The End

This is the end, beautiful friend, the end
This is the end, my only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
I'll never look into your eyes, again

Can you picture what will be, so limitless and free
Desperately in need of some stranger's hand
In a desperate land
Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain
All the children are insane

...

This is the end, beautiful friend, the end
This is the end, my only friend, the end
It hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die
This is the end

The End, performed by the Doors

After a weekend away from my computer, I returned Monday to visit my favorite discussion forum, the IMDb movie boards. Much to my dismay, I - like everyone else reading this, I'm sure - found the disappointing post from the proprietors informing their loyal readers that the boards will be shut down soon.

Since I joined IMDb in 2006, I have for the most part enjoyed reading the discussions and debates about my favorite films. I have learned much about some of my most beloved films that would have been difficult to gather in any other format. I will miss the never-ending debate about Deckard being a replicant (or not) in Blade Runner. I will miss a similar controversy about whether Childs or MacReady (or both!) have been assimilated at the end of The Thing ('82). I will miss eweland's fierce and passionate defense of The Shining. Ironically, I will miss the deplorables, the trolls, and even the morons who cannot post anything more intellectually stimulating than "This movie sucks!" or "Boring."

I will probably return to IMDb, from to time, when I want to find information about films, TV, and people that is not easily accessible elsewhere. But the frequent perusal of the discussion boards of my favorite movies has now come to an close. I wish everyone a long, happy, and healthy life. Farewell. The End.

We're all doomed.