As many of you have noticed, I often use the movies to help understand society's current attitudes. Certainly, from this marketeer's point of view, popular music and film have proven to be the best mirrors of contemporary society.

Theater, painting, sculpture, and even the art of cooking, have become far too niche to give one a cultural barometer. That said, let's look at "The Edge."

Anthony Hopkins stars as Charles Morse, a billionaire married to a model (Elle Macpherson). They journey off to the wilds of Alaska with Bob Green (Alec Baldwin) and his crew, for a photo shoot/vacation. Morse has suspected Green of trying to hit on his wife.

The owner of the lodge where they are staying warns Morse about bears prowling the area. He also throws in a tidbit--"Once a man-eater, always a man-eater." That first night, there is a very strange birthday party for Charles. After being nearly scared to death by Green in a bear costume, he receives an engraved watch from his wife, a survival book from his secretary, and a nifty knife from Green.

Come next morning, Green's male model is too sick to pose, but this is a blessing in disguise! Green, Morse, and Green's assistant (Harold Perrineau), head off in a chartered plane to find a photogenic mountain man, whom Morse feels will be a far better photographic subject. This one-day trip turns into a disaster when the plane crashes into a lake, killing the pilot.

Soon after establishing themselves on dry land, the trio is stalked by a huge Kodiak bear--a man-eater. Largely because of Green's thoughtlessness, the assistant is eaten by the bear.

After much effort, and loads of on-screen excitement, Morse kills the bear. Unfortunately, the movie continues to roll, and the credibility problems really begin.

Morse and Green have survived an incredible experience, and have found their way to the river, and a route home. But they come upon an abandoned shack, which has a gun and some bullets in it. Green starts to load the gun, and we think little of it. A gun would be useful to have on hand for the rest of the journey.

At the same time, Morse checks his pockets, and finds the receipt for the watch. There are instructions for inscriptions for TWO watches on it, though, and the other makes it apparent that Mickey and Green were having an affair for quite a while.

Green now points the gun at Charles, preparing to kill him. He forces Charles to walk outside, but then falls into a pit style bear trap, impaling himself in the process. Does Charles then do the obvious thing--leaving his would-be killer and rival to die? Of course not!

He climbs into the trap, rescues Bob, and puts him on a canoe for the trip down the river. At the very moment that a rescue helicopter lands, Bob dies.

Upon returning to the lodge, Charles hands Bob's incriminating watch to Mickey, and says nothing. It's clear, though, that the relationship is over. When asked by the media what happened to his two companions, he says "They died saving my life."

What a huge disappointment. A testosterone fest deteriorates into a lover's triangle, with Charles becoming the kinder, gentler hero.

The big question is WHY?

Here are some points to ponder...

The "sensitive" 90's hero could never let the scoundrel die, or even condemn him verbally.

Charles, the cerebral man, triumphs in the ultimate nerd fantasy: Reading books about survival means you'll outlive the stronger guys, who made fun of you, and always got the pretty girls. Thus...The Edge

Mickey, as TODAY'S woman, does what she wants, not hampered by mere convention. And, she ends up better off (being without a man).

God help us.