I understand your anger — and I agree that some of the logic of the film falls down under scrutiny — but for me the message really was “shit happens” and the human race was lucky that a few kids were spared a capricious and meaningless death. Was it fair that the guys with the ships got to pick their passengers? No, but again.. that’s life. : )

Furthermore, the son isn’t particularly worth rescuing. He’s nice enough, but no substitute for the entire human race being annihilated. Just because this kid has a higher midichlorian count than normal humans doesn’t make him the messiah.

And these aliens had a fleet of colossal spacecraft, but they could only rescue two kids per ship? They’re obviously not a more intelligent species, or more ethical.

And giving the children a pet bunny rabbit each is no consolation prize for their families and friends being killed and their being abandoned in an alien wilderness. I suppose the kids are so emotionally retarded that the deaths of the human race had little impact on them.

Directorially the movie was completely unsatisfying. It was set up as a ‘race against time to save the world’ film in which the protagonists fail to save the world! I have no problem with apocalyptic movies, but this was a blatant bait and switch. In a movie where the world ends Hollywood conventions require that the human race be portrayed as largely unworthy of salvation. This wasn’t the case here, neither were the chosen survivors particularly worthy apart from an arbitrary trait as I’ve said.

The special effects at the end were great, but as with Deep Impact, they weren’t worth sitting through the whole movie for.

The Knowing is a waste of time!