[dfwgator]

the subject of Penn's latest movie, "Into the Wild," a young man who died of starvation there in 1992 after four months of trying to live off the land.

Sounds like a real Darwin Award Candidate, figures Penn would make a movie about this loser.

[hsalaw]

he brought his fate on himself for trekking ill-equipped and ill-prepared into a harsh land

Darwin was wrong.

[1rudeboy]

That was Krakauer’s impression also, before he started research on the book. His theory is that this kid was an absolute genius, who died because . . . well, I don’t want to give away the book . . . it’s that good.

[blu]

The movie premiered in Fairbanks. Some of the locals interviewed by the News-Miner were worried that more stupid people would come to Alaska and meet the same end. They’re very practical up there.

I feel sorry for the guy that died, but I’m gonna have to vote “yes” on the Darwin Award.

[wideawake]

Sounds like a real Darwin Award Candidate

(1) Alexander Supertramp (the name that McCandless preferred to go by) spent his entire time in the Alaskan "wilderness" in the summer - when edible plants and game are plentiful.

(2) He spent his entire time in the Alaskan "wilderness" 20 miles from a highway.

(3) The "impassable" river he blamed for his isolation and inability to travel out of the "wilderness" was easily passable by a hand operated tram less than a mile away from where he was camped. In other words - he walked to the river, figured he couldn't get across it and walked back. If he had spent an hour or so trying to find a fording point he would have found the tram.

(4) The entire time he was in the Alaskan "wilderness" he was a few miles from a Park Service emergency hiking shelter stocked with food and supplies.

If he had bothered to invest in a map, he would have survived. He starved to death partially out of stupidity but also partially out of sheer laziness.

[Prodigal Son]

Looking forward to seeing this movie. The book was really good. Glad somebody decided to make it.