The Inspirational Journey

I have just recently watched Into The Wild, a film by Sean Penn, which told the real life journey of 23 year old Christopher McCandless, who left his home to travel across the country and live in the wild. Without giving you much of the film, i just want to say that this movie is really, really inspirational. I don't know what is it about me that always somewhat amazed by the idea of going on a journey or a road trip alone, and for some time just disconnected to the world you live in, and the society you're in now.

I can't help but noticing that McCandless is just one of the product of modern society, he did what his parents told him to, he went to college, graduate, and possibly looking for a job afterwards. This is exactly what we are told to do, i mean "we" in the context of young people who are finishing their latter stage of education. I can see myself doing that in the next 2 years. Probably i'll be doing some boring job behind the desk in a couple of years from now, and rot slowly behind that desk for the next 3 or 4 decades. This is what McCandless see, but the difference is, he did something about it. He didn't want to spend his life worrying about making money, or do as he told, he simply want to explore the world and blend with nature. He didn't really like being at home, his parents are not the best parents in the world, so he wanted to get out of his life and do something new in his life.

What i envy about McCandless is that he was brave enough to leave everything he had behind, and just living his dreams. Doing what he wanted to do. I wish i have the courage to do that. I really wanted to do something like that. Just cut yourself from the world you know for some time, and live your dreams. McCandless has opened my eyes, and maybe a lot of people's eyes, that there is so much more in this world that you can see and do. I read in a couple of forums around the internet that mentioned McCandless was a fool to try live by himself in Alaskan forest, and that he died because of his own idiotic behaviour. I guess a lot of people kinda missed the point here. McCandless was living the life he wanted, He knew what the consequences are, but he is also a human being who made mistakes. It is our responsibility to learn from his experience and make the best of it.

I've been wanting to do some kind of soul searching road trip for quite a while now, and after seeing what McCandless did, I've become more motivated to do that. Someday, i promise myself.


"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greather joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." -- Chris McCandless

Rest in peace, Christopher J. McCandless

Weekly Recap

Entering the first week of March, let me tell you what's happening in my world. No, i'm not gonna whine about how my life's going right now. You've gone to the wrong blog if you think i'm gonna write some diary stuff here.

MUSIC
I've been listening to some new albums these couple of weeks. I'm quite surprise of how good they turned out to be. Not all of them are new releases, some of them were out last year. So, here they are :

The New Pornographers - Challengers (Key tracks: My rights versus yours, challengers)
Rilo Kiley - Under The Blacklight (key tracks: Silver lining, Moneymaker)
Bright Eyes - Cassadaga (Key tracks: Four winds)

New Pornographers are surprisingly great. I like their sound and their lyrics. The album are possibly one of the best of 2007. Rilo Kiley's newest album is more dance-y and has more beat than their previous record. They really explore new areas of music that they haven't touched before, and it turns out to be a good thing. As for Bright Eyes, i still prefer their I'm wide awake it's morning album, but this album was not bad. For you who like indie/pop/folk combination like me, this is the album for you. I am also anxious to hear the new Death Cab For Cutie album, titled Narrow Stairs, that will come out sometime this year. I'm sure that will be a great album, or at least a good album.

MOVIE
I didn't watch many new movies this week. Only a couple of old dvds that i rented a couple of days ago. Those movie were Spartan, Jerry Maguire, and Before Sunset. I must say, i am really impressed with Before Sunset. This movie picks up the spirit, warmth, and smartness of its prequel, Before Sunrise. I found myself smiling all over the film. I just feel that this is how a romantic comedies should be made. It's the sparks between the actors, the chemistry, and the great dialogue that made the movie so sweet. I truly believe that Before Sunset is one of my favorite romantic comedies ever.

This week i also found myself idolizing a certain director. I realized that i wanted to be like him. His films are all great, and always left me somewhat amazed by its beauty. I proudly present my favorite director, Paul Thomas Anderson.


for you who did not know who he is, he's the director of Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch-drunk Love, and There Will be Blood. It's a bit sad that he didn't won the best director award at the Oscar a couple of days ago. I think he deserved it. But hell, Scorsese didn't win it until last year. So why bother? He is a true great director. He'll get it someday.

And another great news is my favorite actress, Zooey Deschanel, is going to star in a comedy movie with Paul Dano (There Will be Blood, Little Miss Sunshine) called Gigantic. I am very excited by the prospect of the two working together. Dano showed great potential to be a big star, and Deschanel will always be my favorite actress. Oh, and this month will also marks her debut in music, with the long awaited release of her album with M.Ward, by the name of She & Him. I'm looking forward for that album. M. Ward is a well known indie musician/producer, and Zooey Deschanel is an awesome singer. They are on the cover of Under the Radar magazine for the winter edition;



Wow, it looks like she's going to compete with Jenny Lewis for the new indie queen darling. If Jenny Lewis and Zooey Deschanel are going to be on the same stage together, i think my indie geek dream will finally come true.