I thought "Into the Wild" sucked

boxwine_in_hell

vedderelf wrote:

I was really, really excited for this movie but I was extremely disappointed. I'm curious as to what others thought about the actual movie, soundtrack excluded.

I don't think this is Sean Penn's directorial debut but it looks like something someone out of film school would do. The opening letter to Wayne at the beginning was cheesey, and by the time Wayne comes along, you've already forgotten about that opening part.

The movie was waaaaay too long (started at 7:45 and got out at 10:20) and the sister's narration not withstanding, it didn't give any insight at all into Chris' state of mind. What exactly was it that he was getting out of the experience? And at the end, when it flashes to the people he met along the way, what sort of connection did Chris feel to them? Because the way it came off to me, it was more like Chris was like self-centered narcisist who didn't really care about the people he was leaving behind.

I should have read the book first because the movie soured me on the whole story. It could have been this epic adventure and instead, it got muddled in what I thought was a horrible job by Penn. I mean, there's 3 different parts where Chris looks right into the camera! It was distracting and unnecessary.

I just really, really, really wanted to like this movie and I was pretty disappointed. The only things it had going for it was the basic plot itself, the beautiful vistas, the fact that the lead actor looked a little like River Phoenix and of course the soundtrack.

Just wondering what others thought, especially those who spend a lot of time in the outdoors and lead a version of this lifestyle portrayed. Also, those parents were pretty brave to cooperate with a movie that made them look like some pretty horrible people.

I think there is a perfectly good explanation. You were either high or you lost your ability to perceive correctly. It was a great movie, it was very thought provoking and it stuck with me for a few days after I saw it.

carolinabeerguy

I really enjoyed the movie a lot. It's the best movie I've seen in quite some time. I guess it strikes everyone differently. I want to see it again. To each his/her own.

spryguy09

I read the book then saw the movie. Both are totally different experiences. I enjoyed both. I felt some of the scenes were shaky, but overall thought the movei was superb.

I agree with a previous post that it is hard to say in teh book and movie what Chris was thinking, because the story was written solely on family members insight before he left, and his journal entries and notations in novals. I appreciate that neighter Penn didn't elaborate, because it would be a guess to expand on what Chris was thinking or why he did what he did.

I disagree wiht a previous post that Chris was se;f-centered. After reading the book and seeing the movie, I felt he did appreciate the others around him; he just had his heart set on going to Alaska and didn't want anyone to get in his way.

Also, according to imdb.com (Internet Movie Database), the actor who played Rainey has never appeared on tv or the big screen before! I was blown away by that fact, as I thought he was great, especially now for his first ever role!

Mrs.Vedder78

http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=261191

http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=261409

DarkStar

vedderelf wrote:

I was really, really excited for this movie but I was extremely disappointed. I'm curious as to what others thought about the actual movie, soundtrack excluded.

there's plenty of folks with like reactions over at the ItW board on http://www.imdb.com. There's a lot you missed...but if the movie didn't suit you, then that's how it goes. here's my take on what Chris learned:

))SPOILERS((






































*******************************************************

"Happiness only real when shared."

In reality, Chris wrote this in the margin (above the text below) in his copy of Doctor Zhivago:

"And so it turned out that only a life similar to the life of those around us, merging with it without a ripple, is genuine life, and that an unshared happiness is not happiness. ...And this was most vexing of all."

******************************************************

"What if I were smiling, and running into your arms. Would you see then, what I see now?"

Chris asked this question because he knew that through his journey he had been healed and had forgiven his parents...but he didn't know if his parents were healed and if they recognised that their actions had a profound and unhealthy impact on Chris. You have to remember (and this is only in the book) that part of the reason Chris left and went on his journey was to spite his parents...in a way, forcing them to realise what effect their actions had on him.

at any rate, there is also an important visual element to the ending scene where Chris embraces his parents. remember when Chris challenged Ron to climb the mountain/hill? once Ron got to the top they had a conversation and Ron said:

"When you forgive, you love…and when you love, God’s light shines on you." … and then a cloud moved and the sun shone down on them both.

well, when Chris asks "What if I were smiling, and running into your arms. Would you see then, what I see now?" the scene cuts back and forth from the sky to him embracing his parents...while showing the sky, the sun is covered by a cloud...while showing the embrace, there are shadows on their faces. during this scene, and while he's saying the lines "What if I were smiling, and running into your arms." Chris's face shows wonderment and confusion...and then as he says "Would you see then, what I see now?" Chris's face turns accepting and calm...the scene then cuts to Chris in the bus taking his last breath...and as he does so, the cloud moves and the sun shines down....

also, as the camera pulls out of the closeup of Chris after he took his last breath, the song Hard Sun is played...it's the instrumental version...but i've posted the lyrics below. one might say that the "she/her" in the song is love/happiness.

when I walk beside her
i am the better man
when I look to leave her
I always stagger back again

once I built an ivory tower
so I could worship from above
and when I climbed down to be set free
she took me in again

there's a big
a big hard sun
beatin' on the big people
in the big hard world

when she comes to greet me
she is mercy at my feet
when I stay to pillage her (vedder sings: when i see her pin her charm)
she just throws it back at me

once I dug an early grave
to find a better land
she just smiled and laughed at me
and took her blues back again

there's a big
a big hard sun
beatin' on the big people
in the big hard world

there's a big
a big hard sun
beatin' on the big people
in the big hard world

when I go to cross that river
she is comfort by my side
when I try to understand
she just opens up her hands

there's a big
a big hard sun
beatin' on the big people
in the big hard world

once I stood to lose her
when I saw what I had done
bound down and flew away the hours
of her garden and her sun

so I tried to warn her
i'll turn to see her weep
40 days and 40 nights
and it's still coming down on me

there's a big
a big hard sun
beatin' on the big people
in the big hard world

there's a big
a big hard sun
beatin' on the big people
in the big hard world

there's a big
a big hard sun
beatin' on the big people
in the big hard world

there's a big
a big hard sun
beatin' on the big people
in the big hard world

ds

DixieN

Everyone in my family loved this movie, except me. Sean Penn's camera work got to me...all that motion on the screen--sloshing, bobbing, weaving, circling cameras on mountain tops--was easily translated to motion in my brain and I got motion sick during the film and had to leave. Titanic did that to me, too. But, since I was sick and had to wait out in the lobby until I felt better, I realized that I was waiting, like, a realllllllly looooong time. I would like to see the movie on the small screen so I can enjoy the end safely. The movie was so long, I got to feeling better and went back to the film only to get motion sick a 2nd time. I mean. Come, you know. That's a long movie if you can get motion sick twice during the screening--with a full 30 minute recovery period in the middle. They could have cut quite a bit out of what I did see without hurting the plot. Just for the record, I enjoyed what I did see, although I thought that the movie belabored points, much as I do in my posts. Shorter really is better sometimes.

Kami

vedderelf wrote:

I was really, really excited for this movie but I was extremely disappointed. I'm curious as to what others thought about the actual movie, soundtrack excluded.

I don't think this is Sean Penn's directorial debut but it looks like something someone out of film school would do. The opening letter to Wayne at the beginning was cheesey, and by the time Wayne comes along, you've already forgotten about that opening part.

The movie was waaaaay too long (started at 7:45 and got out at 10:20) and the sister's narration not withstanding, it didn't give any insight at all into Chris' state of mind. What exactly was it that he was getting out of the experience? And at the end, when it flashes to the people he met along the way, what sort of connection did Chris feel to them? Because the way it came off to me, it was more like Chris was like self-centered narcisist who didn't really care about the people he was leaving behind.

I should have read the book first because the movie soured me on the whole story. It could have been this epic adventure and instead, it got muddled in what I thought was a horrible job by Penn. I mean, there's 3 different parts where Chris looks right into the camera! It was distracting and unnecessary.

I just really, really, really wanted to like this movie and I was pretty disappointed. The only things it had going for it was the basic plot itself, the beautiful vistas, the fact that the lead actor looked a little like River Phoenix and of course the soundtrack.

Just wondering what others thought, especially those who spend a lot of time in the outdoors and lead a version of this lifestyle portrayed. Also, those parents were pretty brave to cooperate with a movie that made them look like some pretty horrible people.

i definitely hear where you are coming from, even though i personally really like the film. i agree, it was long and parts were too cheesy, but overall i still enjoyed it. i think that in the weeks leading up to the film's release i started getting really into the story - i'm still fascinated by it. but i can see why someone else might dislike the movie.

Strangest Tribe

vedderelf wrote:

Because the way it came off to me, it was more like Chris was like self-centered narcisist who didn't really care about the people he was leaving behind.

There's always two ways to look at things...

why should we live our lives for what others need?

Chris' family was a bunch of phoney people with phoney lives and Chris realized this early in his life. So he went off to find the real Chris.

This movie bothers parents who aren't "in touch" with their kids

hourglassnebula

I really, really, really think anyone that uses language such as this should not be allowed to add opinion to anything. Fucking idiot.

Kilgore_Trout

hourglassnebula wrote:

I really, really, really think anyone that uses language such as this should not be allowed to add opinion to anything. Fucking idiot.

yes... language should be chosen carefully......

Prioronfire22

I don't understand how you didn't like the movie, for some reason I just find that impossible. Maybe you just aren't mature enough, I don't know that's really my only guess.

janegosford

The arrogance in this thread is mind boggling. Just because someone has an opinion that's different from yours doesn't make them wrong, idiotic, or immature. Try opening yourself up to the possibility that *gasp* not everyone views art the same way. And you know what? That's perfectly okay.

onebadbootleg

From Penn's acting I just assumed the picture sucked without ever suffering through it. Did I do good saving my 7.50?

Kilgore_Trout

twilighthummer wrote:

From Penn's acting I just assumed the picture sucked without ever suffering through it. Did I do good saving my 7.50?

in my personal op9inion... no... not at all... emile hirsche is a fine upincoming actor and the movie brought me to tears... which i guess isnt athat hard cause im a big softy... but still... its a good movie... lil long... ill agree with that... but conisidreing you cant take too much away from the book without taking away from the story the movie had to be a lil long to fit everything... im glad they took out his pet dog from the book that he had to cut open to stay warm or whatever... i dunno its been awhile since i read it

onebadbootleg

sgossard3 wrote:

in my personal op9inion... no... not at all... emile hirsche is a fine upincoming actor and the movie brought me to tears... which i guess isnt athat hard cause im a big softy... but still... its a good movie... lil long... ill agree with that... but conisidreing you cant take too much away from the book without taking away from the story the movie had to be a lil long to fit everything... im glad they took out his pet dog from the book that he had to cut open to stay warm or whatever... i dunno its been awhile since i read it

No offense meant. It just seems that every time I see Penn in an interview he cannot piece together a coherent sentence so I am wondering how he can piece together a coherent motion picture.

Kilgore_Trout

twilighthummer wrote:

No offense meant. It just seems that every time I see Penn in an interview he cannot piece together a coherent sentence so I am wondering how he can piece together a coherent motion picture.

try to sit through an interview with tim burton... the mans a film legend IMO but a compltet fuckin incoherant lunatic... sometiems you just cant vocalize what a film means to you... and honestly penn had more in common with the character in I am Sam than an actor shoudl.....

onebadbootleg

sgossard3 wrote:

try to sit through an interview with tim burton... the mans a film legend IMO but a compltet fuckin incoherant lunatic... sometiems you just cant vocalize what a film means to you... and honestly penn had more in common with the character in I am Sam than an actor shoudl.....

AND try to sit through that other Tim's band opening for PJ!!!

Kilgore_Trout

twilighthummer wrote:

AND try to sit through that other Tim's band opening for PJ!!!

try being an extra on the set of a tim robbins movie and he entertains us all with a half hour set of his awful wannabe bob dylanesque music... fuckin christmas carols in july for god sake just cause we were filming in a church... and the only ray of light that kept me going was being a few yards from rachel mcadams and then talking to her for a bit after filming and gettting a photo with her... i got tims autograph too... he didnt seem too enthused that i A) interrupted his smoking braek and only cared about shawshank redemption

pdalowsky

loved it, nothing to do with the tunes either.....thought it was really well put together and in the same vein as dances with wolves....

Thats one of the biggest compliments any film could wish for

onebadbootleg

sgossard3 wrote:

try being an extra on the set of a tim robbins movie and he entertains us all with a half hour set of his awful wannabe bob dylanesque music... fuckin christmas carols in july for god sake just cause we were filming in a church... and the only ray of light that kept me going was being a few yards from rachel mcadams and then talking to her for a bit after filming and gettting a photo with her... i got tims autograph too... he didnt seem too enthused that i A) interrupted his smoking braek and only cared about shawshank redemption

Has he done anything aside from shawshank and bull durham?