Into the Wild

Into the Wild. This is the true story of Christopher McCandless who, upon graduation, leaves his comfortable life behind to travel the country and ultimately hitchhike to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way he meets many people with whom he becomes friends. These experiences and these people shape his journey and change him, the same way in which he changes them. His journey is about discovery - discovery about himself, others, life, love and happiness. Though the life he left continues to haunt him, he creeps closer to a greater understanding of it all with each step closer to his destination.

My aunt and uncle recommended this movie to me, so I decided it would be worth watching and made the rental at Movie Gallery. Needless to say, I was not sorry. I'd like to write more, but I don't want to ruin it for those of you who haven't yet seen it. One comment left on the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com) called the film a "real American beauty" and praised it for not feeling artificial or false as so many films of its type do.

It's not a comedy or a drama. To me, it has no genre. It just is. There are times when you will laugh, times when you will cry, and times when you will find yourself at the edge of your seat hoping that everything will turn out alright. It is a beautifully written and well-acted movie that stirs an appreciation and meaning for life, love and happiness. But those meanings won't come to you unless you search for them, just like the main character. If you just want to watch a movie to be entertained, this won't be the movie you're looking for. This is the type of movie you need to soak up to understand.

Jillian