Sometimes you just need to sit back and enjoy the film...

Rating: 7/10 (22 January 2005)

Some films, you want to make sure you understand the logical premises that precede them. Some films, you need to make sure things make sense. Some films, one of the cast needs to come up with a brilliant, memorable, Oscar-type performance.
And some films, you just need to sit back and enjoy the film. This is one of those films.
Okay, the story is totally illogical. Okay, so it's impossible for the weather to change that quickly (this shouldn't be a spoiler as it's in the back of the DVD). Okay, so it's impossible for a few other things that happen in the movie to happen. Okay, so the acting at times stretched the limits of believability.
So what? Enjoy the movie. Enjoy the special effects. Enjoy the tale being told (even if it doesn't make much sense at times). If you can get past the logic test, you'll find that this is a great way to spend a couple of hours. The cast is decent enough, the special effects are quite remarkable, the basic premise behind the film makes sense, even though the rate at which things develop seem somewhat accelerated (maybe R. Emmerich should have stretched this out over a few months?) and the ending is pleasing enough. After the tsunami disaster of Dec 2004 we all need a happy ending to a "nature-gone-wild" story.
Dennis Quaid did quite well, though this movie may have signalled the entry of a new hottie into Hollywood's ranks - Emmy Rossum. I kept thinking I'd seen her somewhere before, but apparently I haven't. She didn't have much to do in this movie, but I'll be looking out for any others that she does.
And that image of the Statue of Liberty under ice sticks in the memory, doesn't it. Anyone else have "Planet of the Apes" flashbacks? Didn't think so.