This is not "Independence Day" . . . or "Godzilla" . . .

Rating: 4/10 (29 May 2004)

I had high hopes for this movie, since it was the product of the folks who gave me two other masterpieces.
And yet, I sat there for two hours wondering how the people who made "Independence Day" (loved it!) and "Godzilla" (loved it even more!!) could make such a pompous, scientifically flawed, dramatically ridiculous movie.
Ironically, the friend I went to see it with said he enjoyed it -- despite the fact that he thinks 'Independence Day' is a pompous, scientifically flawed, dramatically ridiculous movie.
So, was this just a matter of differing tastes?
Well, let's look at the facts. 'Independence Day' was intended to be a light-hearted, thrill-packed comedy/action/sci-fi adventure. When my friend went to see it, he was expecting a somber, thought-provoking, highly dramatic demonstration of the consequences of alien invasion.
Because of his misconception concerning the film's intent, he was extremely disappointed. I, on the other hand, apparently had a better understanding of what ID was supposed to be -- so I loved it.
On the other hand, 'The Day After Tomorrow' was intended to be somber, thought-provoking, highly dramatic demonstration of the consequences of global warming.
That's exactly what I expected.
Did it work for me in that respect?
No. It was a pompous, illogical, melodramatic attempt to take a trendy social concern and turn it into a grave warning about Armageddon.