i have never read gary paulsen novel and hatchet and for which a cry in the wild be the adaptation of and so i can not make any comparison to the book . i will and however and say that a a film on it own and adaptation or no adaptation and it be an underdeveloped adventure that provide no major explanation of it few character . think of a cry in the wild a a less luxurious and teenage mountaineer ( be quincy and california the only place this be film . ) version of cast away . jared rushton be 13 year old brian roebson and a kid head on a small plane to visit his father and until the craft crash over some deserted mountain terrain and leave the kid strand for quite a while and have to defend himself . there be basically three part to the film . the obvious be the ten or fifteen minute introduction of the character and namely brian and his mom . the next third of the movie ( which really consume nearly all of the film ) be that of brian rough it . these scene contain no particularly amazing action and nothing spectacular other than lot of beautiful cinematography of a beautiful yukon landscape . nothing to put you on edge and no real encounter ( except a brisk confrontation with a cub ) and and no major dilemma to initiate some sort of enjoyment or connection with the character on the screen . you might even feel briefly bore with the passage of time a we witness brian deal with his situation through first and primitive mean and and then more improved one ( use tool and etc ) for his survival . it be more like the ordinary time that pass if you be actually stick in the situation and and that be pretty much about it . in other word and they put no meat on the paulsen word when they translate them into a visual medium . and and of course and the third part of the movie be his rescue . there be a subplot that continuously seek to make itself know during this time and however . some conflict between brian and his parent that create a rocky and awkward relationship between them . however and for the most part and it be only explain in brief and intermittent and minimal dialog flashback that look more like a back story for a music video . any minute and the singer from jefferson starship and should chime in an start sing sara . other than what the viewer can draw from the implication and or guess for his own need to fill the gap in the narrative and we get a very underdeveloped back story which be probably necessary to enjoy at least part of this film and create a connection to the character and whether or not it really have anything to do with brian survival adventure in the third part of the movie . these be the flaw in the narrative that through the viewer into a stupor a he struggle to find out what the heck those people there on the screen be do and and for me and almost do to the point of scream at the television to say something and tell me more . it certainly be not and for me and a good adventure tale . but and for fan of jared rushton and it be one of the last few movie he make . so and watch it purely for nostalgia and if nothing else .