Last night I saw 127 hours during its second run in theaters. Though I have wanted to see this film since its announcement, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

The pacing and length of the film were well done; I wasn’t bored at any point during this film. Danny Boyle, the film’s director, didn’t over-inflate his film with unnecessary nonsense just to make this film feature length, it runs a satisfying hour and a half.

I went into the theater with a negative impression of Ralston; that he was an extremely arrogant, selfish person.  After seeing the film, I don’t think that his selfishness was intentional.  In my own life I have been guilty of picking up and going off on my own without telling anyone, not because I have a death wish or don’t want anyone to know where I am, but because my head is so wrapped up in my pursuit that I simply forget. It’s a bad habit which allowed me to sympathize with Aron’s decision, poor as it may have been.

What has changed is my opinion that he was an arrogant know-it-all. In the film he is portrayed as a self-sure, confident  human being. One might consider him irresponsible, but not arrogant. His level of experience was every bit as good as he thought it was, had it not been, the outcome would have been drastically different.

I believe to truly get the full effect of this film you have to share some of Ralston’s passions and ideals.  The film will resonate with anyone who has spent any time exploring the western United States. The scenes of Aron biking through the Canyonlands area of Utah reminded me of my time in the arid expanses of Wyoming.  My past desire to visit Utah was refueled by this film. The director skillfully utilized aerial shots of the canyon to create a feeling of isolation as well as convey just how far Ralston was from rescue.

The film plays out as a collage of Aron’s recollections of the past  interspersed with the struggle of his present entrapment which builds to a literal breaking point during which Aron severs his own arm. The director utilized sound heavily during the breaking and amputation scene, which had a more profound effect on me than the actual gore. The visual aspect of Aron severing his arm was definitely prominent enough to get the point across, but not over exaggerated.

The emotional crux of this film came when Aron, stumbling out of the canyon, saw a family of hikers ahead of him. He struggled to get their attention, and when they noticed him and came to his rescue I couldn’t help but get that choked up victory feeling.

I really enjoyed this film. Not to say everyone will. Some will get bored with the exposition leading up to the amputation, though that aspect of the film was what compelled me the most.

Through this film I have gained a greater understanding of why friends and family worry.  By seeing something of my self from a third person perspective, I have decided that I will no longer wander off by myself without always leaving a note.

-Patrick