|
“The Day
After Tomorrow (All Access Collector’s Edition)”
|
 |
Reviewed
by: |
Wayne A. Klein |
| Genre: |
Drama |
| Video: |
2.35:1 Anamorphic
widescreen |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital
Surround 5.1, DTS Surround Sound |
| Languages |
English,
French |
| Subtitles |
English |
| Length |
123 minutes
|
| Rating |
PG-13 |
| Release Date |
10/12/04
|
| Studio |
20th Century
Fox Home Entertainment |
| Commentary:
|
Roland Emmerich,
Producer Mark Gordon; screenwriter Jeffrey Nachmanoff, cinematographer
Ueli Steiger, editor David Brenner, production designer Barry
Chusio |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
“Pre-Production”, “Production”,
“Post Production, “The Science” |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Trailers and TV spots
including “Alien Quadrilogy”, “Alien Vs. Predator”, “Man on
Fire |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
“Storyboard
Gallery”, “Concept Art Gallery” |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Dennis Quaid,
Jake Gyllenhaal, Emmy Rossum, Dash Mihok, Jay O. Sanders, Ian
Holm |
| Written
By: |
Roland Emmerich
and Jeffrey Nachmanoff |
| Produced
By: |
Mark Gordon
and Roland Emmerich |
| Directed
By: |
Roland Emmerich
|
| Music:
|
Harald Kloser
and Thomas Wanker |
| The
Review: |
What can you say about these double
dip DVDs that come out shortly after the original DVD release,come
on now. While hell hasn’t frozen over, it seems as if most
of the northern hemisphere will. Climatologist Jack Hall (Dennis
Quaid) discovers that the world has premature menopause in
a sense; we’re witnessing the beginning of a new ice age with
dramatic climate shifts resulting in destructive tornados
rampaging across the L.A. basin and a shifting climate change
that instantly freezes anything it touches. Hall must save
his stranded son. To do so Hall must brave the perils of the
devastated landscape as he travels from Washington D.C. to
New York City. “The Day After Tomorrow” like many of Roland
Emmerich’s films is a throwback to the 70’s popcorn film.
This time the genre he tackles is the disaster film. While
it’s a disaster film, it’s not a complete disaster. While
the story may sound far fetched, the acting along with the
CGI effects puts it over. Emmerich’s film comes across with
a remarkable degree of sincerity and has some sly satirical
touches directed at our current political leaders. Like most
disaster movies, its full of enough plot holes to drive a
snowplow through but that doesn’t make the film any less enjoyable
as a popcorn movie with a conscience. ---
|
| Image
and Sound: |
This transfer
appears to be EXACTLY the same as the previous version. A very
nice transfer highlights “The Day After Tomorrow”. While it
isn’t quite as perfect as it should be, there are few of the
digital blemishes one has come to expect in these mass-market
produced DVDs. I did notice some edge enhancement in some scenes
but overall it looks pretty solid. The vibrant colors stand
in sharp contrast to the ghostly white exteriors of New York
City buried under age. The wonderful sound reproduction virtually
guarantees that this will work out your home sound system. |
| The
Extras: |
This is
where the only difference exists between the regular edition
and this humorously titled “All Access” special edition. We
get to see the previsualization of the movie (not the whole
thing) with commentary by Karen Goulekas the visual effects
supervisor on the film. She comments on the key sequences
and we see some of the previsualizations compared to the finished.
“Pre-Production Meeting” is actually video shot of the early
meeting between director Emmerich and his staff. There’s also
a storyboard gallery included. The concept art gallery gives
a wide variety of material to compare to the finished product.
***
“The Force
of Destiny” a featurette looking at the science beyond the
film (which isn’t, of course, completely realistic). Featuring
scientists discussing the environmental issues that face America
and the world today, it’s an enlightening and sometimes eye
opening featurette. Will you agree with the conclusions of
the featurette? That depends upon your politics. ---
|
| Commentary:
|
Emmerich’s
commentary along with producer Gordon and the second audio commentary
featuring the screenwriter and various production crew gives
a detailed background on the development of the film from pre-production
to post-production. Emmerich’s is, surprisingly, the least interesting
commentary of the bunch. His comments are pretty mundane on
the whole and viewers probably won’t listen to his comments
(along with Gordon’s) very often. |
| Final
Words: |
If not for
the top notch performances from the leads and the stunning CGI
effects, “The Day After Tomorrow” would have degenerated into
your generic disaster movie, or worse, a Sci-Fi original movie
shown at 3am. The compelling believable performances of Quaid,
Ian Holm, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jay O. Sanders and Sela Ward help
make the movie’s preposterous story believable. Emmerich’s direction
lacks the energy he demonstrated in “Stargate” and is more akin
to the laid back pacing of “Independence Day”. Once the disasters
strike the pacing picks up and it’ll keep the kids entertained.
As a cautionary tale it may be unbelievable but Emmerich’s heart
is certainly in the right place and it’s entertaining. I do
wish that Fox had allowed Trey Parker and Matt Stone to make
parody of the film with puppets. That would have been fun. |
