missing the point...

Rating: 8/10 (22 December 2009)

I'm finding it hard to see why this film has taken such a tongue lashing (or keyboard lashing) by some people...
mostly it is said that the main character is selfish and self indulgent, and that this film builds him up to be some kind of hero..
but I think that's missing the point...
through-out I was thinking about how, on one hand it was admirable that he wanted to break from the materialistic, money grabbing oppressive shackles placed on us by modern society, but on the other, how he had gone about it in such an irresponsible, hurtful and self-righteous way...
the way he abandoned his parents and loving sister without a phone call note or explanation, and from the people he met along the way, like the kind old man and young romance, especially compounded this...
and ultimately he realised this at the end by scribbling into a book, "happiness only real when shared" surely that is the lesson here! that his selfish, hurtful adolescent behaviour was wrong, and he ultimately paid a terrible cost.
So ignore that haters...they are looking at this story the wrong way! Very much worth an open minded viewing!