Comments on: Review: On the Beach

By: soundofrain

soundofrain — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:45:00 +0000

Yes, I have, Slim. All I remember is the scene where he sets up a bunch of mannequins and cardboard cutouts, to make an audience, to whom he makes a speech, complete with cheering from a sound effects record. And I remember the ending made no sense at all. I should watch that again. I’m on an apocalypse kick.

By: Shanghai Slim

Shanghai Slim — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:36:24 +0000

Have you seen “The Quiet Earth, a 1985 post-apocalyptic set in New Zealand? Some kind of American energy grid system causes the instant disappearance of all people, except one man.

By: soundofrain

soundofrain — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:37:38 +0000

Does it have to be human life? In the book, much was made of the fact that lots of animals are more resistant to radiation sickness than humans (I have no idea if this is true). There’s a funny bit where a farmer flips out when he learns the rabbits will outlast him; there’s a long history of battle between Australians and (non-native) rabbits.

I would like my niece and nephew to live out their lives comfortably, but for my own sake, I don’t much care. The universe goes on, anyway. In fact, one thing that bothers me a lot about death is that I’ll miss whatever happens next, in human history. That sucks.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will certainly give the newer version a miss.

By: absurdbeats

absurdbeats — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:37:36 +0000

Watch the movie.

I haven’t read the book, but I’ve seen both the 1960s and 2000s versions (I prefer the ’60s one, if only because of Cary Grant and Ava Gardner).

I’m with you on all that’s absent from the story, and yeah, it is rather tame. No mayhem, little violence, no diseased or rotting bodies.

Just. . .nothing.

But the final shot of the movie is all about the absence. No corpses, but not much else, either. Just empty buildings and empty streets and life no more.

It’s not particularly chilling, but it is poignant.

I like to think the world will outlast me. Whatever comforts this doubter can find, among them is the notion that life, in some form, goes on.