Don't Mess with the Mountains: Travel Literature Transforms into an Action-Packed Film

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department
 
[Don't Mess with the Mountains] is adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name published in 1998. The book was not only written by “the funniest travel writer,” Bill Bryson, but also draws from his real-life travel experiences. It describes how he and his old friend “Stephen Katz” resolved to hike the entire 3,500-kilometer Appalachian Trail in the eastern United States, chronicling the humorous incidents that occurred along the way.
 

With his signature humor and wit, Bill Bryson penned this laugh-out-loud hiking memoir, which also includes historical background on the Appalachian Trail, scientific insights about the natural environment and wildlife, and reflections on the coexistence between humans and nature. Readers are treated to both hearty laughs and deep contemplation, making it a classic in travel literature.

After much anticipation from fans, this best-selling novel has finally been adapted into a movie. Directed by Ken Kwapis, who helmed He’s Just Not That Into You, the film features acclaimed actor and Sundance Film Festival founder Robert Redford as both producer and lead actor. The movie had its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival to widespread acclaim. Nearly 80 years old and an Oscar winner, Robert Redford not only plays the leading role himself but also cast Golden Globe winner Nick Nolte as his old friend “Katz” for a rugged mountain-climbing adventure. Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson plays the role of Robert Redford’s wife.

The film tells the story of Bill (played by Robert Redford), a travel writer who has lived in England for twenty years and decides to move back to the U.S. to settle down. He believes the best way to reconnect with his homeland is to hike the famous Appalachian Trail. So, accompanied by his old friend Katz (played by Nick Nolte), the two men—whose combined age exceeds 100—embark on a more than 3,000-kilometer trek on foot. But along the way, Katz keeps getting them into trouble, strange hikers cling to them relentlessly, and they’re even awakened from their wilderness campsite by a lurking black bear... Will this odd couple of buddies, Bill and Katz, manage to complete this surprise-filled hiking journey? Let fans of the book and movie find out in cinemas.