Did you know we live in a world where Joan Collins and H.G. Wells have something in common? Hehehe Yes, H.G. Wells wrote the story this film was based on starring Ms. Joan Collins. The scariest thing in this film, however, are the seventies leisure suits.
Set at a new resort location where land developers are looking for financial backers, this plot is very different from Mr. Wells’ story. Joan Collins is at her bitchy best as the head developer taking a group on a remote tour. Some are along for the free food while others are seriously looking for a legitimate investment; however, once the giant ants raise their heads and people start dying, all bets are off.
The only thing I can think to link this film to is literary conflict. There are four main kinds and this one falls under the Man vs. Nature conflict. We like to think of ourselves at the top of the food chain, and for the most part – we are until the food chain comes after us in the form of HUGE ants. In Man vs. Nature, the hero must overcome some natural force to achieve his/her goal. Whether it’s an iceberg sinking the Titanic or swarms of Xenomorphs in Aliens, Tom Hanks surviving on an island alone or everybody trying to survive 2012, Nature has played a big part in many narratives. Sometimes it’s stuck in just for fun, like in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol – definitely NOT a Man vs. Nature plot, but then again there’s Tom Cruise in a sandstorm chasing after bad guys! Why? Because Ethan Hunt is such an epic hero he can do both at the same time! Unfortunately Joan Collins isn’t Ethan Hunt and Empire of the Ants takes a turn for the worst when we discover humans are actually in collusion with the ants. Well, maybe collusion isn’t the right word, but in a Post 911 world view of You’re-either-with-us-or-against-us perspective – I’ll just say the Queen ant plays dirty!
RSS Feed
