The End

What does Armageddon, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012 all have in common? You guessed it! They are all apocalyptic movies. In some movies the world is destroyed whereas in others the world is saved. So why did I choose these three movies out of all the apocalyptic movies made throughout the years? Not only are they relatively recent, but these movies, in particular, arise out of a culture in crisis (given recent global warming changes) and moreover, depict a world that is able to find solidarity and achieve a sense of community. In these three particular movies, we see a world devastated and plagued by fear, disaster, tragedy, and death. Faced with adversity and disaster, we see strangers come together, form a bond, and band together to solve a particular problem. This is most evident in the movie Armageddon. It is interesting to note in almost all three movies there exists a dramatic shift in the behaviour of the characters and of humanity, in general, when faced with an impending catastrophic event. Phone calls are made to family members and/or relatives in different parts of the world, the last moments are spent with loved ones, husbands and wives share a lasting embrace with each other and with their children, and last but not least, people desperately attempt to resolve conflict and apologize to others for what they did in the past. The phrases "I know we haven't talked in a while, but I never got to tell you enough about how proud I am...or how sorry I am for...or that I love you", are all too common in apocalyptic films. It is a very interesting human behavioural phenomenon and it's as if humanity's recognition that they are faced with inevitable death transcends their daily problems or conflicts. Humans, in essence, undergo some sort of behavioural change. That begs the question: Why not say the aforementioned phrases or work to resolve differences now? Why do humans, in these movies, often times wait until death to act? I believe that it is when humans are faced with an impending doom that they ultimately realize and come to terms with the essence of life, its fragility, as well as human goodness.

Here is an example from the movie Armageddon of how, when faced with world-wide catastrophe, global solidarity and peace prevail and transcend political, cultural, and economic problems and divisions.