"Into The Wild"

[Ravvy]

Hope you have a speedy recovery Ravvy!

-enk

Hey thanks.
I guess technically/ medically it was not "stomach" surgery. I had an open incision herniated umbilical repair. The surgeon opened me up with a 2-inch gash immediately below my navel. Once the swelling goes down, I think I will see a "belly-button makeover" which will have turned a "multi-peaked outie" into a small, concise "innie"!

I had a colonoscopy a couple weeks ago, and with that event plus this surgery I have been nicknamed the "TMI King" for the month!
("TMI" = "Too Much Information" )

[Ravvy]

Get well soon. (I am eversoslightlyenvious of anyone with a good excuse to stay in bed at the moment.... I just want to sleeeeeeeppp.... any tips for staying awake during my son's guitar concert tonight.... what if I doze off before he does his bit??? No sun today.)

Thanks, & I'll definitely tell you about the movie as soon as I see it.

Your comment about sleep reminded me of something else. These medical events of the past few weeks have resulted in my total decaffeineation (is that spelled right? ). Still drinking coffee as a social habit, but it is all decaf.

[Mattlill2000]

Sean Penn produced and directed the movie.

[Ravvy]

Ravvy,

Have you seen the film yet?

YES!
I went to see it yesterday afternoon. (Somehow it was fitting that I went during an ice storm warning; I was one of 5 people in the audience.)

I thought it was very good and can recommend it. I was ready to call it great until the final scene in the bus, the last 3-4 minutes of the movie, which I felt was over-the-top melodrama. (Anybody remember how "Elephant Man" ended? If you liked that ending, then you will also like this one.) But the ending does not discolor the first 2hrs 25 minutes of the movie, which I thought was excellent. Among other things, this movie has a pretty strong message for parents who think they can keep their bad behavior a secret from their kids.

[Rosamunda]

Among other things, this movie has a pretty strong message for parents who think they can keep their bad behavior a secret from their kids.

Ah yes, I forgot that part of the "story". Interesting that Penn chose to develop that in the film. Anyay, it's still not showing in Finland but I'm hoping we can see it in England at Christmas.

Good to hear you are back on your feet!
P

[Ravvy]

Among other things, this movie has a pretty strong message for parents who think they can keep their bad behavior a secret from their kids.

Ah yes, I forgot that part of the "story". Interesting that Penn chose to develop that in the film.

Not only did he develop it, but it was represented (I think accurately and appropriately) as the primary force that drove this young man to do what he did. He had personal demons to exorcize and lost his life in the process.

I'm a real sucker for family history/ family of origin stuff, so I see storyline parallels between this movie and one of my favorite sci-fi films, "Bladerunner". The replicants returned to earth to find their "family of origin", and what they learned drove them ...

[Rosamunda]

Hi there Ravvy!

Guess what? The film is released in Finland on 4th April!!!!!!!! And guess what what?? I ordered a DVD copy from Amazon only YESTERDAY

There was an article in this morning's metro about Penn's film. Not sure I understand why it took so long to get here (unless it is dubbed, doubt it). I hope Penn makes the trip for the Première (it might say something in the article but I read too slowly and had to get off the train and haven't had time to read the rest). So, I will hide my DVD and watch it on the big screen first. I have been telling all my students I will lend them the DVD (I have done reading comprehensions on extracts from the book) so now they can go and watch it at the cinema instead

Anyway... off to see Juno now.
P

[antstar]

A couple years ago in a discussion about what people were reading, I posted that I was reading Jon Krakauer's book, "Into The Wild", the true story about a young man who rejects his rich parents and, idealistic to a fault, bums his way around the USA and Canada with the saga ending in Alaska.

The most recent issue of "Outside" magazine (Here in the USA) has a front cover + article about this story, because after 10 years of negotiations with his family it has now been made into a movie (by Sean Penn). The movie opening is set for the latter part of September, and I will be standing in line to see it. Engrossing, tragic story.

Hi i watched the film last week and found it really interesting, how much does the film differ from the book? sometimes so much gets left out, or the complete opposite, where extra is input just to make it dramatic.
Did he really meet these people along the way, or were they just put in to make you more like the lad?

[Rosamunda]

I saw a trailer last night (when I went to see Juno). Looks good.

Yes, he really did meet a lot of colourful people and the book gives great descriptions of many of them. In fact Jon Krakauer did a huge amount of investigative journalism to piece together all the information. There are gaps, even in the book. I haven't seen the film yet but the trailer posted the words "Inspired by the book by Jon Krakauer" .... so I guess some of the characters may be a little different. I wonder if any of the characters are played by the people themselves?

[antstar]

I hope you enjoy it Penny and please let me know what you thought compared to the book. Sometimes raeding the book first eaves you dissapointed. Its a long film but very enjoyable, mind you i think films with zombies are entertaining also

[Rosamunda]

mind you i think films with zombies are entertaining also

Fair enough.

I saw a film with a fox last week "Tyttö ja kettu" (or something like that) in Tapiola cinema which is a realy nice little independent picture house in Espoo. French film in French with Suomi subtitles. Half a dozen people in the cinema. Nice film... rather like reading a kiddies' picture book. Lovely images, very slow (like reading a story before bedtime). I loved it, my 11 yr old was bored to tears, which was a shame. Amazing chase between a lynx and a fox, fab scenery (Jura, France). i think it was the same director as the Penguin film (which I must admit, bored me).

[antstar]

To be truthful i enjoy most films, i just love the experience of going to a cinema and watching the big screen. I once saw a film in French about a werewolf even though we didn't know before hand it was in French were going to see 10,000 next week! hope its good! maybe no zombies though

[Rob A.]

Well...I guess this is going to sound negative... I haven't seen the movie, but I've known about the "real life" event since "day one"...

A work colleague saw the movie on the weekend and his response was ...well, typically "northern" ....sympathy for the McCandless, but viewing the whole event as rather "stupid" and "careless" ...He also made the comment that while McCandless might have been prepared to go into the "wilds" of California and Oregon, Alaska is an entirely different thing...

Perhaps for "northerners", this is "real life" and going into the "deep woods" is something you don't do without some planning... I remember on a few occasions...particularly in the "flat wilderness" of northeastern British Columbia...stopping at the side of a bush road, and casually walking a few hundred metres into the forest...and suddenly becoming aware that my sense of direction was gone... ...I hadn't properly noted things such as the direction (using the sun if it is out and time of day), or tall trees and whatever other "landmarks" the flat terrain might offer... After the initial wave of panic...I would carefully walk back in a sort of circular manner and would eventually find the road, and, perhaps, be some distance from the car...

But I think I will go to see the movie, anyway...

And, as well, I'd be interested in what a typical rural Finn might think of this event...

[Mattlill2000]

And, as well, I'd be interested in what a typical rural Finn might think of this event...

That sounds like a comment from a "city slicker" who is lost because all previous known markers of direction are gone. On the other hand, a seasoned "hick" can read a forest immediatly and will find their way. No problem and like you mentioned, landmarks etc. are the same as street signs. In Finland, the first group of people that come into mind are hunters, berry pickers and hikers, etc. Also the idea of Private Property and No Trespassing doesn't apply here and possibly then that means there is more outdoor activity in the wilderness here. Just to walk blindly into a forest isn't very clever.

[Rosamunda]

It depends "how" you watch the film. If you go in expecting a "Bushcraft Survival" documentary then yes, I guess you will be disappointed. But if the movie is anything like the book, then it is more about who McCandless was, his background, his passions and his motivation. It is about vagabonds and hobos and why people make the choices they do. In a lesson today we read the first chapter of the book. Gallien, picks up Alex who is hitchhiking out of Fairbanks. They talk about McCandless's rifle, a .22. Gallien says that a .22 is no good for hunting game. One of my students asked me if I had read all the book and why would a youngster go out into the wilderness with no food and just a .22. Then another student said, well why would a 12th grader walk into a school with a .22 and shoot everything that moves...? Of course, there is no answer and no one knows but Krakauer and Sean Penn both have their own ideas about it. But it's not about bushcraft.