Melancholia By Lars von Trier - An Epic End of Days Classic Film

 

SPOILER ALERT *** ENDING TO MOVIE

This is The End

Don't you love it when the end of the world is so . . . spectacular?

I can't praise this film enough. It's an absolute classic masterpiece in every way. From the enigmatic musical score (Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde) to its devastating ending sequence, Melancholia is . . . well, divine. 

And let's just say that sad endings have their place in cinematic history.

The point of von Trier's film is that this doomsday scenario is what he feels about the future of the earth and who's to say that it's not accurate? It's anyone's guess, I suppose but let's keep in mind that fiction, great fiction is always rooted in a grain of truth.

Yes, in this case, that means biblical truth, for those inclined to believe in the KJV Bible, that is. And yes, there are many Catholics who do believe, as there are many agnostics on the fence about such matters. But the facts remain clear for all to witness and research in the King James Version of the bible, since 1611. 

Dispute these facts at your own peril or to your satisfaction. Either way, von Trier's artistic interpretation of the apocalypse as depicted in the book of Revelation, is personal and quite effective.

Asylum Earth -The Covenant

In walks Asylum Earth with a similar ending except that our beloved earth is smitten, or showered with blessings from heaven and it is not obliterated. Instead, the earth survives a revival of sorts as our galaxy performs its last dance with a little help from Saturn and our planet renews its vows with the cosmos . . . sparkling in its wake.

Of course, I'm not comparing my board game to von Trier's cinematic masterpiece. The main distinction is that the outcome of the game (or novel) is a positive one. This for me is rare because most, if not all my stories end in a Melancholia way. I'd already mentioned in a previous post that I chose to go in a different direction only because of the gloomy atmosphere (global warming) the earth already faces.

Overkill, literally will not work.

And so, to be clear, the title, Asylum Earth-The Covenant is a nod to one of God's previous covenants with humankind, which is to never destroy the earth with a flood again; thereby using a rainbow as a sign.

So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth."

For what it's worth, I think the novel and board game are timely messages with plots and themes which are quite apropos to the times. As far as I'm concerned, a little hope goes a long way these days so no regrets about the work I've already done and no plans to change it.

Your Takeaway

That's one thing about stories; they should conform to the times so that they fit in the grand scheme of things about to befall us either as individuals or as a species. There's no advantage to writing against the grain to prove or make a point to stroke your ego as a contrarian. It is far better to tell the people what they subconsciously want to hear because there is infinite wisdom in that consensus.

And so with that, I'll quit while I'm ahead; at least in my own mind. 

Tell me in the comments what you thought of the film, Melancholia and what your favorite doomsday movie is.

Remember to subscribe to the Asylum Earth Newsletter for updates about the upcoming game and novel: Asylum Earth - The Covenant. Also, you can get important updates and discounts for the game by clicking on the game box.

Riddle: Who's part human, part Cyborg, and carries a gun?

Find out in my next post.

Board Game Asylum Earth - The Covenant

The Asylum 

EARTH WAS NO ASYLUM. 

Certainly not according to Andrea Estrella. Not yet, anyway, and nobody knew if it would ever be a place where burgeoning societies would break on through to the other side (just as The Doors once lyrically admonished) and hopefully spring up like wildflowers in a lone desert.

 Really, what were the chances?

Apparently, not good at all. But the enigmatic group known as, The Nomads, championed that effort to no avail. So,  for the moment, Earth was no sanctuary or place of refuge to speak of. 

In fact, Earth, as it was formerly known, looked more like a monstrous Godzilla, had stomped his way right through it; unleashing the perfect storm for the ages, forging a violent path of rage against humanity in its wake.

And so begins the prologue to the new book, Asylum Earth, The Covenant (Available soon on B&N). After several years of delays for one reason or another, what started as a challenge just for kicks has evolved into a game with a respectable back story backed by a full-length novel. 

What's Different?

What you won't see in this game are fancy miniatures and slick video presentations with thick, colorful instruction manuals. Instead, you'll find a game you can play intuitively with minimum rules and a gameplay manual you can download onto your favorite device. Fun, interactive video links are also something different to look forward to, giving players a more immersive digital experience.

New B&N Hardcover Novel

What will become of this game and its novel? In part, that's up to me, because of what I've managed to develop and put together over the years and what I decide to publish. And in part that will be up to the powers that be, as it were. If everything works and engages the audience into full participation to go along for the ride, as they say, the rest is board game history.

At that point, all the major influencers who choose to be a part of it and champion the game because they believe in it and see its value will do what they do via reviews, articles, and publicity. Bonafide proof of concept. Other than that we're all just pissing in the wind, my friends.

So what's it gonna be, folks?

That remains to be seen next year after I finish the last round of playtesting during this Christmas season. I like where the game is going as far as the world-building and nuances that also build up the characters throughout the story. Building tension, fun, and unexpected moments are other important ingredients that will make it all work.

The New Cover

You'll notice the new box cover has gone from destruction to renewal. That's the new focus or the angle to the story because what's the point of showing ruins when we can show a rebirth instead. Now the story becomes the path to this Asylum and how the girls get there from where they begin in Austin to New York City and beyond.

For my next post, I'm going to compare the similarities between this story and a movie you might have seen, Melancholia with Kirsten Dunst and Kiefer Sutherland among other notable performers. If you haven't seen this masterpiece, please do yourself the favor and rent it today. The director, Lars von Trier does not disappoint with an ending so shocking it will knock you dead. Excuse the horrible pun. Now, that's my kind of story, although I've decided to reverse that trajectory for Asylum Earth.

That's the right decision because given the climate of world affairs these days, I doubt that a morbid ending will work. And so, I'm not opposed to a happy ending, if you can call it that, but Asylum is a story of hope and not a story of gloom and doom. I'll leave it at that.

As it stands, it's one huge experiment into my worldview about the end of days and more importantly, what's next on the horizon for this new Earth. Asylum Earth.

Welcome to The Asylum.