Roland Emmerich is NO Irwin Allen........

Rating: Null/10 (29 July 2004)

If our former Vice President Al Gore made a science fiction movie to warn the dangers of global warming,would it resemble this climatological super-spectacle by Roland Emmerich,the director of such summer blockbusters as "Independence Day","Godzilla",and "The Patriot"? Probably not,but lets face facts here:Roland Emmerich is NO Irwin Allen whom was better at disaster related flicks then this spectacle of disaster strikes without warning as part of the biggest hokem of the summer and then some since this film was released during the Memorial Day weekend of 2004,and as of this commentary its still is in theatres! There is about one part-relevant science fiction to one part disaster movie hokum in Emmerich's effort,which envisions a new ice age descending on the earth in a little over a week after the eruption of a bizarre super storm in the northern hemisphere with horrifying results.
Here we have Dennis Quaid as the obligatory earnest scientist,the movie is as at once essentially silly and genially effective in delivering the popcorn thrills and special-effects mayhem(which is the main part of the film that is the best part). The most memorable features include the storm's spectacular decimation of New York,and a right wing U.S. Vice President who is a ringer for Dick Cheney who gets to lead America's evacuation into of all places--Mexico. And since the events of 9/11,has America had its fascination with things that become destroyed since we fantasized about this at the movies? Of course because we go and see it,and then went it happens then what in heavens name in the hell do we do next? Something to think about when we see events like this hoping that the unexpected doesn't happened.