Eric Courtney

So I powered through the book, Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer this past weekend. It was a fast an easy read and not a bad book. I figured I would end up checking out the film coming to "select theaters" next weekend, so I wanted to bite into the book before I got the visual planted in my brain beforehand.

If you're not familiar with the story, it is about a young man who leaves his well-to-do family without telling them where he is going. For over two years he spends his life as a nomad wandering the lower 48 states (and Mexico), and eventually makes his way up to Alaska to fulfill his childhood dream of living off the land in the Alaska bush (wilderness). To make a long summary short... He died! He starved to death in an old abandoned bus back in August of 1992.

This story is kind of a big deal here in Alaska. Anyone who has ever taken a tour of Denali National Park is probably vaguely familiar with the story. That is where my parents, who were visiting from California, and I first heard it years ago. Now Sean Penn ("Aloha Mr. Hand!") has brought the story to the big screen.

The news of the film has generated quite a bit of negative feedback from many Alaskans. The "Romanticizing stupidity will only inspire more unprepared idiots to wander into the wilderness of Alaska to fatefully find themselves in a place they don't belong" is kind of the feeling up here by many.

I agree with that stance somewhat. But after reading the book, it really is an interesting story. It doesn't shock me at all to see that it has made its way to the big screen.

I am going to go see the film at a pre-screening on Wednesday. From what I understand, it is 2.5 hours long. That's going to require a big tub of buttered corn; probably at the affordable price of $25. I'm curious to see how well Sean Penn did as a director.

If you get the chance, read the book. I'll let you know what I think of the film soon!

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