweaty hippie sex scene between Catherine Keener and Brian Dierker. Need I say more?"

No, you need not say anymore because from that sentence alone I can tell you were ignorant-minded when writing this review, and that is why A.O. Scott writes for the Times and you Don't.

either open your eyes,
or go back to sleep.

[janstlouismo]

First and foremost, I loved both the movie and the book. Sad, yes but fact is fact, it is, "real".
Whether, Chris was a narcissist (which I don't believe")or not he did harbor unforgiveness in some way. This is a trait most of us experience in our lives in one way or another. Also, did any of you bloggers see, Crash? Great movie and/or did you see yourself in any way? I do believe that Chris might have had an undiagnosed mental condition.Unfortunately mental disorders of any kind continue to sustain a stigma. Largely due to either denial, ignorance, even pride, the individuals and/or families continue to refuse to seek help for themselves or their loved ones.

I often think of the McCandless family and pray for them.
And Chris, I would loved to have known you and your family.

God Bless,

JanD

[janstlouismo]

First and foremost, I loved both the movie and the book. Sad, yes but fact is fact, it is, "real".
Whether, Chris was a narcissist (which I don't believe")or not he did harbor unforgiveness in some way. This is a trait most of us experience in our lives in one way or another. Also, did any of you bloggers see, Crash? Great movie and/or did you see yourself in any way? I do believe that Chris might have had an undiagnosed mental condition.Unfortunately mental disorders of any kind continue to sustain a stigma. Largely due to either denial, ignorance, even pride, the individuals and/or families continue to refuse to seek help for themselves or their loved ones.

I often think of the McCandless family and pray for them.
And Chris, I would loved to have known you and your family.

God Bless,

JanD

[dennis]

maybe if Catherine Keener and Brian Dierker ate the poison berries it might have been better. I did like the scenery...ive never been out there but it is nice to get out of the city sometimes.
kudos to you for at least having an opinion.

[frank]

i can relate to mccandless on some level. mostly that i think the world is full of crap, but rather than go to alaska to get away from it, i would rather just avoid the junk hollywood and the press try to make us believe. i just love how people defending this movie say it's based on fact, when that's a joke. it's called 'artistic license'. something the person ranting about the professional aspect of the movie should be aware of. krakauer's 'facts' in the book have been proven to be somewhat questionable and anyone who is going to take what sean penn sees as 'truth' is not someone i would trust. think for yourself. research for yourself. find out as much as you can on both sides and then decide for yourself. don't just watch one movie and then act like you know everything there is to know.

[Eric]

I cannot believe your ignorance! You really did not understand anything about the story or the hero. Next time you decide to do a movie review, stick to Disney because I fear anything else would give your small brain a stroke.

[Tess]

I liked this film.

[Wang]

Awesome critique. The people who hated on it are LAAAMMMEEEEE.

[BERTITO]

ah! god damn! this fucking website is full of shit! the way you criticize the movie is annoying, no sense, and stupid asshole.. let me tell you something try to look deeper into the heart of someone and you'll understand better.. use your brain stupid!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.......