Life After People (2008)

This documentary produced in partnership between The History Channel and ILM asks a simple question. What would happen if all the people disappeared? Instead of examining why we all disappeared, this doc wonders what happens after.

Obviously this film is a bit morose, but it is masterfully done. Life After People gathers expects from a variety of fields and the professionals don't waste time. They explain likely outcomes in their fields with a refreshing matter of fact-ness. There is no morality to it. The engineers exact how this concrete structure would meet it's demise. This botanist explains how this plant would grow here. From animal hierarchy and migration to microbial instability, Life After People cool and rather frank about it all.

With the timeline beginning in the first 24 hours of human evaporation, subtle changes start. Five days, ten day, 15 days, It's thought-provoking and sometimes depressing.

Industrial Light + Magic provides the amazing, yet repetitious CGI that show the world's most iconic landmarks reduced to corroded skeletons, glorious piles of rubbish and nature taking back it's earth.

You can't sit for 94 minutes and not learn something. The examination of Hoover Dam was interesting--as was the engineer's breakdown of the Golden Gate Bridge. I also learned that I should make it my life's mission NEVER to ride in New York's subways. {It's a personal thing.}

Life After People is ultimately all conjecture. Still is it a fascinating examination of how everything is indeed connected and dependant on each other. It's a humbling experience.

Additionally, the bonus features found on the disc are thoroughly depressing. The feature examine different aspects of the program further and skims the surface of what could have annihilated us all. Thought-provoking indeed.