It’s your last decision. Better make it a good one.

There have been a lot of end of the world (or should they be called ‘end of the world as we know it’) films. Dr. Strangelove, The Stand, Children of Men, The Road, War of the Worlds, 2012, Melancholia…this is only the start of a very long list of films that encompass themes of our world ceasing to exist and what we as humans choose to do before, during, and after this imminent demise.

The entertainment value of these films is derived from the fact that movie-goers are interested in the decision making process that is thrown upon the characters, whether they like it or not. Given that everything comforting in their world has been taken, or soon will be taken, the characters embark on a journey of sorts into the primitive mindset of a human being who’s main concern suddenly becomes staying alive. It is fascinating to see this unfold and so, I never pass up an opportunity to watch an “end of the world” genre film.

They’re not all
great (*cough*2012*cough*), but when they are, they’re really great. I read The Road and then watched the film and both were stellar representations of earth after a catastrophic event. Primitive and primal were the attitudes of the main character and the writing and cinematography allowed for a haunting vision of life after iPhones and highways, and the always pesky 'other people'. I remember getting chills during the scene when the man and the boy stumble upon a can of Coke and the boy (who is roughly 6-8 years old) does not know what it is. Such a great reveal on how long their world has been like this and that it’s been like this the boy’s entire life.

And then there is Melancholia which is both visually stunning and heartbreaking. Characters struggle between accepting the apparent end, denying its inevitability, and fumbling like a fool trying to bargain their way out of it. It's an exercise in art first and foremost and dare I say the antithesis of last years "Tree of Life"?

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World hits theaters June 22, 2012 and I am eagerly awaiting its arrival. Steve Carell and Keira Knightley play neighbors who possess a certain ‘opposite personality’ harmony that we see so often in films. I have confidence that they will pull it off perhaps as well as Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet did in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The characters in Seeking a Friend embark on a journey with clear cut intentions to achieve a certain goal before the world is destined to end (According to sources: 21 days).

I look forward to this film’s release and I am left wondering the age old question: What would you do if you knew your time was extremely limited? Aside from the obvious and popular responses such as: be with family, travel, finish an important goal, etc., what would you do? What would you stop doing?

Are most human beings doomed to mediocrity until something comes along and puts the proverbial gun to our head and says: Do it now?