Alone Across the Arctic

Guy paddles and portages across the Arctic as nonchalantly as a walk in the park. Maybe that's a testament to his mettle, but this film is strangely - considering the undertaking and the setting - lacking in drama and grit. Maybe that has to do with Adam's personality being rather bland? Maybe because in order to stay rational, calm, focused, and patient at all times, Adam has to treat what is a magnificent adventure to us simply as a daily grind to himself? Surely SOMETHING must have happened that made him shake his fist at God, make him fear death, make him dig the deepest he's ever dug into his foundation in order to get through some seemingly insurmountable ordeal....but apparently not. Maybe because he was just so prepared, and could rely on the latest technology to navigate so he would never get into trouble? Maybe because he's just a real level-headed guy at all times? Maybe because he just got real lucky as far as no bad things happening, like with the weather, with aggressive animals, or with equipment failure? Overall, considering the subject matter, the task performed, and the incredible setting, the film is strangely low-key, and somewhat flat, like the tundra.

This was a blast to watch. Beautiful images and sound. Story is fantastic. Just a lot of fun to sit back and enjoy.

Having a tremendous interest in this type of quest, I was pretty disappointed. It seems this guy had more interest in letting the world know about his nasty sock fetish than his journey. We don't need close ups of your nasty socks, nor your enjoyment of the smell. He even went so far to let us know "this dirty laundry bag that I use as a pillow, has dirty socks in it. I lay my head on dirty socks". Yea, we get it, you have a gross fetish. 19 minutes in and we got multiple dirty sock conversations and close ups of his feet. Gross.

A young man has his grand adventure. Driving north from Dawson City (Yukon) with a film crew, he starts walking at the Arctic Circle. Arriving at a river, he boards his canoe and off he goes .

Meeting the bugs, biters and wildlife of the region. He traverses lakes, marshes and white water, like the Inuit. At Day 57, he is resupplied by float plane at Coppermine River, Nunavut. After 100+ days, he arrived at bustling Baker Lake in southern Nunavut.

Interesting enough. But, we don't get to see much of the landscape. No panoramas because he's travelling at water level. It is an arduous and dangerous journey, exposed all the way to the elements.

It would have helped if he had provided a detailed map of his route, with the highlights.

What a waste of a good subject. This is what happens when amateur filmmakers grab cameras and just shoot whatever they see. Just terrible quality - looks like a youtube video from 2003 - if that!