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Into the Wild Takeaways

1,705 Views | 22 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by TXAGFAN
Teacher_Ag
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2:24p, 12/25/20
AG
Finally watched this movie after intending to for years. I haven't read the book and don't really care to. I'm interested in what the takeaway or conclusion of this story is to you. As a movie I think it was pretty good, but I don't find myself romanticizing or admiring McCandless in any way. I feel bad for him and especially for his family, mainly his sister. I feel bad that maybe mental illness led him to search everywhere for peace and unfortunately to a place he wasn't prepared to survive. I pitied him while watching him wither away.

I gather he has admirers? What is it about his story or the events in the book/movie that make him what seems like a folk hero to many?
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Milwaukees Best Light
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2:39p, 12/25/20
AG
Haven't seen the movie, but am about 2/3 through the book and struggling to finish it. I have no empathy for McCandles and am having trouble caring about his plight.
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Corporal Punishment
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2:47p, 12/25/20
AG
I admire his adventurous soul. Dude didn't want to be another cog in the wheel and I respect that.

I don't admire his ignorance.

He took stupid risks and paid the ultimate price.
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jeffk
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In reply to Teacher_Ag • 2:47p, 12/25/20
AG
He definitely has admirers out there, but like you I think it's mostly misguided escapist type feelings. Who hasn't wanted to just drop everything and disappear into the mountains for a week? I know I have, but I'd also want to come back and see family and enjoy modern society too. Maybe some folks would like to never come back?

I've read the book and seen the film, and I didn't think either was nostalgic or rose-tinted in how they portrayed the story, so I think any admirers are probably romanticizing and ignoring the harsh resolution. They went and removed the bus not too long ago because folks were trekking out to see it and trashing the place around it.
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MookieBlaylock
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2:50p, 12/25/20
AG
The desire to test one self has always been apart of life

I do think he did not have any fat in his diet and that is why he starved
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jeffk
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In reply to MookieBlaylock • 3:26p, 12/25/20
AG
Kind of interesting that his death spurred some scientific research into the toxicity of some seeds McCandless may have eaten the weeks preceding his death.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/05/01/403535274/into-the-wild-author-tries-science-to-solve-toxic-seed-mystery
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Teacher_Ag
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In reply to jeffk • 3:35p, 12/25/20
AG
I read that both the theory about the seeds as well as mold on the seeds have been debunked by a scientist. I guess honestly his exact manner of death doesn't matter that much to me because either way he wandered into an area where he couldn't have survived for very long. I wonder how long he could have made it if he didn't stumble upon that bus with useful stuff in it. It might have been better if he hadn't though because without the convenient bus he might have realized much earlier that modern society has its perks and crossed the river before it became impassable.
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Jugstore Cowboy
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In reply to jeffk • 5:01p, 12/25/20
AG

Quote:
I've read the book and seen the film, and I didn't think either was nostalgic or rose-tinted in how they portrayed the story, so I think any admirers are probably romanticizing and ignoring the harsh resolution.
I think it's impressive that the movie doesn't seem to take his side or romanticize him, or really push a strong point of view. Most of us have had that instinct to just walk away, and the movie shows the ups and downs of doing so without much of a plan or many skills. I thought Hal Holbrook was a decent stand-in for the audience: "I understand completely; good luck with all that; and here's a belt i made because I have some practical skills. Goodbye."
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jeffk
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In reply to Jugstore Cowboy • 5:05p, 12/25/20
AG
Yeah, I appreciated that approach. (I really like Krakour's book for the same reason; although I like pretty much everything else he's written too.)
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jeffk
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In reply to Teacher_Ag • 5:06p, 12/25/20
AG
Haven't seen a debunking article yet, got a linky?
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thejavelina
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5:06p, 12/25/20
It's interesting to contrast McCandless with Dick Proenneke. Proenneke went into the Alaskan wilderness but was enormously well prepared. He ended up living in the wild for over 30 years. Whether the seed theory is true or not, McCandless died because he didn't respect nature or its dangers.
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Teacher_Ag
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In reply to jeffk • 5:14p, 12/25/20
AG
https://www.adn.com/voices/article/krakauer-goes-further-wild-over-mccandless-starving-death-alaska/2013/09/14/
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jeffk
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In reply to Teacher_Ag • 5:16p, 12/25/20
AG
Cool, thanks!

Also, that article's author dislikes Krakauer as much as I like him. Lol.
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Teacher_Ag
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In reply to jeffk • 5:24p, 12/25/20
AG
I got that sense. I haven't read it or anything else by him. Having not read it I guessed that some people don't like that the author leaves some things out or includes some things in an attempt to paint McCandless in a more flattering light. It probably makes for a better read that way rather than simply chalking it up as a naive adventurist who forgets that he isn't a trained survivalist (or who doesn't care to survive).
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jeffk
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In reply to Teacher_Ag • 5:55p, 12/25/20
AG
He's a controversial author for sure (the squabbles over Into Thin Air may never end) but I enjoy his writing and genre and don't have a problem with authors self-promoting. Anyway, sorry to hijack your thread.
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Teacher_Ag
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In reply to jeffk • 5:59p, 12/25/20
AG
Haha no biggie.

What makes him controversial?
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Thunder18
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In reply to Teacher_Ag • 6:12p, 12/25/20
AG
There was a LOT of controvery over Krakauer's interpretation of the 1996 Everest disaster, particularly the way he wrote about Boukreev and his role in the rescue attempts. I haven't read Into the Wild, but i enjoyed the movie, and the soundtrack in particular.
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jeffk
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In reply to Teacher_Ag • 6:27p, 12/25/20
AG
Yeah, a lot of it comes from the way several big players in Into Thin Air were portrayed. It's claimed that he takes some artistic license with his writing and I don't necessarily disagree with that, but I also stop short of saying he fabricates facts. (Boukarev would tho.)

Personally, I think the outdoor sports community, especially climbers, can be a very insular and protective crowd. Krakauer was an insider but broke rank and named names and made a lot of money in doing so. He choose somewhat controversial topics for his books - Everest Disaster, Mormon fundamentalists, Pat Tillman's death - and then tells the story. And he doesn't shy away from telling who he thinks are the good guys or bad guys.
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Tanya 93
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6:34p, 12/25/20
Best thing about the movie is the soundtrack
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Jason Ag
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6:48p, 12/25/20
AG
Going from memory, but wasn't he only a few miles from a cable crossing over the river and didn't know it?
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MookieBlaylock
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In reply to Jason Ag • 6:57p, 12/25/20
AG
Jason Ag said:
Going from memory, but wasn't he only a few miles from a cable crossing over the river and didn't know it?


Yes he was about a mile from the crossing
But he was starving to death and had a broken shoulder allegedly ( dont thing kraukauer covered the autopsy)

They pulled rhe Magic Bus bc so many peiple were visiting
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LHIOB
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7:39p, 12/25/20
AG
After hiking all over Denali this summer I can say that is a beautiful and savage place.
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LouisHerbertWong
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In reply to Tanya 93 • 7:54p, 12/26/20
AG
Tanya 93 said:
Best thing about the movie is the soundtrack

Eddie.
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TXAGFAN
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In reply to Teacher_Ag • 2:10p, 12/27/20
AG
You're probably too old. I think a lot of teens and 20-somethings romanticized his background.
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