Five Eco-themed Movies for a Rainy Summer Weekend

Published August 22, 2009 @ 08:45AM PT

Image of Wall-E robot amid trash Contemplating a summer weekend weather report featuring clouds and thunderstorms, like I am?

Here's the upside: It's the perfect excuse to forego all that virtuous outdoor exercise we're supposed to be getting this time of year, and hang out at home watching movies instead.

If you'd like to program some global warming-tinged or otherwise eco-themed flicks (some more broadly than others, admittedly), here are some of my favorites:

1. Logan's Run (1976)

In yet another post-eco-apocalypse scenario, it's "Year of the City" 2274. Lawman Logan tracks down "runners" trying to escape the rule that prevents overpopulation: Euthenasia at age 30. Until he suddenly finds himself on the wrong side of the hunt...

Okay, dark. But "Logan's Run" is more fun than it has any right to be, thanks to being a near-perfect gem of 1970s dystopic sci-fi: big environmental and ethical themes, a few goofy set pieces, and zappy guns -- all wrapped up in scenes of braless, minidressed female and male beauties cavorting with a youthful Michael York. It's set to a great minimalist score by Jerry Goldsmith (years before Philip Glass became Hollywood's go-to minimalist composer).

2. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

In this gorgeous, suspenseful, and child-friendly animated film, a bright, brave girl uses all her wits, intelligence, and athletic skills to face down dual crises. One is the invasion of her peaceful homeland valley by a rampaging army that's determined to suck the kingdom dry of natural resources. The other is the mystery of how the grotesque giant insect creatures in the world beyond, which has long been contaminated and ruined by toxic pollution, are none-the-less crucial to her people's survival.

The most outright environmentalist of Japanese anime master Hayao Miyazaki's eco-manga oeuvre.

3. Atanarjuat | The Fast Runner (2001)

This is a myth-meets-thriller art house film; if you like that sort of thing, then this is the sort of thing you're going to like.

The first feature film written, producted, directed and performed by Canadian Inuit, Atanarjuat is eco-related mainly because the gorgeously photographed Arctic landscape, and the traditional Inuit culture featured in the story, are both are under threat global warming's destructive impacts.

4. Syriana (2005)

The lives of CIA agents, sheiks from oil-rich nations, their impoverished guest workers, DC politicians and ambitious oil industry insiders cross and weave in one of the decade's most powerful political thrillers. Features George Clooney, Matt Damon, Amanda Peet, Chris Cooper, Christopher Plummer, and even a glance of William Hurt.

5. WALL-E (2008)

WALL-E is a very funny, modestly hopeful vision of one logical endpoint to our use-it-and-forget-it (and in the case of our bodies, use-it-or-lose-it) consumer culture.

This kid-friendly choice seamlessly mixes Buster Keaton-inspired physical comedy, social satire, an eco-preservation parable, space opera of a sort, and a love story into one and a half very enjoyable hours.

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Comments (6)

Mix the dark mood of Logan's Run with the robot from Wall-E and you have my favorite eco-themed movie, Silent Running. Bruce Dern is the keeper of the last forest, which is on a space ship. Helped by three little robots, he will do anything to keep his trees alive.

The quality may not hold up to newer films, but the message is as poignant as ever. And I'm a sucker for cute little robots.

Posted by Barbara Shepler on 08/22/2009 @ 10:29PM PT
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Silent Running is one of my favorites, too, even made me *weep* as a child.

Posted by Emily Gertz on 08/23/2009 @ 07:32AM PT
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How about Lord of the Rings march of the Ents? Tolkein could see it coming.

Posted by Oceania OZ on 08/23/2009 @ 03:59AM PT
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I loved "Bless the beasts and the children"

I should probably seek counseling

Posted by Turk Fowler on 08/24/2009 @ 10:29AM PT
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I second the recommendation for Wall-E. The design of the movie is amazing, and the DVD's director's commentary is very interesting.

Posted by Solar Electric Light Fund on 08/24/2009 @ 10:53AM PT
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I also loved "Silent Running" . I would add a movie called "Never Cry Wolf" to the list (early 80's disney, very good).

Posted by David Longton on 08/24/2009 @ 11:45AM PT
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