This is a gripping look forward to when America f--ks over the world, and it
will undoubtedly be America; the country which has 6% of the world's population,
creates 25% of all pollution, mocks attempts to halt the decline and rejects
the steps we all need to take to prevent the possibility happening - a fact
that the film makes clear; if the world ends through climate instability,
frozen fingers of blame will point towards North America.
The film has a powerful message and is a grim warning that we stand on the
brink of near apocalyptic disaster. Based upon a background of scientific fact,
Mother Earth is on the edge of stability, ready to topple into the chasm of
climate chaos.
Long term 'global warming' really is affecting the climate across the world,
bringing increased temperatures, rising sea levels, and extreme weather. And
despite its name, and a naive belief that we're looking at good times ahead
with most of us enjoying the hot sunny days of the Mediterranean, the reality
is likely to be the complete opposite; severe cold, artic conditions.
The film does not pull its punches when it comes to what disasters may befall
us all, and the short time frame in which the unstoppable, catastrophic events
may unfold, and the special effects which bring us the end of the world as we
know it are fantastic, and far from over done.
It does not shirk from showing the death and destruction that will come in the
wake of almost overnight climate change, except when focused upon our core
cast. And this is where the film is let down; the typical Hollywood portrayal
that American's are somehow super-human and always get the good breaks, and
quite rightly so - God Bless America !
Okay, the film did kill off much of the world's population, even the American
President, but by wrapping the central characters in a cocoon of near
invincibility the chance to present a truly devastating film that would have had
a profound effect on an American audience, which may have led to real attempts
to change the course of future history, was lost. There were so many chances to
kill off the lead characters that were missed, or more correctly danced around,
which would have had a massive impact on the audience. If ever there was a film
that had the potential to change lives then this was it.
Unfortunately Hollywood doesn't do depressing, and had Emmerich made the film
as cataclysmic as he could have, he would have been condemned as
a pinko-leftist communist and a sissy boy c--k-sucking hippy tree-hugger by the
right-wing and NeoCons; the very people who are taking us to the edge of this
very possible catastrophe. It is therefore not surprising that Emmerich had to
balance his film between being a dire warning and a heroic tale of American
survival and "winning through" spirit, like
Deep Impact and Armageddon
before it. He can be excused for doing so, and to be fair he handled both sides
of the story well, but it
does detract from what would otherwise have been one of the most awesomely
depressing films ever made - except perhaps for al-Qaedian viewers, and those
who believe that America deserves to reap the rewards of the seeds it is sowing.
Where Emmerich does condemn, he does a fine job of it with devastatingly cutting
and understated accusations; most importantly that the catastrophe could have
been averted had America woken up and got on programme to prevent what
scientists have been predicting would happen for years. The sight of millions
of American citizens making for the borders of Mexico and being stopped in their
tracks undoubtedly gave a warm feeling to many, and was a pointed slap in the
face that happy relationships work two-ways. What is viewed by many as America's
'imperialism' and at least arrogance, may one day come back to haunt it, cost it
dear, and many will bask in the enjoyment of that day.
Many Americans will undoubtedly be confused and annoyed that so many outside
their land get such satisfaction from seeing America purged
and destroyed. While some cinema goers outside America will jump in joy with
cries of, "Yes!", as the US of A goes down, most Americans will see the film
in a far more positive light; that no matter what, they will come through it,
mankind has before and America will again.
Some may see the film as nothing more than a fabricated story, at best designed
to show how wonderful the American spirit is, and many American critics are
already labelling the film's plot as unconvincing, despite the very real
scientific basis to it, and they have entirely missed the message. Calling the
film's basis and screenplay as 'implausible' is to disregard the credible
evidence which ultimately lies behind it.
It is hard not to judge such wooly thinking criticisms as anything other than
being politically motivated; those who are taking Spaceship Earth to the edge,
and their blinkered supporters, do not want the rest of us to know where short
term economic driven policies are taking us, and would prefer to convince us
as well as themselves that it's fanciful humbug than face up to the
facts. Such casual dismissal may work with a gullible American public that
follows its appointed leaders in a sheep-like manner no matter what ( and
Emmerich's pointed message in the exodus from the Manhatton Library clearly
illustrated the error of that way ), but the rest of the world is far more
clued-up on the reality which faces us.
If it's not a case of standing up in the face of convincing scenario and denying
the possibility, it's a case of stupendous stupidity. Denial is not protection
from what could well be the inevitable. It may be true that Emmerich has used
artistic license in portraying the events he unfolds, but just what do people
think an Ice Age is going to be like ? That America can stand in the face of
such possible adversity and still believe it can win is more depressing than
contemplating the fate that may soon befall us all.
Unfortunately the film is ultimately too positive in its predictions of
American survivalism, hiding the true scale of the future disaster in its
closing scenes and in danger of having its true message twisted round to be
one of support for current "ignore environmentalism" policies; even if it does
all go tits-up, Gaia a-go-go, America will be back on its feet in days. As the
star spangled banner flutters in the wind and US Marines arrive to ferry away
the survivers to cries of, "USA! USA!", less patriotic types and non-Americans
will be muttering something much more disparaging under their breath.
The very people that this film needs to hit hard are those who are most likely
to misinterpret or dismiss its real message. The right-wing and capitalist
profit chasers will myopically take comfort in such a positive outcome portrayed
and are unlikely to change their ways, at least until hell freezes over.
They will continue to ignore the credible scientific evidence that this may well
be just around the corner.
