Weekly Theme

Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

We're going to start this off right, in the future. This weeks them is dedicated to all those films set in the backdrop of the aftermath. "Aftermath of what?" you may ask. War, depression, crime, environmental disaster.............whatever, there all good ideas.

In John Carpenter's Escape From New York we learned that crime could lead to a society under martial law.

In Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys we found out that it will be a virus that takes us all out.

But in my favorite post-apocalyptic film of all time, Jean-Pierre Juenet's Delicatessen we are reasurred that no matter why it happens, we will be eating each other by the end of the day.

What are your favorites and more importantly why??????????????

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

leeroy711:

We're going to start this off right, in the future. This weeks them is dedicated to all those films set in the backdrop of the aftermath. "Aftermath of what?" you may ask. War, depression, crime, environmental disaster.............whatever, there all good ideas.

In John Carpenter's Escape From New York we learned that crime could lead to a society under martial law.

In Terry Gilliam's 12 Monkeys we found out that it will be a virus that takes us all out.

But in my favorite post-apocalyptic film of all time, Jean-Pierre Juenet's Delicatessen we are reasurred that no matter why it happens, we will be eating each other by the end of the day.

 

 

What are your favorites and more importantly why??????????????

I like 12 Monkeys a lot in this vein because I can really see a virus being the source of our post-apocalyptic demise, what with our developments toward biological warfare and our penchant for playing God; plus, this film is just warped enough (a la Gilliam) to make too much sense.

Then, there's the Terminator films - where AI takes over.  And for that matter, The Matrix.  Both are sleek.  Both involve mean robots and stuff.  Both are cool.  Will John Connor ever succeed, though?  There's going to be a fourth Terminator!

There's one with a religious bent that I don't think many people know or care about which has its ground in more biblical terms, and that's The Seventh Sign.  It's really more pre-apocalyptic, but I like how it tries to stay deliberately non-religious, even though it's concepts come directly from Revelations, more or less.  It's not the greatest movie, but it has that spooky vibe important to all movies of this type.

I don't know that I've seen artsier films about the apocalypse and its aftermath.  Recommendations?

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

leeroy711:

But in my favorite post-apocalyptic film of all time, Jean-Pierre Juenet's Delicatessen we are reasurred that no matter why it happens, we will be eating each other by the end of the day.

 What are your favorites and more importantly why??????????????

If you haven't seen it, check out A Boy and His Dog (1975). It once again proves that there is a limit to how much even the post apocalyptic world needs Don Johnson's sperm. Also when your dog is smarter than you, you shouldn't leave him behind just to chase some tail.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

unclefestering:

leeroy711:

But in my favorite post-apocalyptic film of all time, Jean-Pierre Juenet's Delicatessen we are reasurred that no matter why it happens, we will be eating each other by the end of the day.

 What are your favorites and more importantly why??????????????

If you haven't seen it, check out A Boy and His Dog (1975). It once again proves that there is a limit to how much even the post apocalyptic world needs Don Johnson's sperm. Also when your dog is smarter than you, you shouldn't leave him behind just to chase some tail.

I think you're the third person to recommend this one. Move to top of queue.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

pippin06:

 

 

I like 12 Monkeys a lot in this vein because I can really see a virus being the source of our post-apocalyptic demise, what with our developments toward biological warfare and our penchant for playing God; plus, this film is just warped enough (a la Gilliam) to make too much sense.

The thing I liked the most about 12 monkeys was the idea that psychology was just the newest religion and that people defer their own judgement to that of a "professional" because they have a PHD.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

So many fun little features to choose from, where ever shall I begin?

Undeniably the best (or just the most pervasive) films about living in a post-apocalyptic society are:

 Battle Royale

The Matrix

Mad Max, The Road Warrior & Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

12 Monkeys & La Jetee

Delicatessen & The City of Lost Children

Those straddling the line with extreme lovers and haters:

Reign of Fire

Tank Girl

The Omega Man

I Am Legend

The Day After Tomorrow

Waterworld

Akira

Doomsday

Southland Tales

The Matrix Reloaded & The Matrix Revolutions

And those that have been cast into the gallows of film history:

Titan A.E.

Aeon Flux (the movie, not the television series)

The Postman

Teenage Caveman

Battlefield Earth

Lastly, Wall-E, which is apparently the best movie ever. I haven't had a chance to see it yet. And The Road, which has yet to come out yet, but after having read the book I am utterly certain the film will be incredible.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

It's been almost exactly a year since I saw "Delicatessen," a movie which I absolutely adore. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to celebrate the one-year anniversary of my first viewing with a second one. I love Jeunet's visuals and his strange ability to make what should be a stomach-churning subject (cannibalism) seem like a charming quirk in his characters, rather than a desperate last resort.

As much of a Gilliam fan as I may be, I was never very keen on "12 Monkeys." I thought Brad Pitt's performance was great, but other than that I thought the movie was confusing, and too frenzied for me to follow.

On a more recent note, I got to see "Wall-e" this weekend and thought it was fantastic. I did like the first half, with its darker atmosphere and grander sense of what a trash-choked planet looks like, to the second half, which turned into a kind of Dr. Who meets Brazil starring robots.

Then, of course, you have the campy greatness of "Omega Man," which I watched as part of Filmspotting's 70s Sci-Fi marathon. Pretty much an awesomely bad movie. Great for watching on a weekend with a bunch of friends for some MST3K-style fun.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

mercurial:

 

12 Monkeys & La Jetee

Delicatessen & The City of Lost Children

Those straddling the line with extreme lovers and haters:

Reign of Fire

Tank Girl

 

I was wondering if anyone would bring up Tank Girl. I thought I may have been the only one that liked it.

As For La Jetee, I think I've seen it. Is it told entirely through still shots. I really can't remember if I liked it or not or if I maybe just saw part of it on the special features or 12 monkeys.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

indieabby88:

It's been almost exactly a year since I saw "Delicatessen," a movie which I absolutely adore. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to celebrate the one-year anniversary of my first viewing with a second one. I love Jeunet's visuals and his strange ability to make what should be a stomach-churning subject (cannibalism) seem like a charming quirk in his characters, rather than a desperate last resort.

 

I love Jeunet, his rythemic timing sequences are awsome and I think Delicatessen has my favorite.

Re:Weekly Theme for June 30: Post Apocalyptic Funtime

mercurial:

So many fun little features to choose from, where ever shall I begin?

Undeniably the best (or just the most pervasive) films about living in a post-apocalyptic society are:

 Battle Royale

 

Those straddling the line with extreme lovers and haters:

The Omega Man

I Am Legend

Not to be picky, but I always thought that Battle Royale took place in an alternate history of Earth where the Japanese Empire controlled all of Asia at the end of World War II. I wouldn't put that in the same category as living in the aftermath of the world's end.

And if you are going to put Omega Man and I Am Legend on the list, I'd say you need to put the original film version, The Last Man on Earth, with Vincent Price as the scientist/hero/killer.