This could practically be another "My Expertise" blog, but since I had a turn there already, this is just a recurring thematic device that finds its way into my lap, whether I intend it to or not:

The world ends. Nuclear strike, Hell opens up or something along those lines.

Let me be frank - I'm pretty oblivious to movie previews. I don't watch television - at all, a TV is something I rent movies for and play games on. Were it not for discussions on forums or blogs, I might not know what the hell is in movie theaters and even then, stuff falls through the cracks. I go out today and grab a copy of Ace Attorney Investigations, but on a whim stop by the movie theater.

I look over my options, only really knowing that seeing Dwayne Johnson embarrass himself again isn't in my interests, Legion just looks stupid and that I don't give a shit about a James Cameron movie.

And so, at random, I pick The Book of Eli. Mostly because Denzel Washtington looks like some battle-hardened badass - an image of Denzel I just never seem to be able to buy. I guess I've just seen him in too many squeaky-clean, goodie-goodie roles. I skim the poster and see Gary Oldman. OK, that's another interesting choice. Sold. I get a ticket and go in.


Really, this poster was all I knew before going in.

And then the world ends.

Post-apocalyptic movie.

I swear, if don't go looking for this stuff, it still finds me somehow.

And then, Tom Waits has a small part in it. FUCK YES.

I had just come off of Digital Devil Saga and DDS2 on PS2 from a few weeks ago, it was rather Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome... with cannibalism and Hulk rage demon transformations. Then I watched I Am Legend and Terminator Salvation - zombies (ok "infected") and robots out to kill us all.

I tend to like this sort of thing because it removes the complications of day-to-day life in storytelling, it strips away law and social norms, Humans are now just trying to survive amidst their vices. Then there's the things we take for granted - water, clothes, food even sanitary wipes - it all becomes so much more precious since money became worthless.

The Book of Eli is probably the most human take of the concept I've seen in recent years. No angels or demons; no zombies, robots or mutants - just humans struggling to survive and willing to kill each other to do it, even willing to kill for the chance at rebuilding an organized society.

Taking it a step further, a new generation has grown up in this post-nuclear world. Since most of the things the world took for granted (or kindling) have been removed, people have grown up learning language and might even be proficient with machines, but they don't know how to read or write. Humanity has survived, but in 30 year's time, lost practically everything.

Rather than say more, I'll just leave it at that. But like any post-apocalyptic theme, it draws on the same themes as other post-apoc films. The best of people, the worst of people. Things that are meant for good used to harm or manipulate.

I was blown away by it, really. It wasn't as lonely as other post-apoc movies, either. Walker (Washington) is more than willing to cut down whomever gets in the way of his objective, though. I almost thought I was in for another Desperado or Rambo flick with a body count to match, but not quite.. Denzel was pretty badass here. I guess he can do that every now and then. Mila Kunis also did a good job.

So the whim I took was yet another post-apoc treat. For such a random pick, I apparently could have done a lot worse... like go see Legion.

I have plans to be at the apocalypse next month - Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey awaits my Nintendo DS. I might go for a round of SMT: Nocturne before-hand. Right now, its revisiting Final Fantasy VI...

And the world ends.