MovieChat Forums > Into the Wild (2007) Discussion > Beautiful and Tragic

Beautiful and Tragic

posted 8 years ago by tph890 (490)
8 replies | jump to latest

This film embodies what it means to run. I am thinking of Pink Floyd while writing this. "Nobody told you when to run..." Sometimes you don't need anyone to tell you. But a person can never outrun their destiny (don't know if I came up with that or if I heard/read it somewhere).
This film taught me the endless benefit that comes from treating people with simple human respect and kindness, but also the downfall of hubris-- how self-reliance can easily turn into selfishness. But also, one must find them self before they can be any good to others. It's a shame that the main character learned this lesson too late, but at least his story has been told.
Cheers to Mr. Supertramp.

[–] neverstandinalone (641) 8 years ago

"This film taught me the endless benefit that comes from treating people with simple human respect and kindness" and "one must find them self before they can be any good to others."

Stated so well, tph890. I've watched Into the Wild several times, and usually do when I'm in need of a little bit of consoling. When ovewhelmed, with the damages many people believe to be 'normal' behavior nowadays, I'll pop this in, and be reminded also of the times, during the same years McCandless was on his travels, that I 'found' myself. It's easier for me to say "I know what I'm made of." rather than found myself. I just wish I could say I knew myself at his age, sadly I cannot.

It was beautiful and tragic, and I'm thankful his family gave permission for the movie. Have you read the book by Jon Krakauer which the book was based on?

It takes a strong soul, and one who already has 'found' themselves to take such a trek. He needed substantiation.

[–] tph890 (490) 8 years ago

Thanks for your reply.
McCandless truly did have a strong soul.
I haven't read the book yet, but I did a little research on google and Wikipedia regarding the book and McCandless' story before watching, which added a lot of perspective that helped me to better understand the movie, or at least become more immersed in it.

[–] BenCaesar (612) 8 years ago

"but also the downfall of hubris-- how self-reliance can easily turn into selfishness. But also, one must find them self before they can be any good to others. It's a shame that the main character learned this lesson too late, but at least his story has been told."

hubris? Are you serious? You are basically shitting on Chris Mccandless's legacy by saying that he had hubris. He was a kind and gentle soul who did not like the way modern day society operated. He felt disgusted by this corporate capitalism that is ruining the moral fabric of society and the whole planet in general.

[–] tph890 (490) 8 years ago

Maybe hubris is too strong a word. But he was quite bold to go off and live on his own, and believe that it would just work out, no matter how savvy or educated he was.
He even notes that happiness is only useful when shared with others, but he lived in a determined lonely fashion. He constantly sought out solitude.
I have a great deal of admiration for McCandless' journey and life story, but he wasn't perfect. None of us are. We all deal with hubris within ourselves at some point, especially when we are young.

[–] BenCaesar (612) 8 years ago

Sorry my apologies. I see that the POS who wrote his biography - then probably profited from it - used that word.

[–] BenCaesar (612) 8 years ago

Chris sought same kind of enlightenment that Jesus and Buddha did. Difference is that he failed and those other characters (fake or real) succeeded

[–] tph890 (490) 8 years ago

I like to hope that he found some sort of peace in his life, and a bit of enlightenment before passing.
He definitely left us with an inspiring story, which gives positivity to our world. That is a noble accomplishment.

[–] Xcalat3 (3754) 8 years ago

beautiful real story of a man chasing his dream,