What If The World Disappeared?
Filed under: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Deals, 20th Century Fox, Dreamworks
There's just something about watching the whole world go boom on the big screen, isn't there? Case in point: Independence Day. Sure, not exactly what you would call a great film, but I think most of us were sold on the flick the moment we saw the White House go up in a ball of fire. It might be twisted, but audiences just can't get enough of the end of civilization; Roland Emmerich went with a Mayan doomsday prophecy for his disaster flick, 2012, but I Am Legend's Francis Lawrence is going for something a little more scientific for his next film. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Fox has hired Lawrence to direct a feature film version of Alan Weisman's book, The World Without Us. Weisman's book focuses on what would happen to the natural and built environment if humans suddenly disappeared. Sure, the whole thing is an educated guess based on Weisman's interviews with leading academics and scientists, but as educated guesses go, it's pretty good. So if you've ever wondered how long it would take for this civilization of ours to die out, here is your answer, and the bad news is that it won't take long at all. On the upside, though, at least Mount Rushmore would still be standing.
Mark Protosevich has been hired to write the script before heading off to work on the Oldboy update for Dreamworks. But Fox doesn't intend to make a documentary (which was done*
But this has me thinking: what are some of the best 'End of the Word' flicks? I'll even start you off with one of my nominations: Dr. Strangelove. Now it's your turn...
*Correction: The link provided for The World Without Us documentary was an error, and was not meant to make any political associations with Weisman's work.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-05-2009 @ 1:41PM
Mr.R said...
The Quiet Earth is amazing, the first part is brilliant. The last segments are kinda Meh...but I really love the ending.
Best thing about it is, there was no product placement, which I think messed up I Am Legend very badly.
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4-05-2009 @ 2:13PM
LordPaul said...
sounds like the Life after People documentary which came out a few years ago in the UK - think it's been on the History Channel.
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4-05-2009 @ 3:20PM
emersondartagnan said...
The movie Nothing, by Vincenzo Natali, while having subpar special effects, is conceptually astounding.
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4-05-2009 @ 6:31PM
Kate said...
I love apocalypse movies, but they give me horrible nightmares. So even though it took me two hours to come down from watching 'Last Night', I still really liked its take on how people would react to the end of the world.
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4-05-2009 @ 7:36PM
Matt S said...
Sorry to stray slightly from topic, but although not very enthused about the "Oldboy" remake directed by Speilberg and starring Will Smith, I still thought there may be an incredibly minute chance that they could still pull off something admirable. Now hearing that Mark Protosevich is penning the script I really doubt this will be anything but BAD, even if the Chan-wook Park original didn't exist to compare it to. Maybe it's just me but I thought "I Am Legend" was nothing but wasted potential..... just a really bad movie that should have been good.
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4-05-2009 @ 9:15PM
Leah said...
Most definitely "Miracle Mile." An eighties apocalypse movie set to a score done entirely by Tangerine Dream. Also one of the most bleak and depressing movies out there. Love it.
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4-05-2009 @ 11:50PM
DH said...
Discovery Channel had a great special called Population Zero: Aftermath that detailed what would happen if every human died at once. It was superb.
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4-07-2009 @ 8:42PM
Jeremy said...
Avoid "The Testament" at all costs! Unless, that is, you enjoy apocalyptic films set in the suburbs, with 0% excitement and 100% depression.
On another note, however, waiting for "The Road." It was supposed to be out last year, but hasn't been slated for a specific release date. I hope it at least does the novel justice.
BTW, "Knowing" sucked! Aliens/Angels? Come ON!
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