"Wild" Movie coming out on Friday

[azbackpackr]

I think I'll go see this movie, "Wild." I read the book and enjoyed it, although I liked it more for the fact the woman, Cheryl, started out totally unprepared for backpacking the PCT, but ended up learning as she went. By the time she finished the trail she was a fairly seasoned backpacker. But, another woman backpacker I know likes the story more for the personal stuff Cheryl overcame, rather than as a "backpacking story." So, each of us sees it differently. I did enjoy the book, and I expect I will enjoy the movie.

All of her personal issues were part of the story, of course, although her problems with life didn't resonate with me all that much. Such as, why was she so doggone attached to her mother, to the point of obsession? I thought it a bit odd. And then as I recall there was a heroin addiction? But anyway, she supposedly became a stronger person in the end. If she hadn't it wouldn't have been much of a story, right? If you are going to write a book like this one that SELLS you have to have adversity and then some means of overcoming it, along with a happy and thoughtful ending. So, blah blah blah, but I liked the backpacking part.

Yes, yes, I know, I have heard it has created a real problem on the PCT. A lot of people believe they are going to "find themselves" by hiking the trail, and the hiker numbers are way, way up this past couple of years or so since the book came out. The movie is not going to help the problem of there being too many hikers, it will make it worse. In time, however, the fad will fade. Probably not without a few hiker deaths and injuries, though.

Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn2-GSqPyl0

[Tortoise_Hiker]

I think Joe should rent the theater and take us all.

[JasonCleghorn]

A lot of people believe they are going to "find themselves" by hiking the trail,

I may be in the minority, but I believe that this is possible to some extent. The month I have spent here in Phoenix, in solitude (relatively speaking, not withstanding Camelback and Piestewa, LOL) but just on trail, I have learned a lot about myself that I did not know, or maybe hiking doesn't create character and strength, it just reveals it???

I haven't read the book, but I find it both hard to believe and somewhat inspiring that someone so green (although she probably was not as green as some folks I see on the trail here in the suburbs of Phoenix) could have completed the portions of the PCT that she supposedly completed.

Also how do you draw the rhetorical line in the sand on how many 'hikers' are too many, too few, and just right. It could be argued that when I summitted Camelback/Piestewa, that there were so many people on the summit that it was theoretically dangerous. But on a long trail, wouldn't the 'too many' people threshold be much higher... If everyone hiked, would gear prices go through the roof, fall, stay the same, etc.

Local governments would be under much more pressure to build trails, construct trail heads and preserve open space, etc...

I also want to read the book and see the movie...

No soapbox intended...

[azbackpackr]

@Jason Cleghorn
Your "soapbox" very well thought-out, and you brought up some very good points. How many hikers are too many is often determined by a government agency which gives itself the authority to issue permits in some places. In Grand Canyon, for instance, this has had the effect of scattering hikers to trails away from Bright Angel, which may or may not be a good thing, depending upon who you ask.

As for "finding oneself" I do agree with you, it can happen that we learn a lot about ourselves either by solo hiking and camping, or by spending a lot of time with a small group (such as on a river trip) but I also am a little tired of the idea of "finding yourself." This idea is written about so much in literature, especially outdoor literature, to the point that it has become a bit redundant and tiresome. That is why I liked Bill Bryson's book so much A Walk in the Woods, because it was total comedy.

Then you get those people who want to TELL you what to do to "find yourself" and what sort of books to bring with you when you go backpacking. You MUST bring Alan Watts or Herman Hesse, but NEVER Clive Cussler, for instance. Heaven forbid you would read pulp fiction while backpacking, how utterly declassé and unenlightened! And then there are those who will make themselves the authority by telling you not to bring any books at all!

Anyway, I enjoyed your comments. I do recommend reading the book, although some will say it's a chick book, so what? I read guy books all the time, so if a guy wants to read a chick book that's okay, too, I think.

[CannondaleKid]

I also want to read the book and see the movie...

Already read the book... Many times in the book I wondered how someone could be so stupid yet survive.
I haven't been in a big-screen movie theater in something like 6 years so I'd probably experience culture shock.

[azbackpackr]

I also want to read the book and see the movie...

Already read the book... Many times in the book I wondered how someone could be so stupid yet survive. I haven't been in a big-screen movie theater in something like 6 years so I'd probably experience culture shock.

We posted at the same time (see above).

I watch very few movies. I don't own a TV. I used to occasionally watch a movie on my laptop, but haven't done that in a couple of years. The last time I went to the theater I think it was to take my granddaughter to see "Frozen." I loathed it, absolutely loathed it. Time before that it was with an adult male family member, we went to see "Bad Grandpa." That was the sort of movie where you are laughing your head off, but you are also a little embarrassed that you are laughing your head off, because it is in such bad taste.

[Sun_Ray]

Saw the movie in October as part of the Scottsdale Film Festival. If you enjoyed the book ( I did ) you'll like the movie. To sum it up...it's about how "not" to backpack and how to find sex not love on the trail.

[joebartels]

okay I'll watch it

[_-_]

@Sun Ray
What trail is it?

[Sredfield]

I listened to the book, it passed the time. A few moments were TMI! and I can't imagine how her daughter will react, but maybe not a big deal if the daughter doesn't read it until she is old enough, however old that is. I probably won't go to a theater either, it'll be online soon enough.

She did seem to "evolve" to some extent during the hike. For someone totally effing clueless about so much at the beginning, she seemed to get it together on the trail. If you didn't have parents who made you get yourself together, it usually takes some kind of experience to do it. This was her's. I guess that is the story she is telling--good for her.

[autumnstars]

I listened to the book, it passed the time.

But, was it worth the time?
Is it worth reading?

I read a different "clueless newbie" PCT hiker book and it was a complete waste. Nothing learned, nothing taken away. Pure luck that they made it several times, but no acknowledgement of this fact, no thankfulness for the people and/or events that saved them.

Ok, down off :SB: now

[te_wa]

i may catch it later on netflix, if available. i've read A Walk in the Woods - Bryson.. only interested in the new movie for the cinematography, perhaps.

so... what do you call the female lead after she lost her spork? Reese Without'erspoon!

[SpiderLegs]

Read an interesting little blurb about the guy who was Reese's personal backpack assistant for the movie. Whenever the cameras stopped filming, it was his job to shoulder the backpack. If they filmed a scene where she had to hike away from the camera for a half mile, it was his job to run out to where Reese was, grab the backpack and bring it back. Most of the time the backpack was empty and just stuffed with paper to look full. But sometimes the backpack was stuffed with camping gear if the scene called for it and it could be fairly heavy. Guy said it was a lot of fun and he really got himself whipped into shape by the end of the movie.

[kingsnake]

@SpiderLegs
:roll:

[CannondaleKid]

I read a different "clueless newbie" PCT hiker book and it was a complete waste. Nothing learned, nothing taken away.

I think I may know which book it was... thankfully both books were at the library.

...catch it later on NetFlix

That's what I'm thinking...

[Al_HikesAZ]

Outside Magazine published their review of Wild online on November 7th

The film’s producers, including Witherspoon, strove for accuracy—right down to the era-appropriate gear that appears on-screen. The wardrobe crew raided Next Adventure, a second-hand gear shop in Portland, to find gaudy 1990s jackets for extras. The movie version of “Monster,” Strayed’s overstuffed backpack, is the same model as Strayed’s original Gregory, though engineers modified the harness for the meerkat-size Witherspoon. A retinue of Pacific Crest Trail specialists were even on hand to make sure signs and logbooks looked legit.

And that brings us to Wild’s little secret: Hollywood’s big backpacking movie isn’t really about backpacking at all. Like the book, it’s a mother-daughter love story wrapped in all the senseless pain and elation of learning to accept bad decisions and crappy situations, to dig deep and carry on. Those are the very same forces that get people off mountains or back on bikes after things go really wrong.

. . .Some of the scenes are so brutal and sad that even thinking about them now makes me cringe. No doubt, Wild the movie—like Wild the book—will have its haters. Yet even they should recognize that it lays bare a simple truth: that wilderness can bring peace and even a sense of purpose. When Witherspoon’s character realizes this at the very end of the film, the theater may fill with tears. Don’t be surprised if some of them are yours.

[Nighthiker]

Recommend the Sawmill Theater in Payson.

[_-_]

@Nighthiker
Is this a adult dinner theater that serves cold adult drinks?

[autumnstars]

thankfully both books were at the library

That's where I got it also. If Wild doesn't show up on our take-one-leave-one shelf at work soon, I shall get it at the library too.

[Alston_Neal]

Ooooh sex drugs and Gortex, can't wait!
Speaking of stunning hiking movies, this one of course not being it. But if you're willing to drop your standards and consume massive amounts of anything mind altering, then Dark Mountain is it.
Filmed in the Sups, three film makers venture in to document three filmmakers in the Sups. Yep a total rip off of Blair Witch Project, but entertaining none the less. It has two things going for it, filmed in the Sups and the movie eventually ends. This would have been a much better movie if
A. The Blair Witch Project had not been made.
B. Dark Mountain had not been made.
Great HAZ party flick though and for that I would give it three thumbs up. Unless of course there is no booze or drugs present, then it would just suck....the party not the movie....

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2443022/