All the other kids with the pumped up kicks...

It was like a movie...

It was like something out of a movie...

You hear things like that a lot in the aftermath of one of these ostentatious terrorist attacks. Count how many times eyewitnesses will compare something like the Boston Marathon Bombing to movies. So, how are movies tied into a terrorist attack like this...?

Movies have been depicting disasters for years. Explosions are cinematic. A burst of fire, plumes of smoke, people running and screaming. It's dramatic, it's great for trailers, getting asses in movie theater seats. A few years before 9/11, I remember seeing the trailer for INDEPENDENCE DAY in a packed movie theater and the crowd went apeshit just watching a series of American landmarks blow up. And this is from the trailer for 1995's DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE:

Action movies are awesome at dealing with themes of vengeance. It's some great shit and kids are raised on it.

Technology, the 24-hour news cycle and social networking have really changed how we deal with a real world attack like this.

24-hour news channels have to fill the air no matter how little information exists. It's been a day since the bombing and it could be a while yet before we find out who was behind it, but those news channels need to keep riffing so they'll cover the action from every angle. Repeating the same questions that have no answers, inviting speculation from experts of various fields. Shaping the narratives of individual people involved — the selfless heroes, the tragic victims — using the language of film to convey those stories. And because we're borrowing from action movies... we need to find out who or what needs to be brought to justice.

Let's hear from celebrities. What does Survivor's "Boston Rob" think about this...?

Thinking of everyone back home in Boston! Ur all in our thoughts and prayers. #PrayforBoston twitter.com/BostonRob/stat…

— Boston Rob (@BostonRob) April 16, 2013

Thanks, Boston Rob: a nation thanks you!

What about other famous people...? Maybe they'll have something to say to help us get through this one. Some inspiring message of hope I can retweet to heal the world.

It's all in the service of breaking it down and trying to repackage this senseless act into something that makes more sense. Something inspiring. Just like the movies.

A NATION REBUILDS! TOGETHER WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL!

I don't think we need anymore fucking tragedies, natural disasters or terrorist attacks to remind us how great we can be.

It sometimes feels like the world is getting crazier. Like the crazy people are letting loose with increasing frequency. Corroding everything that keeps this country in one piece. I'm bracing for the point where we find out the nationality of the people behind this one. Let's see how much this nation stands together, then.

(Let's all hope it was a giant alien squid.)