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The Road

Great review Yoda! I started watching this movie last night and got about 2/3 of the way through before I went off to bed (not a reflection on the movie, just didn't start watching it till around midnight).

You're point about the Torture Porn genre and how this movie avoided that type of feel was beautifully written! The whole review was, but that point really stuck out for me!

You keep writing 'em, I'll keep reading 'em!

The Road

No, the woman's role was to illustrate that parenthood is experienced in isolation because she leaves her husband to take care of their son. It's symbolic of how when people have kids today, they really aren't sharing the aspect of raising a child. At least, that's my opinion.

As for her leaving them in the darkness, it was her last gift because she had lost sight of the truth of parenthood. You and your child are not from the same world. This obviously "ripped the heart out of her."

The Road

Thats an interesting way of looking at it. But I am unsure of your views of the woman. Why do you believe that she is "distant and hostile" to her husband? Because he has a duty to care for his son?

The mother seems to represent a character that is not principled. She is the exact opposite of the father. The father continuously tells her that they are not going to quit, not going to give in, etc. The mother even mentions that if he were not around that she would have killed herself and the son. Im not sure why the writer chose the mother to represent this role but I dont think it was to single out women as weak or unstable. I think the roles could have actually been reveresed and the film could have possibly been as equally effective. Nonetheless, this sort of "set the table" for how the man plans to handle the difficult road they will face. The carring of "the fire" he speaks of so often.

He says that she left into the darkness and there is no other tale to tell. I thought the word darkness could've had a double meaning. Not an evil darkness or anything like that, but meaning that she didnt see the "light" (ie core principles needed for survival during extraordinary tough times; the basis of the story).

This film (and book) has a way of creating so many different perspectives. Its nuance and unique quality are what qualify it as a great work of art.

Damn fine...damn fine movie.

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I, personally, think the ending was also not upbeat, but rather just admitting a cold hard fact of life. Parents have to give up their children at some point, and the nature of parenthood presents itself in showing you that you and your child truly are from other worlds (mentioned previously in book and film).

The Road

Well, there's definitely a spiritual aspect to both the book and the film, it's just not as clear what it means. There are very clear Biblical references ("Eli" being the prophet Elijah, talking about his Son as if he were God, and perhaps the time that the clock stops in the flashback to the start of the apocalypse), but exactly what these elements add up to isn't entirely obvious.

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There's no doubt that the love for a child is a part of the theme. But I also see a theme of morality and/or spirtuality. Because I would wonder why someone would decide to write a book about the love for a child in a setting of the aftermath of an apocalypse. And also, the mother abandons the child. Not sure what to even make of that. It would seem odd to include this in a "love for a child" story. Maybe the mother is an example of weak morality? You have also probably heard of the book, The Road Less Traveled (link at bottom). The ideas in this book are not too far off from the theme of this movie. There are also a couple of scenes that stick out in my mind that lead me to believe that there may be a spirtual tone. For instance, we get a hint from Duvall's character about what may have happened to his son. Then we also hear this characters views on God. We also hear a little about the father's views on God. Another scene that stood out to me is when they are in an abandoned church and the father speaks about something along the lines of, "When your dreaming that bad things could happen, you're o.k. Its when you are dreaming that things could be good that you should be worried." As he says that, we get a wide shot of a window in the shape of a cross above the heads of the father and the son. Also, what I mentioned earlier about the talk about the two of them being "good guys" definitely hints at some theme of morality. He even asks the stranger at the end of the film if he was "a good guy". You were saying you have it in your queue. Take a look at these scenes, listen to the dialogue to see if you can pick up on this, and see if you can notice any differences between the film and the book.

The Road Less Traveled
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Scott_Peck#The_Road_Less_Traveled

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Interesting post about the connection to the Frost poem. I can see that, but what I really think the moral connection has to do with is parenting.

When I read the book (film still on my Netflix queue but I think I'll go see if Redbox has it) the theme that literally bashed me in the face was that of the love between a parent and his child. The man is still teaching his son to be a good person in the worst of circumstances.

That scene in the book at the end....don't want to spoil it .... but all I kept thinking about was my love for my children. It was overwhelming.

McCarthy even stated that this was what it is about. And in the end, while the events are "dark and dreary" his message wasn't. It was about love.

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Yes, tramp. I remember when you first heard about the details, you were rooting for Viggo to get his Oscar.

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I really enjoyed this movie but I much prefer The Book of Eli

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I've read the book, and while it certainly fits the theme of "do what is right," I'd say the similarities to Frost's poem end there, except insofar as both use the idea of a road as a metaphor for life.

I think your interpretation about the importance of doing good at all times -- even when it's incredibly inconvenient -- is spot on, however. There's a lot about the book and its message that I'm less-than-sure of, but that's the one theme that comes through unmistakably.