[Vision2020] "Into The Wild"

[Ted Moffett]

keely et. al.

I hesitate to judge how "effectively" (by whose standards, yours, mine,
Chief Joseph, the Dalia Lama, or Edward Abby, author of "Desert
Solitaire?") McCandless lived his beliefs in this story.  It was his life to
live as he wished.

However, the evidence suggests he was quite "effective" in making decisive
decisions on certain beliefs he took seriously.  It almost seems like a
violation of something sacred to be profiting off this life (a book, now a
film)...a life lived with profound convictions and the will to act on them,
with full foreknowledge of the risks, risks assumed with courage and joy, to
a degree that puts many pretenders to shame.   I'll limit what I reveal
here, for those who may see the film, but mountain climbers, sailors, or
pilots, just to mention a few risk takers, push the boundaries of
exploration, whether it be in the world of Nature, of the human soul, or in
McCandless's case, a combination of both.  We do not always dismiss these
risks as assumed due to immaturity.  In fact it is understood that without
the risk, the challenge to face certain basic realities in life, and
overcome them, would be absent.

Anyway, perhaps I do not understand what you mean about McCandless's
"immaturity."  And I hesitate to go into details about his life, again
because the film is on the big screen locally...

Ted Moffett


On 11/5/07, keely emerinemix <kjajmix1 at msn.com> wrote:
>
> "Twit" was probably gratuitously dismissive, Ted.  I do think, though,
> that his depth of passion for his beliefs, when coupled with shocking
> immaturity, made him, in the book and in the movie, much less effective in
> living them out.
>
> keely
>
>
>
>
>  ------------------------------
> Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2007 02:44:18 -0800
> From: starbliss at gmail.com
> To: suehovey at moscow.com
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] "Into The Wild"
> CC: kjajmix1 at msn.com; vision2020 at moscow.com
>
>
> All-
>
> I don't think "twit" describes McCandless, the protagonist of the book and
> film "Into The Wild," unless taking a cynical view of his Weltanschauung.
> At least not the "real" McCandless, as opposed to whatever portrayal occurs
> in the film:
>
> http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/twit
>
> twit - noun informal:
>
> An insignificant or bothersome person.
> -------
> This account at the web site below, written by Jon Krakauer, the author of
> the book "Into The Wild," reveals McCandless to be more "Tolstoy" in
> inspiration.  Don't open this web link if planning to see the film, unless
> you want the plot revealed.  This film is probably of the sort best viewed
> not knowing anything about the story.  It can be sliced and diced after
> viewing:
>
> http://outside.away.com/magazine/0193/9301fdea.html
>
> Ted Moffett
>
> On 11/4/07, *Sue Hovey* <suehovey at moscow.com> wrote:
>
>  Wellllll  I would say you aren't a twit...
>
> Sue
>
>  ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* keely emerinemix <kjajmix1 at msn.com>
> *To:* vision2020 at moscow.com
> *Sent:* Sunday, November 04, 2007 8:54 PM
> *Subject:* [Vision2020] "Into The Wild"
>
>
>
> Visionaires --
>
> Jeff and I went to see "Into The Wild," the Sean Penn film based on Jon
> Krakauer's book by the same name, and I would urge all of you to see it.  An
> astonishingly well-made movie about a very difficult subject -- the
> protagonist is an idealistic Thoreau/Jack London devotee' who is alternately
> engaging and annoying, and I found myself entirely caught up in the film
> even though I had read the book and knew the plot.
>
> Christopher McCandless, the young man portrayed in the movie by Emile
> Hirsch, was an imperious, stubborn and intractably arrogant twit fond of
> pontificating at length to anyone who would listen; he was also bright,
> engaging, kindhearted and funny.  The book was very good, and the film
> outstanding.
>
> (Note to my friends:  Of course I see the similarities.  I used to be an
> imperious, stubborn and intractably arrogant twit, too.  Only Dale thinks I
> still am!)
>
> keely
>
>
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