Hey all,
Just rewatched my DVD of the 2005 movie today, much to my own chagrin... one of my hobbies includes "prepping" (some might call me a survivalist, more like a weapon stockpiler
). Anyways, I'm about ready to start showing this movie to people in order to better educate them on "what not to do" in a societal breakdown situation...
Overlooking the many faults of this movie (there are quite a few), my main issue is this: Who cares if they have a car, and why are they moving with the crowds? In a scenario like this movie presents, the LAST thing I'd want to do is be the only person with the working car (as the scene where the car gets stolen so aptly illustrates). I found myself wondering why Cruise didn't just shout out, "change the solenoids!" to the gathered crowd of refugees while he had his pistol out... probably would have defused the situation!
I also like how many of the vehicles have been selectively destroyed by the EMP; your average vehicle has been knocked out, but your enterprising TV crew (who for whatever reason seem to be dying of starvation and thirst after one day of action... please) and their TV van has not been destroyed. That was not a diesel van either.
Anyways, my main point here is that I would hope I'd be able to identify that large groups of people = danger. The aliens are actively destroying any groups of people they find, so it would only make sense to me to avoid crowds at all costs! I'd look at the ferry situation and say, "f--- this". And why the hell were the aliens so gentle when probing the basement? They seemed perfectly content to just smash everything else!
I know it's a silly blockbuster movie and all, but these things really bug me. I have to admit, though, after seeing this movie and its antagonists again, zombies seem positively friendly.