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A Walk in the Woods - the Movie

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    • I watched the movie this weekend and have previously read the book. I enjoyed the book. It was a funny tale. Never started out reading the book as a "guide" or "how to" about hiking he AT and don't think that was ever Bryson's intention when writing the book. It was a funny story and the Appalachian trail was just a pice of the entire story. I watched the movie with the same expectations and knowing that it would not be the same as the book with segments of the book rewritten and or cut out or added plot lines. I liked the movie. It was funny. The book was better. (As is always the case) Nick Noltes voice became annoying after a while though. And Redford throwing in his knowledge of different kinds of rocks and about trees dying seemed weird and awkward It just didn't flow with the movie I didn't think. The other thing that I didn't like was most of the scenes where they were actually hiking showed them along roads or wide open paths. It made it seem as if hiking, and specifically hiking the AT was like a stroll through a park. Along what appeared to be rail trail type of paths and paved surfaces.
      And that stuck on the ledge scene was ridiculous fake.
      RIAP

    • A.T.Lt wrote:

      I watched the movie this weekend and have previously read the book. I enjoyed the book. It was a funny tale. Never started out reading the book as a "guide" or "how to" about hiking he AT and don't think that was ever Bryson's intention when writing the book. It was a funny story and the Appalachian trail was just a pice of the entire story. I watched the movie with the same expectations and knowing that it would not be the same as the book with segments of the book rewritten and or cut out or added plot lines. I liked the movie. It was funny. The book was better. (As is always the case) Nick Noltes voice became annoying after a while though. And Redford throwing in his knowledge of different kinds of rocks and about trees dying seemed weird and awkward It just didn't flow with the movie I didn't think. The other thing that I didn't like was most of the scenes where they were actually hiking showed them along roads or wide open paths. It made it seem as if hiking, and specifically hiking the AT was like a stroll through a park. Along what appeared to be rail trail type of paths and paved surfaces.
      And that stuck on the ledge scene was ridiculous fake.
      It's too difficult to get the catering truck up the real trail.
      Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.
      Dr. Seuss Cof123

    • Rasty wrote:

      A.T.Lt wrote:

      I watched the movie this weekend and have previously read the book. I enjoyed the book. It was a funny tale. Never started out reading the book as a "guide" or "how to" about hiking he AT and don't think that was ever Bryson's intention when writing the book. It was a funny story and the Appalachian trail was just a pice of the entire story. I watched the movie with the same expectations and knowing that it would not be the same as the book with segments of the book rewritten and or cut out or added plot lines. I liked the movie. It was funny. The book was better. (As is always the case) Nick Noltes voice became annoying after a while though. And Redford throwing in his knowledge of different kinds of rocks and about trees dying seemed weird and awkward It just didn't flow with the movie I didn't think. The other thing that I didn't like was most of the scenes where they were actually hiking showed them along roads or wide open paths. It made it seem as if hiking, and specifically hiking the AT was like a stroll through a park. Along what appeared to be rail trail type of paths and paved surfaces.
      And that stuck on the ledge scene was ridiculous fake.
      It's too difficult to get the catering truck up the real trail.
      That was my thought exactly. And the camera trucks. Plus then Redford and Nolte would actually have to hike. Into the woods. On the trail.
      RIAP

    • A.T.Lt wrote:

      Rasty wrote:

      A.T.Lt wrote:

      I watched the movie this weekend and have previously read the book. I enjoyed the book. It was a funny tale. Never started out reading the book as a "guide" or "how to" about hiking he AT and don't think that was ever Bryson's intention when writing the book. It was a funny story and the Appalachian trail was just a pice of the entire story. I watched the movie with the same expectations and knowing that it would not be the same as the book with segments of the book rewritten and or cut out or added plot lines. I liked the movie. It was funny. The book was better. (As is always the case) Nick Noltes voice became annoying after a while though. And Redford throwing in his knowledge of different kinds of rocks and about trees dying seemed weird and awkward It just didn't flow with the movie I didn't think. The other thing that I didn't like was most of the scenes where they were actually hiking showed them along roads or wide open paths. It made it seem as if hiking, and specifically hiking the AT was like a stroll through a park. Along what appeared to be rail trail type of paths and paved surfaces.
      And that stuck on the ledge scene was ridiculous fake.
      It's too difficult to get the catering truck up the real trail.
      That was my thought exactly. And the camera trucks. Plus then Redford and Nolte would actually have to hike. Into the woods. On the trail.
      Nolte would die on the first hill
      Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.
      Dr. Seuss Cof123

    • well...they had to hike a bit to get to mcafee knob. i'm certainly not a expert of the area, but they'd have to hike a minimum of a bit more than a mile each way using the fire service road as an access point. i bet redford even closing in on 80 years old could do that hike with a minimum of difficulty, but i bet 75 year old nolte needed to take a break or two or ten.

      and lets not forget that this is just a movie, not a documentary.
      2,000 miler

      The post was edited 1 time, last by max.patch ().

    • What I love about the discussion of filming locations is that if the production heavily used the trail people would be bloviating to no end that the movie commercialized the trail, that it was not LNT, that it ruined someone's wilderness experience, and there would be 100+ page threads on TOS decrying the abuse of the trail... But if you don't film on the trail, well we then b*tch and moan ab8ut that too.

      The absolute accurate geography of the trail is not really all that important to the film.
      Of course I talk to myself... sometimes I need expert advice.

    • Watched this on the flight from Dubai to Paris. Mehh. Decent flick, but it was as much a movie about hiking as pornos are about pizza delivery.

      I can see what people meant when saying it's not likely to inspire tons of new hikers.
      Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less. - Robert E. Lee

    • Grinder wrote:

      Watched this on the flight from Dubai to Paris. Mehh. Decent flick, but it was as much a movie about hiking as pornos are about pizza delivery.

      I can see what people meant when saying it's not likely to inspire tons of new hikers.
      I learned everything I know about pizza from porn
      Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.
      Dr. Seuss Cof123

    • Rasty wrote:

      Grinder wrote:

      Watched this on the flight from Dubai to Paris. Mehh. Decent flick, but it was as much a movie about hiking as pornos are about pizza delivery.

      I can see what people meant when saying it's not likely to inspire tons of new hikers.
      I learned everything I know about pizza from porn
      I learnt more about cleaning pools.....
      ;)
      Resident Australian, proving being a grumpy old man is not just an American trait.

    • " A Walk in the Woods" finally reached the top of my Netflix queue. I read the book years ago when it first came out. I remember it had me laughing out loud, this movie, not so much. I enjoyed the informative chapters in the book on the geology of the appalachians and the plight of the American Chestnut. I was glad the movie gave a nod to this.

      I thought the star of the movie was the trail itself, at least the little they showed of it. My recommendation to folks would be to read the book, the movie was mediocre at best.
      “Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
      the saddest are these, 'It might have been.”

      John Greenleaf Whittier

      The post was edited 1 time, last by IMScotty ().

    • IMScotty wrote:

      " A Walk in the Woods" finally reached the top of my Netflix queue. I read the book years ago when it first came out. I remember it had me lugging out load, this movie, not so much. I enjoyed the informative chapters in the book on the geology of the appalachians and the plight of the American Chestnut. I was glad the movie gave a nod to this.

      I thought the star of the movie was the trail itself, at least the little they showed of it. My recommendation to folks would be to read the book, the movie was mediocre at best.
      Sure wish I had waited for Netflix.
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General

    • mental note wrote:

      It was alright, I'd watch it again...but only after Halloween horror movie seasons over!
      Socks, looks like your two loves come together in this movie here...



      Does not look like 'Beacon Point' has screened anywhere in New England. It has a few showings in Georgia. Looks like we will have to wait for the DVD to be released.
      “Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
      the saddest are these, 'It might have been.”

      John Greenleaf Whittier

    • IMScotty wrote:

      mental note wrote:

      It was alright, I'd watch it again...but only after Halloween horror movie seasons over!
      Socks, looks like your two loves come together in this movie here...


      Does not look like 'Beacon Point' has screened anywhere in New England. It has a few showings in Georgia. Looks like we will have to wait for the DVD to be released.
      Excelent find Scotty! One thing I love more than horror...is campy horror! :D
      It's always so easy to pick off the young and dumb hiker types...

    • mental note wrote:

      JimBlue wrote:

      one of my relatives told me that rhps is getting remade. Probably do it with all kinds of special effects, ruining it.
      I have never seen that movie in entirety...something happens (I get bored I guess of the silliness) and change the channel...spose I should stick it out at least once.
      Nah, I never watched it either, other a few short sections.
      The road to glory cannot be followed with much baggage.
      Richard Ewell, CSA General

    • I first saw it in Texas in 1978. I fell asleep when the music started and woke up when the credits started rolling. When I saw it in Mississippi, I stayed awake, had an awful case of the 'flu, but I enjoyed it as I did the Time Warp, and learned the local responses. I've seen it in theaters about 30 times. Yes, only thirty. Some folks have seen it thousands of times. i have it on VHS and DvD.
      --
      "What do you mean its sunrise already ?!", me.

    • i saw it once at one of the midnight shows 30 odd years ago to see what all the hoopla was about. the audience was more interesting than the movie.

      like a few others, if i'm flipping channels and come across it i'll watch maybe 10 minutes or so and move on. as a meatloaf fan i do like seeing early meatloaf in the movie.

      2,000 miler

      The post was edited 1 time, last by max.patch ().

    • mental note wrote:


      I have never seen that movie in entirety...something happens (I get bored I guess of the silliness) and change the channel...spose I should stick it out at least once.
      Socks, this movie should not be watched on TV, this is live theatre. They ran midnight shows for 28 years in the Harvard Square Threatre near me. The audience was the star of the show. It was great. You needed to wear a raincoat. I wish I was still that young, stupid and exuberant now. I was able to bring my oldest daughter to a show before the place shut down. I think that night she finally got dad :)
      “Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
      the saddest are these, 'It might have been.”

      John Greenleaf Whittier

    • IMScotty wrote:

      mental note wrote:

      I have never seen that movie in entirety...something happens (I get bored I guess of the silliness) and change the channel...spose I should stick it out at least once.
      Socks, this movie should not be watched on TV, this is live theatre. They ran midnight shows for 28 years in the Harvard Square Threatre near me. The audience was the star of the show. It was great. You needed to wear a raincoat. I wish I was still that young, stupid and exuberant now. I was able to bring my oldest daughter to a show before the place shut down. I think that night she finally got dad :)
      yeah I had some friends that use to go and throw toast and dress up, not sure how I missed out on this, prolly in another theater watchin' Pink Floyd, Hendrix or the Grateful Dead movie.

    • RHPS, a perverted 50's sci-fi rock show. I like the first half of the movie. Well, the first "A" side of the LP (yep, got it). Interesting back stories on the London stage production and the making of the movie. The writer, is also the Riff-Raff (butler) character. Tim Curry showed up in full drag costume for the audition for the London stage production (it was a stage show, then made into a movie). The attendees/dancers, rumor has it, were using a large and endless supply of weed. Susan Saradon and several others, got bad flu/colds. I think Susan got pneumonia also. Meatloaf was fresh off a tour doing Hair in the USA and was hired for his "eddie" part due to his voice and his acting chops. He had no idea what he was walking into. Once he saw Tim Curry in drag in the touring stage show in America, he wanted out of it, but stayed.
      Pirating – Corporate Takeover without the paperwork

    • Yeah. I heard all about the stage play being turned into a movie years ago. There is an out of print book I've read that covers that. Some years ago the author did an interview that also explained it. There is a sequel where they deliberately tried to be funny. But it didn't work out too well.
      --
      "What do you mean its sunrise already ?!", me.