SO, Netflix made even better on our relationship by shipping Into the Wild so that it would get here on the day it is released. Sweet.
It was all around good movie, but my friend Maria was kind to warn that if you know anything about graphic design, you have to work hard to ignore the terrible titling throughout the movie. I knew the overall storyline but didn't know too much about the details that get you to the end. It was pretty interesting how the previews had taken pieces of the movie totally out of order to put together their hook. (I watched the preview enough times to remember parts of it in anticipation of getting it from Netflix)
The experiences of the main character Chris demonstrate his rejection of mainstream society, suburban dreams, and the resulting more pure existence he was able to achieve. I was drawn into this notion, agreeing that the suburban dreams are not my own, but rather than seeking something in wilderness, I am running the complete opposite direction, towards the city, towards a world in which civilization peaks.
I've been thinking a lot today about how interesting it is for a medical doctor to be able to have any interest in art. I imagine they see life from such a biological standpoint, so much about what goes on inside the body, and artists are concerned with the ephemeral, the non-tangibles of life. I cannot fathom being able to do surgery on a person, forcefully fighting with someone's physical body to correct a problem. And in that same thought, I am at a loss to understand how someone so in tune with biology is interested in anything philosophical. I definitely recognize that countless doctors are very interested in the arts beyond emotional aesthetics, but it is a giant mental divide for me to comprehend; I see life defined by ideas, creativity, interaction, whereas a biologist sees the world as physicality and survival.
The movie's not about art, so don't expect that. Just a departure point for my thoughts...
