I've got just over 150000 points till Gold, that still seems a hell of a long way to go lol
I've got just over 150000 points till Gold, that still seems a hell of a long way to go lol
Member since:29.08.2002
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I finally sat down to watch the Day After Tomorrow last night. I’ve read a number of reviews on it, with opinion seemingly split down the middle. I’d really put off seeing it as I wasn’t entirely convinced I’d really enjoy it all that much. It was the special effects that convinced me to watch it in the end. I’ve spoken to a number of people about it and although the opinion on the film varied they all seemed to say the same thing about the special effects, outstanding.
The film focuses on a threat that is slightly more plausible than an Alien attack. It’s brought to us by the director who brought us Independence Day and rather than relying on little green men this time he’s dealing with nature. So the main star of the film is global warming and the effects the amount of pollution is having on the Polar ice caps. Mixed in amongst this is a tale of a father (Dennis Quaid) who neglects his son (Jake Gyllenhaal) until he’s trapped in a frozen New York. Having discovered what’s happening and explained it to the
president he needs to set off to save his son, all pretty standard plot by numbers stuff.
The plot isn’t the greatest by any stretch of the imagination but Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, Godzlla) uses it to split up an otherwise fantastic looking film. He seems to have done a lot of research into exactly what would happen and that gives Quaid’s character Jack Hall a degree of accuracy. The scene’s jump from place to place early on in the film to show us what is happening at various places around the globe. The it focuses on the events in New York as Sam Hall and a few of his friends run for cover from a giant Tsunami and haul up in a library.
I thought that the casting was pretty good, it was just a shame the characters didn’t really stand out. The performances were adequate and really summed up the story development part of the film. As there wasn’t much they could do to stop events Dennis Quaid is your typical hero in this sort of film, think Bruce Willis in Armageddon. Only the character doesn’t seem to have any personality at all and this leads you to a couldn’t care less attitude about him. That criticism applies to all the characters. They aren’t developed enough to really engross you in the film and in-fact you end up watching on purely because of the special effects.
With Jake Gyllenhaal’s character there were a few glimpses of personality but nothing that led anywhere. This is a far cry from his performance in the fantastic Donnie Darko and really doesn’t do his acting talent any justice. Again I feel this was down to Emmerich being more concerned about making the film visually fantastic rather than all round enjoyable. Where I found with Independence Day he gave an equal amount of spectacular effects and storyline its missing from this.
All that said I though the film does look absolutely fantastic. The Tsunami sweeping through New York is well done and the shots from above looking incredibly realistic. This is where Emmerich has really succeeded in making a good film. The hail stones are huge, the size of grapefruits and again the scene in Japan is incredibly well done with immaculate attention to detail. As were the Tornado’s in Los Angeles.
The direction is a split bag though. On the one hand you have Emmerich’s master piece of a fantastic film. On the other hand he seems to have an inability to get the best out of the actors. That of course is down to a weak script, which he actually wrote. It’s a real shame that the story is so poor as there are the makings of a fantastic film here, if only it had been expanded on. Instead he has focussed on stereotypes of the British and the odd comical death as an attempt to keep you interested in the plot.
The soundtrack does exactly what it needs to do and sets a good tone for the film. Each piece of music was written especially for the film and fits into the right places at the right time. It’s highly inoffensive and apart from you noticing the odd bit of scene setting music you’ll not really notice it’s there at all.
So would I recommend The Day After Tomorrow? Well it all depends on what you are looking for. If it’s an engrossing storyline that holds the interest throughout then I would have to say no. If however you are after a film you can simply sit , watch and enjoy without thinking or being too bothered about the actors then I’d say yes. My last piece of advice though would be to rent it rather than buy it. As good as the special effects are I’m glad I got this for under a fiver.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1945 - Drama - Director: David Lean - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway, Joyce Carey, Cyril Raymond
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1999 - Drama - Director: Dick Maas - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: William Hurt, Jennifer Tilly, Denis Leary, Michael Chiklis, Francesca Brown
I agree with you - rent don't buy. I thought (in a macabre sort of way) that they could have thought of even more inventive ways for people to die. D
PlaceboFan 21.11.2004 21:37
Another good review, I really enjoyed this film, I went to see it when it was just advances screenings a few weeks prior to its release so until then there wasnt any bad press to put me off. Really liked it PlaceboFan x
the_mad_cabbie 20.11.2004 11:13
Where did you get it for under a fiver? Was it a rental?.....I loved this movie, but am waiting until the DVD is available to buy "ex-rental" in my local video shop.......New price is currently €20 for the single disc, or €30 for the double disc special edition.....I should get it for about €12.50 in a couple of weeks time.....Ken :O)
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From the Director of 'Independence Day' comes a spectacular roller-coaster ride that ... more
boasts pulse-pounding action and sensational mindblowing special effects. When global warming triggers the onset of a new Ice Age tornadoes flatten Los Angeles a...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
From the Director of Independence Day comes a spectacular roller-coaster ride that boasts ... more
pulse-pounding action and sensational, mindblowing special effects. When global warming triggers the onset of a new Ice Age, tornadoes flatten Los Angeles, a tida...
Turning pressing environmental issues into the theme of a big summer blockbuster, you cant ... more
say that director Roland Emmerich isnt willing to take his chances. And whileThe Day After Tomorrowdoes ask you to suspend fair chunks of disbelief, it is both a...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
![The Day After Tomorrow - Two Disc Edition [DVD] [2004]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78519533.jpg "The Day After Tomorrow - Two Disc Edition [DVD] [2004]")
Nov 13th, 2004
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