Sunday, October 4, 2009

I Feel Fine

I grew up almost positive that I would die in a nuclear war. Reagan, Gorbachev, Robards -- all of these men convinced me that I would most likely die in a horrible explosion. I wasn't happy about the fact, just resigned to it. And I knew I didn't want to live through it. There was no way I wanted to be one of the "lucky" who made it through a nuclear holocaust. My Mom used to say that when she heard the attack was coming she was going to paint a bulls eye on our roof, and sit in the middle of it eating a bag of chocolate chips and drinking a bottle of wine. I planned to be next to her. The latest spate of Hollywood movies have done little to change my mind.

Has anyone else noticed that the end of the world is the latest movie trend? Today Ryan and I went to see one of the lighter of the latest spate of "disaster porn" -- "Zombieland." It was okay, not the best movie I have ever seen, but hardly the worst. What really got me though wasn't the movie itself, but the previews. For 20 minutes we watched trailer after trailer for movies about the end of the world, and the "lucky" few who survive it. "2012." 'The Road." "Legion." "Couple's Retreat." Each painted a picture more horrible than the one before, and each made me wonder, what happened to Julia Roberts romantic comedies?

All the way home I tried to wrap my brain around why there is such a surge in these movies. After all, since Bush has been out of office, I thought we were feeling more optimistic. Then I realized that this is nothing new, but that this time I am just paying attention.

There have always been apocalyptic cults, and every generation has been sure they will see the end of the world. I think it's a bragging thing. I mean, who wouldn't want to go to heaven and be able to claim they were there at the end? It would certainly give you more cache than those who simply choked on a Brazil nut. However, the poor sap with the Brazil nut didn't have to watch everyone and everything around him die, pretty sure he was next.

Of course, a Brazil nut death doesn't make a good movie. Neither would my Mom and me sitting on the roof with our wine and chocolate. But really, if it is Armageddon, who is going to be thinking about lighting and camera angles anyway?

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was just thinking about this today - how everyone's all about the end of the world. So cheerful. You'd think especially in times of war and economy nastiness, would be the time for something a touch more upbeat. At least Zombieland is a comedy. I mean I doubt real life's in much danger of encountering those anytime soon, unless you count early morning commuters who haven't had enough sleep. :)

Anonymous said...

And it makes me sad because I actually like Vince Vaughn.

Susan said...

When Sugarplum was a baby, I'd spend hours working out how to survive once all heck broke loose and there was nothing but mayhem and riots.

I think the bulls eye is definitely the preferred route.

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Just this weekend I was talking to a bartender/friend about events, 1 or 2 months or a year or so in the future, and he kept saying, "The world will be gone by then."

Something mad is going on around here.......

Ellie

Aunt Juicebox said...

See, my luck is such that I would definitely survive a catastrophe like that, and have to eat bugs because I decided it wasn't worth building a compound to hide in with all my supplies. You're feeding my neuroses with this kind of stuff. I don't think I can live the rest of my life without toilet paper.

Kim said...

We don't have to go to the movies to get that kind of entertainment here. I read the other day where two employees at the nearby power plant were reprimanded after dropping containers of platonium from a crane. Twice.

Kim said...

Wait, I think I meant to say depleted uranium rods or something like that. Anyway, still not so good.

erin said...

The thing that gets me, that really shakes me up, is that when the end really comes, it might be so crazy horrible no movie could ever compare...so why try to. It's just depressing.

mitchell1 said...

Ah Kim, Libby forgot to mention that in addition to the BOX of wine and the huge bag of chocolate chips I have in my food storage, I have also stockpiled tons of toilet paper to be used for bargaining with others who make it through...bring it on...preferably one day BEFORE school begins

BeeBee said...

My mom says, "Chocolate chips are for pussies. If you're going to go cheap, go for cheap wine. Stick with good chocolate at the end. MMMMM Godiva...."

:-)