Live data from Hacker News

“Children of Men”'s vision of the future is now disturbingly familiar

bbc.com

31–40 of 227 posts

Re: “Children of Men”'s vision of the future is now disturbingly familiar

#31
A good reminder to watch a fantastic movie I haven't seen in a long time.

I do think the author's premise is a little shoddy though. Broad similarities between the state of the world in 2006 when the film was made and today aren't all that shocking. In 2006 the world was far along the path of globalization set forth through policies developed after the fall of the Berlin Wall and championed by essentially every US president and their allies since. The author does allude to this when he writes "In 2006, all of this seemed plausible enough, but perhaps a little strident, a little over-the-top." I agree that in 2006 most (myself included) probably didn't think that globalization would face the challenges that it does today as quickly and dramatically as it has over the last two years. That being said, that nationalistic and discriminatory behavior and actions can result from decades of globalization and tolerance seems more a reflection of a natural (if not unfortunate) pendulum swing between two approaches on opposite ends of the spectrum. Any particular power of foresight on the part of the screenwriters/filmmakers seems to me like a stretch, although the author seems to insinuate this to be the case.

Maybe I'm thinking too much...the movie is really awesome and I need to watch again.

Re: “Children of Men”'s vision of the future is now disturbingly familiar

#33

It says fertility isn't an issue today, but it's a little out of touch with today's anxieties; most of Europe and Japan have such low fertility that their native populations are in decline.

Every affluent country's fertility rate is below replenishment levels. Their population growth rate is only positive due to immigration.

In fact, global population will likely peak around 2050, and then start falling, which will be a whole new crisis. People will look back at overpopulation fears and laugh.

Re: “Children of Men”'s vision of the future is now disturbingly familiar

#34
Ssh. Quiet. Don't rock the boat man.

The reality is that the US et. al. allies have caused the war in Syria. Not just funded it or supplied the rebels with weapons. The CIA most likely started all of that, to create the distraction we now have.

When I mention this to Americans, they act like I'm all crazy. The CIA caused the 1973 coupe in Chile. There's the Bay of Pigs, the Iranian Contras, MK Ultra, The School of the Americas .. the list is long.

It shouldn't be silly or a conspiracy theory to suggest the CIA started the war in Syria in order to cause instability, prop up both ends of the weapon industry and to push American's war interests. America is a bully and the CIA is the secrete hand that is nothing less than a criminal mafia.

It fits the pattern like a serial killer.

Re: “Children of Men”'s vision of the future is now disturbingly familiar

#36
post #20

On a lighter note, I had a good chuckle when the article mentioned that the director deliberately avoided depiction of cellphones to avoid creating an unintentional period piece[0]. The last movie I watched in the treatre is Clint Eastwood's "Sully" and I distinctly remember the main character using a chronologically appropoaite Samsung flip phone and that single prop instantly dates the movie to the first decade of…

Conversely, in William Gibson's Neuromancer, there are no cell phones, despite being set decades into the future. Gibson knows a thing or two about seeing their scifi becoming dated, of course. The famous opening line, "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel" no longer resonates with anyone born the last 20 years or so (although for a number of years, many digital TVs would displa…

> although for a number of years, many digital TVs would display blue for missing input

I'm sure you are aware that "the color of television, tuned to a dead channel" is not blue - right?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I3ZAMjpjYfQ

Re: “Children of Men”'s vision of the future is now disturbingly familiar

#37
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or just watch it on anything you can. I honestly don't think you can ruin this film in anyway. I used to watch it on my iPod Touch.

Better than nothing... But in its own way it really needs a high def, surround sound experience to become fully absorbed, and your full undivided attention. Same way if I recommend that someone watch 2001 for the first time or Apocalypse Now Redux (the full 3 hour cut).

+1 for 2001. Watching it for the first time is a transcendent experience.

Re: “Children of Men”'s vision of the future is now disturbingly familiar

#38

It's an old movie. If he spoiled it for you, it's your fault. Vader is Lukes father. The Titanic sinks at the end. Lost was all a communal dream while everyone on the flight died together.

>>Lost was all a communal dream while everyone on the flight died together.

Noooooooo!!!. You've just spoiled it for me. No I'll never work up the courage to watch the series. I've tried watching the first episode several times but I just find it so boring. It looked like a good TV series and really wanted to like it but I just could not get through the first one. I found some of the characters obnoxious. Now you've ruined it for me. Hope you are happy. :)

Re: “Children of Men”'s vision of the future is now disturbingly familiar

#39

It's an old movie. If he spoiled it for you, it's your fault. Vader is Lukes father. The Titanic sinks at the end. Lost was all a communal dream while everyone on the flight died together.

You must be fun at parties.

Re: “Children of Men”'s vision of the future is now disturbingly familiar

#40

It's an old movie. If he spoiled it for you, it's your fault. Vader is Lukes father. The Titanic sinks at the end. Lost was all a communal dream while everyone on the flight died together.

1. It's from 2006. 2. Why is it the reader's responsibility to watch every single film to be released, ever?
Post reply on HN