Reviews of Into the Wild

Into the Wild

Posted : 1 year, 6 months ago on 19 June 2008 02:33 (A review of Into the Wild)

“I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once. To find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions. Facing the blind death stone alone, with nothing to help you but your hands and your own head.”

Into the Wild kept me engrossed and in complete awe for its entire length. It has proven to be perfect through my eyes, and I film that I will surely treasure and admire for years to come. With a potent and gripping story, incredibly beautiful and stunning scenery, and full of mesmeric and moving performances, this film is one that certainly can’t be overlooked.

Based on the bestselling novel, Into the Wild tells the poignant and riveting story of Chris McCandless’ life and the extraordinary adventures he came across. After graduating, Chris abandons his life with his corrupt family and leaves his past life behind, with a vision and dream to make his way to Alaska and live his life in the wild. Along the way on his adventure, he encounters many characters and events that impact his life, encountering many challenges as well as many emotional, heartbreaking and rewarding experiences. His pursuit of freedom and personal triumph becomes a ride full of many emotions and confronting imagery, but is held together beautifully by transfixing performances and overall striking scenery, capturing every aspect needed for a masterpiece.
The ending was effortlessly remarkable and astonishing. It is rare for a film to leave me as emotional as I was at the climax and end of Into the Wild. It just had that spark of hope even at the end when the story becomes heartrending and powerful beyond anything I would have expected or have seen before. Through all of the sadness and emotions even of disappointment, I found a message that will stay with me forever and satisfaction that this film did in my opinion end on a high note.

The directing by Sean Penn was incomparable and exceptional. The overall look and feel of the film came almost entirely from the masterful and appealing directing, which showed breathtaking and spectacular shots of scenery and throughout, making the whole experience more imitable and enthralling. The screenplay was incredible beyond words. There were countless points in the movie when I felt completely compelled and engrossed in the film, which gave Into the Wild the ability to take the viewer to a whole new world and forget that we’re watching a movie. There were several points in the film when the words spoken gave an incredible sense of success and freedom, delivering some emotions that I haven’t felt while watching a film for a long, long time.
The original soundtrack from Into the Wild was incredible and entirely mesmeric and potent throughout the entire film. It provided entirety to the complete atmosphere and stunning scenery that Into the Wild delivered. The best moments in this film were held together by the striking score, and had the ability to completely captivate them within its unique story. Even after the film comes to its moving and poignant end, as the music plays it gives an incredible feeling to the viewer. It certainly stayed in my head long after the movie had finished, and is now recognizable to be as one of the key reasons why I loved and admired the overall film so much.

Emile Hirsch was outstanding and brilliant for every moment he was on screen. He gave an incredible and gripping performance, delivering inimitable and transfixing performance and some remarkable emotions. This level of success continued throughout the entire film, and as his character changed the same compelling and expressive performance was kept. He was through my eyes the perfect Chris McCandless, and now I couldn’t ever imagine anyone else with the same role and perfecting it as he did. Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt were extensively engaging for their smaller roles. Jena Malone was also incredible and gave an engrossing and exceptional performance. Her words came perfectly for her narration in Into the Wild, and added to the powerful and enthralling atmosphere. Catherine Keener and Brian H. Dierker as some of the unlikely characters that Chris came across were also brilliant. Kristen Stewart, Vince Vaughn and Hal Holbrook were among the other names that significantly contributed with their near perfect performances. The character of Chris seemed was obviously the main focus, but even other smaller roles contributed to the overall impact the film maintained.

Overall Into the Wild was a film that I am incredibly happy and pleased to have seen. This is a film that achieves perfection through all elements and tells a tragic and remarkable tale. See this for stunning directing, impressive scenery, powerful acting, a heartbreaking story and overall an appealing atmosphere. I strongly recommend this to anyone and everyone, a film that can’t be ignored and one to be treasured by all viewers.

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Captivating...

Posted : 1 year, 8 months ago on 22 April 2008 02:11 (A review of Into the Wild)

"The core of mans' spirit comes from new experiences."

Sean Penn's beautiful film Into the Wild is yet another masterpiece of 2007 that divides the blockbuster/action lovers from those who seek magnificent filmmaking.

Into the Wild is a gorgeous production affluent in poignant messages about life. The 140-minute film is exquisitely paced and carried by not only the performances but elegant shots that depict beautiful pictures of nature.

The film is based on a best-selling novel by Jon Krakauer that tells the tragic tale of a young man who escapes the banalities of life, leaves his middle-class family and explores the world. Christopher McCandless (Hirsch) graduates from university with fantastic grades. His marks will open up endless opportunities for jobs and careers for his imminent future. But Chris doesn't want to continue an acquisitive life that is orientated by money and materialistic possessions. Instead he wants to travel to Alaska where he feels nature will provide true happiness free of obligation and relationships. Chris donates most of the remaining money of his college fund to charity, burns the rest and hits the road as a dirty hitchhiker under the alias of Alexander Supertramp with the goal of Alaska in mind.

His excursion introduces him to a procession of people whom he becomes emotionally involved with. These people shape Chris' life and are touched by his vigour and dedication that will lead him to his eventual ambition of reaching the wilderness of Alaska. Chris is an inexperienced bushman but is devoted to his belief of finding contentment in the natural world away from a world that relies on wealth and materialistic belongings.

Into the Wild is powerful, riveting and moving. Sean Penn's direction is fundamentally perfect. He wrote the screenplay and transitioned this script to the big screen. The cinematography was one of the first things that really struck me. The colour palette felt natural; showcasing some landscape scenes that are absolutely beautiful to watch. Be it running water, stunning mountain ranges, animals in their natural habitat or the wind grazing the trees; these are all unique examples of accurately showing the mainstream environment of its location. Even shots that show the mundane city or the typical life of suburbia look graceful thanks to the great cinematography and powerful score. The soft guitar music was frequently utilised and it gives each shot a magical feeling to it. The music suits each and every scene it features in; each note was carefully planned out to suit the shot that it's being used for. This care and dedication to on-screen perfection means that the audience can never be bored.

I was never bored in amidst the fascinating events and the engaging story. Emile Hirsch's performance as Chris/Alex is close to Oscar worthy. I will admit that his character was a selfish human being who brought the tragedies upon himself, but Hirsch plays the role faultlessly. Hal Holbrook was nominated for an Oscar for his minor role in the film. He only appears for little time during the final quarter, but the character is one of the most significant in the film. Hal's performance has a heavy, powerful impact on the audience. He almost had me in tears during his important lines that are vital for the advancement of the story. Jena Malone was a stand out as Chris' sister who also delivers lines of narration throughout the film's duration.

Into the Wild is a remarkable tale that is thoroughly engaging and immensely entertaining. Into the Wild is stunning, gorgeous and memorable. It celebrates the extraordinary, tragic tale of an ambitious man who abandons his money-orientated existence and gives up all possible prospects of becoming highly successful in the pursuit of happiness. Highly recommended.

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Into The Wild

Posted : 1 year, 9 months ago on 30 March 2008 11:51 (A review of Into the Wild)

There isn't much to say on a movie like this. I haven't read the book so I can't say if the movie did it justice but I hope it has.
It goes on in a pretty steady pace and has meaning in it's own way but it's not until the last 15-20 minutes that it has a true impact and makes it a beautiful film.
Then there is the soundtrack that matched it perfectly.

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Ultimate road trip

Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 24 October 2007 01:02 (A review of Into the Wild)

This was a very well made movie by Sean Penn. It blended the location in Alaska well with the road trip that led McCandless to his bus. Hirsch really captures the spirit of the character and the idea behind a true road trip.

I went on a 10,000 mile road trip through the western states, Canada, and Alaska this year so I was really looking forward to seeing this movie. I love the intimacy you get when you travel on the road. You meet a lot of interesting people and get to see sights that you will never forget.

I think that Penn was able to capture the spirit of a true road with McCandless. He wanted to reach that ultimate goal of getting to Alaska. And believe me, it is a trip that is well worth taking. The cinemaphotography was beautifully done in the movie and is worth watching for this alone.

This is a movie to watch if you have ever done or had the dream of taking a road trip and leaving your box behind for awhile. I don't think this is a film you would want to take the family to. Most kids can't connect to this kind of story line. This movie is well worth the price of admission.

Flash

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