Month: December 2024

Today’s quick review: The Poseidon Adventure. When an earthquake triggers a wave that capsizes the SS Poseidon, the passengers are left trapped on an upside-down ship that’s gradually sinking. Reverend Scott (Gene Hackman), an unconventional preacher, rallies a small group of survivors and makes for the engine room, where he’s confident that they will find their only possible means of escape.

The Poseidon Adventure is a disaster thriller set on a cruise ship that was flipped over by bad management and a freak wave. Eschewing the officers’ recommendations to stay in the main ballroom and wait for help, Mike Rogo (Ernest Borgnine), his wife Linda (Stella Stevens), and half a dozen others throw in their lot with Reverend Scott. The Poseidon Adventure combines a memorable premise with solid delivery and plenty of raw humanity.

Although The Poseidon Adventure has plenty of action, it lets its characters do the heavy lifting. Their feats of exertion and heroism are separated by moments of reflection and reassurance, arguments about whether to put their faith in Scott or Rogo, and uncertain choices with no right answer. These interludes give the audience a chance to connect with the characters, giving the movie a dignity that makes its events all the weightier.

Still, The Poseidon Adventure’s style will not be for everyone. Reverend Scott has a forceful personality. While he takes charge of the survivors and generally makes good decisions, his ego is apparent, and he has to strongarm support from the likes of Rogo. The Poseidon Adventure also has slower pacing and less elaborate effects than its modern brethren, meaning that it relies more on its characters and moral conflicts.

The Poseidon Adventure is a strong pick for anyone willing to give it a chance. The movie does a good job of setting up the scenario gradually, so that when the action comes, it has meaning. At the same time, its insight into human relationships and the best and worst of humanity gives it a depth that other disaster movies have a hard time matching. Skip it if you are looking for an upbeat movie or something with modern special effects.

For a flashier remake with less character grounding, check out Poseidon. For a less action-oriented classic that dives even deeper into the human psyche during a crisis, try The Treasure of the Sierra Madre or The Bridge on the River Kwai.

[7.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069113/). I give it a 7.0 for solid character work and a gripping plot.

Today’s quick review: Poseidon. On New Year’s Eve, a massive rogue wave capsizes the luxury cruise ship Poseidon, killing most of its passengers and crew and leaving it floating upside-down in the water. Dylan (Josh Lucas), a pragmatic gambler, and Robert (Kurt Russell), the former mayor of New York, lead a group of survivors on a desperate climb to reach the hull of the ship so they can find a way out.

Poseidon is a disaster thriller set aboard a capsized cruise ship. Among the chaos and the wreckage, a small band of determined survivors search for an exit. Poseidon features robust special effects that capture the magnitude of the disaster, a cast of resourceful characters, and a knack for tension and pacing. Although Poseidon has some limits to what it can do, the movie’s solid execution makes it a worthwhile watch.

Poseidon avoids the twin disaster movie traps of unlikable characters and repetitive obstacles. Poseidon’s characters are not perfect, but they hit a sweet spot between vulnerable and competent. The disaster tests them in various ways, but it doesn’t break their resolve. The group also has a couple of nice dynamics within it, such as the tension between Robert, his daughter Jenny (Emmy Rossum), and her boyfriend Chris (Mike Vogel).

Poseidon also scores with its obstacles. The ship capsizing and the internal destruction it causes are visually impressive, and the special effects hold up remarkably well. Poseidon also finds interesting things to do with its premise. The architecture of the ship becomes a deadly obstacle course full of live wires, gas leaks, and flooded compartments, providing enough variety to keep the danger fresh throughout.

The result is a movie that delivers exactly what it promises. Watch Poseidon when you’re in the mood for something thrilling, packed with close calls and tough decisions. The movie does not excel with its story or its characters, but it has the right tools and uses them well. For the original film, check out The Poseidon Adventure. For another disaster movie set at sea from the same director, try The Perfect Storm.

[5.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409182/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for solid execution of an interesting premise.

Today’s quick review: The Perfect Storm. Billy Tyne (George Clooney), a Massachusetts fisherman struggling to make his quota, risks everything when he takes his boat out for one last run before the end of the season. Bobby Shatford (Mark Wahlberg), Dale Murphy (John C. Reilly), and the rest of the crew leave their loved ones behind to go with him, only to run into a devastating hurricane on their way home.

The Perfect Storm is a disaster movie loosely based on a true story. George Clooney stars as the captain of a fishing boat who braves stormy seas to turn around his ailing fortunes. Mark Wahlberg co-stars as a rookie fisherman torn between the sea and his girlfriend Christina (Diane Lane). The movie successfully depicts the dangerous life a fisherman and the fury of a record-breaking storm, but its execution leaves something to be desired.

The Perfect Storm has a few points in its favor. Visually, the movie is impressive. Massive waves, perpetual rain, and the perils of a fishing boat all come to life in a vivid way. The movie also captures the more ordinary aspects of a fisherman’s life, from the long trips away from home to the hard and uncertain work required to catch the fish. Meanwhile, the storm is a dramatic enough threat to work as the centerpiece of the film.

Unfortunately, The Perfect Storm lays it on a little thick. The main culprit is an overbearing soundtrack that drowns out the film’s quieter moments and competes with, rather than complements, the intense ones. But even without the soundtrack, The Perfect Storm overplays its hand. The character drama is too transparent and formulaic to be fully effective, while the main action scenes drag on long enough that they lose their impact.

The Perfect Storm delivers on action and spectacle, but its best moments have a hard time standing out. If you are in the mood for something more realistic than the average disaster movie, The Perfect Storm is a fine pick. Its cast, subject matter, and visuals all give it a decent foundation. But issues with its character work, pacing, and presentation make it a frustrating pick for the wrong viewer. Approach with caution.

For another Mark Wahlberg movie based on real events, try Patriots Day. For a very different story of survival at sea, try Cast Away. For a more contrived but more fun disaster movie about a record-breaking storm, try Twister.

[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177971/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for compelling material that doesn’t reach its full potential.

Today’s quick review: Twister. Bill Harding (Bill Paxton) gets drawn back into the world of storm chasing when he visits his wife Jo (Helen Hunt) to get her to finalize their divorce. With his flustered fiance Melissa (Jami Gertz) in tow, Bill helps Jo chase down the largest tornado in decades. But to get the readings they need to advance their work, Bill and Jo will have to deliver an experimental device into the eye of the storm.

Twister is an action thriller and disaster movie about two passionate storm chasers who rekindle their relationship while pursuing the biggest break of their careers. Twister dives head-first into the world of tornadoes, assembling a motley team of thrill-seeking meteorologists to conquer a storm of legendary proportions. The movie puts this simple premise to good effect, delivering plenty of spectacle and basic but satisfying character work.

Twister’s best feature is its passion. The movie goes the extra mile to show the appeal of chasing tornadoes, from the grunt work of taking readings and tending to equipment to the raw adrenaline of coming up on a storm. Twister is shameless about putting its characters in harm’s way, pelting them with storm after storm to get every last bit of action out of its premise. The result is a movie that accomplishes exactly what it wants to.

The downside is that Twister gambles big on a couple of key elements. Nearly all of the action revolves around tornadoes. While the tornado footage is impressive to behold and the special effects hold up well, it does get repetitive after a while. The movie also gambles on Bill and Jo, who are together more because they share teh same goals and personality than any real chemistry. This can make their story a little hit-or-miss.

While Twister has a couple of drawabacks, it sets up its story well and executes it cleanly, making it a fine pick for anyone looking for an action flick that opts for storms and destruction over guns and violence. Twister will not resonate strongly with everyone, but it has broad enough appeal to entertain a wide audience. Give it a shot if you’re curious about the premise or just in the mood for some light entertainment.

For an action thriller with a similar attitude, larger stakes, and a sci-fi twist, try Armageddon. For an action movie that uses similar tricks to dramatize a unique line of work, try Cliffhanger, Drop Zone, or Sahara. For an even more sensationalistic thriller about the impacts of weather, try The Day After Tomorrow.

[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117998/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for simple but effective spectacle.

Today’s quick review: Deep Impact. Reporter Jenny Lerner (Tea Leoni) stumbles onto the scoop of a lifetime when she pressures President Tom Beck (Morgan Freeman) into revealing the existence of a city-sized comet on a collision course with Earth. As people around the world prepare for the impact, Captain Fish Tanner (Robert Duvall) leads a crew of astronauts on a longshot mission to destroy the comet with nuclear bombs.

Deep Impact is a disaster movie about a comet whose impact could end all life on Earth. The movie follows the government, the press, and the public as they react to the news and prepare for the worst. Deep Impact features a talented cast, a well-crafted story, and a nice mix of large-scale and personal drama. However, its downbeat tone, mediocre characters, and debatable choice of subplots make it a mixed bag.

Deep Impact’s strength lies in its breadth. Deep Impact sets out to cover the impact from as many angles as it can, from the way it forces Jenny to reevaluate her relationship with her parents to the heroic lengths a teenager (Elijah Wood) goes to to protect his girlfriend (Leelee Sobieski). But the standout of the movie is Fish Tanner, the warm and reliable astronaut who represents Earth’s best hope of survival.

However, Deep Impact’s execution is rocky. Many of the characters fail to resonate, turning their subplots into a slog. The pacing of the movie is off: the comet has enough lead time that most of the cast is left waiting around while Tanner’s team take their shot. The tone is uneven, drifting between passive depression and resilient heroism without a clear pattern. The result is watchable but not as impactful as it could have been.

Give Deep Impact a shot when you’re in the mood for a quintessential disaster movie. In spite of its flaws, Deep Impact gets the basics right. Between its cast, some memorable imagery, and some emotional moments that hit the mark, the movie has something to offer. Just approach with caution if you are hoping for a more action-packed disaster movie with a defiant attitude.

For a more action-packed disaster movie with a defiant attitude, check out Armageddon. For a similarly sober disaster movie about a comet hitting the Earth, try Greenland. For a more ridiculous sci-fi disaster movie, try Geostorm or Moonfall.

[6.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120647/). I give it a 6.5 for a promising but mishandled story.

Today’s quick review: Greenland. A comet hurtles past the Earth, raining debris into the atmosphere and causing a series of massive impacts across the globe. John Garrity (Gerard Butler), his wife Allison (Morena Baccarin), and their son Nathan (Roger Dale Floyd) are among the few chosen for spots in a government shelter. But when the family is separated in the chaos, John, Allison, and Nathan must each find their own way to safety.

Greenland is a disaster thriller about a family facing the end of the world. As society crumbles around them, John and his family try to make it to Greenland and a government shelter that could be their only hope of survival. Greenland features a strong mix of large-scale calamity and personal drama. Smooth escalation and high tension throughout make it a worthwhile watch in spite of a few imperfections.

Greenland excels at depicting the human side of calamity. From the moment the comet becomes public knowledge, panic seeps into everyone’s actions. The attempts by the government to ensure an orderly evacaution soon break down, and the Garrity family is forced to rely on strangers, some helpful and others dangerous. Finally, while Greenland has a sizable special effects budget, the emphasis is always on the characters.

Still, by virtue of its choices, Greenland will not be for everyone. It lacks the can-do attitude of movies like Armageddon or Moonfall, opting for the tension and pessimism characteristic of the darker side of the disaster genre. The challenges the Garrity family faces are often brutal, showing the best and worst in humanity. Even beyond its drama, some viewers will not like the details of its character work or the way its plot plays out.

Greenland is a solid pick when you’re in the mood for a serious thriller with high stakes. The execution is capable, the conflicts are chosen well, and the characters’ struggles are worth following from start to finish. Just steer clear if you’re looking for something upbeat.

For a disaster thriller in the same vein, try Deep Impact. For a less realistic disaster movie starring Gerard Butler, try Geostorm. For a bleaker and more sinsiter story about the breakdown of society in the face of a catastrophe, try The Mist. For a sci-fi disaster movie with similar plot mechanics, try War of the Worlds. For a more ridiculous disaster movie with a heavier dose of sci-fi, try Moonfall.

[6.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7737786/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for a straightforward plot with effective drama.

Today’s quick review: Geostorm. Years ago, Jake Lawson (Gerard Butler) led the construction of a satellite network that brought the Earth’s erratic climate under control. Now his brother Max (Jim Sturgess), the new head of the program, calls Jake back in to investigate a series of malfunctions that are causing weather disasters across the Earth, leading to a chain reaction that could engulf the entire globe in a giant storm.

Geostorm is a sci-fi disaster thriller about a weather control system gone haywire. While Jake searches for the technical cause of the error aboard the International Space Station, his brother Max unravels a political conspiracy within the White House. Geostorm has potential as a disaster movie with a heavier emphasis on science fiction and a stronger element of mystery. However, a handful of different issues hold it back.

Geostorm never makes any major mistakes, but the small ones add up quickly. The plot requires a more elaborate setup than other disaster movies, slowing down the action and stretching the suspension of disbelief. The logic of the plot has holes that only grow larger as the movie progresses. As for the characters, Jake and Max are emotionally inert, going through the motions of a catastrophe without being affected by it.

For all of its faults, Geostorm makes for a decent popcorn watch. The action is slow to start but escalates well, with a nice mixture of car chases, weather disasters, and technological malfunctions in space. The plot holes are more noticeable than in other movies but are not outside the bounds of the genre. And while the story is not groundbreaking, it has enough going on to be an interesting watch.

Geostorm is a fine pick for viewers with low expectations. Its flaws place it below the best the disaster genre has to offer, but it gets enough of the formula right to entertain, and it has a fair amount of spectacle. Just steer clear if you are hoping for a clever mystery, an emotional story, or thoughtful science fiction.

For another disaster movie about a climate catastrophe, try The Day After Tomorrow. For a more down-to-Earth Gerard Butler disaster movie, try Greenland. For a disaster movie with even looser science and wilder speculation, try Moonfall. For a dark satire with similar ecological themes, try Snowpiercer. For a diaster movie set in space with a lot more heart, try Armageddon.

[5.3 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1981128/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for an adequate setup, weak plot logic, and some execution issues.

Today’s quick review: Independence Daysaster. On the Fourth of July, alien drilling machines erupt all over Earth, causing untold devastation. When President Sam Garsette (Tom Everett Scott) crashes in his hometown, his militant vice president Dennis Brubaker (Garwin Sanford) is left in charge. Meanwhile, Sam’s brother Pete (Ryan Merriman) teams up with Celia Leyman (Emily Holmes), a SETI scientist, to look for a way to stop the invasion.

Independence Daysaster is a budget sci-fi action movie about an alien invasion. The movie follows three groups of people as they respond to the attack: the stranded president as he tries to get back in contact with the rest of the government, the vice president as he throws everything he can at the aliens, and the president’s brother as he guides a group of teenagers to safety and helps an alien expert make a pivotal discovery.

Independence Daysaster acquits itself well for a budget movie. The story has the right scope, just large enough to be cataclysmic but still focused on a relatively small number of people. The plot progresses nicely, while the alien drones give the characters something to investigate. Finally, Independence Daysaster remembers to make its characters human, giving them moments to react to the loss and destruction going on around them.

Unfortunately, Independence Daysaster is still limited by its budget. The CGI is weak and takes center stage for a few pivotal scenes. The plot is adequate but not groundbreaking, with a tendency to gloss over tough problems with convenient pseudoscience. The character arcs are better than in other budget offerings, but they are still underdeveloped. And while the progression works well overall, it’s still abrupt in places.

Independence Daysaster is a credible effort that makes decent use of its budget, and its more watchable than some of its peers. However, its limits in terms of budget and writing put it well behind what the best of the sci-fi genre has to offer, meaning it is only a worthwhile pick for lenient viewers. Give it a shot if you’re curious, but most viewers will want to look elsewhere.

For a big-budget sci-fi movie with a similar name and a very similar premise, try Independence Day. For a sci-fi movie with a similar budget, a similar name, and a more optimistic take on a vice president stepping up, try Independents’ Day. For one with even lower production values, try Independence Wars: Insurgence.

[3.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2645670/). I give it a 4.5 for basic competence that can only take it so far.

Today’s quick review: Independence Wars: Insurgence. When an alien ship appears over California and broadcasts a signal that starts turning people into zombies, Bruce Kramer (Brian Lally) coordinates the government’s response from a nearby base. Meanwhile, his daughters Kelly (Marlene Mc’Cohen) and Sara (Kinga Rosen) fight their way to safety alongside Kyle (Toby Maka), Kelly’s boyfriend, and Roxy (Genna Mc’Cohen), Sara’s girlfriend.

Independence Wars: Insurgence is a budget sci-fi action movie about an alien invasion. Independence Wars tries to put a zombie twist on the genre, giving the civilians something to do by having the aliens turn ordinary people into bloodthirsty monsters. Unfortunately, the movie never finds anything interesting to do with this premise. Instead, it falls prey to unlikable characters, weak acting, and a half-baked plot.

Independence Wars has a hard time conveying a sense of scale. Nearly every discovery in the movie is made in Kramer’s bunker, delivered in the same tone by the same three scientists and technicians. The world outside the bunker hardly receives any more development. California is almost entirely deserted, and the only threats Kelly, Kyle, Sara, and Roxy face are ones that come from taking needless risks around the infected.

More importantly, Independence Wars does a poor job with its characters and its overall presentation. The main characters are flat, the supporting characters are irritating, and none of the acting feels sincere. The zombie gives the movie an opportunity for real drama as characters are forced to make hard choices and say goodbye to loved ones, but Independence Wars brushes those moments off in favor of weak quips and misplaced humor.

All in all, Independence Wars: Insurgence is a movie with very little to offer. The alien zombie premise, while contrived, could have been exciting in the right hands. However, the movie squanders that potential. It bites off more than it can chew in terms of the scale of the invasion, and it fails to make up for it with either the characters or the story. Most viewers will want to give it a miss.

For a bigger budget movie with a similar name and premise, check out Independence Day. For a movie with a similar name and premise and only a slightly bigger budget, try Independents’ Day. For a more horror-oriented budget sci-fi movie about aliens revisiting Earth, try The Recall. For a budget alien invasion movie in a similar vein, try Horizon, Alien Uprising, or Attack of the Unknown.

[1.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5083736/). I give it a 3.0 for low production quality and a barely adequate story.

Today’s quick review: Independents’ Day. After aliens calling themselves the Orions annihilate the White House, the fate of the world falls to Vice President Meredith Raney (Fay Gauthier) and her advisors, Senator Randall Raney (Jon Wright) and General Roundtree (Sal Landi). When the Orions demand that humanity evacuate the Earth and move to another planet, the new President must decide whether or not their intentions are benevolent.

Independents’ Day is a budget sci-fi action movie about an alien invasion. Technologically outmatched by the Orions, humanity faces a choice between accepting the aliens’ demands and fighting back with everything they have. To its credit, Independents’ Day makes good use of the resources at its disposal and tells a well-paced and coherent story. However, weak acting, a generic plot, and dull action keep it from holding any real appeal.

Independents’ Day acquits itself better than the lower tier of budget sci-fi movies. The plot hangs together reasonably well, the CGI is cheap but serves its purpose, and the movie understands how to set up conflicts and see them through. The movie also revolves around an interesting sci-fi question: If aliens make contact, how will we know if they can be trusted? All of this makes Independents’ Day surprisingly watchable.

But in concrete terms, Independents’ Day has very little to offer. The few interesting parts of its story are drowned out by generic filler and an unimpressive cast. The plot takes shortcuts that undermine its credibility and sense of craft. The action works better than the action seen in some budget flicks, but there is no innovation or creativity to it. All in all, everything Independents’ Day does is done better in other movies.

Fans of budget sci-fi will find that Independents’ Day has a couple of nice traits but nothing that makes it stand out. It avoids the worst pitfalls of the genre but never does anything clever or unexpected, meaning that it misses out on the one unique opportunity budget science fiction has. This makes Independents’ Day a somewhat competent but ultimately forgettable pick, one that’s outclassed by films with more spectacle or more spirit.

For a bigger budget movie with a similar name and premise, check out Independence Day. For a more nuanced story about first contact, try Arrival. For a tale of resistance against an occupying force, try Red Dawn or Occupation.

[2.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5720450/). I give it a 4.0 for bland but serviceable budget sci-fi.