Comments on: Movie Review Plus Q & A: THE ROAD

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:02:20 +0000

You’re spot-on, Julien. Sometimes I wonder why I read or watch something that’s really depressing and it’s probably because I just want to be moved, whether it’s to laugh or cry. I think we need to be reminded that we have the capacity for empathy and compassion.

By: mld1979

mld1979 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:53:20 +0000

I found that cmment by Eddy to be a bit ironic as well. Also only read the stand from that list

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:14:34 +0000

Haha! Funny comment about how you like your post-apocalyptic reads to be happy & carefree. Then I want books about poverty to be uplifting!

Thanks for this list. I haven’t read any of them save for The Stand because end-of-the-world stories give me nightmares, but someone else here might find your suggestions helpful.

By: Eddy

Eddy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:43:06 +0000

I don’t think that I’ll watch the movie. I attempted to read the book, but found it drab and depressing and set it aside. That was the same reason that never finished Nevil Shute’s “On the Beach”. I like my post-apocalyptic books more happy and carefree. Well, that’s not true, but I like them to make an attempt at giving the reader hope.

When I was in college, I read a lot of end-0f-the-world-as we-know-it books, so here a few suggestions less depressing than “The Road”:

“Alas Babylon” by Pat Frank
“Earth Abides” by George R. Stewart*
“Farnham’s Freehold” by Robert A. Heinlein
“I Am Legend” by Richard Matheson
“Lucifer’s Hammer” by Larry Niven*
The Pelbar Cycle by Paul O. Williams (a series of seven books set 1,000 years after a global nuclear war, starting with “The Breaking of Northwall”)*
“The Stand” by Stephen King*

*My favorites

By: Julien

Julien — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:42:54 +0000

Wow, that was a hard experience for you, PCN, thanks for sharing!
The story seems captivating, I think I will see that one, no matter how sad and difficult it may be! I’m a Viggo fan (not only is he a good actor, but he is also a multi-talenteded artist and a smart guy!), plus I like movies which give me emotions, whether it’s pleasure, joy, fear or sadness. I may sound a bit masochist, but for me the power of good movies is to provoke reactions and feelings, even hard ones. It can sometimes be trying or disturbing, but it can also help you understanding things, changing your point of view on various subjects or just remembering that it’s a blessing to be healthy and alive!
Anyway, the book sounds very good too (though probably even more difficult) and I wonder if I should read it first or later (or if I should ever read it)!

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:46:59 +0000

Thanks for this, norma. If the future looks anything like the one in The Road, I don't want to be around for it. You're braver than I for reading the book. The movie was terrifying but at least it was over in two hours.

By: norma

norma — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:30:28 +0000

Thank you PCN for attending to the movie screening, Just last week I asked you if you had any recent news about Viggo Mortensen! I read the book The Road about a year ago and it was so sad, I was suffering the whole time for the two characters the father and the son in a world of devastation, considering their next suicide or to be murdered at any minute while fighting to get any kind of food. It was so real and completely terrifying. I don´t think the script could be changed, not even a word from it. It must have been easy for the screenwriter to make the adaptation. It makes me think also about the way some writers see the future. Is that how its going to be like? I hope not.
About Viggo he can do anything, I absolutely believe when he says that he was feeling cold because he lives the way the character lives during the filming of the movie. I understand that he is saying that this movie has no special effects, you don´t see the catastrophical destruction of the world for your enjoyment in this movie, you see two characters who love each other unconditinally suffering and facing the situation. Thank you for your review. I understand why it mas have been hard for you to watch this movie and I haven´t decided yet If I´m ready to go to the theater for this. Even when Viggo is in it.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:06:10 +0000

Hi gerdy, you managed to review the movie succinctly and effectively when it took me 500 words! Thanks for stopping by.

By: Pop Culture Nerd

Pop Culture Nerd — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:03:06 +0000

Welcome, MLD, and thank you. I haven’t read the book but the movie’s ending made me cry, too. The man next to me had read the novel and said the movie is faithful to it, “almost to the letter.”

By: gerdy

gerdy — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:26:10 +0000

saw it at a afi event in la. Loved the movie and really loved Viggo in it. The young boy is also great, Yes its depressing and tough to watch but so worth it.