The Day After Tomorrow Film Analysis

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The Day After Tomorrow is a popular science-fiction film released in 2004. The film tells the story of a paleoclimatoligist who uses a paleoclimatic computer model to predict that continued global warming will result in the shutdown of the thermohaline circulation and subsequently, rapid global cooling. He warns other of the consequences if global emissions and consumption rates do not decrease, but his warnings are unheeded, his predictions become a reality, and extreme natural disaster events begin to strike around the world. The movie depicts events of extreme weather-related events over a short period of time supposedly due to climate change. The film portrays the world’s rapid decline into an Ice Age period, caused by the sudden collapse of the ocean’s thermohaline circulation. Although the Hollywood blockbuster does feature some accurate portrayals of possible climate change related weather disasters, many convincing cinematic depictions of weather and climate-related events appear are quite inaccurate by scientific and geological standards.
Geological Significance
Despite the controversy created by the film’s many inaccuracies and exaggerations, The Day After Tomorrow possesses some geological significance. Exaggerated it may be, it has created a lasting impact on the general population worldwide by increased the overall awareness of the possible consequences of man-made global warming. The popularization and dramatization of the scientific issue has successfully promoted awareness, although not necessarily understanding, of global warming-related matters. At the release of the film, many scientists expressed hopes that the increased attention on the topic would result in progressive global warming discussions. In fact,...

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...n of the physics law (Maters).
Many of these events would, realistically, never occur so rapidly or have such extreme consequences, in contrast to what was dramatically depicted in The Day After Tomorrow.
Conclusion
Despite the Day After Tomorrow’s convincing use of special effects and cinematic technology, the film little scientific credibility related to extreme weather-related events and global warming. The depiction of a sudden ice age, and the instantaneous shutdown of thermohaline circulation is far-reaching and nearly impossible. Overall, the film offers a skewed interpretation of global warming effects to viewers. The plot of the blockbuster film mainly features inaccurate science, and at best, diluted and exaggerated climatological ideas used for entertainment purposes, dramatic effect, and perhaps to create awareness of modern day global warming issues.

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