Whats on Bangalore DVD Review
Movie: Into the Wild
Director: Sean Penn
Cast: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, Vince VaughnThere are very few people who can think like Christopher McCandless, who could give up everything mechanical and materialistic in life, just to turn a dream into reality. Actor Sean Penn has directed the movie and written the screenplay. A brilliant job done by the genius himself.
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The road not taken: Emile Hirsch, who plays Christopher McCandless, throws away all his worldly possessions to chase a dream |
Into the Wild is not just another movie. It is based on a true story of a top student and athlete Christopher McCandless, who abandoned his possessions, gave his $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness.
The movie recounts the life of Christopher, played by Emile Hirsch, who calls himself Supertramp. He sets out on an off-road cross-country to reach the unforgiving but beautiful landscapes of Alaska. Along the way, he abandons his automobile and hitchhikes after burning the remainder of his cash supply. He acquires a open-water kayak and goes down the Colorado River, into Mexico, and later returns to America via freight train to Los Angeles. He meets many people along the way a group of hippies, a farm owner (Vince Vaughn), and a lonely leather worker (Hal Holbrook) who wants to adopt him.
Determined to reach his destination, McCandless reaches Alaska two years after his initial departure. He lives in a Magic Bus, used as a shelter by moose hunters. The taste of freedom, and the company of nature leaves McCandless smitten and happy. He starts to write a book recounting his experiences. An avid reader, Christopher also reads out many verses from popular authors like Henry David Thoerau and Jack London.
As the spring arrives and he decides to return home, McCandless is cut off from civilization by the torrents of a river and bad weather conditions. As his food supply of small game runs short, he resorts to eating indigenous plants. He reads a book for reference to identify edible plants in the wild, but confuses an edible to a poisonous variety, which shuts down his digestive system and causes him to starve to death. In his final hours, he continues to document his thoughts and also mentions about his love for the family.
This great adventure unfolds into a journal and a narration that flows eloquently into an experience that has a strong message to offer to all of us. What is appealing is Christopher's idea and thoughts on life and nature.
The joy of relying on simple things in life and the importance of existence, and the strength and uniqueness of individuality shines through subtly in this movie.
This is one movie no one should miss watching. It is certainly a mind-opener and has something for all of us who are busy negotiatingu00a0 the chaos of a modern lifestyle.
