Post-apocalypse are one of my favourite genre of movie. However, to my dismay most movies which are released in this category have low budgets and are from the 1960's where the majority of footage being shot would be indoors close ups on actors faces due to the lack of special effects. With the upcoming release of "I Am Legend" I felt I'd try to sum up my favourite movies in this genre in a simple top 5 list. This list is by no means a comprehensive list as I have not seen a number of films in this category such as "The Omega Man" and "Day of the Dead".

5. Escape From New York (1981)

Where & when: Set in a world where Manhattan island has been turned into the biggest prison in the world. Probably set in the not too distant future.

Snake Plisken, a veteran of countless wars, is sent on an unwilling but deadly mission to save the president of the USA who has crashed Air Force One somewhere in Manhattan. Plisken is forced into this role through the use of a implanted in his next, a bomb which will explode in 24 hours unless Plisken saves the president. They don't write scripts like this these days.

The movie stars Kurt Russell as Plisken and it is he who carries this movie from start to finish. Great one liners, violence and zany 80's comedy make this an excellent movie. This movie is set to be remade starring Gerard Butler.

4. The Postman (1997)

Where & when: Once again set in the distant future after the world has been ravaged by a brutal war.

This high budget movie was slated by critics when it was first released. As with all post-apoc movies the story is ridiculous. In the world where there are no governments, a militia force rule - led by General Bethlehem, forcing ordinary people into submission. In this desperate world, one drifter (who incidently is a scholar and can quote Shakespeare - this talent earns him the title of Shakespeare) stumbles upon an old United States Post truck and takes it upon himself to deliver the unsent mail on horseback in an attempt to restore civilisation. This attempt to create order goes against the militia and leads to a typical "common folk" vs "henchmen".

The movie stars Kevin Costner (who loves showing off his naked buttocks) at the peak of his acting career and is generally fun to watch. The budget is good and overall quality is consistent. A good film!

3. Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Where & when: The present in Milwaukee.

The perfect zombie movie. Although never stated where the infection came from, religious leaders speculate that "when there is no more room in hell, the dead shall walk the earth". The movie follows at first a nurse who experiences at first hand the death of her fiance and then fights for her life until she teams up with a group of survivors who take refuge in a shopping centre, a haven in the middle of a city in chaos. The movie follows the survivors and their struggle to stay alive.

In the case of this movie, the remake is better than the original.

2. Planet of the Apes (1972)

Where & when: Set thousands of years in the future on an Earth which has been turned upside down with apes being the dominant class and mute humans being the submissive slave class, hunted down and used like animals.

The movie follows a group of astronauts who were in cryostasis during space travel and awake to find themselves crashed on a seemingly alien planet which is infact the same planet where they departed from, only thousands of years in the future. In this topsy turvy world they find themselves being hunted by a higher order of apes who can talk and subsequently only Charlton Heston survives intact. Heston upsets the order in the world as he talks, an ability which goes against the religious teachings of the apes and leads to a pursuit to destroy him for the greater good of the religion.

This movie was great, good acting, decent special features and an excellent storyline. Stay away from the god awful Tim Burton remake!

1. Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1982)

Where & when: Austrlia in the 1980's following a nuclear war.

Perfection in the post apocalyptic genre is hard to come by but this Mel Gibson movie cracked it. With only a low budget the amount that has been achieved is astonishing and this movie will remain as one of my favourites.

For a full review of the Mad Max series click here