Into The Wild [HD DVD]
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Brian DierkerDirector: Sean Penn
Studio: Paramount
MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Running Time: 148 minutes
DVD Release: March 4th 2008
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DVD Review
A superb cast and an even-handed treatment of a true story buoy Into the Wild, Sean Penn's screen adaptation of Jon Krakauer's bestselling book. Emile Hirsch stars as Christopher McCandless, scion of a prosperous but troubled family who, after graduating from Atlanta's Emory University in the early 1990s, decides to chuck it all and become a self-styled "aesthetic voyager" in search of "ultimate freedom." He certainly doesn't do it halfway: after donating his substantial savings account to charity and literally torching the rest of his cash, McCandless changes his name (to "Alexander Supertramp"), abandons his family (William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden as his bickering, clueless parents and Jena Malone as his baffled but loving sister, who relates much of the backstory in voice-over), and hits the road, bound for the Alaskan bush and determined not to be found. For the next two years he lives the life of a vagabond, working a few odd jobs, kayaking through the Grand Canyon into Mexico, landing on L.A.'s Skid Row, and turning his back on everyone who tried to befriends him (including Catherine Keener and Brian Dierker as two kindly, middle-aged hippies and Hal Holbrook in a deeply affecting performance as an old widower who tries to take "Alex" under his wing). Penn, who directed and wrote the screenplay, alternates these interludes with scenes depicting McCandless' Alaskan idyll--which soon turns out be not so idyllic after all. Settling into an abandoned school bus, he manages to sustain himself for a while, shooting small game (and one very large moose), reading, and recording his existential musings on paper. But when the harsh realities of life in the wilderness set in, our boy finds himself well out of his depth, not just ill-prepared for the rigors of day to day survival but realizing the importance of the very thing he wanted to escape--namely, human relationships. It'd be easy to either idealize McCandless as a genuinely free spirit, unencumbered by the societal strictures that tie the rest of us down, or else dismiss him as a hopelessly callow naïf, a fool whose disdain for practical realities ultimately doomed him. Into the Wild does neither, for the most part telling the tale with an admirable lack of cheap sentiment and leaving us to decide for ourselves. --Sam Graham
User Reviews
HD Review???????????????????? - Rating: 1/5
Amazon, why are you allowing non HD DVD Reviews? This title will be released on March 4, 2008.
A beautiful soul's delinquent realization of love, and The Best Film of 2007 - Rating: 5/5
The Best Film of 2007!! And The Best Film I have seen since The Ring Trilogy. It immediately catapulted into my Top Five Films of all time! A Stunning Work of Art! This is what I love about film. Every once in a while you stumble upon a work of art that renews your faith in filmmakers with poetry in their hearts. This is one of those films.
A life influenced by Thoreau and Jack London. A non-fiction tale that could have been penned by Maugham or Kerouac about a young man with an Eagle Spirit. His Bohemian quest for wisdom, freedom, and oneness with the creator. And the few souls that were touched by his native heart along the way. Chyroned by journal entries and poetic musings. A search for truth, shamanic recapitulation, and liberation of the psyche. A beautiful soul's delinquent realization of love at the final hour. A warrior facing his own death. It's tragic and mortally liberating consequences.
Wide open vistas and panoramic splendor grace the frames of this oil painting, like Adam's first journey thru The Garden. Eric Gautier's incredible cinematography, Sean Penn's masterful direction, and Emile Hirsch's stunning portrayal achieve a beautiful, glorious, poetic, uplifting, and tragic celebration of the heart.
Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder adds a solemn air to the proceedings.
Self-destruction is a very different act than annihilation of the self. Or the ego. Which is what Chris was all about. He lived more life in 22 years, than most of us live in a lifetime.
Thank You Sean,
I have a best friend that is with me now, only in spirit. He too, was a Free Spirit. He loved to climb mountains. The taller the better. At the end of his life, he was climbing mountains with an oxygen tank. He died of Cystic Fibrosis in the mid 90's. I wish I had gone hiking with him more often. Now he's gone. A clairvoyant I knew, once called him an Eagle Spirit. Thank You, for also making this film about my friend David Foster. I loved him. He would have loved this film. He was one of the oldest living CF patients in the U.S. He was in his mid-thirties and survived a lung transplant before he passed. Your film touched me in ways you can't possibly imagine. David was a warrior, just like Chris. And I witnessed the same withering of his temple. Thank You, again!
I'm sure Chris is painting a beautiful landscape, somewhere in time, as a Warrior God. He is smiling down on his creation as he floats on Eagle Cloud. I just know, David is with him.
Bravo, man! I stand in awe! You captured the shamanic recapitulation of Christopher's soul with remarkable clarity and insight. Beautiful work. You have the soul of a warrior poet. Bless. Thank You, for this amazing Work of Art.
Life affiming. Yes, Love is the only path with heart.
ONE OF THE GREATEST POEMS I'VE EVER SEEN ON FILM. I'm blown away. THE BEST FILM OF 2007.
ENJOY.
A raw, tragic, touching story of the human spirit - Rating: 5/5
Having become familiar with the story of Chris McCandless before the movie came out purely as a traveller, I was suprised to hear of the movie being done, and by sean penn no less.
Having watched the movie, I feel that this is one of penn's greatest movies yet. The direction, powerful as it is raw and simple weaves a tale about the tales of Alexander Supertramp that make you feel as if you cant help but like the good nature of the character, despite the fact that all his travel to fill some void in his life, to give a sense of escapism to his life of material goods and comfortable exsistence for a life of survival.
I believe everyone can take something away with themselves from this movie. Whether we reevaluate our place in life, our impact on this planet and how we have become disconnected from nature or the simple joy of being on the free road, this movie will affect most people that will walk away from it with something.
I bought Music for the Motion Picture Into the Wildmonths before I got to watch the movie, and the music is more fitting and special for the movie once you watch it, a deeply personal journey for Eddie Vedder too, or so it seems.
The best film I have ever seen. - Rating: 5/5
I read the book years ago and of course it was excellent. But, I never seen a movie which was made from a book that was done so well. If you love nature, Alaska, freedom,etc. you can't miss it.The problems Cris has in life are the same as many others but make you think and reflect on life in general. He did some things wrong but he lived his life on his own terms.I cried at the end and that never and I mean never has happened to me. This movie was well done and can touch your soul.
No man is an island... - Rating: 5/5
This is the best and most underappreciated film of 2007. I suspect that come oscar time it will garner an award or two, possibly Best Director for Sean Penn and Best Supporting Actor for Hal Holbrook. I'm not holding my breath for Best Picture however as it's ultimately a bit too bleak and the main character too unconventional to be an easy sell to the Oscar crowd. I absolutely loved everything about Into the Wild, most especially Emile Hirsch as Christopher McCandless who is amazing (and amazingly photogenic) in his most impressive and challenging role to date. It is very true to the book and whether you feel it is the sad chronicle of a misguided youth or the ecstatic tale of one guys search for ultimate freedom, one couldn't ask for a more perfect adaptation. One is left regretful that McCandless only realized his epiphany too late..."Happiness is only real when shared."
