The Day After Tomorrow: Yesterday's Now

Summary

The video script is a humorous and insightful commentary on the disaster film 'The Day After Tomorrow,' directed by Roland Emmerich. It discusses the film's portrayal of global warming and extreme weather events, drawing connections to the 1999 novel 'The Coming Global Superstorm.' The script humorously critiques the film's scientific accuracy while appreciating its entertainment value, highlighting the movie's impact on the viewer's childhood fears and fascination with weather phenomena. It also touches on pacing issues and character development, concluding with a satirical take on the film's ending, where a politician admits their mistakes in response to the climate crisis.

Takeaways

• 🌨️ The video script discusses the disaster movie 'The Day After Tomorrow' directed by Roland Emmerich, which revolves around the concept of global warming leading to catastrophic weather events.
• 🎬 The movie is a favorite of the speaker due to its realistic depiction of fear and fascination with natural disasters, especially during the speaker's childhood.
• 🌪️ The script mentions the film's influence on the speaker's interest in weather, which led to an obsession with learning about it, despite the fear it instilled.
• 📚 The movie is based on the 1999 novel 'The Coming Global Superstorm' by Art Bell and Whitley Strieber, which suggests global warming could cause the collapse of the Gulf Stream and trigger a new Ice Age.
• 🧐 The script acknowledges the scientific inaccuracies in the film but argues that the main purpose is to entertain with extreme weather destruction rather than provide a realistic portrayal of climate change.
• 📉 The pacing of the movie is criticized, with the first half being action-packed and the second half slower, focusing on characters in a library during a snowstorm.
• 🎵 The film's theme music is praised for its emotional impact and for carrying the weight of many scenes despite the movie's flaws.
• 🔬 The protagonist, Jack, played by Dennis Quaid, is a paleoclimatologist uniquely qualified to understand and respond to the events of the movie.
• 🏛️ The script humorously notes the film's portrayal of political figures, including a vice president who prioritizes the economy over environmental concerns, reflecting real-world debates.
• ❄️ The movie's climax involves a massive flood that turns into a glacier, showcasing impressive water effects and a dramatic depiction of New York City being overwhelmed by the storm.
• 🗣️ The film concludes with a monologue from the vice president, now president, admitting the error of previous ideologies regarding the environment and natural resources.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the movie 'The Day After Tomorrow'?

The main theme of 'The Day After Tomorrow' is the catastrophic effects of global warming, leading to extreme weather events and the onset of a new Ice Age.

Who is the director of 'The Day After Tomorrow'?

The director of 'The Day After Tomorrow' is Roland Emmerich, known for his disaster movies.

How does the movie portray the impact of global warming?

The movie portrays global warming as a catalyst for a series of superstorms that rapidly lead to a new Ice Age, causing widespread destruction and stranding millions of people.

What is the profession of the main character, Jack, in the movie?

Jack, played by Dennis Quaid, is a paleoclimatologist, a scientist who studies past climates.

What is the significance of the movie's release timing in relation to Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth'?

The movie was released two years before Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth', suggesting it may have been one of the first major exposures to the concept of climate change for many Americans.

How does the movie differentiate itself from other disaster movies?

Unlike other disaster movies that feature aliens or asteroids, 'The Day After Tomorrow' focuses on the climate itself as the cause of the disaster, making it more relatable and potentially more frightening.

What is the source of inspiration for the movie's plot?

The movie's plot is inspired by the 1999 novel 'The Coming Global Superstorm' by Art Bell and Whitley Strieber, which suggests that global warming could lead to the collapse of the Gulf Stream and a series of storms causing a new Ice Age.

What is the role of the Vice President in the movie?

The Vice President, played by a character similar to Dick Cheney, is the main antagonist who is more concerned about the economy than the environment and initially dismisses the warnings about the impending disaster.

How does the movie handle the pacing of the story?

The movie has been criticized for having pacing issues, with the first half being filled with intense and foreboding atmosphere and the second half focusing more on the characters surviving in a library.

What is the significance of the scene with the turbulence on the plane?

The turbulence scene is a memorable and impactful moment in the movie that showcases the extreme weather events and serves as a turning point for the characters to realize the severity of the situation.

What is the final message of the movie regarding environmental responsibility?

The movie concludes with a monologue by the Vice President, now President, admitting the mistake of disregarding the environment for economic gain, highlighting the need for environmental responsibility.