Day After Tomorrow

I thought the special effects were great but the science and storyline seemed very weak. I'll rent it and watch it again but I was a little disappointed at the theater.

I thought the special effects were great but the science and storyline seemed very weak. I'll rent it and watch it again but I was a little disappointed at the theater.

A comment on the science in this film. I have worked over 35 years in applying science to problem solving in the energy industry as a scientist and project manager. This film starts with a very real possibility of a new ice age in Europe. I have seen several PBS and Discovery channel programs on this. That said, the film grossly exaggerated both the intensity and certainly the speed such an event could occur.

However as global warming progresses, it will not just get hotter. Just as a larger campfire makes the smoke go higher, the increased energy in the atmosphere will cause more energetic weather. Those in Atlanta can expect warmer summers, but also more intense cold fronts from the north resulting in record cold for a couple of days. The current snow and ice reflect a vast amount of heat from the sun back into space every day, but if this ice pack melts an abrupt(geologic time scale) increase in heat absorbed occurs. Ice ages have begun suddenly in the past, but NEVER in a month!.

The science is better in this film than the average Hollywood disaster movie, but clearly exaggerated to make a point. In a tropical hurricane warm air rises in the eye. The reverse is possible, a reversed spin and cold air falling in the eye. The New York tidal wave was storm surge from an "inverse hurricane" The brief example mentioned about the frozen mammoth found with greens in it's stomach is a real case. We have no real experience with weather in an Ice age, but the mammoths did.

I don't remember exactly what I didn't like but I don't think it was the overall theories or even the timeline. I'll have to watch it again and see. Maybe I just had higher plot expectations.

You are right about the thin plot and typical "hero" sacrifice for others. Some of the scenes are so over done they made me laugh. Almost like the over blown satire in "Starship Troopers" where it is humankind vs. the bugs. Here it is humankind vs the weather, due to our own folly. One segment reminded me of "Batman & Robin" where they run to the top of a skyscraper with Batman saying " Let's take the stairs, it is only 53 stories and we need the exercise"!. In this case "lets walk from PA to NYC in a blizzard on snowshoes "we can make it!"

I thought of one more point about the storms. Given their assumptions about very cold waters forming quickly severe winter storms would result, but NEVER the cat 5 + storms they created. But it makes a great special effect very well done on film.

Also I have the Widescreen version. Watch out you don't get the Full Screen version in rentals.

You forgot to mention the jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring title.

This film is featured on the cover of the November 2004 issue of Widescreen Review. They gave the DTS sound track their highest 5+ rating, while describing the story line as "iffy". The visual effects and sound are clearly the stars here.

As for the underlying science I just saw a news report at:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=s ... _global_dc

"Global Warming Effects Faster Than Feared - Experts


By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Recent storms, droughts and heat waves are probably being caused by global warming, which means the effects of climate change are coming faster than anyone had feared, climate experts said on Thursday.

Now there's a scientific article. Who was the author - chicken little?

Allen,

A number of scientists were quoted in the piece, including some with other views. I didn't see Chicken Little though. I think he was a script writer for the movie!

If you are interested in more see this National Academies site:
http://dels.nas.edu/abr_clim/

There is a pdf file(upper left) and some cool (literally) graphics. See the University list at the end.

On one of the pages are links to dozens of other sites, and scientific organizations. The National Acadamy of Sciences(nas) co-ordinates a lot of the science done in the USA.

http://dels.nas.edu/ccgc/boards.asp

since some of you have seen it I have one question...

The plot is kinda hokey, may not watch it again, OK...

Would you spend $35 on the D-Theater version for the HD video and HD audio. If you thought your DVD sounded good...

I am thinking. So far I can't remember ANY new movies the last few years WORTH $35! Maybe Seabisquit?

Don - I understand there is some scientific evidence here. I was referring to the sensationalist attitude of the article. e.g.

The article quotes the fact that 4 hurricanes recently hit Florida as being proof of global climate change. That is not evidence. If the number of hurricanes and/or the average intensity is increasing (and if that pattern held for more than just one or two years) THEN you could make that kind of statement. If not it's just bad luck for Florida.

Allen, I agree on the Hurricanes. It was just bad luck they all hit land this year. Farther down in the news item was this quote:

"Recent history tells us that hurricanes are not becoming more frequent," James O'Brien, a professor of meteorology and oceanography at Florida State University and colleague said in a recent statement."

The film does seem to have fulfilled it's political purpose of bringing the public's attention to the environmental issue of global warming regardless of which side you take.

Wife grabbed this on DVD so oh well for the D-Theater version. The science explaining how animals could have been frozen instantly due to a cold air cell never seen in our lifetime sure was intriguing.

I found it certainly worthy of a one time view but I won't be getting the HD version.