Are we looking for Armageddon?
By Carol L Evenson
July 3, 2005
Are we, as human beings, so
anxious for Armageddon to come and rescue us from the
reality of our everyday lives that we actually find pleasure and enjoyment in films like: “War of the Worlds, Aliens, Independence Day, Terminator, I Robot, Armageddon, The Fifth Element, Godzilla, Alligator, Pet Cemetery, Halloween, Poltergeist, Wolf, Blade,” and many other similar or related films? There are films such as, “Hostage, The Interpreter, Atomic Train, Executive Decision, Air Force One, Mission Impossible, Missing in Action, Platoon, Above the Law, Psycho, Earthquake, Twister, and Fatal Attraction,” that come so close to reality and actuality that it is fear-provoking.
It appears as though filmmakers have, for decades, strived to stretch the horrors of fantasy and imagination so far beyond the concept of reality that they are relying more and more on background music, special effects and “box office personalities” in their films. At best, many of these films depicting an unrealistic and surreal world are a colorful comedy of errors. No one, in his or her right mind that is, could possibly believe the splattering of refuse in many these films. And yet, these films bring in millions of dollars to the movie
industry every year.
Armageddon is an every day reality for many people living in this world of ours. How can we derive pleasure and enjoyment from watching people suffer and die in a fantasy world? Are we so consumed with wanting to see the harsh realities of life that we have a need to watch the tragedy and hardship of others?
We should be asking ourselves if this is because we find the reality of life so distasteful that we need to get lost in a world that doesn’t really exist, or is it because we feel a need to remind ourselves about the real and harsh realities of living. Are the filmmakers trying to reach out to the public to let them know that the human race is speeding towards its own demise? Are these the reasons that films make millions of dollars every year for the film industry? Or, is it because good seems to triumph over evil no matter how grotesque and disgusting the conflict?
Carol L Evenson 305 N St Clair St Painesville, Ohio 44077 440-358-0572 redcaroll@aolcom