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Film Title: Into The Wild

 Best for ages: 16 and up.

Movie Website: Click Here

Year Released: 2007

Rated: R (US)

SYNOPSIS

      Into the Wild is based on the true story of a young man named Christopher McCandless who decides one day after leaving for college decides to leave his not so great family life behind and take off on the open road and journey to Alaska. Along the way he meets many different people of all different walks of life and even goes on some wild adventures such as canoeing down the Colorado river without a permit and ending up in Mexico, and then crossing the boarder back into the United States. He also lived with a bunch of desert hippies and an old religious man all of whom helped him on his quest. He also did get a few jobs working on a farm and at a Burger King. The real story behind Chris is that he completely separated himself from society for almost tow years, never letting his parents know where he was or what he was doing. This film is based on his story and the people he meet along the way in this one of a kind adventure film written and directed by Sean Penn.

VIOLENCE/GRAPHIC CONTENT/language

   Violence

  Into the Wild has some violent scenes that most people might not take lightly too. There is a scene where Christopher is beaten with a bully club by a transit officer for hitching a ride in the a cargo area of a freight train.  There is also a very graphic scene where Chris kills a moose and cuts it up.  This scene is shown in all it mighty detail and is just as violent as it is graphic. There is also a few scenes where Chris parents are fighting with one another and the scenes do get a pit physical. Then you also got your basic disagreements and petty fights, but nothing too crazy.

   Graphic Content

   This film is full or graphic content, so much so that I don't think I can remember all of it.  There are scenes involving the shooting of animals for survival, and of course the very graphic scene of the moose being killed and butchered. There is some nudity and its more than just topless women, which there are in this film, but there is even naked men as there is a scene involving a nudist colony and there is even a scene where Chris is naked floating in a river. There is also a few minor scenes that involve everything from the slums of Los Angeles to drug use, smoking and drinking.

   Language

   It's a rated R movie so it's expected that there would be some foul language and cursing in this film.  But besides what is to be expected with a film with an R rating, this movie also deals with many adult situations and the issues of finding one's self in life. It's not a movie that you would want your young kids to see.

OVERALL VIEWS

   Into the Wild is an exceptional piece of cinema.  The screenplay and directing by Sean Penn is top notch and the acting in the film is phenomenal. It's an overall great film, that I believe should of had been nominated for more awards than it was at this year's academy awards. The film has a great sound track some of which was written and performed by Pearl Jam's front man Eddie Vedder. My only complaint about the movie is that it is very long, but the pacing is still good and the story does not stay much from the plot.

    This is a film that is more for young adults and maybe a mature teens to watch. The story is full of details on the way of life and takes a look from the perception of a young man whom decided he wanted to live life as free as he can and just left his family one day and did it. It might be a film that you might not want to show your younger teenagers especially if your teen is rebelling against you. It is essentially a film about freedom and finding one's self. The movie also has a deep philosophical base in that it deals with many issues such as religion, politics, laws and life all around. It's also a film that shows all the different lifestyles that people live all across the United States and all the different ways people live throughout their communities.

   Overall, Into the Wild is a very well made movie, but it's a film that is more for adults and older teenagers at the most. I think it's a film that is suitable for mature teenagers sixteen and over. The film is based on the adventures of Christopher McCandless and is a story told by the people who he meet along the way in his journey.   It's an extraordinary movie that really taps into the human spirit. It's well worth picking up to add to your DVD collection or renting at your local DVD rental shop.

BUY THIS MOVIE.