Into the Wild [2007]

See Larger Image	List Price: £19.99 Our Price: £5.98 Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment (UK) Starring: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener Directed By: Sean Penn Average Customer Rating:


Audience Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over Binding: DVD EAN: 5014437942531 Format: PAL Label: Paramount Home Entertainment (UK) Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment (UK) Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Paramount Home Entertainment (UK) Region Code: 2 Release Date: 2008-03-10 Running Time: 143 Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment (UK) Theatrical Release Date: 2007
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Editorial Reviews: A superb cast and an even-handed treatment of a true story buoy Into the Wild, Sean Penn's screen adaptation of Jon Krakauer's bestselling book. Emile Hirsch stars as Christopher McCandless, scion of a prosperous but troubled family who, after graduating from Atlanta's Emory University in the early 1990s, decides to chuck it all in and become a self-styled "aesthetic voyager" in search of "ultimate freedom." He certainly doesn't do it by halves: after donating his substantial savings account to charity and literally torching the rest of his cash, McCandless changes his name (to "Alexander Supertramp"), abandons his family (William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden as his bickering, clueless parents and Jena Malone as his baffled but loving sister, who relates much of the back-story in voice-over), and hits the road, bound for the Alaskan bush and determined not to be found. For the next two years he lives the life of a vagabond, working a few odd jobs, kayaking through the Grand Canyon into Mexico, landing on L.A.'s Skid Row, and turning his back on everyone who tries to befriend him (including Catherine Keener and Brian Dierker as two kindly, middle-aged hippies and Hal Holbrook in a deeply affecting performance as an old widower who tries to take "Alex" under his wing). Penn, who directed and wrote the screenplay, alternates these interludes with scenes depicting McCandless' Alaskan idyll--which soon turns out be not so idyllic after all. Settling into an abandoned school bus, he manages to sustain himself for a while, shooting small game (and one very large moose), reading, and recording his existential musings on paper. But when the harsh realities of life in the wilderness set in, our boy finds himself well out of his depth, not just ill-prepared for the rigors of day to day survival but realising the importance of the very thing he wanted to escape--namely, human relationships. It'd be easy to either idealise McCandless as a genuinely free spirit, unencumbered by the societal strictures that tie the rest of us down, or else dismiss him as a hopelessly callow naïf, a fool whose disdain for practical realities ultimately doomed him. Into the Wild does neither, for the most part telling the tale with an admirable lack of cheap sentiment and leaving us to decide for ourselves. --Sam Graham
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: egocentric youth and director Comment: The good bits in this movie are all in the visual part. The camera work is stunning and the wildness of Alaska hits you hard. But I couldn't imagine that anyone was as perverse or plain dumb as this character. Surely on your first day in a snowbound winter landscape, you don't willingly jump into a river? This and other acts of stupidity left this viewer totally out of sympathy with the character. Then there is the way he patronised everyone who helped him. These people were kind to a smartass boy who repaid their kindness by leaving them to sort out their own mess, which he had usually made worse. He would listen to other people's problems and then say "good luck, I'm off to have an adventure". I couldn't wait for a bear to eat him. Customer Rating: Summary: Waste of time Comment: Tedious boredom, gloomy -- what a waste of money. Some good has come out of it as the DVD is now strung up on my allotment to keep the pigeons of my sprouts -- 'bout all its good for. Customer Rating: Summary: Philosophic Comment: Everyone living in today's society needs to see a film like this once in a while. Customer Rating: Summary: Yearning for freedom Comment: This film pulls you compellingly along and into the journey of Chris McCandless' life. Through superbly deft narrative, cinematography, portrayals and direction, you could feel exactly that overwhelming sense of wanting to be away from what he perceived as baggages of his life, and his optimistic view and infectious enthusiasm for his ultimate goal. The total sense of yearning for freedom can be felt overwhelmingly, which makes the conclusion and final realisation, all the more moving, devastating, claustrophobic and uplifting all at the same time. How can that be you may ask, I don't know .. all I can say it's a stunning feat of highest achievement in movie making: that's why I have to give "Into the Wild" the full 5 stars! Customer Rating: Summary: Into The Wild Comment: 'Into The Wild' is a very gentle, introspective film that had me engrossed the whole way through. Emile Hirsch's performance draws you immediately into his characters (Chris') pursuit of a free, unfettered life, in touch with nature and it's finer elements. You understand his idealism and his strong focus to achieve his aims. Sean Penn directed this film superbly, one part that stands out is when Chris goes into a big city and his feelings of disconnect and alienation. Penn manages to show these emotions (using various film and camera techniques) with real skill and you feel as awkward and out of place as Chris does. The soundtrack is awesome, with music by Eddie Vedder and it really adds to the overall feel of the film. You can really see the benefits of this type of lifestyle and a part of you yearns to follow the life Chris did and to experience life, relationships and nature on a fundamental, stripped back level. Having read the book I was aware of the general story and this film is remarkably faithful to it, there are very few deviations. In addition, I felt none of the frustrations with Chris' attitude that I felt when reading the book, being portrayed on the screen and acted so well, I understood the mindset a little more. He is shown to be more naive in the book than in the film, but this made the film a better viewing experience, they are different media after all. This film offers some insightful ideas and philosophy, but you aren't spoon fed them or have them rammed down your throat, which is a refreshing change from a Hollywood film. With amazing locations, excellent acting, top direction and an inspired soundtrack this makes for one great film and one I highly recommend. More Reviews