Man vs. Nature, or Our Throne Over Mother

Without a doubt, we Homo sapiens have achieved wonders in our brief existence on Earth.

We have turned gold to coal, and back again.
We have erected far-reaching monoliths that tear the planet's skies.
We have built machines that let us travel hundreds of times faster than the fastest animal on the planet.
We have turned Earth into our personal playground. We have demanded great services from this planet, and sit high and mighty on our self-appointed throne as the deserving recipients.

This boisterous and unreserved claim, and the consequences of our contention with the "former" ruler, Nature, have been a topic of discussion and commentary through many movies through the years. As much as we admire our abilities as humans, we have to be aware that the wrath and retaliation of Nature can be close at hand.

A time might come when we might end up smothered in our sleep by the very hand that gave us life.

Here are some great movies that touch upon the Man vs. Nature genre.

The Birds - 1963, Alfred Hitchcock
Where the most numerous tetrapod vertebrates start to murder.

Aguirre: The Wrath of God - 1972, Werner Herzog
Where a deranged and unwavering conquistador leads a search for El Dorado.

Fitzcarraldo - 1982, Werner Herzog
Where a determined man decides to carry a ship across a mountain in order to avoid rapids and build an opera-house in the jungle.



Princess Mononoke - 1997, Hayao Miyazaki
Where a kindhearted warrior is caught in a battle between a mystical forest and a mining colony.

Jaws - 1975, Steven Speilberg
Where a gigantic great white shark becomes a threat to a seaside community, motivating various members to destroy it.

Other movies I have not seen, but might be worth checking out:

Koyaanisqatsi - 1983, Godfrey Reggio

Lord of the Flies - 1963, Peter Brook