OUTBREAK (1995) Movie Review
It becomes clear that something is going very wrong in the world when a 25-year-old film about a world-ending virus appears as a #7 on Netflix.
As the Coronavirus continues to dominate the world's social and economic behaviors, it might be easy to be swept up in the drama, thus bringing a complete work of fiction to the Netflix Top Ten.
That being said, the film harbors an invaluable lesson for today's pandemic. People want answers. They want comfort. Here it is.
DON'T LET THESE MOVIES AFFECT YOU OPINION OF REALITY.
The key to handling these troubling times is to STAY CALM. Outbreak illustrates the complex difference between cold-hearted calm and mindless panic. It almost appears as if the writers don't understand where to draw the line. At some times emotions cause horrifying consequences. Other times, emotions are considered an asset.
Sentiment lets the host animal lose on the forest in California, romance causes the physical contact that spreads the virus, and panic drives residents into selfish and violent behavior. Meanwhile, the passion of the CDC doctors, especially those of Sam Daniels, appears to have the same emotional origins. He is easily angry and irrational, which sometimes leads to a stall in his investigation.
Where do they draw the line?
Where should we draw the line now?
It all depends on productivity.
DON'T LET YOUR OPINIONS BE AFFECTED BY RECKLESS MEDIA.
Emotions can be healthy as long as we harness that energy to do good, productive things. Allow the passion to fuel research that leads to rationality. Just as in Outbreak, passion leads to research. Research leads to a cure. However, panic leads to dire consequences where the energy of those emotions fuel irrational actions.
Thus, let us learn from the example of this film to fuel our knowledge through our feelings.
For further information regarding Coronavirus, go to the CDC website. Follow the rules. Collect your data. Above all, remain calm.
