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I actually agree with you, Alan, to a large degree about the narcissistic current that runs through INTO THE WILD. I'll admit I was predisposed not to like the film, as I'd formed an opinion of the main character as an ingrate who only had the luxury of learning what he learned and living how he lived because of his parents, of whom I thought he was far too disdainful. And even after seeing the first half-hour of the film, or so, I still felt this way and to an extent, the feeling never left me.

However, having these opinions of the character--justified or not--does not necessarily mean the film is not worth seeing. For one thing, while it is typically difficult to achieve and a recipe for unpopularity, there is no rule that a film's protagonist must be likable. I think there's a case to be made that this film could serve as a lesson to young people like the main character to be wary of their own hubris and (self) loathing, lest it lead them down a path similar to Christopher's. Furthermore, I think the film itself is creative, expressionistic, and surprisingly effective at conveying the internal nature of self-reflection and contemplation. These are difficult things to depict in a film without it seeming to indulgent, and I think INTO THE WILD largely succeeds on this front.