Into the Wild (Soundtrack)

Vedder, Eddie (2007).  Music for the motion picture "Into the wild" (Audio recording).  J-Records.

Summary:  Into the Wild was originally published by Jon Krakauer in 1996 and told the true story of Christopher McCandless, a young man whose desire to separate himself from the constraints of society and whose post-graduation adventures across America land him in the solitude of the Alaskan wilderness.  A diary he kept revealed that his attempt to live off the land while living alone in an old van led to food poisoning that eventually killed him. Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam, went solo to create the acoustic soundtrack for Sean Penn's 2007 Oscar-nominated film. 

Additional Comments:  Eddie Vedder's melancholic guitar-strumming and thoughtful lyrics echo Chris' reflective musings and sense of detachment from others.  Eddie Vedder's raw, emotional vocals in songs like "Hard Sun" and "Society" set a mournful tone that echo Chris' departures from friends and family that care for him.  Lyrics, such as  "Society, crazy indeed / I hope you're not lonely without me" also further echo the story's tragic theme of a young man whose head-strong determination to make it on his own lead to an untimely death.  

Whale Rider (DVD)

Caro, Niko (2002). Whale Rider [Motion picture].  New Zealand:  Appollo Media.

Summary:  Set in picturesque New Zealand, Whale Rider tells the story of 12-year-old Pai.  Pai's twin brother died at birth along with their mother, which devastated Pai's grandfather who believed that her brother was destined to be the incarnation of a Maori hero and the chief who would save their traditional ways and beliefs that are disintegrating in modern times.  Pai yearns to please her grandfather by learning sacred traditions, but her grandfather only gets angry because the traditions are strictly for boys and her efforts offend the ancestors.   But, can her persistence and achievement of challenging feats make him change his mind?

Additional comments:  The beautiful cinematography, the visual capturing of Maori rituals, such as the haka, and the enchanting songs to the ancestors that are echoed by eery whale songs all combine to make the movie possibly a better option than the book (with exception of the Hollywood ending).  The strong themes of the "Whale Rider" are the loss of ancient cultures in modern, oppressive societies as well as the inequitable treatment of girls in a male-dominated culture.

Pride and Prejudice (DVD)

Wright, Joe (2005). Pride and Prejudice.  U.S.: Universal Studios.

Summary:  The classic love story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy that is riddled with miscommunications, misunderstandings, assumptions, rumors, class differences and--you guessed it--pride and prejudice.  Based upon Jane Austen's novel and set in the countryside of 18th-century England, Pride and Prejudice follows the romances within the Bennet household, starting with  Lizzy's older sister, Jane, and Mr. Darcy's best friend, the wealthy Mr. Bingley.  

Additional comments:  Keira Knightly plays the independent and stubborn Lizzy Bennet, who will not resign to a convenient marriage, in the 2005 film production of Pride and Prejudice.  Staying mostly true to the original plot, the film version has picturesque cinematography, fabulous costumes, and passionate acting.  Not to be missed by lovers of romance.

Romeo and Juliet (DVD)

Luhrmann, Baz (1996).  Romeo and Juliet [Motion picture]. United States:  Bazmark Films.   

Summary:  An innovative rendering of Shakespeare's classic tragedy of two "star-cross'd lovers". While maintaining the original text and dialogue, the setting is vastly different from Shakespeare's as it takes place in a modern Verona Beach (that looks quite like Venice Beach, California).  The Capulet and Montegue families have names on billboards and skyscrapers and clearly are the leading economic powerhouses in Verona.  The younger generation of the two families engage in drive-by shootings and bring violence to the streets of Verona.  Romeo, of the Montegue House, and Juliet, of the Capulet House, fall in love at first sight at a costume party and so begins their doomed love affair.

Additional comments:  This highly visual and surreal film is fast-paced, action-packed, and accompanied by contemporary music, such as Radiohead and a cover of "When Doves Cry", which helps the viewer to forget that the dialogue is actually difficult to understand. The end result is a unique interpretation of a classic love story whose timeless theme is accessible to modern teens who, presumably, can relate more easily with the film than the original play.

The Outsiders (DVD)

Coppola, Francis Ford (1983). The Outsiders.  United States: Zoetrope Studios.

Summary:  Ponyboy and Johnny are sensitive and kind teens growing up in the 50's, but they are also "greasers" with long hair, unhappy home lives, and few opportunities in the small town in which they live on the wrong side while the privileged "soc" have all the advantages.  Life takes a turn for the worse when Johnny kills a "soc" who was attacking Ponyboy, and the two boys decide to run away to the countryside to escape the law.

Additional Comments:  Based on the classic novel by S. E. Hinton, Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 film features an all-star cast in their youth, including Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, Diane Lane, Emilio Estevez, and Tom Cruise. Though the dialogue may strike teens as a bit sappy and outdated today (and particularly the tacky opening song!), the "us vs. them" theme is timeless and as true today as ever.   The ultimate tragedy speaks to the senselessness of violence 

The Color Purple (DVD)

Spielberg, Steven (1985). The Color Purple [Motion picture]. United States: Amblin Entertainment.

Summary:  Set in Georgia at the turn of the 20th century, The Color Purple follows the life of Celie, a 14-year-old black girl at the start of the film.  After bearing two children by her daddy only to have them pried from her arms at birth, Celie's life only gets harder when she is forced to marry and serve an abusive, mean-spirited older widower and his many rotten children.  But, her heart and spirit die when her new husband tries to rape Celie's beloved younger sister, who fights him off, and is physically removed from the house forever.  Celie then succumbs to a despondent life of servitude and speechlessness until she allows herself to be loved by Shug Avery, a spirited, head-strong performer and lover of Celie's husband.    

Additional comments:  Exposes the mistreatment and confinement of women, particularly women of color, who were kept down with no choices and basically no options for independence.  Celie is treated as property, who should be seen, not heard, and must serve "the Mister's" every need and endure beatings wordlessly. A long movie that is bound to bring you to tears at multiple points of the film.  This Steven Spielberg classic features an all-star cast, including Whoopie Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey.  

Based on the Pulitzer prize winning novel by Alice Walker.