Movie Thoughts: Into the Wild
Mar. 21st, 2008 06:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
orangerfulI had not read the Jon Krakauer book about the life of Christopher McCandless prior to seeing this film, but I will tell you that I really want to read it now.
I thought this movie was very well done for what it was trying to be. Sean Penn clearly did not want to deviate too much from the facts. It actually has a very documentary feel about it ("Alex" breaks the 4th wall a few times by staring directly into the camera, as though to say "this really happened but it wasn't really me, I'm ACTING!"). It is also like a documentary in that it really doesn't have a "story" like you would expect in a movie. The structure is a little bit looser, it meanders around, bouncing between the "Magic Bus" in Alaska in 1992 with the story of how Chris/Alex got there, and childhood events that shaped his personality and outlook on life. The narrator for the story is his younger sister. Usually narration is a bad idea for a movie, but it works for 'Into the Wild' because of the docu-drama production.
What really made me curious about the real story was that the filmmakers actually thanked Krakauer and the McCandless family for their help making the movie, something they did not have to do. They could have taken the bestselling book and turned it into whatever kind of movie they wanted.
I have the book checked out now. One of my co-workers had read it prior to seeing the film and she said that, of course, the book is better but that most of what was in the movie was from the book. I can tell you the opening scene of the movie is straight out of the book.
My suggestion: Read the book first and if you still want to see the movie, then see the movie. Especially if you don't know anything about the "story" of Chris McCandless. If you doubt you will read the book, then watch the movie (but you'll want to read the book afterwards anyway...I sorta wish I'd read the book first now). Oh! and how could I forget to mention the music. Eddie Vedder's haunting vocals were like their own character, like a voice from the wild. I don't know if I could listen to the music on its own, but in the film it was perfect.
I thought this movie was very well done for what it was trying to be. Sean Penn clearly did not want to deviate too much from the facts. It actually has a very documentary feel about it ("Alex" breaks the 4th wall a few times by staring directly into the camera, as though to say "this really happened but it wasn't really me, I'm ACTING!"). It is also like a documentary in that it really doesn't have a "story" like you would expect in a movie. The structure is a little bit looser, it meanders around, bouncing between the "Magic Bus" in Alaska in 1992 with the story of how Chris/Alex got there, and childhood events that shaped his personality and outlook on life. The narrator for the story is his younger sister. Usually narration is a bad idea for a movie, but it works for 'Into the Wild' because of the docu-drama production.
What really made me curious about the real story was that the filmmakers actually thanked Krakauer and the McCandless family for their help making the movie, something they did not have to do. They could have taken the bestselling book and turned it into whatever kind of movie they wanted.
I have the book checked out now. One of my co-workers had read it prior to seeing the film and she said that, of course, the book is better but that most of what was in the movie was from the book. I can tell you the opening scene of the movie is straight out of the book.
My suggestion: Read the book first and if you still want to see the movie, then see the movie. Especially if you don't know anything about the "story" of Chris McCandless. If you doubt you will read the book, then watch the movie (but you'll want to read the book afterwards anyway...I sorta wish I'd read the book first now). Oh! and how could I forget to mention the music. Eddie Vedder's haunting vocals were like their own character, like a voice from the wild. I don't know if I could listen to the music on its own, but in the film it was perfect.
Originally posted on orangerful.vox.com
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-22 02:10 am (UTC)As far as the transition from book to movie is concerned, I think it is one of the best I've seen. Obviously parts were left out, but I think they did a great job staying on track with what they did put in. Also, I think that Emile Hirsch was right on track with his portrayal of McCandless. I can't think of anyone else who could've done it better!
Basically, I loved everything about this movie!! I was just going to wait for the library copy (again, you can never be 100% sure about a movie based on a book!), but my parents rented it from Blockbuster, and I happened to be over as they were starting it. Needless to say, I immediately went out to buy it as soon as I left, and watched it two more times that weekend!
PS - I'm glad you posted about it :) I meant to after I watched, but never got around to it. Hope you like the book as much as I did!!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-03-22 02:18 am (UTC)I'm excited to read the book and I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed the movie! My co-worker was not quite as enthused about the movie version. (my other co-worker that has only seen the movie said she broke down and cried for like an hour after it so she is afraid to read the book...I wave the book at here and go "oooooh into the wild is coming to get you" hehe. I'm a bad person)
ANyhoo, I'll let you know what I think of the book. then we can discuss it all in more detail alter. :)