Review of Into the Wild (2007) by Carlos P — 06 Nov 2016

Very FEW 2.5 hour films make it seem like time flew by but this ladies and gents IS one of them and more surprising was to find out that Sean Penn wrote and directed this moving, poetic film that leaves the viewer reflecting on their own existence.

Wow! The film is presented in a nonlinear narrative, jumping back and forth between McCandless' time spent in Alaskan wilderness and his two-year travels leading up to his journey to Alaska. Around May of 1990, Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) graduated with high honors from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Shortly afterwards, McCandless rejects his conventional life by destroying all of his credit cards and identification documents, donates his life savings and cut ties with his family and friends taking a journey across several states culminating in Alaska.

He assumes the name Alexander Supertramp and along his incredible journey he makes friends with different individuals that teach him about life and he teaches them as well in very special ways. I felt so much sympathy and understanding for Alexander but as he learned in his journey nature can be very challenging, even more so than society.

Of course a 20 something does not know that, it takes maturity and years of living to understand life. After finding an abandoned bus in Alaska and turning it into his campsite life for McCandless becomes harder and he becomes less discerning.

As his supplies begin to run out, he realizes that nature is also harsh and uncaring. In the pain of realization Alexander concludes that true happiness can only be found when shared with others and seeks to return from the wild to his friends and family.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED with a great soundtrack and its on Netflix HD.