16.9.10

Wilderness



Recently we watched two films that both have beautiful glimpses into the vast unrelenting wilderness that constitutes so much of Alaska.

Into The Wild is a film/story that most everyone is familiar with. The 1996 novel is a true story written by Jon Krakauer based on the journals of twenty-three-year old Christopher McCandless. Chris graduated from college and went on a two year adventure- which culminated in the wilderness of Alaska. Although this film, directed by Sean Penn, got good reviews when it first came out in 2007- I didn’t see it until last week.  I had convinced myself if would be like the Tom Hanks film Castaway where he talks to a soccer ball for the better part of two hours.  Into The Wild is nothing like that- it is a well done film with several story lines.
Another film we saw that I had on my film list for over a year is Grizzly Man. This is the story of Timothy Treadwell, a bear enthusiast who’s been dubbed Grizzly Man due to his passion for documenting the grizzly bears. For ten seasons (summers) he lived among the bears mimicking their behavior and adapting to their lifestyle. Many people think this guy is nutz. I am on the fence regarding his mental capacity or if he was a man simply driven by his passion. This film is predominantly film footage that Timothy Treadwell shot over his ten summers, with some well integrated interviews done by director Werner Herzog.

It does not give anything away to say that both of these men were conquered by the Alaskan wilderness.

Are you fascinated by unrelenting wilderness or terrified of it?

22 comments:

Rita said...

Hey:) I saw Into the Wild last year and I really liked it. It's incredible how alienated this man wanted to be considering our need of being surrounded by people.
beautiful pictures and music.
have a nice weekend:)
J.

this free bird said...

i was so disturbed after i saw into the wilderness. it spurred a major existential crisis in my life and i walked around totally "everything is meaningless", "the man sucks", "give it all away"

so clearly i've recovered, but that movie had a major impact on me...b/c it's not far from where i originated in my thinking and occasionally find myself.

have i terrified you?

xoxo,
carrie

Annemiek said...

Oh wow, Into the Wild is the best film i have seen since a long time. The music in this film is also very, very beautiful.

tulpen said...

I loved Into The Wild. Heartbreaking though.

Lenore @ Lather. Write. Repeat. said...

I really liked Into the Wild even though I found it to be pretty intense and sad. I'm pretty okay with the wilderness since I grew up in Northern Manitoba - I think it's the most beautiful place on earth!

XO
Lenore

drollgirl said...

i have seen both of these movies. i LOVED the first one. i was confounded by the treadwell in pic #2, so that made the movie tough to watch. that, and the ending. yeesh!

nature terrifies me. i love it. i like to look at it. i appreciate it. i admire it. but i am very wary of it, and know that it can be ruthless and we don't stand a chance against it if things turn nasty.

Unknown said...

OOOOOHHH! I am most certainly very much terrified of wilderness!!

LOL

xo

jeanette from everton terrace said...

I was a bit intrigued by Wilderness but haven't seen it yet - will throw it in my Netflix queue now that you've suggested it. The other I don't recall even hearing about, will put it on the list as well.
I appreciate the wilderness but have enough respect to also fear it.

Razmataz said...

I loved "Into the Wild" Fascinating.

Unknown said...

Terrified! I'm terrified to go into the backyard when the grass is uncut! I was so disturbed by Into the Wild, I couldn't sleep after I saw it! XX!

the chirpy bird said...

I just adore Alaska. I spent a little bit of time there a few years ago and have just been aching to return ever since. Loved both of those movies even though I cried and cried and cried! I'm overcome with how much we have to surrender ourselves to nature when we put ourselves out there like that! Sometimes we have such a false sense of security living an urban life! Nature rules!
xo tash

Jude said...

I read the book Into the Wild and it was both terrifying and amazing. I've been wanting to watch these 2 for a while, but somehow I feel like I need to be mentally prepared! (I keep moving them down the Netflix queue :))

Grace said...

Loved both films. Grizzly Man was shocking and interesting to watch. Into the Wild is also a good read, if you haven't read it.

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Signe said...

Just saw Into the Wild last week and I loved it! The Alaskan wilderness looked a lot like the Norwegian one actually!

Have a great weekend :)

Valarie said...

Hi Ren,
I saw both of these movies too recently. I do not think I would be willing to do what either of these men did. I have a real respect,meaning distance, of grizzly bears. I'm not the brave back to the woods type.

Lady Grey said...

I loved Into the Wild so much. I don't think I've ever cried so much in a film before. I think I sympathized with his little sister so much. Loved the soundtrack too.

Mama Gone Green said...

I have seen both of those films and enjoyed them.
During my research in Colorado, I spent a lot of time in the wilderness.... I was only a mile or so from the nearest home, but I never saw another person out there. There is something about being alone, with yourself, that makes you hear thoughts in your hear that you otherwise never would. Sometimes that is scary, but more often, it is a beautiful, mind-opening experience!

Coryanne Ettiene | Kitchen Living with Coryanne said...

In to the Wild is one of my fav reads of all times, great book! Lovely post.

Pat Tillett said...

I didn't see Into The Wild, but I read the book. I really liked it. the guy was different, that's for sure!

Dani said...

Fascinated by the wilderness. As is The Boy. He wants to be Les Stroud. Why, you ask? So he can eat with his fingers and not get in trouble.

Nice.

k said...

I read "into the wild" and it was really good - I haven't seen the movie yet though! I like the wilderness if there are other people around, I don't think I would like it alone :)

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