Best of Emmrich's work

Rating: 7/10 (25 June 2016)

So, seeing as Roland Emmerich's Independence Day: Resurgence is out today! (Review coming to a blog near you) I though I would do one of Emmerich's earlier films for a #throwbackthursday and no, it's not going to be the first Independence Day as I don't want to write about another alien invasion twice, back to back from the same film maker. Instead I'm choosing The Day After Tomorrow (which would be Saturday) because it's probably my favourite of his.
I'm not a great fan for Emmerich. Not forgiving him for what he did to Godzilla and his recent disasters have been, well, literally disasters in my opinion. I thought 2012 was more like an elaborate Final Destination and I was actually willing John Cusack's character to die and with 10,000 BC being of average fare. I did enjoy Patriot, and I liked Stargate, but The Day After Tomorrow is my favourite out his movies.
We see Mother Nature wreck havoc across the globe, bringing an abrupt ice age but not before bringing floods and hurricanes across it's cities. Out of all of Emmerich's disaster movies this seemed the most believable. The effects were good for its age and you actually get emotionally invested in the characters more than the other films. It's also got a good balance between the rest of the world and the stars of the story which it centres around. Son of Global Warming specialist trapped in flooded and sub zero New York whilst father does what any father would want to do, go get him. There's even a little romantic interest thrown in there that isn't silly or overbearing.
I think it's fair to say Jake Gyllenhaal was still relative new to the big screen getting his major breakthrough with Donnie Darko in 2001 and this being his next great recognition playing Dennis Quaid's son. Dennis Quaid is believable as is the rest of the cast. Ian Holm giving his final wish as a piece of advice, Shameless Emmy Rossum (Mystic River, Phantom of The Opera) being the girl next door love interest and Dash Mihok (Silver Linings Playbook, I Am Legend) is great as Quaid's trusted assistant/buddy.
It's seems the mixture was just right, well balanced, well structured and one that really brought it home about global warming. Even Emmerich's regular composer Harald Kloser does a fine score to suit the movie.
Out of all of Emmerich's sci-fi/disaster movies, this one has the most believability and character investment. It lacked the usual silly characters Emmerich normally has in films for comedy relief like Woody Harrelson or Randy Quaid, this one, seems to takes itself seriously.
Running Time: 8 The Cast: 8 Performance: 8 Direction: 8 Story: 8 Script: 7 Creativity: 8 Soundtrack: 7 Job Description: 8 The Extra Bonus Points: 0
70% 7/10