That was an excellent one.

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Gringo Trails explores the positives and negatives effects of one of the largest growing industries in the world, tourism. This film documentary, directed by Pegi Vail, follows backpackers through their adventures in the Amazon through countries in South America. The film shares the story of a young, college backpacker named Yossi Ghinsberg who ends up lost in the Amazon Rainforest of Bolivia. He is recused almost a month later and writes a book about it. The book is published and tourists began flocking to this area. The film opens with a quote from Chief Seattle that says, "Take only memories. Leave nothing but footprints". Several natives, tour guides, and travel writers are interviewed about how the influx of tourist and how it has effected their daily lives and how these tourist have disturbed their environments. The film reveals shots of liter-filled beaches of exclusive destinations that have become overrun by tourists. The documentary does include subtitles, which can be distracting, but it sometimes in necessary given the speaker. It is very educational and shows what can happen when a destination becomes too popular.

Gringo TrailsWhen I watched Gringo Trails I thought it will be a long movie. The movie was really depressing. I almost fell asleep while watching it. I sort of felt bad for the people that lived in the areas where there was poverty. I didn't know they sold cold beer in Bolivia. Bolivia has a lot of snow and salt which is why they have the largest desert in the world. I learned that as the number of tourists grow, the more species will grow. Snakes can be very toxic and their bites can be very bad. During harvest season, which is in April or May, they collect cactus. Everyone brushes their teeth outside and they take their clothes off outside- which is really creepy. They had lot of camels in Africa. I would definitely go to the beaches, relax and not worry about people messing with me. The way the people talked over in the countries was kind of annoying. I don't even want to think about living in those countries. I'd probably would kill myself if I had stayed there for a couple of days. I think the movie shows you how to respect people's feelings and think of others than yourself.

Gringo Trails is a documentary by: Pegi Vail. The film features the arrogance of Americans as tourists when they visit other countries. As they visit these countries they have the mindset that the United States is better than everyone else. So when the Americans are touring they cause destruction to these countries environments. I found the documentary interesting in the sense of showing Americans this perspective to get us to stop and think about what we typically do when we visit other places. Also it shows us instead how we should act. I feel that if it wasn't for this documentary people (we) wouldn't take a moment to stop and think about this. I remember this one scene where there was this giant cultural party where the entire shoreline was just flooded with nothing but beer bottles and knocked up people sleeping. This just kind of gives you a disgusted feeling of how tourists can cause a major impact on the environment. In this case turning the beauty of a beach into a place for drunks to crash. I would recommend this for people to watch to educate them and to show them the havoc they can do to a country as they are labeled as tourists without acknowledging it, plus it can destroy and deteriorate a country packed with: nature, beauty, and culture.

Capturing the essence and dangers of the Bolivian amazon jungle, Pegi Vail's documentary Gringo Trails showcases one man's will to survive in the jungle. Documenting the search for backpacker Yossi Ghinsberg who was swept away by the river and found twenty-five days later looking like he had came from a concentration camp. Compelled by his experience, Yossi wrote a book about what he went through while stranded in the middle of the jungle. By selling his story,Yossi's was able to help boost backpacking tourism for a developing country. This film shows how tourism can be detrimental to a country's natural environment. A lesson learned from watching the film is that tourist need to be mindful that they are a guest in someone else's country and respect certain implications put in place to preserve the environment. Also we see how backpackers prefer to be indulged in their environment rather than staying in a hotel because it creates a more memorable experience for them. Through the different interviews and views of tourism documented in the film, we can learn how tourism can boost an economy but also be detrimental to the environment.