addone on 1/8/2009 at 00:27
Okay. So, recently I've been obsessed with the dystopian and post-apocalyptic genres. Mostly after playing Fallout (3, I've now moved to the first, and I'm loving every moment of it), Half-Life 2 and other similar things. I've watched the Mad Max series recently, read The Road, A Canticle for Leibowitz and every other interesting piece of post-apocalyptic fiction I can find that captures my interest.
Since these (excluding Half-Life), I have become fascinated more with the post-nuclear holocaust kind. Unfortunately, I've noticed how little there is of the really bleak, obvious, post-apocalyptic fiction. I'm wondering, is there any other recommended post-apocalyptic fiction? Along the lines of Mad Max 2 and The Road? Any decent ones, that is. Truly decent ones, ones that really convey a completely shattered, destroyed world?
Not necessarily sad ones, though. I've always loved black comedy. Monty Python-esque humour in a bleak post-apocalyptic world would be amazing and genius, if done well. I have come across Milligan's "The Bed Sitting Room" which looks interesting, and I've ordered the blu-ray.
But are there any other notable examples?
Also, what do the other TTLGers think of the genre?
Damn, shoulda changed the title to "Post-apocalyptic Movies."
june gloom on 1/8/2009 at 00:35
You may want to try the TV show Jericho. It only ran for 2 seasons and it was lucky to get the 2nd, but it was an interesting take on a small town immediately after a nuclear strike.
Stalker (the game) may also qualify, though it's "post-apocalyptic" on a much smaller scale.
Let me dig around a bit, I like post-apoc stuff too.
[edit] There was some book I had ages ago, I can't remember the name of it and I'll be damned if I remember where I put it, but it was an alt-history thing about America getting nuked in the 60s and England was providing aid with an ulterior motive of taking back their old colony. I'll see if I can dig up the title.
D'Juhn Keep on 1/8/2009 at 00:39
Book: Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
Movies: Brazil (exactly what you're looking for), Threads (not but you won't forget it), 28 Days Later
Comics: The Walking Dead, Black Gas
ZymeAddict on 1/8/2009 at 00:46
The post-apocalyptic genre does seem to be in style right now. There is this film staring Denzel Washington which is coming up:
(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSfFkVrmEkA) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSfFkVrmEkA
They're also releasing a film version of
The Road. In December, I think:
(
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLgszfXTAY) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLgszfXTAY
Also, I guess
I Am Legend counts as post-apocalyptic. Good book. You should check it out if you haven't already.
Don't bother with the film version released last year, though. It's total crap.
addone on 1/8/2009 at 00:46
Quote Posted by dethtoll
Stalker (the game) may also qualify, though it's "post-apocalyptic" on a much smaller scale.
I've been interested in Stalker, I love the imagery in the game. I've been trying to find some more post-apocalyptic games, Rage has interested me, and "I Am Alive". I unfortunately don't have a computer that can run a lot of games, I just have to wait for a PS3 game like that. Thanks, though. Nice to know more people enjoy the genre :P
Quote Posted by D'Juhn Keep
Book: Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
Movies: Brazil (exactly what you're looking for), Threads (not but you won't forget it), 28 Days Later
Wow, thanks for the list! I just googled
Brazil and it sounds great. I've been interested in Threads for some time, as well, along with 28 Days Later (especially since that zombies-are-awesome phase I went through a couple months back, that every gamer goes through at some point).
Yup, I've been VERY excited for The Road movie. Hadn't heard about that other film though, it looks GREAT. They both look like the
typical (dark, bleak, empty, destroyed, sad, desolate world with cannibals, people struggling to survive, trying to find food, shelter, water, etc.) that nobody's properly tried making until now. I can't wait!
Angel Dust on 1/8/2009 at 00:53
The Quiet Earth is a good little post-apocalyptic film made here in NZ in 1985 which means it might be hard to track down. If you can find it though I highly recommend it.
ZymeAddict on 1/8/2009 at 01:00
Just out of curiosity, has anyone ever seen/read (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Boy_and_His_Dog)
A Boy and His Dog?
Apparently it influenced the Mad Max films and is a black comedy of sorts. It looks vaguely interesting.
june gloom on 1/8/2009 at 01:03
A Boy and His Dog was also a major influence on Fallout 1 incidentally. It's why one of the generic pre-built characters (and the one most likely to be closest to the idea of the true "Vault Dweller") is named Albert.
Tonamel on 1/8/2009 at 01:06
Quote Posted by dethtoll
Stalker (the game) may also qualify, though it's "post-apocalyptic" on a much smaller scale.
There's also Stalker (the movie), but I'll warn that it's the slowest movie I've ever watched. And I've watched Koyanisqaatsi.
Quote Posted by ZymeAddict
Don't bother with the film version released last year, though. It's total crap.
Have you seen (
http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/03/05/must-watch-i-am-legends-original-ending-this-is-amazing/) the original ending? It puts a much more interesting spin on the rest of the movie, and it's a bit more in keeping with the original story.
edit: A Boy and his Dog is a
strange movie. Not a bad watch, but it's way out there.
june gloom on 1/8/2009 at 01:21
Quote Posted by Tonamel
There's also Stalker (the movie), but I'll warn that it's the slowest movie I've ever watched.
Well long panning shots get me hard, so...
