Goosebumps and tears

Rating: 10/10 (9 February 2014)

I read about this film in a magazine. This was now some years ago, so this review is with years of thinking.
I was struck by lightning. Partly for personal reasons, McCandless does something that I considered doing, and if I had followed that path could have killed me. I choose to comply to the demands of society. McCandless did not and he payed the ultimate price.
The story did not follow the book written by John Krakauer (and I strongly recommend to read it) but having seen the film first it does not loose much. Possibly that McCandless was really not experienced enough for what he did and that he could easily have survived if he knew...what he did not know. Reading the book, you realise the actual incompetence of McCandless wilderness adventure. In a way the movie captures the inner driving force of MacCandless when the book adds value in being more analytical and trying to understand all aspects of the events.
Krakauer got fascinated by the story for very personal reasons (he is BTW possibly most known for the climbing book "Into thin air", about an Everest climb).
We see a young Emile Hirsch at his best, he is perfect for this role. McCandless parents for real where at the filming and the guy driving him out into the wilderness in the film is the one who actually did it when it happened. Goosebumps...