Below are just a few movie reviews regarding immortality taken from major movie productions. We can consider the unique set of circumstances, and challenges these different conceptions of immortality carry and the impact they would have on our own lives in regards to meaningfulness. As you watch these video clips and read the synopsis, ask yourself, “What kind of effect would this immortality have on my life.”
Groundhog Day (1993)
In the movie Groundhog Day, Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is a caustic weatherman sent to cover the Groundhog Day ceremony in Punxsutawney much to his own displeasure. After a terrible day, Phil goes to sleep and much to his surprise, wakes up on groundhogs day again. After spending some time trying to figure out just what is going on, Phil tries to end his life.
In this particular case of immortality, Phil is stuck reliving the same day over. Unlike some other concepts of immortality where the immortal lives on throughout time, Phil lives on in the same segment of time, over and over. While Phil does take some time to have fun and learn new skills, he ultimately ends up depressed and tries to kill himself. This illustrates a common idea that if we were immortal, life would become boring and dull; a life not worth living. After attempting suicide over and over, Phil comes to the conclusion that he is a god. It is interesting to note in the video clip that this is not a happy concept in Phil’s head. Phil isn’t thrilled to believe he is a god because he has come to see the endless torment immortality would provide him with.
This existence for Phil seems to have little happiness overall, and no meaning. The only meaning in Phil’s life is to break the cycle, to end his immortality.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
In this clip, we see Indiana Jones come upon the ancient hiding place of the mythicized Holy Grail. Here he meets a knight who has been guarding the Grail for over 700 years. While this scene makes few explicit statements about what it is like to be immortal, we can infer a lot from the demeanor of the knight. The knight is tired, downtrodden, and very happy to see Indiana Jones. He is presumable tired from his seemingly eternal wait in solitude. It is interesting to note the role of solitude in all of these movies. That immortality would carry a certain amount of loneliness. The knight is seemingly elated to see Indiana Jones because if he can choose the correct grail, the knight’s watch can end and he can presumably die.
At the end of the clip the knight refers to the “cost of immortality;” another hint to the negative connotation. He does not refer to it as a gift or blessing, but rather a cost; suggesting that immortality takes more than it would give.
Immortality does not seem to provide the knight with a happy life by any means, but it may provide him with a meaningful one. His life has purpose. He is an eternal guard, and fulfilling that role seems to provide some sort of meaning.
Dracula Untold (2014)
In this retelling of the classic tale of Dracula, Vlad enters a cave seeking to unveil the dark mysteries held within in hopes to use these unknown forces to his advantage. Upon arrival he meets an ancient vampire. The vampire listens to Vlad’s predicament and offers him a solution. If he drinks the elder vampire’s blood, he will gain his powers, but also a thirst for human blood. If Vlad can resist drinking blood, he will return to normal after three days; enough time to conquer his enemies. If he cannot resist drinking blood, he will replace the senior vampire and become immortal.
This is another example of an immortal trying to give away his own immortality. The senior vampire hopes Vlad will not be able to hold out, and will give in to his thirst, freeing the senior vampire. This is another portrayal of immortality as a curse and not a gift. There would seem to be little fulfillment in the senior vampires life, and he warns Vlad that little happiness will come to him if he accepts this burden.
Tuck Everlasting
In the movie Tuck Everlasting, A young woman named Winnie meets and falls in love with a young looking boy named Jesse. As she grows to know Jesse and his whole family she learns that the family is a family of immortals. That her 17 year old boyfriend is actually much older. Long story short, Winnie must choose between drinking from the fountain of everlasting life or accepting her humanity. She wants to be with Jesse, but being immortal can raise a lot of questions. If the Tucks stay in one place to long, people will notice them not aging. Winnie is given the choice to drink from the spring of youth and join the Tucks, or stay behind as a mortal.
The Tucks try to make it clear to Winnie that immortality is not what you might expect it to be. That they themselves would like to give up their own immortality to die. That being immortal means having relationships, and watching them die, or never having relationships at all. The Tuck family is not without happiness, they tend to have a damper mood, but there seems to be some happiness in their lives. Some happiness, though, wouldn’t seem to be enough. There lacks meaning in their lives, and for that reason, they curse their immortality.
Review
In search of films about immortality, I tried to find films that would show immortality in both a positive and a negative light. Interestingly enough, it is difficult to find major picture films that portray immortality as a good thing. This speaks to a general consensus that an immortal life wouldn’t be better than a mortal one. Having life eternal seems to separate those who have it from the rest of the world. Unable to have meaningful relationships. Life becomes a burden when there is no end in sight, no final goal to achieve, just an eternal, meaningless existence.