EPIC’s Word Play!

It’s a Saturday! I’m off from work and I have all day for myself. Resting my eyes from reading Dan Brown’s Inferno, I went to see the animated movie, Epic. It’s a good film. Prolly the best 3D experience I’ve had – just right for me, not overdone.

The central theme of the movie is simple yet striking. Epic wants to convey that no one is alone, that everyone of us is connected. Many leaves, one tree, as how the film puts it. And it kinda uplifted me. But as I thought about it after leaving the movie house, I have realized the other meaning of the statement which was also evident in the movie.

Many leaves… A tree won’t be complete without its green leaves. But then, leaves in this phrase can also be taken as a verb. That brings us to the fact that in our lives, there are people who make our existence worthwhile. But they’ll be gone. Eventually.

One tree… Trees and humans are alike. Both need ground, air, water and sunlight. Both take time to grow.

In the movie, MK was brought in to the world of the little creatures who protects the forest when Queen Tara died. She needs to take care of the pod until it blooms for a new heir to take her place. She went through fighting the Boggans with the Leafmen so the pod will bloom under the moonlight. Obviously, MK made connection with the foreign world especially with Nod. I’d rather not go into full details so you guys would still see it. In the end, the pod sprouted when the moon was its highest peak and a new heir has been chosen. Amidst the triumph, it’s time for MK to go back to her normal size and live her life. They still have communication after but it’s never going to be the same again.

Paralleling it to reality, we all have gone through the same. We meet people who we connect with so perfectly but for whatever reason, they’ll go. Communication would still exist but deep down you’ll feel it’s different. And as time goes, connection will just die a natural death.

It’s so sad and harsh. But this is just my interpretation of what could be the hidden melancholy the movie wants to speak of.