Top 5 Technological Apocalypse Films

A very common theme in video games is the demise of humanity due to technological advances. In film, this dark idea is not explored as often, but some of the movies that deal with the catastrophic dangers of too much technology are among my favorites. In order for a film to qualify for this list, it has to show a world that has been destroyed, or is on the verge of destruction, because of human technology gone awry.

1. The Matrix: My favorite movie of all time, and one that I will never tire of. What could be worse than being enslaved by machines? Being enslaved and not even knowing it! “Ignorance is bliss,” claims Cypher. I beg to differ. Our heroes - Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus - strive to free your mind and your bodies in this epic struggle of man versus machine. Unfortunately for the sequels, too much CGI and overly complicated (and convoluted) philosophy prevented them from greatness alongside the original. Revolutionary for its time, The Matrix relied on clever wire work from martial arts choreographers and not on easily outdated computer graphics for its visual effects. Who can forget the amazing beauty and ingenuity of “Bullet Time,” most of which was done with little CGI? A decade down the line, we will still enjoy this masterpiece. Meanwhile, the story and philosophical ideas dealt with in the movie are so profound that universities incorporate it into English Literature courses.

2. Terminator 2: some of the CGI in Terminator 2 no longer hold up under scrutiny, but during its day, this Cameron classic was the most impressive visual experience on the big screen. The story is the now conventional plot of machines rising up to destroy humans, but when T2 was conceived, it was rather original.

3. Children of Men: technically, the world in this film has not been destroyed yet, but with the entire female population sterile, it is only a matter of generations before mankind dies out. Luckily, Clive Owen plays the reluctant Everyman who sacrifices himself for humanity’s last hope. Children of Men is visceral. Despite its limited budget, the creators manage to draw audiences into its eerie futuristic landscape. The Pink Floyd giant pig float homage is a nice touch too. Machines are not responsible for the world’s predicament, but environmental factors are the likeliest explanation for infertility. Surely, this movie is a critique of human reliance on technology and progress to the neglect of the most basic and natural need of living organisms: breeding and life.

4. Pandorum: since Pandorum was released only this fall, I will not comment too much on it in fear of spoiling anything for future viewers. I was not expecting much before I saw this, but its plot twists and claustrophobic setting make for a fun and exciting sci-fi romp that horror fans will love. While Pandroum is not wholly original and derives its material from numerous sources, it does almost everything well.

5. 9: perhaps Tim Burton’s 9 fits the spirit of this article more than all the other films. When number 9 wakes up, he is thrust into a gigantic world that is in ruins and rubble. Soon, he meets the other numbered potato sack dolls, which strangely have humanistic qualities, and they discover who/what they are and uncover why the planet has been reduced to such a horrific mess. Although I like this movie, it is flawed and falls well short of greatness. The visuals are only pretty good (we have been spoiled by Pixar), the ending too abrupt, and the concepts and characters are not fully fleshed out. Still, I recommend watching this.