STUDIO: Paramount
RELEASE DATE: March 4, 2008
STARRING: Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Katherine Keener, Vince Vaughn, Hal Holbrook
WRITTEN BY: Sean Penn
DIRECTED BY: Sean Penn
FEATURES: The Story, The Characters
The Experience

Simply put, Into the Wild is a deep personal journey and a gripping, ironically tragic true story. A word of caution here: If you haven’t already seen it, Into the Wild isn’t for everyone. It’s the perfect tale for those who, at one point or another, have felt completely exhausted by human existence within a chaotic society. If you’ve ever let your mind wander to the "what if" notion of surrendering oneself to nature, Into the Wild is a journey that might give you’re a few answers. Although the film hit theatres to mix reviews, the journey within Into the Wild will evoke different feelings in different people and mean something unique to each moviegoer on a deeper level.

Something about watching the old 1970s television series Grizzly Adams, spoke volumes to me as a child, and still does to this day. The theme song and opening images of nature’s amazing beauty brought a tear to my eye each week. Even though I was only 10 years old at the time, an adventurous spirit emerged and I began to wonder what it would be like to move away from society to live completely off the land. As life would have it, I’m still wondering today.

Flash forward to 1992 and Christopher McCandless, did just that. The story follows McCandless (Emile Hirsch) as he leaves the safety of everyday life, his friends, the material world, and his family for an Alaskan adventure to get in touch with nature and ultimately himself. Along the way, McCandless has chance encounters with random people who leave a lasting impact on his life while he does the same to those he meets. Starring Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden, Hal Holbrook, William Hurt, Katherine Keener, and Vince Vaughn, Into the Wild is a wonderfully acted and powerful movie that will touch your soul. If you’re an adventurous spirit that loves nature, you’ll probably appreciate the movie more than most.

In today’s modern world, wanna-be adventurers often wonder what it would be like to spend time alone on Survivor’s Exile Island or venture into the wild on survival expeditions in other shows like Survivor Man. Really, there’s no more profound way to search the soul or get to know oneself than a long "sky’s the limit" journey that ultimately ends in becoming one with nature.

Visually, the images within Into the Wild are gorgeous and spectacular, just as nature is meant to be. The quality of the video transfer and audio mix magically put you in the middle of the journey along with the character. It’s a fantastic ride on a technical level. The imagery and acoustics flow fluently throughout the movie like a paintbrush on a canvas thanks to cinematographer, Eric Gauitier. It’s no surprise that Into the Wild was nominated for an Oscar for Editing. There are so many beautiful subtleties that capture the hidden beauty of nature; you’ll be swept away by the amazing landscapes and breathtaking scenery. If you can’t afford a vacation or don’t have the time to get away, it’s a great way to clock out of the 9-5 for a couple of hours.

So enough about the land, there’s more to be had within the new Collector’s Edition DVD. As for bonus features, there’s a sizable portion of behind-the-scenes goodness to be had for the would-be adventurer. The "Story and Characters" featurette includes several interviews with all involved while it also touches on the casting of the colorful characters Christopher McCandless (aka Alexander Supertramp) meets along his heart-warming voyage of healing and self-discovery. Veteran actor Hal Holbrook talks about his small but highly memorable Oscar nominated performance while the extra delves deeper into "The Experience" and what went into bringing such a personal story to film, including Sean Penn’s dedication to the telling of and making of the project.

The interview segments also include Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder, whom Sean Penn brilliantly recruited to put together a soundtrack that’s as integral to the tone of the film as its characters. The only complaint I have about the disc is the fact that last year Sean Penn and Eddie Vedder appeared together on Charlie Rose for a candid hour-long chat about the film, which should have been included as a bonus. It would have definitely made up for the lack of commentary, too. Still, Vedder’s words sum up Into the Wild brilliantly from its soundtrack song "Society" - "It’s a mystery to me. We have a greed, with which we have agreed... and you think you have to want more than you need... until you have it all, you won't be free."