MovieChat Forums > Wild (2014) Discussion > this woman/movie is going to kill people

this woman/movie is going to kill people

posted 9 years ago by brclpp
43 replies | jump to latest

20 minutes and i keep getting amazed by one stupid decision after another. as former infantry and as a hiker and mountaineer (though baby mountains) i can't believe how moronic this woman was.

you don't have to be an experienced hiker to know that you should take all of your equipment out of the box and pack your bag PRIOR to getting to the trail head. seriously, that whole hotel scene where she's taking brand new items out of the boxes, and is clearly demonstrating that she doesn't know how to use half of them means this woman was nowhere near being read for a hike around the block let alone the PCT

and then there's a scene where she's clearly putting up a tent for the first time. again, why wouldn't you check out how to use ALL of your equipment PRIOR to starting your hike? would you buy a brand new pair of shoes and then run a marathon? of course not, you're not an idiot - you'd use them and break them in first. if you buy a anything, don't you make sure that all the pieces are there and that you know how to use it PRIOR to the day you actually need to use it?

and then we find out that because she failed to plan ahead for anything, she didn't bother to figure out what kind of fuel her stove used and brought the wrong kind!?!?

i've just got to the scene where she's now run out of food. at this point i don't know where this movie is going, and i can't understand why so many people i hike with were inspired by this movie (one actually went off to the do the PCT within a month of watching the movie - he made it a little over 500 miles and is on way back now). because if people follow her example, they'll end up dead.

just like "in the wild" morons are going to be inspired by this story and think that they too should go for a 2,650 mile walk to "find themselves". meanwhile, what keeps happening to those people that go searching for "the magic bus" - you know the spot where the guy from "in the wild" got trapped and died? THEY KEEP GETTING TRAPPED and or die

http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/another-round-of-hikers-rescued-after-trip-to-mccandless-bus/article_db7426ce-dfc9-11e2-8a42-0019bb30f31a.html

BE YOURSELF and stop looking to others for inspiration, but more importantly, for the love of god, PLAN AHEAD

my online writing style is one of speed and apathy, NOT ignorance

[–] fnimms 9 years ago

I just came here to write what you did, but you beat me to it. This movie is about a person who fails to plan and train for a life threatening hike. Why? This is insulting to all serious hikers out there.

[–] SergeantElias 9 years ago

I agree that quite a few things Cheryl Strayed did were dangerous, but it would be pointless and rather unrealistic to show her as a survival expert, or to fabricate that part of her story for fear of people copying her actions.

Certain decisions she made such as not learning how to erect her tent, burying her faeces under rocks, running out of water after relying on the water supply which had become dry, and having the wrong equipment just highlighted what NOT to do on these treks. I personally thought that was made quite clearly, and was a lesson learned rather than something I'd aspire to copy.

Of course there's always going to be a minority of people who are blindly influenced by movies, but that doesn't mean you should fabricate the story or cater for people like that, otherwise it just cheapens the whole story.

[–] shadow_priest_x 9 years ago

Even Cheryl Strayed has been very honest about the fact that she was unprepared and I think the movie makes a point as well about how going in unprepared is NOT the best way to do things. Anyone who watches the movie should be pretty clear about the fact that she succeeded IN SPITE OF her lack of preparation.

For the OP, as for why this movie or Cheryl's story inspire people, I believe it's because--despite whatever missteps we can bring up as talking points--the story is ultimately one of triumph. Yes, she stumbled along the way but she set out to do what she intended to do: hike ~1100 miles of the PCT and do a lot of soul-searching along the way. The physical element of this alone is very difficult and she did it.

I also think what we have here is a classic case of a movie having a hard time really telling the story of the book. Personally, I loved the movie. I really thought it was great and when it was over I wanted MORE. But I am reading through the book right now and it's pretty clear that with the movie they captured with essence of the book without a lot of its details. A lot of the questions that people have about the movie would be answered by reading the book.

In fact, SargeantElias, you brought up one thing specifically. You mentioned the bit about "burying her feces under rocks" and call it out as something NOT to do. However, in the books she says the only reason she did this was because the ground, despite all her efforts, was simply too hard to dig into.

[–] Confection_Pictures 8 years ago

In fact, SargeantElias, you brought up one thing specifically. You mentioned the bit about "burying her feces under rocks" and call it out as something NOT to do. However, in the books she says the only reason she did this was because the ground, despite all her efforts, was simply too hard to dig into.

Funnily enough, the original script had a scene like this but didn't make it to the final draft. There is a deleted scene featuring her pooping but it doesn't include any references to trying to dig a hole. The hardest part, apparently, was pulling down her sweat pants. The commentary for both the film and deleted scene had the director saying a montage was sufficient enough.

"Why are you wearing a tux?"
"It's after six. What am I, a farmer?"

[–] brclpp 9 years ago

Of course there's always going to be a minority of people who are blindly influenced by movies

i think you mean the majority. just look at the great gatsby. the book has been around for nearly a hundred years and how many people every year throw "gatsby" parties or gatsby themed proms? thus proving that they missed the entire point of the book by so?

simple truth of the matter is that morons follow morons and the most simple take away from her story is that you don't have to be prepared - physically or mentally - just start walking.

and just like the idiots that followed in the foot steps of the guy that died in the "magic bus" search and rescue and the tax payers are going to have to step up and save them.

and personally, as a hiker, i HATE THESE PEOPLE. i hike 4-5 times a week in red rocks state park outside of las vegas. the temps hit 105+ in the summer time, and it's a DESERT. do you have any idea how many people a day i have to give water to? just today, i had to give away three bottles of water to MORONS that were miles from where they parked their car. and before you say it, NO, i don't feel good saving their stupid lives. it's not a blessing, it's a chore. why? because when i plan my 10+ hour hike/climbs, i plan for the water that i will need. i don't plan for my water plus the water that idiots need.

and just like the PCT, these idiots are thinking, "i'll just start walking and i'm sure that if i run out of food or water SOMEONE ELSE will provide them for me." one of the points of doing the PCT is learning self reliance, and this woman utterly failed in that regard. she ran out of food in the first week and had to rely on a family to feed her. from that moment on, she relied on the "kindness of strangers" to drag her dead weight through to the end.

my online writing style is one of speed and apathy, NOT ignorance

[–] SergeantElias 9 years ago

BRCLIPP, I think you rather exaggerate the Great Gatsby themed parties, as it's barely a thing outside the US. And you're judging the actions of a few who make these damgerous errors, which does mean that it's by far in the minority, considering there are millions of people that watch these movies that don't attempt the hikes. But I do see your point and your frustration.

However, I will reiterate my previous comment. You shouldn't change movies or art to cater for the people who do get influenced by them in the wrong way. A true story has to be told as accurately as possible. And as I previously said, most people of average intelligence will see that she made mistakes, regardless of whether she was successful at the end or not.

[–] kduffy-8 9 years ago

I'm not a hiker and have zero expertise on this subject, but I went into my woods and within minutes was bitten by a snake, confronted by various forms of threatening wildlife (including a persistent groundhog), devoured by bugs and overcome by exhaustion and thirst. I guess the point is, I found it miraculous that she was able to survive this serious trek over such brutal terrain with little to no experience- therefore I understand both sides of the coin.
Maybe dangerous for those who think "hey, I can do that!" but also the makings of a great (but very lucky) story.

[–] crockett_john 8 years ago

I don't think he was saying you should change art or whatever, but he was saying stupid people should stop doing stupid things they see in movies.

---
I'm just expressing my opinion.

You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas.

[–] paleolith 9 years ago

As for burying feces under rocks ... in desert areas, it's still controversial what's the best way to dispose of feces. There's a strong argument that the best way is to smear them on rocks so they dry quickly. After all, that's closer to what the wildlife do there. Strayed likely didn't know this, but also wasn't necessarily doing the wrong thing.

[–] brclpp 9 years ago

As for burying feces under rocks ... in desert areas, it's still controversial what's the best way to dispose of feces.

???

no it's not. it's called carry in, carry out. the even make special bags for it. red rocks, even provides them free of charge.

my online writing style is one of speed and apathy, NOT ignorance

[–] Fran_Kubelick 9 years ago

Watching the movie I had to laugh out loud a lot about her non-existing preparation. I cannot believe that someone starts such a trip without testing ALL his or her equipment thoroughly.

It seems very american to me. When I was hiking in the US, I was shocked by the hundreds of people hiking in flip flops (!) on difficult paths, without hat or sunscreen in the midday heat, without water and with unappropriate bags (duffelbags...). Strange. In Europe, I have never experienced that.

[–] MuchToBeGratefulFor 9 years ago

I agree that Cheryl approached this in a stupid way, but to the movie's credit, it acknowledges the things you bring up about how unprepared she was. I mean, there was an entire scene where she and a man she meets goes through everything in her pack and throws out quite a lot.

In contrast, "Into the Wild" is dangerous because it doesn't want to acknowledge that McCandless made stupid mistakes. The book and movie want to suggest that he could have stayed alive if only he hadn't eaten poisonous berries -- a theory which has been debunked.

You must be the change you seek in the world. -- Gandhi

[–] otter 9 years ago

This isn't the first book ever published about the adventures of a moronic hiker, it was predated by Bill Bryson's "A Walk In The Woods" (about two out-of-shaped dorks on the Appalachian Trail) and Eric Newby's "A Short Walk In The Hindu Kush" (about two amateurs in the Himalayas), among others. The latter was published in 1958, so books like this have been around for a while and I don't believe that "Wild" is going to make things much worse than they have been.

Don't look for books like this to go away, either, now that the "stunt memoir" has become such a popular book genre. You know, when writers get book contracts first and set out to do something crazy - like living biblically for a year, eating praying and loving for a year, hitting the Oregon Trail with a mule-drawn wagon, etc.? "Wild" is much more sincere than a true stunt memoir, as she had her adventure without getting a book contract first, but its success does mean that publishers will be looking for something similar, and future moronic hikers will have other sources of inspiration.

Think of it as improving the gene pool.

“MSeventy-seven courses and a regicide, never a wedding like it!

[–] verizonowner88 9 years ago

Darwin...

[–] Madonna-whore 9 years ago

The movie makes a point out of the fact that she was terribly unprepared, and that she relied on the kindness of others and sheer dumb luck, in fact she meets a bunch of guys that say she's the queen of the PCT because people keep doing all sorts of stuff for her. As far as I've heard, most of the movie is accurate to the book, and the writer's actual experience. Also, her ex husband kept sending her boxes full of food, clothes, even a new pair of boots, I'm pretty sure she lost a lot of toenails because of her unpreparedness, she's lucky she didn't die of sepsis, but that's exactly it, she was lucky, if she hadn't found that first guy when she just started walking, she would have died somewhere in the desert.
After she's already in Oregon, I think, or maybe a bit before that, she meets another woman who is hiking, and apparently with more experience, and she tells Cheryl that the guy she met, I think his name was Grant or Greg or something, had quit, and Cheryl responded with "he quit, and I'm still here?". She couldn't believe it herself.
I'm not in shape, and the first thing I thought while watching this movie is, "I'd love to do this, but I'd need years of preparation in order to get in shape for this kind of thing", anyone who thinks differently is not very realistic and would probably end up quitting or dying.

----------------------------
Never forget what you are, the rest of the world will not.

[–] ebright99 9 years ago

There are many worse places to be unprepared than the Pacific Crest Trail. The trail is very busy and there's always someone around to help you. If you were to set out unprepared on most trails in the California wilderness you'd be screwed. I've gone on hikes where I haven't seen another person for a couple days.

[–] juxtapose70 9 years ago

I did notice that there are was a sense of camaraderie out there, but I do not believe her story. I think as a writer she meant for it to be a movie and sensationalised it. She's also not a feminist. She claims to still hold the belief that promiscuity is good for you if you need it. That's playing right into a patriarchal mindset. To be feminist is to make a man earn you... not just give it away for free by becoming a f ick hole every time something causes you sorrow or you need a "happy fix.". Even a w h ore works for her bread.

"I have nipples, Greg. Could you milk me?"

[–] ljkyler1 9 years ago

Wow, that's not the ideas of feminism at all. Being a feminist is saying she can screw anyone she wants. Guys do it and no one calls them whores like you just said about her. Also the bit about a man earning you? No, it's about being equal, that's what feminism is about. You both bring your problems to a relationship and if you can deal with that, that's how a real relationship works. No one should have to "earn" anyone. We are equal beings, that's what feminism is about.

[–] bella_tj9 8 years ago

When he/she said that being a feminist is to "make a man earn you" I LOL. Man, those ideas of the 50'ies and the perfect home maker just won't die, will they?

You told me Im the only one
Sweet little angel you should have run

[–] joey-tribbiani 9 years ago

People make mistakes and people rush around but that doesn't mean that they are stupid. It just means they are human.

But if it lets you have an awards speech of your own on a messageboard - go for it.

[–] brclpp 9 years ago

People make mistakes and people rush around but that doesn't mean that they are stupid.

and how do YOU define stupidity?

my online writing style is one of speed and apathy, NOT ignorance

[–] kolchak-thenightstalker 8 years ago

mistakes, or if people want to label it stupidity, are not limited to individuals.

for example when it comes to preparing before hand one would tend to think the military would be good at this and yet how many monumental blunders did the military make with the iraq and Afghanistan wars like sending soldiers into combat without armor plating on Humvees, not planning an end game strategy before beginning a military invasion, etc.

The comparison might not be the same as going on a hike but the point i am trying to make is that if military geniuses can screw up and make mistakes in the area of their expertise, and with something that is a matter of life and death for soldiers, I think Cheryl can be forgiven for her mistakes which is what humans make. It was a learning lesson for her. she thought of many things other novices wouldn't have thought of. however it is difficult to prepare for every contingency that could happen while on a hike that long. even expert hikers sometimes face things they didn't anticipate and have to be air lifted out or they start back from where they came. All it takes is one wrong step and one could sprain an ankle.

I think one thing Cheryl should have brought was a weapon, shotgun, rifle, a nice big knife, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_BbtXj2P4g

[–] SN51431 9 years ago

Thank-you for your very interesting post. I am not a hiker, however I realized she was very foolish in some very simple things... she didn't even know how to set up the tent. Wouldn't you look at the instructions before you started out?