Sort of a niche movie, perhaps...

I came upon the novel a few years ago in a coffee house in Danang, Vietnam frequented by expats and tourists. With not much available in Danang in English to read, I decided to read this novel that has so often been called a "classic."

It was probably better that I read the novel before seeing the movie, both of which reminded me of a number of acquaintances from the '60s and '70s that I eventually moved away from after determining that they would either end up in jail, a mental institution largely due to excessive self-indulgence, or prematurely dead from criminal behavior and/or excessive self-indulgence.

I've read some stories about Jack Kerouac, including one in Smithsonian magazine a few years ago, that focused on his days as a fire lookout in a forest watchtower. In short, I find Kerouac's life to be more interesting than his "On the Road" that seemed like reliving a conversation among fellow stoners in the '70s. (I know a few stoners today that are in their 60s, but they seem to be more moderate and sane compared to the '70s crowd. I evolved into a toddy guy sans dope by the late '80s.)

"On the Road" the movie might catch on with some bummed out with strip mall and big box store cultural, the grunge crowd, and a few closeted bohemians of the culturally straight daily routine work world, but beyond that the great mass of men will be left asking what the hell the story was about. Of course, that applies to many things in life from my experiences: romantic affairs/dating, job choices, war, management of money, and such.

See this movie and any movie in a theater if possible. Just don't sit next to anyone wearing a hat with a popgun box on his lap. It might be a Dean-like character. *wink*

"Ready when you are, Mister DeMille."