The Day After Tomorrow (12A) Reviews

Click here if this is your business
? Ask our helpful community of experts about this product or company
The Day After Tomorrow (12A) - Ask a question now

Media Gallery for The Day After Tomorrow (12A)

Refine your search

  • Average Rating Over Time
  • Within the last month ***** (From 0 reviews)
  • Within the last 6 months *** (From 0 reviews)
  • Within the last 12 months * (From 0 reviews)

Latest Reviews

“The Day After Tomorrow - From the maker of...”

★★★★☆

written by jabronibasher on 20/08/2004

The Day After Tomorrow - From the maker of Independence Day comes another disaster film (these guys need therapy) that is highly entertaining despite its flaws.

The pace of the film is pretty fast, and it quickly introduces the characters before all hell breaks loose. And it does with a bang, as we see some cool tidal waves and tornadoes and the like. What's lacking is an interesting story that could have made this film a lot better. But I guess it would have drawn our attention away from the apparent enemy here: mother nature.

The premise: a massive storm caused by global warming strikes the Earth, and in doing so engulfs some major cities in ice and snow.

Jake Gyllenhaal plays the son of a meteorologist played by Dennis Quaid. When the disasters begins, Jake and his friends are stuck in New York, and dad goes on a journey halfway across the country to save them. The performances here aren't Oscar material, but they are okay and don't bog down the story. However, Gyllenhaal stands out as the distressed and brave student; a performance that could definitely earn him more high profile roles.

The film does prove highly successful in the effects department. Your eyes will be glued to the screen as tornadoes and floods sweep people away before the entire of NYC freezes to death. The film is somewhat a cautionary tale, as it shows what could happen if we don't take care of our atmosphere, but knowing that something like this couldn't happen within a week (which it does in the film) takes away all feelings of impending doom and fear. Nevertheless, this was meant to be an entertaining and exciting film and it manages to entertain and excite to its full potential. A great film to watch if you feel like the world is treating you badly.

If you are commenting on behalf of the company that has been reviewed, please consider upgrading to Official Business Response for higher impact replies.
Was this review helpful? 1 0

“I remember when I went to the cinema and I saw they'd...”

★★★☆☆

written by Suicide Pigeon on 02/08/2004

I remember when I went to the cinema and I saw they'd made a film called 'The Day After Tomorrow' and I thought who is going to see that, then I saw the trailer and got quick excited, why, I don't know. After reading a few reviews I decided to watch it, expecting to laugh at a flimsy plot. I was right and it kind of entertained me and annoyed me in equal measures. Right from the start I was annoyed to see Dennis Quaid fall to his certain death only to find that some miracle force had put an ice pick in his hand. Why was he jumping over that massive gap anyway? No need, just go back and get your stuff a different way or, throw the stuff across and then jump back, just rubbish! I kind of like the little twists they put in like the wolves escaping from the zoo, even though they couldn't possibility escape from the zoo just because it was raining abnormally hard. I also thought the film was more than a little American-centric, I know it's set in America and is made predominately for Americans but when they make passing references to Europe by saying what happened there? 'It's under 15ft of Snow', so everyone's pretty much dead then? Well I really care now if 'Donnie Darko' gets it on with that bird. And what was with that instant freezing part in the centre of the storm? I'm no meteorologist, but the buildings were already frozen, covered in snow and ice and as the eye of the storm passed over they froze even more, how frozen can a building become? And then to make it more annoying, they had scenes of the ice chasing them down the corridor, fortunately, despite bringing about the end of the city of New York it could not penetrate a wooden door.

If I've not already put you off, and I hope I haven't because it's worth seeing, just not for the reasons they intended. I'm about to ruin the ending if you are waiting to see it, so skip to the next paragraph if you don't want it ruined. I'm sat there watching thinking, how can they possibility give this the Hollywood happy ending? It is the end of the world and pretty much everyone is going to die if they haven't already or live in Africa in which case they might just need a few extra jumpers. Why did I even care if Dennis Quaid (was his character's name really Jack Hall? A joke surely to represent how much thought had gone into the plot) had reached his son because what was he going to do anyway. By the time he got there he would be exhausted, have very few supplies left and no way of getting home, great plan! I can imagine the meeting they had when the film directors and script writers were like, 'We can't just let everyone die.'
'What can we do then?'
'What about if the storm just stops, and goes away?'
'Genius!'
No it's not it goes against everything the film spent 2 hours telling us about what the weather was going to do. It was going to get worse. I think they should have killed them all and left at that. That would really make you think when you left the cinema about how much pollution we cause and all that.

Anyway if you're still with me, watch the film but you need to take the frame of mind that you will not be impressed with the plot (They even copied the self sacrifice bit out of Vertical Limit). See it and simply laugh at how bad it is and be impressed by some of the effects though some of them were actually quite poor and were obviously computer images.

If you are commenting on behalf of the company that has been reviewed, please consider upgrading to Official Business Response for higher impact replies.
Was this review helpful? 0 0

“The Day After Tomorrow - There's something inherently...”

★★★☆☆

written by MSpace on 30/07/2004

The Day After Tomorrow - There's something inherently cheesy about a disaster flick. Whether it's the illustrious "Towering Inferno" or the rather ignominious "The Core," the mere fact that the entire film is necessarily full of gloom and doom (excepting, perhaps, the ending - depending upon one's point of view) invariably means that the macho posturing and clich heavy lines come out of the woodwork.

In that respect TDAT is no exception, but then we've come to expect these things from a good old fashioned disaster movie. Really, that's what TDAT is - old fashioned. Though clearly rather more up to date in the effects department, TDAT simply drips with clich after clich .

The movie begins with Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid channeling Harrison Ford) giving dire warnings to an assembled group of politicians. It seems the world is headed for an ice age in the next hundred years or so, which leads a stereotypical American Vice President to proclaim the economy is far more important.

This is about as subtle as the movie gets, but with a disaster flick where the entire northern hemisphere freezes over, subtlety is neither needed nor in fact wanted.

It turns out that Jack's predictions are distinctly incorrect, and the world has a matter of days before the weather becomes something not even the British would want to talk about. This is where the movie presents its best - the waves and tornadoes are the epitome of current computer generated effects and, for the most part, look fantastic on screen. The exception is a bizarre (and entirely unnecessary) scene with some CGI wolves. This scene is clearly intended to build some tension in the downhill slope of the second half of the movie, but fails for a number of reasons, not least of which is the completely artificial way the wolves move and act.

Once the major destructive set-pieces are over, the movie descends into a slower pace with Jack trekking miles from Washington to find his son Sam (Jake Gyllenhaal in a laid back performance) who is holed up in a library in New York along with some of his schoolmates, including the alluring Laura (Emmy Rossum). There is a "romantic subplot" of the barest depth between the two, but it has no emotional resonance and is there simply because the genre demands it.

In fact, that sums up much of TDAT once the calamity has truly struck. Everything else that follows is there simply because it must be, according to the Disaster Screenwriting Rulebook.

The acting is mostly by the numbers, though Quaid seems to be putting as much macho into his performance as he possibly can. He manages to seem unsettlingly Harrison Ford-like during his pontifications to the politicians, but makes a decent enough scientist-cum-father-figure.

Gyllenhaal puts in a lackluster and somewhat tired-looking effort, rendering Sam less than worthy of our sympathy, and hardly worthy of getting the girl (Rossum) - which of course he does in the end.

Sela Ward, and the token cancer patient she ministers, exist solely to allow a single scene of heroism from emergency services personnel, and as such she is completely wasted. As is Rossum who is really only there to look cute. This is, after all, a movie about the boys, not the girls.

The science is of course ludicrous and almost entirely fictional. At one point the main characters are forced to outrun a snap-frost that will kill them instantly. Not only do they somehow manage this feat (how exactly does one outrun something like that?), but they each do it while pulling an injured comrade to safety at the same time. This frost, over a hundred degrees below zero, is then apparently fended off by a fire so small you couldn't toast marshmallows on it.

But really you should expect ridiculous scenes like that. Again, they all come from the Disaster Screenwriting Rulebook.

More unsettling is the distinct lack of emotional response by any of the main characters to what is, after all, the end of the world. None of them cries or screams or otherwise wonders about the fact that (presumably) billions of people are dying off-screen. One short line from Laura about the life that no longer exists falls flat because we sense no real loss in her. Neither she nor Sam's other student friends seem all that worried that their parents and other friends are also (presumably) little more than frozen corpses in the snow.

In short, The Day After Tomorrow has the effects, it has the disaster, and the grand set pieces. But it is missing heart, despite the clich of the repentant father seeking to make up with his son for all those times in the past that he wasn't there. For a movie about the collapse of civilization it's also missing tension. It guarantees spectacle and little else, but it does that spectacle well enough that we can, perhaps, forgive most of the less egregious of its faults.

In the immortal words of REM, "it's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine".

If you are commenting on behalf of the company that has been reviewed, please consider upgrading to Official Business Response for higher impact replies.
Was this review helpful? 0 0

“The Day After Tomorrow was generally a film that...”

★★★☆☆

written by president936 on 07/07/2004

The Day After Tomorrow was generally a film that lacked a good plot, and that could have shown more features on the subject of graphical information, (for example, more situations which involved special effects).

If you are commenting on behalf of the company that has been reviewed, please consider upgrading to Official Business Response for higher impact replies.
Was this review helpful? 0 0

“When you are making a big, blockbuster film - the...”

★★★★☆

written by 80smetal4ever on 10/06/2004

When you are making a big, blockbuster film - the first rule is you need BIG stars to be in it. That was the first problem with The Day After Tomorrow. The lead character was Dennis Quaid. When was the last time he was the lead, in anything - "Innerspace"? Sela Ward is one of the most attractive women over 40, but she wasn't even a true TV star, and is definitely not a movie star.

The movie has to do with global warming. Quaid and his team had just come back from studies in the antarctic and presented them to an international summit meeting. He told everyone in attendance, including the Vice President of the United States, that countries had to start taking steps to stop global warming or terrible effects would result in about 100 years. As usual, everyone laughed off his comments.

Well, about a week later, weird weather starts to happen. Multiple tornados attack Los Angeles. The special effects are actually pretty good. Hail the size of oranges hits China. Different bizarre weather occurs across the globe. They can't land the space shuttle because of bad weather.

Well, since Quaid is a bit of a weather expert, they ask him to try and figure out what is going on. He consults a few other key scientists and comes up with a theory that the northern half of the US is going to freeze over, and it will be so cold that if anyone goes outside, they will die. He recommends that they evacuate the US to mexico. The Vice President thinks he's crazy and won't listen to him.

Then, snow storms start hitting the northern US very hard. Quaid and his ex wife, Sela Ward live in Washington D.C. Their son lives with Sela. He is on a school field trip in NYC to visit the NYC public library.

As snow and freezing temps begin to cover the northern US, the VP begins to realize that he made a mistake. He gives the order to evacuate the southern half of the US to Mexico. The traffic becomes so intense at the border that Mexico shuts it down to US Citizens. In an ironic twist, people of the US begin to find illegal ways to cross the border. About an hour later, the border was opened again. This was only after the President of Mexico asked for and received forgiveness of all debt owed to the US.

It was mass hysteria everywhere. Quaid and his 2 scientist friends decide to travel from DC to NYC to rescue his son, against all odds. Because of all the extra snow, the waters of the Atlantic are rising to incredibly high levels. So much so, that they wash away the ports of NYC, and you see huge shipping boats floating down the streets of New York, barely fitting between the buildings. That was an interesting visual.

Meanwhile, those that have survived in the NYC public library begin burning books in the only working fireplace it has. They know that if the fire goes out, they will all die. They break into various vending machines to find things to eat and drink.

The end of the movie involves the effort of Quaid and crew to find his son. Also, the efforts of his son and the survivors in the library and their attempts to stay alive. Meanwhile, refugee camps are being set up and serviced in Mexico for all of the US citizens who have crossed the border.

This movie lacked star power, and might have made a better "NBC movie of the week", than a feature film.

If you are commenting on behalf of the company that has been reviewed, please consider upgrading to Official Business Response for higher impact replies.

Jimmyboy53's Response to 80smetal4ever's Review

Written on: 16/06/2004

I Agree with all that has been said in this review but one thing that this person has not pointed out was when Denis jumed from one side of the gap (oh this is at the start of the film) and back again then he falls into the gap emptey handed where did he get that ice pick he is hanging on with in the next shot?

Reply to this comment
If you are commenting on behalf of the company that has been reviewed, please consider upgrading to Official Business Response for higher impact replies.
Was this review helpful? 0 0

“Director Roland Emmerich has a hobby of destroying...”

★★★★☆

written by principessaleah on 04/06/2004

Director Roland Emmerich has a hobby of destroying American cities. In Independence Day the White House was blown to pieces by invading Aliens, in Godzilla an enormous monster terrorised Manhattan and now, in The Day After Tomorrow Los Angeles is demolished by tornados and New York is drenched by an massive tidal wave.

Dennis Quaid plays a scientist, warning an indifferent American government that if they don't do something about global warming an ice age may descend on the earth in a few decades. He's wrong, it happens within the week. An almighty storm develops, raining hail the size of boulders in Japan, causing helicopters to freeze and fall out of the sky in Scotland and soon the entire northern hemisphere is blanketed with snow and ice. In the midst of it all, Quaid sets out to rescue his teenage son from New York, the heart of the storm.

It will come as little surprise that the special effects in The Day After Tomorrow are incredible, with scenes of water gushing down busy New York streets, and the Hollywood sign being ripped away by winds. The Day After Tomorrow is almost worth seeing for the special effects alone, particularly the eerie scenes of the Statue of Liberty emerging out of the snow.

However, there's more on offer than just spectacle. Quaid is good as the environmentalist who realises the world is doomed, and Jake Gyllenhaal, who plays his son, is excellent, as the coolest geek ever, and is certainly an actor to look out for.

There's the inevitable overly sentimental scenes of loss and regret, of human courage overcoming all and broken families coming together in a time of need, but The Day After Tomorrow also suggests a more cynical awareness of hypocrisy and contains a serious message.

It's an enjoyable film, and a perfect summer blockbuster, and it might even make you think a little.

If you are commenting on behalf of the company that has been reviewed, please consider upgrading to Official Business Response for higher impact replies.

80Smetal4Ever's Response to principessaleah's Review

Written on: 10/06/2004

While I'm not sure that this movie rates a "4" as the other person that posted - it certainly does not deserve an "8". While I agree that the special effects were impressive, that alone does not make a "Blockbuster" of a movie. Dennis Quaid's days of being a leading man are over, and have been over for quite some time. I think most moviegoers will leave the theater disappointed in this film.

Reply to this comment
If you are commenting on behalf of the company that has been reviewed, please consider upgrading to Official Business Response for higher impact replies.

Smann's Response to principessaleah's Review

Written on: 09/07/2004

As with most blockbuster movies I had high expectations of this film. During the first couple of scenes I began to feel disappointed, and found myself yawning and wishing the film to end. I was so shocked by the dialogue, the storyline and the general way the narrative was handled. It just ended, in no excitement, I did not feel glad nor did I really care if they were rescued. We were not allowed to fully connect with the characters throughout their journey. Very poorly made. Although special effects were good.

Reply to this comment
If you are commenting on behalf of the company that has been reviewed, please consider upgrading to Official Business Response for higher impact replies.
Was this review helpful? 0 0

“The Day After Tomorrow is a journey of courage for...”

★★☆☆☆

written by pasqualt3 on 03/06/2004

The Day After Tomorrow is a journey of courage for Dennis Quaid (Frequency) to rescue his son Jake Gyllenhaal (The Good Girl) after the world is effected by the meltdown of the polar ice caps. As a scientist Dennis predicts the meltdown to happen in 100 years and of course in movie terms 3 days later the storm comes. Jake is in New York for a geography competion and desprately tring to win over Emmy Rossum (Mystic River). Dennis is in DC after an urgent phone call from Jake he decides to go on a 231.8 mile hike in the snow with his coworkers in hopes his son isn't dead in the 7 days it takes the storm to subside. And that was the one thing I didn't get about this movie. There was a storm that changes the whole world but it only lasts 7 days. I think it would be longer then that and kill everything not wearing a fur coat. The absolute stupidest thing was when they were running from the frost as it followed them down the hallway. Come on its not lava, or "the Blob" its cold air and it doesn't follow you it just forms from the ceiling downward not a horizontal creep. All in all if you liked Twister then you might like this otherwise its a USA movie of the week.

If you are commenting on behalf of the company that has been reviewed, please consider upgrading to Official Business Response for higher impact replies.

80Smetal4Ever's Response to pasqualt3's Review

Written on: 10/06/2004

Pasqual, you and I at least on the past two movies we have reviewed have very similar taste. I didn't think this movie was as bad as a 4, but I agree with all of your points. They should give us our own TV show to review movies. You do a great job!

Reply to this comment
If you are commenting on behalf of the company that has been reviewed, please consider upgrading to Official Business Response for higher impact replies.

Pasqualt3's Response to pasqualt3's Review

Written on: 14/06/2004

So true, it would be called the true movie review. Only problem Richard Roeper has the market cornered on mean spirited reviews, but I won't be as cold as him. He actually berated childrens movies as imature, they're for kids! As for my review, I won't say it was too harsh, on my site I said that it was the zero of the summer and only "White Chicks" could possibly be worse. Also I called Jake a Toby Maguire wanna-be. Now that was harsh. Do you have a site or is this where you do all your posting? I just stumbled upon this one. But my review site is http://pasqualsantostorres.iwarp.com, I know that name sucks but its been my site for like 3 years and I only did the movie thing after two. Well rock on 80s metal, till we meet again.

Reply to this comment
If you are commenting on behalf of the company that has been reviewed, please consider upgrading to Official Business Response for higher impact replies.
Was this review helpful? 1 0

Do you have a question about this product or company? Simply type it in the box below and one of our community will give you an answer

Our helpful community of likeminded people will be happy to answer any questions that you have.

Thanks for asking a question.

Once we've checked over your question we will put it live on the site and our strong community of experts will hopefully give you some great answers that you find useful.

We will email you when the question is on the site

overview