otis-l

25 May 2012

A film that makes you think is a good thing, but preferably without the subtle pretentious undertone.

With awesome footage and a great cast of actors Sean Penn creates abeautiful, however kinda sleepy, film which raises questions as well asinspire. Emile Hirsh does a great job as the natural born explorer and"anti-materialist" in his own point of view. Family connections withlayer of guilt and secrets to top it of.Fascinating scenery but equally pretentious. Although i feel an urge togo on an mind and body exploration myself in a drastic manner, i thinki'll skip the "burn my savings"-part. Sum of it all, Sean Penn needs to get laid.

25 May 2012

Great Movie

This is one of the best movies i have seen in a LONG time. Highly recommended!! There are lessons in this movie that you will want to remember. Definitly makes me want to travel to the places he went.....

Slinky Malinky

24 May 2012

Super sexy film

I thought This movie was s.u.p.e.r d.u.p.e.r good. I do. ItsSuuuupeeer. I'm itching, 1 sec. lolls. awesomeness to the max Alex hascurly hair. I'm going to write something really random here because ihave to write 10 lines minimum so yea. so again, i thought this moviewas super because it is okay? If You've got a problem then I'm gonnatell bob and he doesn't like people like you. check out my you tube aswell: gimpe38 lots of good reviews super reviews like really. meow. I'ma cat woof I'm a dog baa I'm a horse. i need to spam some more oh mygod so annoying. i bet you all hate me now :( at least i rated it 10 :)since it was a super duper good film.

cantwinthisgame

24 May 2012

Fast forward

Can I please have the 184 minutes of my life back? This story, althoughgood, could have been told in half the time and still have been just asmeaningful. The acting was good, but the dragging out was too much. Theconveyance of time can be done in so many other ways. I felt like Ispent the entire time with Chris in Alaska.I can believe his messed up childhood, since it's common now days. Backin his time - the late 60's, it probably wasn't nearly as common, sothe psychological impact was probably greater than it would be today.Kids are exposed to so much at such a young age now.However, you can tell just by the box office data that it was a totalflop. It barely made more money than it cost to make. I can't believeit had 8.4 stars. Yawn.

death-hilarious

24 May 2012

Lots of heart

Into the wild is based on the true story of Christopher McCandless whoafter graduating college from a well to do family, donated his lifesavings to charity, left all his possessions, and without tellinganyone set off with dreams of roughing it in the wilds of Alaska. Aftertwo years of criss-crossing through America and running into a host ofinteresting characters, he finally managed to hitch-hike to Alaska,where four months after his arrival his decomposing corpse wasdiscovered by moose hunters. He had starved to death, apparently as aresult of eating a poisonous variety of seed. It's a simple, but verycompelling tale.While director Sean Penn's treatment is full of heart, the movie isalmost sunk early by sheer melodrama, especially in the voice oversgiven to Jena Malone who plays Carine McCandless, Christopher's sister.It almost seems as if at times Penn is trying to make a messianicfigure out of the young McCandless, depicting him wiser than his years,healing the broken lives of those he comes across. It would have beenbetter to just humanize McCandless and have the faith that by thosestandards he would measure well enough. Once the movie progresses pastthe family back-story, told in regrettable voice over, the movie picksup. The portrait of McCandless that emerges once he gets some morespeaking time is actually quite detailed capturing everything from hisbookish idealism and his obstinate wanderlust, to his love of beautyand pure joy in the experience of life. A lot of this has to do withthe wonderful performance by Emile Hirsch, who gives just the type ofperformance that only an actor-director is able to get from theiractors. Unfortunately, the movie runs far too long, because of someindulgent editing, and loses a lot of its force because of it.While I have a lot of reservations about the film, one thing you can'ttake away from it is that Penn has managed to create an impassionedportrait of a fascinating young man.

23 May 2012

Into the Wilderness Blindly

Although compelling and beautifully captured, I found it meandered a bit. The young mans journey from family shelter to wilderness starvation is brave but misguided. I especially like the scenes on the river. However; a tighter edited version bringing it in around two hours would have been better received. The story of a man throwing away his parents values and striking out on his own is not new. The method used to show us that journey was unique. Good acting and great scenery make this worth a rental. We have all stumbled during our years after High School or even after College, but few cast common sense to the wind. McCandles does, so although we sympathize with his convictions, we cannot applaud his lack of logic. In college I too went camping to get away from it all and I even jumped off a seventy-five foot clift into water with rocks everywhere. Do you truly think if I had hit one of those rocks they would think it was a great story to make a movie about? Doubtful but even I was an experienced diver and so although not brilliant, at least I knew what I was doing. Just as I went camping with my father and anyone else with experience before going into the wild on my own. So although the movie has good acting, great camera work, and excellent directing, that doesn't make me like the story. Afterall lots of hippies did this during the 1960s and I don't see books or movies about most of them. I guess because thats old stuff and Sean Penn didn't direct a movie about it. I might have been more inclined to recommend purchasing it if it was shorter and had a positive message. Think about what it says to most teens. Good quality DVD with fair replayability.

pc95

20 May 2012

Brilliant Photography, interesting story, very POOR music

I doubt most people made a fuss about this; had non-obstructive musicbeen chosen for this film, it would've been a much better movie. As itis, it's a compelling narrative with exceedingly colorful photographyand some excellent stop-motion interspersed. Characters of the filmseem plausible, simple, and down-to-earth. The lead character "AlexSuperTramp" is stubbornly determined. Also Dialog was succinct,sometimes poignant....and actual narration expository. However It'sbecoming more and more disappointing to declare movies problematic dueto music. Not all the music in Into the Wild was gratingly irritating,but many of the interlude cuts were totally subtractive. The last thingI wanna hear is MTV-type framed folksy stylized singing littering overa film like bad garbage. At least half a dozen interludes wereinterlaced with it - enough of a problem that the fast-forward wasbutton got used. Why cant directors, stick to real dialog? Or employmusic as an enhancement rather than a forced interpretation. Melodiesduring motion pictures are fouled by lyrics - these aren'tcommercials!! Anyway, somewhat of a letdown for how good it should'vebeen minus the music cut-overs.

Carrie

20 May 2012

Honest and beautiful

PURE HONESTY - people who see this will go either way. this is a fair outlook on the movie, who ever sees this movie will either agree with Chris' P.O.V and find the movie is well done, amazingly, or find that he is an ignorant "spoiled brat". But if you chose to see it, knowingly what it's about, it's your problem and your waste of money if you didn't like it. My advice is don't waste your time on something you won't understand. See something else instead of writing nasty reviews about it. But for those who go in open minded and understand his story, emotions and history will find it's completely beautiful. I read the book, and i don't see many things left out at all, I do wish that they added Chris' dog, whoever read the book will know what im talking about, the acting was beautiful, and the music was amazing, in an interview with Eddie Vedder, he said it was like a sign from God, and the music just fit in perfectly, like it belonged. Agreed. Don't listen to anyone's review unless it sounds fair because under the circumstances, it won't align at all, but if you appreciate the book, i dont think you'd be hurt by this movie at all. Sean Penn overwhelmed me with emotion in this movie, just like the book. So instead of seeing 'The Comebacks' or any other highly commercialized movie, this one is surely not a waste of your time.

19 May 2012

Best Film of 2007

Unfortunately the film was snubbed by the Academy, as well as the soundtrack. It's quite sad when they choose three songs from a movie Enchanged that were so badly written, and disregard the brilliance of Eddie Vedder. I think that this movie not even being acknowledged by the Academy is a disgrace to the movie industry. This film is mind blowing and really makes you contemplate life. No one will ever know the truth behind what happend to this young man, but Sean Penn does a brilliant job bringing his interpretation to the big screen.

Shane Paterson

19 May 2012

(1) Brilliant film (2) the protagonist and his story is simultaneously inspiring and idiotic

Sean Penn and crew did an excellent job here. Cinematography andediting are great and real locations are used to full potential. EmileHirsch is phenomenal and Hal Holbrook also really stands out. Specialmention of Brian Dierker, acting for the first and (so far) only time,as Rainey: a feat even if he IS basically that character, becausegetting in front of a camera instantly turns most of us into anythingbut who we naturally are. His chemistry with Catherine Keener isstellar and the two are part of the film's heart and soul.Supertramp's journey is compelling in many ways, whether followed bybook or by film. But there's much polarization regarding whetherAlex/Chris was a visionary prophet of the road (or, at the very least,a free spirit on a Thoreau kick) or an utterly self-indulgent moron.I'm one who emphatically sees him as BOTH, and then some.I grew up in settings that allowed me access to a lot of outdoorexperience, including formative years living at an outdoor-pursuitscenter where my parents worked. Thus I had easy entrée to outdooractivity and the tools with which to hone skills necessary to survivalin the wild, to deal with things when it all goes wrong (as it surelywill) without freaking out excessively and letting panic doom me oranyone else. I also saw for myself that Nature is wonderful andGaia-licious but that she really doesn't care if we live or die; I seethe natural world with both a 'romanticized' and a very pragmatic,survival-based eye, both being part of the truth.My whole life's involved study of Nature, including years of fieldresearch experience (PhD in ecology) diving on coral reefs in far-flungplaces on the edge of the blue horizon. Did I have near misses with myown mortality during that time? Sure did. Was I 'adventurous'? Well,yeah, in terms of having what might be called 'adventures' in exoticplaces around dangerous animals (I studied one for my doctorate). Ihave also more than once hit the road and vagabonded, the longest suchbout being at age 20 back in the '80s. So, yeah, I can relate verystrongly to Chris' drive, and to what he felt out there on the edge,where you never know from day to day where you'll be at nightfall and,indeed, even if you'll be alive. It's simultaneously exhilarating andscary.The BIG difference between someone like me and someone like McCandless,though, is that he went flat-out against the wall at every turn, rashlyleaping into things way above his head. You can only get away with thatkind of thing so long. If I 'have an adventure' I know my capabilitiesand where they start to fade. It's risk management. Some of what suchpeople do may look bold and brave but you can't tell, from looking,what they're REALLY doing: if they're well trained and aware of therisks and their environment they may actually be playing it quitecautiously within bounds of experience and ability. Film stunt playersare good examples, too: what looks totally out of control is actuallycarefully planned (well, ideally) and rehearsed by specialists. Pushingboundaries is fine but in doing so you want to control the risk youknow is there; you may still mess up, but at least the fall may besurvivable.Sometimes you have the adventure and sometimes the adventure has you.The idea is to minimize that last possibility. You must know what youKNOW and know what you DON'T know. Young Chris was woefully unpreparedfor many of his adventures, pushing boundaries without knowing whatthey really WERE, careening off boundary after boundary. It's amazinghe made it as far as he did. On one level I salute him for that, andadmire his zeal and passion, but on another I recognize him asirresponsible and self-centered. He was a sensitive, intelligent,self-indulgent young man with a mind full of pithy quotes and conceptsfrom Literature who failed to see past the most superficial of thoselessons and parables. He was an idealist, and I can appreciate that,but he forgot that we all have to get by in the real world and thatcost him everything.Is he the sage hero some proclaim? Well, if his story inspires you, goemulate his ideal but PLEASE first learn a thing or two about what yourjourney might require. I'm disconcerted to find a whole Internetsubculture that basically worships Chris and his folly. Idiots. Chris'death was unnecessary and stupid, but a likely outcome. He basicallyfailed to remain humble in the face of Nature. Whether clueless orarrogant, that sort of thing doesn't make for happy endings. His shouldbe a cautionary tale in this aspect, not an inspirational one.Regardless, as a film this succeeds on every level; a masterpiece. Ifit was mythology it'd be just as powerful. Sean Penn comesuncomfortably close at times to painting Chris as Jesus-like, the MagicHobo, but he does at least acknowledge the cruel effect of Chrisdeserting his parents (and his sister) and the final realization thathis journey's epiphany was, thanks to the Nature in which he sought toimmerse himself, impossible to realize. The film also shows that, forall Chris' vaunted self-sufficiency, throughout his travels he reliedon help from others, many portrayed as surrogate parental figures: theclues to his final realization were there all along, every step of theway. When he finally found what he wanted it did him no good because hecould not go back again. Forget all the back and forth over whetherSupertramp was a wise wanderer or a self-indulgent little jerk, really,because this consideration is a timeless thought, and this film managesto convey a few of those.Excellent job, all involved. Rest in peace, Christopher JohnsonMcCandless.

mark_lamerton

17 May 2012

Long, tedious and drawn out boring movie

This one of those movies where you get bored and start talking toothers - why do others find it so interesting. A movie about a loserportrayed as someone who knew it all. My wife went to bed after 1 hourbut we suffered through till the end. A definite don't waste your timemovie and how it has hit the top 250 movies beats me. It is staggeringthat this movie could be compared with some really great movies. Aftera great movie I am left thinking about it and I would want to watch itagain. This movie is a yawn. Far too many long spaces of nothing beingsaid - you could cut the movie down by 30 minutes (and it soooo needsit). This movie is rated at a staggering 8.3. Mr Penn has the lastlaugh - good on ya.

marcus259387608

16 May 2012

Poignant

Into the Wild is a film based on a true story that sees a younggraduate named Chris ditch the conventional and materialist life infavour of a life outside the grid alone in the wild away from hisparents and his previous way of life hoping to make it to Alaska, hisown promised land. In spite of this being a true story I was wary ofthe run time of around 2 hours 15 minutes and thought it may strugglein the pacing department. I have seen films with plots far lessconvoluted struggle to fill a shorter run time so with perhaps a formof prejudice going in beforehand I sat down and it was brilliant. Thefilm does not waste any time as we see Chris living this life out inthe wild right from the outset. Of course there is some expositionabout his past life and again knowing that this is a true story it inmy mind warranted a decent delivery. Was it a decent delivery? Well itwas and it wasn't, early stages indicated promise from the storylinebut it wasn't the main strength, the first act then shows promise butin my mind gets a little stale. That said there were significant improvements later on. When we see himtravelling and facing the challenges that being alone and off limitsgives you Emile Hirsch does stupendously and while yes there largeparts of the film with dialogue such as the interaction he has withvarious people he meets which was beautifully scripted as well as shotespecially the scenes with the hippie couple. The scenes with him aloneshow great ability and in my personal opinion show Hirsch's ability toplay the role. Looking at through his eyes was one of the mostinteresting things about this film seeing really how he thinks. Takingthese into account it is hard not to see why choosing this lifewouldn't be a little bit appealing and this to someone who very muchenjoys his conventional lifestyle. Without going into spoiler territorythe film gets more poignant as it goes on, which was helped by (I amgoing to reiterate this) beautifully shot which fully signified whythis man would want live this life. That may have ended up being one ofthe real difficulties with this film as it could have easily ended upbeing pretentious gladly it wasn't. The interactions almost matched hisindividual performance and it was incredible that all the actors didsuch a great job. My personal favourite was Vince Vaughn's performancewhere he was utilised and used fairly sparingly. To summarise this filmdoes brilliantly to make the most of one man's main performance whilebringing other actors in and knowing how to use them properly. I wouldstrongly recommend it as one of the most compelling and poignant ofrecent years.

king_ymk

15 May 2012

Profoundly Boring and Pretentious

"Into the Wild," has the ingredients that should lead to a good film; atalented cast, an Oscar-winning actor at the helm, and what should bethe compelling story of a young man who left everything behind to findhimself in the wilderness. Unfortunately, the movie is marred byseveral problems. One of them is the two hour and twenty minute runningtime. The film would greatly benefit if it were trimmed by thirtyminutes. There are constant shots of Emile Hirsch as ChristopherMcCandless, standing on top of a mountain, bus, anything he can standon and spreading his arms towards the sky. The film is also weigheddown by an overly dramatic, pretentious voice over that reminds theviewer they're watching a movie every time they hear it. Sean Penn'sdirection is at times heavy-handed and self-conscious, which issurprising coming from an actor as gifted as Penn. Emile Hirsch isappealing but his performance has a self-awareness in certain keyscenes that are meant to illuminate what drives Christopher. This isespecially apparent in the scene with his parents, played by WilliamHurt and Marcia Gay Harden, the first encounter with Catherine Keener'scharacter, and the bar scene with Vince Vaughn. I have not read thebook on which the movie is based, but probably the biggest flaw withthe film is that Christopher McCandless comes off as a spoiled,self-righteous, whiner. The people Christopher meets along his journey,however briefly, are infinitely more interesting and engaging than heis. The best part of the movie, and the most meaningful, is the sectionwith Hal Holbrook, who does a beautiful job. It's a shame the rest ofthe movie is not as seamless and unaffected. I know there are peoplewho will find this film to be profound, and they are correct. It isprofoundly boring and in love with itself.

bradpittsbodyguard

15 May 2012

I have to say Oscar Material.

I have to say Sean you did buddy. This movie is ultimately awesome!! Weneed more films like this. I had the opportunity to see this film lastnight and I loved it from the very beginning. The cinematography wasabsolutely awesome and breath-taking. If more people would worry aboutother human beings rather materialistic things we would be in muchbetter environment. I truly believe Happiness is SHARING as well. Whenyou see a "HOMELESS" looking person, or someone who doesn't have whatyou have, you should NEVER judge how they got there. I have to tell youthis movie really touched me and makes me want to live more to thefullest to make a difference and to be a better person.

15 May 2012

BORING!!!!!

Too long, I think is a waste of time to see this movie.maria alicia noriega

Clayton Davis

14 May 2012

Into Perfection

Director Sean Penn delivers the most beautiful film to enter theatersin decades, Into the Wild. Starring newcomer Emile Hirsch asChristopher, a recent graduate of Emory University who decides to pickup and leave behind the material possessions of the world and walk theEarth. Based on a true story, Christopher 's life ends in tragedy butalas, there is no tragedy in the film, rather the essence ofexquisiteness of the world as Christopher shows us everything we shouldbe in awe about, that surrounds us every day.One of the best cast ensembles constructed this year, Penn gives eachof his actor's a objective and draws it out of them like a needle.Hirsch's character, being the most examined obviously, carries the filmon his shoulders as other great thespians have in the past like AdrienBrody in The Pianist and Tom Hanks in Cast Away. Hirsch holds noboundaries in obtaining Christopher's most sensitive areas andengulfing them in himself as if possessed by the man. As he travels thestates, he meets a slew of characters along the way.Vince Vaughn showing us his dramatic acting chops, embodies a qualitynot seen by the actor before. Performances in films like WeddingCrashers, which I thought was brilliant and The Break-Up has put him ina boat Jim Carrey can't seem to get out of. Vaughn is more than comedyhere, he's performing a man who you love to love, a man who's flawsdon't carry any weight in caring for him. Maybe Vaughn's transitionwill be better and smoother than Carrey's.Catherine Keener, who has been on my bad list as of late for hermediocre nominated performance in Capote, as completely revolutionizedher acting game. With a sense of grace and splendor, Keener shows shecan inhabit a character and let her ware on her soul. You can see painand joy throughout the film, and when she's off screen you can't waituntil you see her again. When she returns, you're overcome with joybecause you knows Christopher is in safe hands.Young talents, Kristin Stewart and especially Jena Malone aresensational. Stewart as the smitten young girl in need of love isheartbreaking altogether. Malone who has showed some promise in herearlier career with performances in Stepmom and Saved! shows somethingoriginal and tender as Christopher's estranged sister. As she narratesthe picture, you can hear the passion and desolation in her voice. Asshe tries to gives us insight into her family's world and the reasoningbehind Christopher's exit, we're shown the tragedy of the Americanlifestyle everyone so desperately yearns for. Money, wealth, andmaterials cannot buy love, compassion, and safety. William Hurt andMarcia Gay Harden hold those images to heart as they give theirperformances as Chris' parents.It's in the final twenty minutes in the film when Christopher meets hislast major human contact. A old man exemplifying loneliness to the mostpotent degree and humanity in the most striking wonders. Hal Holbrooktakes on this role and completely shatters all acting competition andgives on the best performances of the year and by far, his career.Holbrook, showing anguish in his eyes, layers the character withemotion upon emotion. Its in his finale encounter with Christopher heseals the award for Best Supporting Actor at this year's AcademyAwards.As stated before, Penn's direction here even though forceful inaudience's attention, is no laughing matter. He ranks himself amongstthe greats of other directors, Clint Eastwood, Sidney Lumet, etc. Aspowerful as he usually is in front of the camera, he's even moreeffective behind it. Into the Wild, is truly the most breathtaking andmoving film of the year. All should experience it, and I myself, wishthat I could live if a ¼ of what this man did in his final years of hislife.Grade: ****/****

14 May 2012

Wrong Director for this one!

Sean - take a break! This story needs someone like Terrance Malick. Sean is way in over his head here (and it painfully shows). I could not believe my eyes (and ears). His direction is "student" filmmaking at best, and a complete bore at it's worst! Give this one a pass!

Bjarke de Koning

14 May 2012

Moving movie

I have to comment on Into The Wild because I feel so sad after watchingthis film for the 2nd time. This story explores thoughts that I thinkwe all have once in a while: What would it be like to just leave andget out of here? Do we really need all these "things" that surroundsus? Emile Hirsch, the supporting actors (especially the father becauseof his character's development in the movie) and Eddie Vedder's musicare just wonderful elements in a film that has a more natural andinteresting flow than most Hollywood productions and really touches onsomething important! This is a glimpse into freedom and a greatreminder. Makes you wonder if you are really doing what you want to dowith your life. ITW has moved me in a way that I cannot remember beingmoved by a movie before. I know that I will be watching this againsoon. I suggest you do the same.The storyline of Into The Wild reminds me of the documentary GrizzlyMan.

kosmasp

12 May 2012

Wild Deer

We have a strange little movie here. The main character seems very meanat the beginning and does things most of the viewers/the "civilised"world wouldn't dare to do. So is there even a chance for redemption tothis character? While he doesn't really change in the course of the film (not in hisoverall believe), I think we find ourselves attracted to the idea of"being free", taking choices and not having to ask anyone if you can orcan't do this and that. But what it also ultimately shows us, is thathumans do need company. Even those who barricade themselves in theirrooms and think they're better off alone ... aren't. There's alwayssomeone near you (not really tough, when you consider the worldpopulation), so that might drive (some of) us, into wanting to bealone, but ultimately that wish will never happen and maybe deep insidethose people know it and that gives them comfort, while they think theyare alone. That is what this is about (as I understood it) :o)PS: Hirsch (the main actors real last name) means deer in German, justin case you wondered!

dogankurban

11 May 2012

good as a film but very hypocritic

I think this is a good film, I mean with nice takes, very good naturalspectacles and good acting, however, I found the scenario hypocritic .I mean, this guy burns all his money and then works to earn some, hemadly critisizes the consuming society, and still works in a burgerking store, uses equipment which are all products of the industry thathe hates and which destroys the wildlife he adores so much. He makesfun of laws, crosses borders and goes down the river forbidden, doesn'teven have an ID, but he doesn't make love with the girl he likes justbecause she is not over 18. If he lives by nature's laws, then what isthe point in that? I think this movie looks like trying to be a filmabout the guy who runs away from home and haves lots of fun, but in theend, gives the lesson "hey boyz, don't run away from home, just listento your parents or you will end up like him"