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"Into The Wild" Book / Movie - Thoughts?

  • Count gHostula said...

    As I posted earlier, I find it utterly mind boggling that he didn't try to cross the river at another spot - I mean, WTF? How do you not walk up or downstream to see if the water is lower and not flowing so rapidly? I'm not sure how far the crossing was from the bus, but I can say this - I hike / mountain bike the Phoenix parks at least two to three times a week and I know every single trail like the back of my hand.

    I hear you. It's bewildering he didn't walk and down the river, especially considering there was a hand-operated tram 1/4 of a mile away. It was that close. The kid was book smart - and I credit him for surviving for four months - but man that was a bonehead move.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_McCandless

    stinkytofu

  • Count gHostula said...

    blank

    I think it's pretty clear that he suffered from mental illness and I'm not sure what him being rich has anything to do with what he did. Also, he wasn't stupid - at least academically, earned straight A's at Emory.

    I agree. More spoiled than stupid. His parents worked their asses off to provide for him, and because it all came so easy his entire life, he took it all for granted.

    hoke- to alter or manipulate so as to give a deceptively or superficially improved quality or value.

    The Doctor

  • The Doctor said...

    I agree. More spoiled than stupid. His parents worked their asses off to provide for him, and because it all came so easy his entire life, he took it all for granted.

    huh He did? Dude he gave all the money away

    RCMB Premium Poster

    Count gHostula

  • Count gHostula said...

    huh He did? Dude he gave all the money away

    Not so much the money, but the opportunity. If he didn't want to get caught up in all the bs, move to the Dominican republic or something and help out the poor. The torment that he forever put his family through was pure selfish. I agree that he had some mental issues. Probably a combination of narcisssism and depression.

    hoke- to alter or manipulate so as to give a deceptively or superficially improved quality or value.

    The Doctor

  • The Doctor said...

    Not so much the money, but the opportunity. If he didn't want to get caught up in all the bs, move to the Dominican republic or something and help out the poor. The torment that he forever put his family through was pure selfish. I agree that he had some mental issues. Probably a combination of narcisssism and depression.

    I agree that what he did was selfish but according to the movie there didn't seem to be much love between him and his parents, although the bond with his sister seemed strong. The money issue is irrelevant - we're not talking about a kid born to billionaires who really has the ability to build schools and hospitals in Haiti. He was obviously motivated to drop off the grid for a reason. In the end, the sanctuary he sought in the wild was perhaps more cruel than the world he left behind and, along with his own naivety, ultimately killed him.

    RCMB Premium Poster

    Count gHostula

  • I've read both of the books mentioned in here as well. I haven't seen any movies, but I thought the books were outstanding. My first deployment to Afghanistan back in 2006 I actually met John Krakauer. He went along with us on a couple dismounted patrols and these were some serious mountains we climbed. He was an interesting man and definitely could more than hold his own. I read the Pat Tillman saga and was surprised at how opinionated he was and critical of a lot of things.

    signature image

    Spartans 49ers Braves Hawks

    AStubbs7

  • The Doctor said...

    Not so much the money, but the opportunity. If he didn't want to get caught up in all the bs, move to the Dominican republic or something and help out the poor. The torment that he forever put his family through was pure selfish. I agree that he had some mental issues. Probably a combination of narcisssism and depression.

    The way the movie portrays them (his parents)... they didn't seem to take that much interest in him. Which, I think, is where the problem began in the first place.

    xsanguine

  • Count gHostula said...

    I watched the movie last night and I thought it was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time... amazing story, it was just so compelling and fascinating. Quite remarkable and thought provoking. Anyway, I've seen the movie now do i need to read the book? Can anyone provide any thoughts on the book?

    I would say yes. I teach the book in American Literature. The book frames things a bit differently than the movie, with regard to the family dynamics, which is interesting. The movie, however, is a must see, due to the scenery. As an aside, the second time we were in Alaska, the cab driver told us that many people are coming up to "live off the land" as Chris McCandless attempted to do. Forest rangers become irritated, as it is dangerous. They also say that Chris was careless and irresponsible (their words) because there was a Forest Ranger Station less than 3 miles from where he died. If he would have checked in with them, they could have checked on him, and he wouldn't have lost his life. Great story; many layers - fodder for much thought and discussion. You'll enjoy the book.

    jodi

  • One of my favorite movies of all times. Incredible story, acting and scenery. The book is good too, but as others have suggested, there are parts about the author and tangents I found unnecessary. I completely understand the kid's desire to escape society to figure the true meaning of life, unfortunately he was completely unprepared to handle living off the land in such an unforgiving place as Alaska.

    signature image

    Spartan 4life

  • Saw the film, it was good. But the kid was idiotic in how he handled his new-found independence. He was not prepared to go on his own with absolutely nothing and live a secluded life. I understand what his intentions were (sort of), but his ego far surpassed his logic.

    What is that, a Titleist? A hole in one...

    Cosmo_Kramer

  • I never read the book, but saw the movie a few years ago. I remember thinking what a prick that kid was. He treated everyone like crap, whether they we good to him or not. He thought he was all hardcore, independent, and free-spirited when he burned his money, they he had to go get a job (at McDonalds of all places) to get it back, which I found hilarious and ironic. The movie pissed me off, until the end, at which point I thought "you got what you had coming."

    rabidgiraffe

  • rabidgiraffe said...

    I never read the book, but saw the movie a few years ago. I remember thinking what a prick that kid was. He treated everyone like crap, whether they we good to him or not. He thought he was all hardcore, independent, and free-spirited when he burned his money, they he had to go get a job (at McDonalds of all places) to get it back, which I found hilarious and ironic. The movie pissed me off, until the end, at which point I thought "you got what you had coming."

    My thoughts exactly

    SD Spartan

  • rabidgiraffe said...

    I never read the book, but saw the movie a few years ago. I remember thinking what a prick that kid was. He treated everyone like crap, whether they we good to him or not. He thought he was all hardcore, independent, and free-spirited when he burned his money, they he had to go get a job (at McDonalds of all places) to get it back, which I found hilarious and ironic. The movie pissed me off, until the end, at which point I thought "you got what you had coming."

    Who did he treat like crap, aside from his family (and it's made clear that he only cared about his sister and his parents were assholes)? Seemed like he was pretty cool with Catherine Keener, Kristen Stewart, Vince Vaughn, and Hal Holbrook's characters.

    I also don't get what you're saying about working at McDonalds. He made enough money to get to his next destination. He says early in the film: "I don't need money. Makes people cautious." Disposable money was unnecessary, so he burned it.

    signature image

    Omar Comin19758

  • If you enjoyed Into the Wild make sure to check out 180 Degrees South (netflix streaming).

    Play

    180 Degrees South | Trailer US (2010)

    englischer Trailer zu 180 Degrees South Genre: Documentary Regie / directed by: Chris Malloy Darsteller / cast: Jeff Johnson Kinostart Deutschland: Kinostart USA: May 7th, 2010 offizielle Filmsite: http://www.180south.com/

    http://www.youtube.com/v/NK3TOHLFL50

    Behind every successful man is a woman, behind her is his wife.

    Brennan1

  • why are you ten-twelve years late on reading this book ? You can read it in 4 hours... movie was decent.... book was excellent.

    Read it on the plane to remote Alaskan cabin /fishing trip in 1998ish.....via float plane... left it for the proprietor who was very grateful and knew of the story......

    Droppedbyadime

  • Dude was a woefully unprepared idealist.

    Johnny Alpamayo

  • Did you read The Great Gatsby the same year it was published?

    RCMB Premium Poster

    Count gHostula

  • Howler said...

    He shoulda tapped Kristen Stewart's sweet little ass in that film.

    ...dude, you do realize that she has the body of a 12 year old boy, right?

    tVargMan Prime ●

  • Count gHostula said...

    Dude I'll send you Into Thin Air if you send me the Pat Tillman book. I should be done in a couple of weeks. (Note: I only read while floating in the pool)

    Sounds good, it may take me a few days to find it though. My wife "puts things away" and It takes me awhile to find out where "away" is.

    signature image signature image

    DMBSparty

  • Watch Out Pylon said...

    why would he go through all the trouble of trying to smoke all that moose meat.

    This is one of those phrases that sounds dirty, but isn't.

    Rodeo Burger

  • Book was OK, never saw the movie.

    MattR644

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