NPR’s Five Ways Movie Governments Should Respond to Aliens
Posted on August 16, 2009 at 3:43 pm
NPR has a very funny list of suggestions for movie governments who must respond to an alien invasion with examples from classics like “Independence Day,” “Cocoon,” “E.T.,” and the original “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” All of the ideas are good ones from the point of view of preventing catastrophe. But as writer Linda Holmes knows very well, that’s why they’d be a bad idea for the screenplays. If the government did the wise thing, the movies would be a lot shorter.
O sure, laugh all you want. Given a recent discovery we may be dealing with aliens sooner than we think! It appears that amino acids – the building blocks for better bureaucrats – have been discovered on comet debris. This means that some blasted comet has been spreading the basic LEGOs of Life all over the galaxy, if not this sector of the universe. There may be lots of aliens out there – more or less advanced than us. I wonder what THEIR sci-fi movies are like!
Yeah yeah, sure sure – we don’t see them know – or do we?! Do you think they would be so bold as to park some huge space ship over a major city? No, they would be subtle, finding ways to be present without being known. Personally, I think all those street mimes are actually aliens watching – waiting – ready to bust out of a box or pretend to sink into the ground at a moment’s command. Be careful, fellow Terrans – right this moment, peering over your shoulder as you read this, someone may be watching YOU!!