The Day After Tomorrow vs 2012

vs

Two of these great movies, made by Roland Emmerich, all about what will happen in the future. Big hits, graphics beyond words, and destructive power of mother nature. Here's my own compare-contrast of these two movies:

A - Plot
Similarities: Both these stories talks about what will happen in the future, and Roland gave us a glance, or plotted a scenario, of perhaps what may happen or how it can actually happen. Both stories also shown that warnings were already given earlier. However, it's due to human selfishness that they choose not to take action immediately, thinking that everything is going to be alright, until it ACTUALLY happens.

Speaking of selfishness, there are also characters in the story whom were selfish. In "The Day After Tomorrow", the Vice President of the United States chose not to listen to Professor Jack Hall about the warnings that Jack wanted to give to the VP. It was not until super bad weather came to America did that make him a believer.

Same goes for 2012, although slightly different. Mr. Anheuser, the President's Chief of Staff, knew what was going on, knew the dangers, but decided to go with protocols, which was only to escort important people only. It was not until the persuasion of Professor Adrian Helmsley to the leaders of other countries did he reluctantly let the people on board the "Ark", which he initially didn't.

One last point, and it's kind of typical: From what I've noticed so far, there will bound to be people who survive these catastrophic events. It's just how they survived it. And mind you, some of the things in the movies ONLY.HAPPENS.THERE.

Differences: The contrast here, is due to the title itself, though it just dawned upon my that maybe Roland Emmerich likes the number three. In "The Day After Tomorrow", everything happens in 3 days. Today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, hence the title. Makes sense. Likewise for 2012. The development of the story in the movie took 3 years, before everything happened in 2012, which also, hence the title. Contrast is, one happens in days, the other in years. Hmm....

B - Characters
Similarities: In both these movies, the main characters, which are Dennis Quaid and John Cusack respectively, had their family to take care of. Both these characters had to go to the extreme to make sure of their family's safety.

Differences: Simple. One had to go all the way from South to North to get his son, while the other had to keep his son and daughter out of trouble. Meh.

C - Death of American Presidents
Similarities: In both these movies, both American Presidents died. Unlike Independence Day, where the President was one of the heroes to stay alive, both President Blake (The Day After Tomorrow), and President Wilson (2012) did not make out of the disasters alive. From what I can see, Roland does respect the President a lot, and even though they died, they did not died in vain.

In "The Day After Tomorrow", President Blake made sure that everyone had the opportunity to take shelter in Mexico, as the storm was hitting Washington hard. Upon knowing that there was still a last escort vehicle, he finally decided to escape, but couldn't make it as the storm overwhelmed the vehicle.

In 2012, President Wilson decided to stay behind to let the people know about what is actually going on. He also felt guilty for not having informed them earlier, and decided to stay to be with his fellow Americans, as he was quoted in the movie saying, "I'll be the last President of this country (America)

Differences: How they died. Naturally, both were killed by mother nature. It's just that President Wilson died a more pitiful death. President Blake's death was not shown, although it was made known that the vehicle he was travelling in did not make it to Mexico.

After President Wilson's decision to stay, he allowed people to come into the White House to take shelter. He stumbled along this kid who could not find her father. Deciding to help, he went out to seek for it, coming across a rescuer who was apparently busy with his own stuff, until he realised that it was the President addressing him. However, before Wilson could even ask for the favour, a massive earthquake hit Washington, and the Washington monument fell. Viewers would have thought he died there, but not apparently so. His death was only "completed" when a megatusnami brought along a USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier, and crushed the White House, along with everybody there. I thought he might still live, till I saw that. Blek.

D - Disasters and graphics
Similarities: If there's one thing I like about Americans, it's how they are capable of making such movies. To actually think of how to world gets frozen up or destroyed is not easy. Not only that, the organization of ideas about how a certain event follow after another, and how to make it look real, and bottom line, how to put everything into place.... Man, you've just got to give it to them.

Although all facts in the movie may not be true, screw it. I mean, I don't pay to watch a movie where I'd want to argue about whether whatever is happening in the movie is all true or real. I just want to watch it. ^^v

In both these movies, graphics are more or less the same, though it's more dramatic in 2012. Both these movies showed the destructive power of mother nature, and some of the things that happened really amazes me, things that I never thought of that is. Like, how the temperature can drop so much till it forms an eye that looks like a massive hurricance-like superstorm (The Day After Tomorrow), or how lands can actually go up, and sink like Titanic (2012). The best part was, in the former movie, how everything can instantly freeze up, while in the latter, how Hawaii can..... Errupt. ^^v

Differences: How mother nature striked. In "The Day After Tomorrow", mother nature striked in terms of how global warming normally would. Multiple hurricances at once, and ohh, hurricances forming to make a bigger one! Fancy that. Lots of rain and snow. All due to the selfishness of men of not taking care of the enviroment. All of it coming from above, even the falling of... Ice. =p

In 2012, everything comes from below. As the core of the earth heated up super fast, it dries up everything, which also causes land to crack, waters to boil, and places and volcanoes to errupt.

E - Love Triangle? Hmm...
Similarities: In both these movies, there's a love triangle. Sam and J.D gunning for Laura Chapman (The Day After Tomorrow), and Jackson Curtis having to struggle seeing his ex-wife Kate being with plastic surgeon Gordon (2012). It's from here, that we go to the differences.

Differences: Of course, the main difference is, one love triangle is between youths, and the other among adults. Also, in "The Day After Tomorrow", J.D indirectly "admitted" defeat, and admits himself that Laura likes Sam. J.D, who was initially Sam's rival, became good friends with Sam in the end. However, in 2012, Gordon didn't want to give up on Kate, although he was able to see that Kate still loves Jackson.

Ohh yeah, J.D survived, and Gordon died.

"Haha, ha, haha, hahaha, ha, ah ho heh heh, ahha, ah ho hee ha, haha. And I thought MY jokes were bad."

~eNd~