Cracked Article on Apocalyptic Movies

[owenmp]

5 Things Every Movie Gets Wrong About the Apocalypse
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=348108
The Miniatures Page
June 02, 2014

5 Things Every Movie Gets Wrong About the Apocalypse
http://www.cracked.com/article_21251_5- ... lypse.html
Cracked
June 02, 2014


#3. Gasoline Goes Bad (Quickly)

According to Hollywood . . . One of the cool things about the post-apocalypse is being able to tear around the countryside in a kickass vehicle with big-ass guns strapped to it, like the human resistance in the Terminator movies. Or in The Road Warrior, which takes place in a universe where muscle cars are more important than food or pants.

[aussie muscle]

1. Your first link just links to the second one (so it's redundant).

Here's the list for everyone else

#5. No, Everyone Won't Immediately Turn into Crazy Assholes
(maybe not, but prepare for the worst humanity has to give)

#4. The Apocalypse Itself Is the Least of Your Problems
medications and healthcare. more soldiers died of disease in u.s civil war than by gun or cannon.

#3. Gasoline Goes Bad (Quickly)
every car, boat and plane will be useless. After the first year or two, everyone would be bombing around on roller skates and bicycles, which admittedly would've changed the entire tone of The Road Warrior.

#2. Society Has Made You Forget How to Feed Yourself
starvation or scurvy might be a problem

#1. The World Is Full of Giant Ticking Bombs
nuclear reactors might not go quietly if left unattended, dams and bridges need maintenance

[Taipan]

Or in The Road Warrior, which takes place in a universe where muscle cars are more important than food or pants.

But it actually makes sense - the reason why that universe is highly motorized is because:
1. People had to leave the cities due to gangs running rampart.
2. Get resources from the wastelands.

So yeah a fast car that can outrun gangs and carry scavanged goods is a must.

Plus, the RW didn't take place decades after the fall of man kind, only 2 years after there was TV for gods sake, and there were still places where they refined oil.
In MMBT - sure, methane was used instead of gasoline and there were people on bicycles too, so it checks out, but the RW scenario holds up pretty well!

[MWFV8]

It doesn't matter if it makes sense. Movies concepts aren't created to make sense. The whole point is you suspend plausibility to witness something compelling and ultimately enjoyable.

[owenmp]

Dear aussie muscle,

Thanks for the great reply.

Correct, the first link (The Miniatures Page) gives the link to the actual Cracked article. I included the URL for the TMP Web page because some of the comments in that discussion thread might be fun for the users of this forum to read.

[Taipan]

It doesn't matter if it makes sense. Movies concepts aren't created to make sense. The whole point is you suspend plausibility to witness something compelling and ultimately enjoyable.

Yeah, totally. But I think the MM movies are still right up there when it comes to how realistic and cohesive they are (Miller wrote backstories for each character and worked out the whole universe based on the actual oil crisis and how people behaved without oil - that definitely helped). That's definitely an important part of those movies, not just a cherry on top. If I wanna completey suspend disbelief then I go watch ... I dunno... Pacific Rim haha

[MWFV8]

It doesn't matter if it makes sense. Movies concepts aren't created to make sense. The whole point is you suspend plausibility to witness something compelling and ultimately enjoyable.

Yeah, totally. But I think the MM movies are still right up there when it comes to how realistic and cohesive they are (Miller wrote backstories for each character and worked out the whole universe based on the actual oil crisis and how people behaved without oil - that definitely helped). That's definitely an important part of those movies, not just a cherry on top. If I wanna completey suspend disbelief then I go watch ... I dunno... Pacific Rim haha

Indeed, that's one of the things that makes some movies so great. And you're right to say it's not just a cherry on top. It's core to a good piece of fiction feeling realistic even when built around a premise that's illogical or unlikely.

[Gwen J Blair]

One of the cool things about the post-apocalypse is being able to tear around the countryside in a kickass vehicle with big-ass guns strapped to it, like the human resistance in the Terminator movies.

[DetritusMaximus]

It doesn't matter if it makes sense. Movies concepts aren't created to make sense. The whole point is you suspend plausibility to witness something compelling and ultimately enjoyable.

To me it matters. The excuse that it is 'just a movie' makes it easy to accept lazy writing and over the top action/effects that undermine the experience.

[MWFV8]

It doesn't matter if it makes sense. Movies concepts aren't created to make sense. The whole point is you suspend plausibility to witness something compelling and ultimately enjoyable.

To me it matters. The excuse that it is 'just a movie' makes it easy to accept lazy writing and over the top action/effects that undermine the experience.

I think you're getting premise and story mixed up here. A lazy story or a movie that overcompensates with sfx is bad regardless of premise. The Cracked article writer is right to suggest the premise for Road Warrior is flawed, but the story makes for a great action movie with a deep meaning.