Into the Wild...

[Enigma]

So, the story/book/movie of the life and death of Chris McCandless has caused much debate and discussion on the internet and beyond. I was curious if anyone here is familiar with the story, and has an opinion or a review perhaps of either the movie, the book, or McCandless himself.....

For those not familiar....

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

[Rockstar]

I thought the book explained the kid much better than the movie.

My take on it is ,he had a troubled familiy life and was too stupid to work it out any other way than how he did, he ran and just kept running, from everyone. In my opinion he was a horses arse in that regard. Other than that I thought he was a very smart and talented young man. He lived well and did things many of us wouldn't do even on a dare. He found alot of people like himself along the way, but never let anyone get too close.

I tend to think Krakauer may have explained this kids death pretty well. I just can't believe he would go out unprepared and not having some sort of clue on how to survive. He was too smart for that but in the end it would seem like many us he didn't know everything.

The sad part of all of this for me wasn't his death or the cause. What broke my heart was when he finally realized after all the running he did from those who loved him, his friends , his family. That unshared happiness is not happiness as noted by him days before his death when he wrote "HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED".

That for me would really suck, to die alone or have no one to share my life with. Gives me the heebeegeebee's

[August]

The movie was like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

[Kapt Z]

Read the book a few years back. Recommended

Never saw the movie.

Interesting story. A very troubled soul. Adventurous, engaging, but fatally self-obsorbed boy.

Seemed like he continually pushed his luck for the sake of it and eventually his luck just ran out.

[Rockstar]

I saw the movie it left much to be desired. Too many holes in the real story to fill in to make it good. I thought Eddie Vedder did a kickazz job with his rendition of Hard Sun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDorNilxPUY

[AngusJS]

* SLIGHT BOOK SPOILER *










What was most amazing was the fact that there was a USGS gauging station a few hundred yards from where McCandless tried to ford the river. At the station was a cable suspended across the river for a basket which was used to traverse the waters. When Krakauer visited the site, the seat was on McCandless's side of the river, so he could have had a chance to simply pull himself across if he had bothered to check.

If McCandless had possessed a topographical map, he might have known about it, but IIRC all he had was a road atlas.

[porphy]

I read the book a few years ago. It's a good read and Karakauer also explores his own urge to do things most people find stupid and life threatning. His recollections of his own solo climb of the Devils Thumb and the solo glacier approach is a nerve wrecking account.

He also ask, why was it that some people came down so hard on McCandless adventure, and even thought he got what he deserved, when most peoples lifes are full of boring, yet dangerous stuff? It's certainly a thin line sometimes, but the main point I think Krakauer brought home in the book was that this guy wasn't stupid or clueless. Maybe pushing his luck, but a lot of people do that behind the wheel every day... risking other peoples lifes at the same time. That really calls for some harsh comments.

The film was good, but not fantastic. I really had a hard time with the scene where he is bucket showering in slow motion with the alaskan mountain range as a backdrop... Looked like a hair product comercial. :-?

cheers Porphy