Let's stop arguing whether this film is true to the book (it is not straying as far as other literature-based movies, but it strays)or if it is ultra-patriotic (I think the main message is just a message of hope and that is universal) or if is underrated or not by the critics.
Let us just look at some points: First and foremost, what drives this movie, the message. Imagine living in a country, torn and devastated by war and plague, not knowing if your relatives or friends are alive or dead. You just live huddled in small hamlets and isolated from the outer world. Naturally that isolated hamlets without hope can be easily dominated by well trained bandits and outlaws. Now imagine someone coming who brings news from other villages. You hear from your sister you believed to be dead, from your daughter, who you did not see the whole time and so on... Suddenly life is not so dreary anymore. "Stuff's getting better, everyday", to quote the movie. People now have hope, and this hope leads to unity, and unity leads to standing up against oppression.#
THAT is the power of the written word, and it is also the main message of the movie. "Stuff's getting better, everyday"
To all other movie parts like acting, directing, photography and so on, I find the movie solid to absolutely awesome in some parts The only thing I am not so happy about is the whole plot about the old ex-soldier. I did not read the book, but I think this character is getting some background and importance there. Here you could cut out all his scenes without missing anything. And though the ambush on the Elvis patrol seems to be his planning, the situation and the whole ambush is such a logical tactical development, that even a former shipping clerk (the postman) could have thought of it.
All in all, i love that this one is a post-apocalyptic themed movie without all the despair and depravity all other movies in this genre have. This is a film about hope and the power of hope, clad in a bit pro-American and sometimes cheesy scenes. I can only recommend the movie.
Let us just look at some points: First and foremost, what drives this movie, the message. Imagine living in a country, torn and devastated by war and plague, not knowing if your relatives or friends are alive or dead. You just live huddled in small hamlets and isolated from the outer world. Naturally that isolated hamlets without hope can be easily dominated by well trained bandits and outlaws. Now imagine someone coming who brings news from other villages. You hear from your sister you believed to be dead, from your daughter, who you did not see the whole time and so on... Suddenly life is not so dreary anymore. "Stuff's getting better, everyday", to quote the movie. People now have hope, and this hope leads to unity, and unity leads to standing up against oppression.#
THAT is the power of the written word, and it is also the main message of the movie. "Stuff's getting better, everyday"
To all other movie parts like acting, directing, photography and so on, I find the movie solid to absolutely awesome in some parts The only thing I am not so happy about is the whole plot about the old ex-soldier. I did not read the book, but I think this character is getting some background and importance there. Here you could cut out all his scenes without missing anything. And though the ambush on the Elvis patrol seems to be his planning, the situation and the whole ambush is such a logical tactical development, that even a former shipping clerk (the postman) could have thought of it.
All in all, i love that this one is a post-apocalyptic themed movie without all the despair and depravity all other movies in this genre have. This is a film about hope and the power of hope, clad in a bit pro-American and sometimes cheesy scenes. I can only recommend the movie.