Disaster survival movies

Mathieu Ghekiere · September 5th, 2005, 08:02 AM

Touching the Void.
I haven't seen it, but it got pretty good comments.
It's a true story about 2 mountain climbers who got in trouble, and the film is kind of a mix between doc and film, because the movie is played out before you, but while that happens, it's being narrated by the 2 survivors.

Keith Loh · September 5th, 2005, 11:48 AM

I thought of another one, a superb movie I saw at last year's Vancouver International Film Fest. It is called "Time of the Wolf" by Michael Hanecke. It actually is probably the most appropriate survival film because it focuses in on a middle class (or upper middle class) family who are fleeing Paris ("the city") for some unspecified reason - so closer to what we might experience. They seem well prepared for a few weeks of hiding out in their cabin but when they arrive at their cabin in their SUV in one moment they have lost almost everything. Hanecke focuses on the realistic issues. I think he wanted to show how western people would react to being refugees. Watching the plight of the New Orleans' people now of course you wouldn't need to make that point.

Haneck's 'disaster' is never stated. All we know from the film is that water supply is a problem and people everywhere are killing and burning animals. The real story is how a family tries to stick together, deals with having nothing psychologically, and just struggles to move on while others become predators, exploit other people, or are driven insane. It stars Isabelle Huppert as the mother and leader of the family. Highly recommended.

Bill Binder · September 5th, 2005, 06:03 PM

Uh, Planet of the Apes...

... and Logan's Run (LMAO ;)

Chris Colin Swanson · September 5th, 2005, 06:23 PM

The Poseidon Adventure was good when I saw it 20 years ago.

In Airplane I learned how to assume the crash position and not to pick the wrong day to quit ciggarettes, coffee, and sniffing glue.

And lets not forget Monty Python's Meaning of Life. This one is several disaster sketches actually. The fish being eaten, Mr. Creasotes explosion, the Baked Alaskan, and playing rugby against the masters.

Chris Mah · September 7th, 2005, 12:27 AM

Testament

Probably the most realistic portrayal I've seen of the aftermath of a nuclear war in the United States.

Stu Holmes · September 7th, 2005, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mathieu Ghekiere

Touching the Void.
I haven't seen it, but it got pretty good comments.
It's a true story about 2 mountain climbers who got in trouble, and the film is kind of a mix between doc and film, because the movie is played out before you, but while that happens, it's being narrated by the 2 survivors.

I've seen it - it's brilliant.
It is essentially a documentary - it all happened. It's so well done that you can almost feel the agonising pain that those two guys went through. How they got out of that situ, with broken bones etc, is quite amazing.

I recommend it to anyone.

ps. oh one more thing - i think the ending to Planet of the Apes is one of *the* all-time classics. The 1st time you see that film (long time ago for most of us) it is really quite amazing when you realise he's looking at the remains of Statue of Liberty, and has been on Earth the whole time.

Michael Gibbons · September 9th, 2005, 04:52 PM

Good movie, but you have to be young, white, attractive, clean and have good manners to go to the new world.

I've got one of those so nailed.

Michael Gibbons · September 9th, 2005, 04:54 PM

another trick I've learned from Star Trek TOS is, whatever happens, STAY CLOSE TO SPOCK!

September 5th, 2005, 11:48 AM	#17
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	I thought of another one, a superb movie I saw at last year's Vancouver International Film Fest. It is called "Time of the Wolf" by Michael Hanecke. It actually is probably the most appropriate survival film because it focuses in on a middle class (or upper middle class) family who are fleeing Paris ("the city") for some unspecified reason - so closer to what we might experience. They seem well prepared for a few weeks of hiding out in their cabin but when they arrive at their cabin in their SUV in one moment they have lost almost everything. Hanecke focuses on the realistic issues. I think he wanted to show how western people would react to being refugees. Watching the plight of the New Orleans' people now of course you wouldn't need to make that point. Haneck's 'disaster' is never stated. All we know from the film is that water supply is a problem and people everywhere are killing and burning animals. The real story is how a family tries to stick together, deals with having nothing psychologically, and just struggles to move on while others become predators, exploit other people, or are driven insane. It stars Isabelle Huppert as the mother and leader of the family. Highly recommended. __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

September 9th, 2005, 04:52 PM	#22
Michael Gibbons Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Loveland, Colorado, USA Posts: 292	when the worlds collide Good movie, but you have to be young, white, attractive, clean and have good manners to go to the new world. I've got one of those so nailed. __________________ " When some wild-eyed, eight foot tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head against a bar room wall, and looks you crooked in the eye, and he asks you if you've payed your dues, well, you just stare that big suker right back in the eye, and you remember what old Jack Burton always says at a time like that, 'Have you paid your dues, Jack? Yes sir, the check is in the mail."

September 9th, 2005, 04:54 PM	#23
Michael Gibbons Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Loveland, Colorado, USA Posts: 292	another trick I've learned from Star Trek TOS is, whatever happens, STAY CLOSE TO SPOCK! __________________ " When some wild-eyed, eight foot tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head against a bar room wall, and looks you crooked in the eye, and he asks you if you've payed your dues, well, you just stare that big suker right back in the eye, and you remember what old Jack Burton always says at a time like that, 'Have you paid your dues, Jack? Yes sir, the check is in the mail."

September 5th, 2005, 08:02 AM	#16
Mathieu Ghekiere Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,195	Touching the Void. I haven't seen it, but it got pretty good comments. It's a true story about 2 mountain climbers who got in trouble, and the film is kind of a mix between doc and film, because the movie is played out before you, but while that happens, it's being narrated by the 2 survivors.

September 5th, 2005, 06:03 PM	#18
Bill Binder Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 542	Uh, Planet of the Apes... ... and Logan's Run (LMAO ;)

September 5th, 2005, 06:23 PM	#19
Chris Colin Swanson Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 76	The Poseidon Adventure was good when I saw it 20 years ago. In Airplane I learned how to assume the crash position and not to pick the wrong day to quit ciggarettes, coffee, and sniffing glue. And lets not forget Monty Python's Meaning of Life. This one is several disaster sketches actually. The fish being eaten, Mr. Creasotes explosion, the Baked Alaskan, and playing rugby against the masters.

September 7th, 2005, 12:27 AM	#20
Chris Mah Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 34	Testament Probably the most realistic portrayal I've seen of the aftermath of a nuclear war in the United States.