Tuesday, December 8, 2009
movie review
Into the wild is the dramatic story of young Christopher McCandless. After graduating from emery university, he donates the 24 000 he has in svaings to charity, and takes off in his yellow dautson. Leaving his parents unaware of his plans to cut them out of his life, and to go to alaska and live off the land. The movie profiles his life befor he takes off, and what happend durring his trip. He meets several charaters along the way. including a pair of hippies, and elder man Franz, and Whayne Westburg. Theis are just a few of the people that chris made an impact on while making his way to Alaska. It provied a window in to what someone living life in a primative way has to do to survive. Digging back to the roots of humans and relying on mostly what nature gave him. There are deep revalations that chris makes about him self, his family, and the world in gernral. The way that penn shot the movie makes you want empathise with chris and his family. I found myself rather involved with the plot, in adition to having th movie have a light grasp on me. like every good moves dose, it had its laughs, its relating points, and its sad/gripping moments, over all i loved the movie and the book.
movie quotations
(a) - "No, man. Alaska, Alaska. I'm gonna be all the way out there, all the way fucking out there. Just on my own. You know, no fucking watch, no map, no axe, no nothing. No nothing. Just be out there. Just be out there in it. You know, big mountains, rivers, sky, game. Just be out there in it, you know? In the wild."
(b) - "Society, man! You know, society! Cause, you know what I don't understand? I don't understand why people, why every fucking person is so bad to each other so fucking often. It doesn't make sense to me. Judgment. Control. All that, the whole spectrum. Well, it just..." "parents, hypocrites, politicians, pricks."
(c) - "rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness... give me truth"
a: This quot took place at at bar with Westberg. I think this was Chris's simple way of putting his adventure. Just being "out there" it makes it clear that he needs to escape and he doesn't need anyone, or anything to accomplish this. This is memorable to me because this was a scene where it showed Chris loosed up. Hes drinking and having a good time, and talking about the simple side of his trip.
b: This furthers the apparent problem that Chris has with society, and also clears up some reasons he has for going to Alaska. To simply put he has a problem with the types of people or society mainly consists of; "parents, hypocrites, politicians, pricks". This quot is made around the same time as my A quot was made. therefor giving me the same reason as to why it was memorable to me. it shows the same loosened up Chris that wasn't shown too much during the story.
c: This stuck in my mind for a few reasons. Its deep, and uncommon perspective no shared by many today. it shows Chris being tuf skinned, and wanting to know the way thing really are. He holds truth highly above love, fame and money. Things most of us would presumably choose over truth.
(b) - "Society, man! You know, society! Cause, you know what I don't understand? I don't understand why people, why every fucking person is so bad to each other so fucking often. It doesn't make sense to me. Judgment. Control. All that, the whole spectrum. Well, it just..." "parents, hypocrites, politicians, pricks."
(c) - "rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness... give me truth"
a: This quot took place at at bar with Westberg. I think this was Chris's simple way of putting his adventure. Just being "out there" it makes it clear that he needs to escape and he doesn't need anyone, or anything to accomplish this. This is memorable to me because this was a scene where it showed Chris loosed up. Hes drinking and having a good time, and talking about the simple side of his trip.
b: This furthers the apparent problem that Chris has with society, and also clears up some reasons he has for going to Alaska. To simply put he has a problem with the types of people or society mainly consists of; "parents, hypocrites, politicians, pricks". This quot is made around the same time as my A quot was made. therefor giving me the same reason as to why it was memorable to me. it shows the same loosened up Chris that wasn't shown too much during the story.
c: This stuck in my mind for a few reasons. Its deep, and uncommon perspective no shared by many today. it shows Chris being tuf skinned, and wanting to know the way thing really are. He holds truth highly above love, fame and money. Things most of us would presumably choose over truth.
music and lyrics ( choice one)
"society, have mercy on me. I hope you're not angry if I disagree. society, crazy and deep I hope you're not lonely without me"( #1)
"I think I need to find a bigger place'
cos when you have more than you think you need more space"(#2)
This song reflects Chris and his obsession with society. Society was something that Chris was apposed to, and refused everything it stood for. This line from the Eddie Vedder song "society" ( #1) is talking about Chris and the problem he had with society. This was one of the topics that I'm sure McCandless could have ranted on for hours. And topic that he could most likely get quite " deep" about. This song section could have been directed to he sister, i think he felt badly for leaving his sister behind, breaking a strong bond they had. Hoping that she wasn't lonely with with out Chris would be something i could see him pondering on.
The second quot i picked i think attempts at an idea as to why Chris went to Alaska. To me this says that Chris had a lot going on in his mind. Concerning himself with thing need not to be concerned over. He needed to get away, and let his mind open up into a big place ( such as Alaska)
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Chapters 17 &18
Within chapter 17 it describes the journey that Krakauer took to the bus. There are remnants of McCandless everywhere, including clothing, pots and pans, and the knife sheath given to him by Franz.
Chris decides to wait for the river to go back down and return to his previous routine of hunting and gathering. 4 days after he returned to the bus he writes about starving. Some believe he confused a wild potato plant seeds with poisonous sweet pea seeds, which was the most likely mistake. Krakauer tests the seeds at the University of Alaska and finds swainsonine alkaloid, a substance that stops the human body from turning food into usable energy. It causes starvation regardless of how much you eat. It’s possible to overcome the poison but because McCandless was already so low on necessary sugars and protein, he could not flush it from his system.
Chris decides to wait for the river to go back down and return to his previous routine of hunting and gathering. 4 days after he returned to the bus he writes about starving. Some believe he confused a wild potato plant seeds with poisonous sweet pea seeds, which was the most likely mistake. Krakauer tests the seeds at the University of Alaska and finds swainsonine alkaloid, a substance that stops the human body from turning food into usable energy. It causes starvation regardless of how much you eat. It’s possible to overcome the poison but because McCandless was already so low on necessary sugars and protein, he could not flush it from his system.
in a final conclusion in response to the guiding question.
Chris McCandless - Courageous and noble idealist
or
reckless idiot and wacko narcissist undeserving of all the media attention?
or
reckless idiot and wacko narcissist undeserving of all the media attention?
I have come to the understanding that Christopher Johnson McCandless made some brilliant hind sight in his life. He had an uncommon attitude to approaching life that not many people posses ( let alone understand). That being said i think Chris screwed up a good number of times. He could have gotten better maps that could have saved his life ( on a detailed map of the area, nearby cabins and the basket and wire river crossing are marked). He could have been more prepared. However being prepared might and probably was something Chris did not like to rely on, or potentioally stood against.
"...the sea's only gifts are harsh blows and, occasionally, the chance to feel strong. Now, I don't know much about the sea, but I do know that that's the way it is here. And 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 blind, deaf stone alone, with nothing to help you but your own hands and your own head..."
I believe that Chris measured himself once, and he felt strong in his last moments. I believe that the insight he has provided us with into his own life is important. He didn't stop when i came to making a difference in his own life, and he didn't stop when it came to making a difference in others life's. In my eyes this makes Chris noble, Strong, and intelligent. throwing him into the category of a reckless idiot wacko narcissist would contradict and be in lue of all that he found, in body soul and mind, and what he attempted to do for others.
chapters 12-16
This section shows when Chris was happy(er) with his parents. a fresh grad, he decides to go on a trip and be on his own for the summer. I think this trip changed him. I think he realized what his life would be like if he cut his family out. At the end of the summer he had strayed away from the " a call every three days" rule that his parents had put in place, in addition to apparently having been lost in the Mojave Desert and succumbing to dehydration.
I don't fully understand why the author put his story in the book ( chapters 24-25). To me it was kinda like " OK now I'm going to talk about me!" It only took away from the book i think. I mean good for him he climbed a mountain, but what dose that have to do with Chris and his story?
In chapter 16 McCandless leaves Carthage for Alaska on April 15, 1992. He hitches with Jim Gallien and arrives at the Stampede Trail. After being at the buss for a good chunk of time Chris kills a moose. he races to preserve the meat but looses it to maggots. It was recorded that this caused him a great deal distress. He looked upon food as holy, and had just wasted so much that it ate away at him.
In early July he attempted to leave, but was stopped by the river he crossed earlier. Due to the season ( spring ) a lot of snow was melting, causing the river to swell, making the crossing impossible. Chris decided to return to the buss, a leading fatal mistake.I admire him for his perspective on food, its something that the average person take for granite. For this section of the book i lean a little bit to the reckless idiot side of things. It was a dumb move, half a mile down the river he could have found salvation in a basket and wire crossing.
I don't fully understand why the author put his story in the book ( chapters 24-25). To me it was kinda like " OK now I'm going to talk about me!" It only took away from the book i think. I mean good for him he climbed a mountain, but what dose that have to do with Chris and his story?
In chapter 16 McCandless leaves Carthage for Alaska on April 15, 1992. He hitches with Jim Gallien and arrives at the Stampede Trail. After being at the buss for a good chunk of time Chris kills a moose. he races to preserve the meat but looses it to maggots. It was recorded that this caused him a great deal distress. He looked upon food as holy, and had just wasted so much that it ate away at him.
In early July he attempted to leave, but was stopped by the river he crossed earlier. Due to the season ( spring ) a lot of snow was melting, causing the river to swell, making the crossing impossible. Chris decided to return to the buss, a leading fatal mistake.I admire him for his perspective on food, its something that the average person take for granite. For this section of the book i lean a little bit to the reckless idiot side of things. It was a dumb move, half a mile down the river he could have found salvation in a basket and wire crossing.
Chapters 6 - 11
"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future..."
an excerpt from a letter that Chris wrote to Ronald Franz, i think has a powerful optimistic meaning. This shows McCandless trying to convince someone to change something in their life to better it. It gives a bit of insight into his mind, and how he thinks we don't need all theis "things" to live a happy life.
In chapter eight McCandless is compared to Carl McCunn (a worker on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the 70s) McCunn was in Alaska already and in 1981 requested to be flown to a remote lake above the Coleen River. how ever he forgot to request a flight back, and soon ran out of food . Rather than attempt to walk back out of the wilderness, he wasted away in his cabin and eventually shot himself. i disagree with this comparison, McCunn being mentally ill. and delusional. McCunn was so (logically) ill prepared, he didn't even know the difference between an S.O.S and a ALL CLEAR signal. something that one might look into if they where going off to live way out in a desolate part of Alaska? duh...
my opinion is strengthened after reading chapters 6-11
an excerpt from a letter that Chris wrote to Ronald Franz, i think has a powerful optimistic meaning. This shows McCandless trying to convince someone to change something in their life to better it. It gives a bit of insight into his mind, and how he thinks we don't need all theis "things" to live a happy life.
In chapter eight McCandless is compared to Carl McCunn (a worker on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the 70s) McCunn was in Alaska already and in 1981 requested to be flown to a remote lake above the Coleen River. how ever he forgot to request a flight back, and soon ran out of food . Rather than attempt to walk back out of the wilderness, he wasted away in his cabin and eventually shot himself. i disagree with this comparison, McCunn being mentally ill. and delusional. McCunn was so (logically) ill prepared, he didn't even know the difference between an S.O.S and a ALL CLEAR signal. something that one might look into if they where going off to live way out in a desolate part of Alaska? duh...
my opinion is strengthened after reading chapters 6-11
Chapters 1-5
The first five chapters of into the wild profiles some of the scenarios that Chris ran into during his trek. The story line then jumps back a bit to just before Chris made his departure from Annandale. Establishing that he doesn't have the best relationship with his parents, and that hes looking to escape and do things the way that he wants to. McCandless strikes me as a gun-ho, strapping young lad kind of guy. The first five chapters left me with the impression that Chris is street and book smart. He seems strong and confident ( not cocky) and knows which way is up.
Material possessions don't seem to faze him much, he doesn't need money, or most things that fallow with cash.
In my opinion, he has the making of a Nobel idealist, as apposed to being reckless idiot.
Material possessions don't seem to faze him much, he doesn't need money, or most things that fallow with cash.
In my opinion, he has the making of a Nobel idealist, as apposed to being reckless idiot.
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