The Road

The book is much the same. There are I believe two schools of thought - either you think the film (book) is about the hopelessness of it all and that it's bleak and depressing or you see the side of it where it's a story full of optimism, "carrying the fire" and never giving up through it all.

I personally think it's a movie about hope and optimism rather than bleakness and doom.

It's also an examination of the nature of what God is and what role good and evil play in a godless universe.

Or it was just a B grade hollywood horror film with Oscar pretensions, you know - whateva.

agree about the book, (havent seen the film) but at its core its about a fathers love for his child and if you can relate to that its a very uplifting, moving story.

"I personally think it's a movie about hope and optimism rather than bleakness and doom."

I dont think it offered any hope, the father kept reiterating the way out, if things went wrong, which they did several times, too much pressure on a young kid who was terrified. he carried the fire but trusted no one. dont get the end, why were they following? why didnt they identify themselves?

really emtpy feeling at that point

im not sure how the film covers the ending, but the fact the family that are following them contains a girl of the boys age, hints at the possibility of them starting again which is optimistic.

"carrying the fire" is the central theme. It is one of optimism. It says that light cannot be extinguished or enveloped by the dark. As long as there is someone out there carrying the fire there will always be hope that there is some new stable world out there.

I agree but why wait till the old man dies? strange ending for me, could have been developed better imo

I found it to be an optimistic book, my girlfriend thought the opposite. We both agreed it is a great book.

completely rubish. likes to think it's carrying a message. it isn't
absolute tripe. seems the emperor really has got new clothes.

you're quite right - it isn't absolute tripe. ;)

cormac mccarthy is one of my favourite authors but i have to say i found the road to be too bleak and gloomy. haven't seen the film and will probably wait for dvd release.

most of his books are about death. This one more than others perhaps. You get the sense that by staying still for too long = death

Does it tell you why everyone was dying and why all the trees were falling down, if it does I missed it.
Pretty grim film IMO, very poor.

no but it is obv meant to be the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust - hence why tit gets dark early, there is ash on the ground and the father has cancer

blimey glad I gave this a miss at the weekend - went to see Up In the Air instead - and that was a cracking film