Ain't it tomorrow yet?

Rating: 1/10 (8 January 2005)

this review may contain a small spoiler or 2.
OK, call me a nut, but i think scenario's like this are very interesting and frighting in a way, because it could really happen! Maybe not in one day (or 2), but in years. Maybe! OK, back to the movie. What i saw of it in the trailers and so on, i though this to be a really good, realistic movie. And i went to the cinema with a feeling: OK, this is gonna be great movie. Will have me on the edge of my seat.
The first half, the storm, Special effects and all are really Awsume. Some what a little over the top, but (for the majority) acceptable. Roland has done this funny, but over the top thing before (8 legged freaks, ID4). ID4, one of my favorite movies of all time. But with TDaT Roland really misted out! big time. I really can't believe that a reporter would let himself be killed just for good rating. It's dangerous and except in wartime people are evacuated for there own safety. Now these tornado's came without warning, but these reporters would NOT have been allowed so close by.
The story... what story?? There is no story, i could not and i mean i could NOT relate with any of the characters. They just move around on screen, do amazingly stupid, crazy and unnecessary things (like getting themselves killed or almost killed just for the fun of it). Burning books??? Hmm... maybe they should have started with the wood (stair, table, etc.) first. I mean how dumb are they? Just to make a joke about Taxes (whaah well it had me laughing for sure NOT!). Just to save *a* bible?? The woman who is staying being with a child. Why??? Why can't he be evacuated like everybody else. Why is there an ambulance coming, when they where all gone. Why are they still alive, while it was and still is freezing? Why was this in the movie? Sentiment? Boring!!!!!It didn't work, neither did Quaids character (Jack). Quaid did his best, i'm sure but all of the characters where made out of cardboard, no depth, no background, no story, nothing. There was nothing in it, nothing what maybe me feel sorry for Jack (almost)loosing his son, or his best friend. (who kills himself to *save* them) Things like that may and can work, but this just made me laugh. I don't know the guy, so i didn't give a damn about his *heroic* act (unlike ID4's Russel). Of course they just get to New York in time, on their way they come across a small storm, find a lot of dead (the stupid) people. New York is sooooo big, really huge, but of course Jack finds his son (and luckily just in time!). No one was sure to survive, but of course Jack, Sam and his new girlfriend do. Jack was an idiot, sure to die if he would go to New York. He would NOT make it (he himself! advised everyone to stay inside). But sure enough, at the end hundreds of people gather on rooftops, who survive this cold (they all knew, what Sam knew. (and he only knew it thanks to his well educated father) Weird huh!) At least now i know that they all have fireplaces, books or wood in those big New York skyscrapers to keep warm.
I can accept that it's about America only, there is about 5 minutes about Japan or so. But i can accept that. There is no way this can be done showing the effect world wide, it would be to confusing and you can't focus on characters (not that they successfully did it in this version, but OK). I can all accept that, but what is this thing about Mexico?? What happens to Canada?? Bad bad bad!!! This movie disappointed me. Really, it did. It's not good, it's not realistic, the story Roland chose is way off!! My advice, rent this movie on a Sunday when you have absolutely nothing else to do, watch the first hour and then switch it off. Or ask someone to rent it for you and watch it when you are sick and laying in bed all day. Any other day, or any other time is a big waste of your time.