u/Xi_Highping

The last thing Charlie did before he locked up and left was to take his two dogs out back and shoot them in the head. The first dog was blind and saw nothing, and the second dog barked but didn’t whimper, and Charlie was grateful for that. The graves were already dug and Charlie hastily filled them in. His last concession was that even if he had to kill them, he would not let them rot in the ground. As he dug, he looked East where the mist of them was steady, and unmoving for the time being. Like locusts in a crop field, they had already reaped cities and souls in frightening amounts.  

The mass exodus and underway, and Charlie already had his stuff packed and ready to go. He had tidied up to leave no mess behind him – it seemed the right thing to do, even if nobody human would ever appreciate it again. The fridge had been emptied, the trash taken out, even the fucking beds has been made, and Charlie took it all in for the last time as he slung his rifle and his pack, with only a few essentials – proof of identification, passport (why a passport? Well just in case, why not) and a few books for the trip. He had no idea how long it would take, but Charlie was determined to travel light. He was a man who had taken a lackadaisical approach to life for most of his thirty-six years and had suddenly found a pragmatic and practical nature. If someone had asked him to explain this, he would have replied that the worst events could also bring out the best in us. It was almost philosophical.  

Charlie had finished up with the house, but he had one last thing left to attend in the neighborhood. He walked by the car – useless in these clogged-up streets anyhow, and there was transport ready; they were good enough to see-to that at least – and strode to the next door-house. Mr. Delacroix was older and polite enough, but they rarely spoke except to exchange pleasantries. Charlie had seen no activity to suggest that he was planning to leave, and even if the old man slowed him down – not that he should, he was mobile enough, he still pottered around the garden without much effort – he was determined to leave nothing more than dogs on his conscience. He knocked and Mr. Delacroix answered the door within only a few moments. He was nattily dressed and like Charlie’s house, his was tidy and organized, but on the few occasions Charlie had entered it always was, in stark contrast to the garden itself, a mess of tools, plants (Mr. Delacroix was an enthusiastic gardener, but never a good one) and other debris. Mr. Delacroix let him in.  

‘You can’t stay long, I’m sure,’ Mr. Delacroix smiled deprecatingly, and went to the kitchen, ‘but would you like a cup of coffee? I was never as good at it as my wife was-’ Mr. Delacroix left it there. He was never a man prone to verbosity and after Rose Delacroix died, he spoke even less.  Charlie nodded and Mr. Delacroix brought him a cup but didn’t offer him a chair. That was fine, and no insult to Charlie because had no intention of staying long.  

The coffee was awful, but Charlie politely finished it and asked ‘are you coming along, Tom? Last transport leaves in an hour, and it’s not much of a walk, but I can help you get organized. Shouldn’t need much doing.’ 

‘Thank you,’ said Mr. Delacroix, ‘but no. Not leaving.’ He shook his head wearily. ‘I’m an old man. Maybe if Rose was still alive, but our only child is long dead now and without anyone-’ he left it there and smiled wearily. ‘Thank you anyway.’ 

Charlie had decided on at least a token protest. ‘When they come,’ he said, not wanting to scare the old man, although Mr. Delacroix never seemed a man to be easily frightened, ‘they say they’ll hurt you something awful. Maybe you’ve read it in the papers or seen it on the TV - nobody’s ever seen them do it as far as anyone can tell – but what they say of the bodies -’ but he broke it off because Mr. Delacroix had removed a revolver from a small case. ‘I don’t intend to let them get their chance,’ he said. And there was enough grim determination in his voice that Charlie believed it. He saw a photo of Rose Delacroix taken not long before her death, a plump, handsome-looking woman, and understood Tom Delacroix was hoping for a reunion. Charlie and Mr. Delacroix shook hands and Charlie left.  

As he left, Charlie looked first East, at the mist, then West. In the distance, the first of the ships were leaving. He couldn’t make it out except for the lights as they rose. The new arks, to take them to a new life. So long Earth. Perhaps we’ll do a better job at the next stop.  

I loved this movie - what a blast. A lean 90 or so minutes. The actors were great (Hathaway deserves every bit of praise she gets for it and the actors playing the kids were really strong). Pushes the PG rating a bit too - >!Ewan McGregor’s death scene was brutal and the acting of Hathaway and the kids really made it feel real. The dedication to Mitchell’s father was sweet and also I think made how Greg was portrayed make sense - he’s a bit irresponsible and doesn’t communicate with his wife well, but goddamn he loves his family and at the end of it he takes on a massive dinosaur with a mallet and gets killed to save his wife.!<

The ending is an interesting one - I haven’t read any real discourse, reviews or discussions of the movie at all, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a divisive one. >!On the one hand on the face of it it looks a bit “schmaltzy” I guess, although I’m a sucker for movies which put their characters through hell but lets them get a win (like Starbuck surviving as well). But the second Jeanette I think gives it a darker implication, which is that Denise basically sacrificed her alternate self to the dinosaurs so she could keep her family together. Can’t say I blame her, brutal but pragmatic, but yeah.!<

Either way, I loved it. Was a bit dubious about how it didn’t seem to get much marketing and with last minute reviews and reactions, but what a pleasant surprise. Also, dinosaur fucking - that scene broke me and the theatre up.

Saw it yesterday and it easily lived up to the hype and the reviews. (And no problem for me hearing the dialogue lol). I will say this too - the third act recontextualizes the movie and Damon gives a powerful performance in a scene which turns the movie into a strong anti-war statement.

Oh and Samantha Morton easily the mvp for me.
The entire cast is good but her part is amazing.