By Roman Soto
Since quarantine struck our family (like many other families) in 2020 at the height of COVID-19, it has become a tradition for my Mom and I to set up a movie night nearly every Friday. The process goes as such: scroll for a few minutes on Netflix or HBO Max, debate a psychological thriller or gritty crime fiction, set up the snacks and blankets, blast the heater, and prepare for the movie. Last Friday, we convinced my father and brother to join us for the weekly movie night, where we collectively agreed on one of the most suspenseful, action-packed movies I have ever seen: Greenland.
Released in 2020, Greenland follows a middle-class family in Atlanta, Georgia, tasked to venture toward a safe haven as destructive natural occurrences foreshadow a planet-killing comet’s direct impact on Earth. The family undergoes extreme and arduous situations that test their will to survive on their journey toward the sanctuary. Constant setbacks invoke unimaginable stress upon all family members (our family included, and we aren’t even the ones getting bombarded with shards of comet from every direction), and pre-stated minor problems evolve into significant obstacles. Hear from the rest of my family members and see what they thought of the movie through their responses to the questions below.
On a scale of 1-10, how stressed were you?
Angelo (Little brother): Well, probably an 8 because I was always getting furious at the characters.
Mom: 9. I constantly criticized the characters for their stupidity.
Dad: 6. It was like a horror movie with no jumpscares. Totally would watch it again.
Who was your favorite character in the movie?
Angelo: My favorite guy was the Dad because he led everyone to safety.
Mom: It’s between Mom and Dad, but I’m going to have to go with Dad. I don’t know; sometimes, Mom is highly irritating while Dad tries to accomplish something.
Dad: The Dad was fantastic, he stood firm for the family like a brave man.
Would you recommend this movie to a friend? Why or why not?
Angelo: I would recommend this movie to a friend because Papa (our dad) didn’t fall asleep this time and he actually watched the whole film. That says a lot.
Mom: I would recommend this movie to a friend because it definitely manages to keep you on the edge of your seat. The film also never falters to create crazy amounts of stress.
Dad: I loved this movie and will definitely tell my friends about this. Assuming they fall asleep with a lot of movies they watch, I really think they’ll like this movie. Especially, if they see the crazy stuff the family in the movie goes through. Absolutely mind-blowing.