This post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 252! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.
Hey everyone,
Guess who’s back in the disaster movie saddle again? Yours truly! I’m on a bit of an end-of-the-world kick lately, and this time, I braved the icy winds and torrential downpours of Roland Emmerich’s “The Day After Tomorrow.” And let me tell you, this movie is a wild ride from start to finish . So, with a tub of ice cream in hand (because, irony), I settled down to watch the world freeze over once again.
The film kicks off with Jack Hall (played by Dennis Quaid, who honestly never lets us down), a paleoclimatologist – fancy, huh? – who’s out there in Antarctica when he witnesses a massive ice shelf breaking apart. It’s like the earth is literally splitting, and you’re just there, munching on popcorn. So, Jack tries warning everyone that a new ice age is about to kick off because of global warming, but like in any good disaster flick, most of the higher-ups brush him off. Classic!
Now, fast forward, and we’re thrown into chaos as tornadoes rip through Los Angeles. The visuals here? Stunning. And there’s this one scene with a tsunami hitting New York, and the Statue of Liberty getting swamped – absolutely iconic. But what really sticks with you is when everything starts to freeze, including the Big Apple. The detail here is nuts. You can almost feel that chill biting into your bones – made me pull my socks up, I swear.
But the real deal here is not just the disaster itself; it’s about Jack trying to save his son, Sam (Jake Gyllenhaal, who was all puppy eyes and heroic vibes). Sam’s trapped in a New York library with a bunch of other survivors, including his love interest, played by Emmy Rossum. Their chemistry? Quite sweet, in a world-is-ending kind of way. They burn books to stay warm, make life-or-death decisions, and there’s this whole dramatic ‘will they, won’t they’ survive the freeze.
What I love about this film, apart from the obvious thrill of CGI destruction, is how it makes you think about our current environmental crises. Like, it’s all fun and games watching these fictional disasters, but it hits a bit too close to home, you know? On a lighter note, it’s always a blast seeing how characters will survive their ridiculously bad luck. And Emmerich knows how to play this tune pretty well.
Now, if you’re looking for a scientifically accurate, thought-provoking exploration of environmental disaster, this ain’t it. But if you’re in the mood for a mix of suspense, a touch of romance, and a bucket load of icy disaster, “The Day After Tomorrow” should be right up your alley. It’s a fun watch, especially if you’re into the whole end-of-the-world vibe, which apparently, I am these days. Give it a whirl and let me know if it makes you want to stock up on blankets or just stick to the ice cream like I did.
TTFN,
Roger