Geostorm

There is just something about disaster movies. 

This disaster trend continues with Geostorm. There was an early Digital release on Jan. 16. The Blu-ray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD packs arrive on Jan. 23.

Sure, they can be silly, over-the-top, utterly far-fetched and cliché. Most of these films will never win top prizes at the Oscars - Titanic, of course, is one major exception.

Yet, people are watching.

Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, The Poseidon Adventure, Twister, Armageddon, Deep Impact, Earthquake, San Andreas and The Towering Inferno. 
The list is endless.

Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride…Starring You, was an attraction at Universal Studios in Orlando. It closed in 2015. The finale included an earthquake in a subway station. (I enjoyed it.)

WORLD

Geostorm did not impress the critics. Many in North America did not care either. The film only made $33 million. The international audience was more curious, with $179 million coming in from foreign markets.

Delays in a release date, and re-shoots didn’t fare well for Geostorm. 
The film marked the directorial debut of Dean Devlin. The man who had a hand in movies like Independence Day, Godzilla (1998) and Stargate.

A series of natural disasters on Earth lead to a decision by many of the world leaders. A network of satellites - coined Dutch Boy - was created to control the world’s climate and keep everything safe. When problems arise, it becomes a race against the clock to save the world from a Geostorm.   

Jake (Gerard Butler), designed the network and expanded the space station to help keep operations running. He is tasked with his brother Max, (Jim Sturgess) to solve the network’s malfunction. Cheng, (Daniel Wu) is a supervisor in Hong Kong for Dutch Boy. He discovers there might be more to the system’s problems. 

Abbie Cornish is Secret Service agent Sarah Wilson, Alexandra Maria Lara plays Ute Fassbinder, an astronaut who runs the space station. Eugenio Derbez is crew member Hernandez. Andy Garcia shows up as U.S. President Andrew Palma with Ed Harris as Secretary of State Leonard Dekkom. Others in the cast include Zazie Beetz, Adepero Oduye, Amr Waked, and Robert Sheehan.     

VERDICT

Would I buy this film? Not right away.

Yes, Geostorm is silly, cliché and a little on the predictable side. Some of the visual effects are cheesy. There are characters who hardly do anything. Butler and Sturgess have the most material to work with. 

Actors like Garcia and Harris, only show up in a few scenes and have been in better roles.

But.

There is just something about disaster movies. 

Geostorm was surprisingly watchable. I even chuckled a couple times - in terms of a line - and I never felt bored.

Time wise at 109 minutes (with credits) things moved at a brisker pace than Blade Runner 2049. 

And yes, absolutely, Blade Runner 2049 feels more polished on the quality side. It also has better visual effects than Geostorm.   

Underneath the silliness, the cheesiness, and cliché, Geostorm does try to ask some serious questions. What do we do with our changing world? Weather and climate are related but are two very different issues. Also, what happens when good intentions are used for death and destruction?      

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

The standard DVD only has the Search for Answers feature. If you are looking for in-depth bonus material, there are slim pickings on the Blu-Ray version as well.

Wreaking Havoc (6 minutes, 30 seconds)

- The visual effects work, research (yes, research) and the technology that was used in Geostorm. They got futurists to give their input on how a bigger International Space Station might look like. The visual effects team were well aware, how some destruction scenes were likely impossible in reality.

Search for Answers (4 minutes and 13 seconds)   

-  The idea of Geostorm was inspired by director Dean Devlin’s daughter. Why can’t climate change be stopped? Geostorm is very much a 'What if story?' What can be done? What would happen? And what could go wrong?

An International Event (5 minutes and 40 seconds)

- The cast consists of actors from all over the globe and they discuss the story. Like, Andy Garcia is the first Hispanic President. Daniel Wu is not defined as a stereotypical Chinese character and he is a genuine star in Hong Kong.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment