Into the Wild is finally on DVD, so that means a lot of people are finally getting around to seeing it. This is the movie directed by Sean Penn about the guy that gives up all his possessions to head to across the country and, eventually, the wilderness of Alaska. Eddie Vedder did the soundtrack. I gave my review of it back in October when I saw it in the theater. The most common thing people say to me about the movie is "it was really good but really long." I can agree with that, but I guess I'm just used to long movies. My favorite movies tend to be epics...The Thin Red Line, Apocalypse Now, There Will Be Blood, etc...these are not  your average 90 minute walk in the park. But I like progressive music  and Russian novels,  so maybe I just have a longer attention span than most people? Then again, I get bored watching 30 minute sitcoms, so maybe not. But I do like a story to be well told,  however long it takes. Sometimes it's not possible to tell a story with quick-cuts every five seconds. 

Which brings me to another point...I remember around Oscar time people were yapping about how nobody had seen most of the movies that were nominated. I found that to be a funny comment because this was the one year where I had actually seen most of the movies that were nominated for "best picture." I think the reason most people had never seen most of those movies is because there wasn't really much of a marketing campaign. How many commercials did you see for No Country For Old Men or There Will Be Blood prior to Oscar time? Compare that to the number of commercials I see for movies like Never Back Down or  Resident Evil 25. I never really understand why there isn't more marketing for some of these movies that are perceived as "oscar worthy." I guess people just assume that the average Joe isn't interested in a movie that's going to make them think or challenge them. I think that's a false logic. I don't think we should think that all people want to see are shoot em ups or slapstick comedies. Sure, those movies are fine and dandy, but don't people want to think every once in a while? I think so.  At least I hope so. 

On another note, I've listened to the new Panic at the Disco CD Pretty. Odd a few times and it will be interesting to see the reaction from the people that loved the first CD. This new CD is very obviously heavily influenced by 60s music, specifically the Beatles and the Beach Boys. the influence goes beyond the music, it also extends to their fashion sense and even the CD booklet. It's hard to fault those influences, but it sounds like a mixture of those bands with Panic's style. On first listen, it's a strange mix. I'm not sure too many people are going to be around to give it another listen.  Did Panic make a mistake that's going to kill their career, or is their reinvention a sign that they aren't a fad band? I guess time will tell.