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Geostorm (2017), PG-13, ★★


Here's another almost annual maybe, bi-annual disaster movie...um, disaster movies are not award contenders unless you count Airport and The Towering Inferno as they were historically nominated for Best Picture. Since then, you can debate what movie is the best disaster movie of all time, it is definitely a subjective genre because many movies are style over substance. I was not looking forward to this movie because the plot was one of the stupidest I have ever heard. However, I have to admit after enjoying some of the spectacle in the first half, the characters are written as disaster movie caricatures (except one) that you cannot even remember them after the movie is over and there's not much suspense in an otherwise formulaic storyline with the main character.

A coalition of 18 nations has commissioned a system of satellites called "Dutch Boy" to control climate change on a global scale after natural disasters wipes out nations and killed millions of people. Dutch Boy is activated successfully as it neutralized a hurricane over Shanghai. However, Jake Lawson (Gerald Butler), its chief architect, is subsequently replaced by his brother, Max (Jim Sturgess), because he activated Dutch Boy without approval. Max works under Secretary of State, Leonard Dekkom (Ed Harris).

Three years go by and there is a mystery where Afghanistans' inhabitants in a village are frozen. President Andrew Palma (Andy Garcia) gives an emergency meeting as to what caused a malfunction in its satellite. Palma consents to send one person to the International Climate Space Station, which prompts Dekkom to have Max send Jake. Max attempts to persuade Jake to come back to work to the station and investigate the cause behind the Afghanistan disaster.


The visual effects are there in place for people to enjoy and I was having a good time glancing at the visuals. However, the reason behind this catastrophe after another as it wreak havoc on other nations is silly. I will not mention who does it but if you look at the casting and maybe its history of this actor's portrayals in other movies, it is very easy to figure out. And, also, redemption for the main character will always be a factor in a disaster movie and it has to stop. Sometimes, risk over reward can work with miracles.

This is an easy review but the only question is: is this is an awful disaster movie? No. This is a bad disaster movie that works in a few elements. The characters are not one of them. Gerard Butler stills plays the standard action hero in another genre. Jim Sturgess and Abbie Cornish go along for the ride with Andy Garcia to show you more spectacle as they are having fun but my patience gets thin. Ed Harris plays the typical demanding government official from other disaster movie. But, the one stand-out to me is Zazie Beetz as Dana who is an expert hacker and she really is committed. And, she will be Deadpool 2. Dean Devlin, the director, is close to guilty pleasure or cheese level of Roland Emmerich's work but it does not rise to that low-hanging fruit. I want to see more excitement from its character and the story because the plot felt self-serious. Still, I expected worse, but ultimately, I got better results but not good from a disaster movie.

**


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