Compare to 'into the Wild'

Just last weekend, I rented "Into the Wild," Sean Penn's story of Chris McCandless who didn't make it very well in the Alaskan wilderness. Then tonight on PBS, I saw "Alone in the Wilderness."

What a striking difference! McCandless had some good intentions and the same desire to live alone out there, but Proenneke was so well-prepared, industrious, and thoughtful of the animals and environment. His skill and sweet impressions of his landscape and animal neighbors were truly noble.

Meanwhile, I get the impression from Sean Penn's movie that he'd like us to think of McCandless as some kind of tragic, heroic character. I'm afraid I only pity his immaturity and felt most sorry for the beautiful moose that he poached and, lacking skills or forethought, left to rot.

Too bad McCandless didn't know of Proenneke, since they were both out there at the same time in the early 90s. McCandless could have learned a lot.