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I’m a sucker for post apocalyptic literature and films. Started with Alas, Babylon in school and continues to this day with a fascination of what life will be like after.
Tomorrow, When the War Began is a slick film rendition of John Mardsen’s books, the Tomorrow Series. It’s the story of 7 Australian teenagers who go camping in the bush, and come back to a Red Dawn type situation – their country overrun with a foreign army (they never say Chinese, but you infer it from all the Asian characters in the bad guy camp and the need to repopulate Australia with the dense population of the far East). It’s full of teenage angst (not Twilight levels, thank goodness), big explosions and pseudo-hip movie montage music. Almost like Breakfast Club meets Red Dawn…but not that cool.
Ellie (the main character) and her friends decide for last chance camping trip before school starts. The surprising thing is that they quickly were packed up and ready to go (how many American teens, or teens in general are that prepared for camping!). They even have a couple of rifles with them. They go to the bush and during their time away, Australia is invaded, but they don’t have a real knowledge until they return to find their parents gone, no communication (even the HAM radio is silent), and empty houses.
Once the kids begin to devise a plan to find out what happened, a few head into town to see the camp, and Ellie sees her parents. Someone is made an example of how not to fight authority, and the kids run – only to be chased by the invading force.
One of the characters has to experience death first hand, and the aftermath leaves said character searching for answers about life and death.
A poignant moment in the film is when a small band of our intrepid teenagers are running through town (where no sentries seem to be posted in a town that they are occupying), a patriotic style wall hanging is seen of another time in Australia’s history when the beaches were invaded by a foreign power).
Unlike the original Red Dawn, this movie is much slicker, dependent on a lot more special effects and unrealistic night lighting and cute kids. The story line is not as gritty, there’s really very little patriotic spirit amongst the group, but a lot of angst. But when the teens decide to fight back, they fight back in one big, bold move.
Overall, the movie isn’t bad. Sure, unrealistic things happen, but at least the girls’ hair get greasy 🙂 It really wasn’t bad for a teenage movie. There’s very little swearing, no sex (talk of it, and one bathing suit camera focus), and the violence is tame in comparison to American thrillers. I’d hate to say that because the girls are the main characters in this movie it’s been toned down and more teenage romance put in, but that’s exactly what happened. However, it doesn’t overpower the message.
Pick up a great read today!
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