The Day After
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Movie Reviews of The Day After
Movie Review: Something I was not ready for
Summary: 5 Stars
When this movie first came out it was the height of the 80s and the fear of the nukes launching was on every ones minds. I remember when it came out I asked if I can watch it because many of my friends said they planned to watch it, but my parents said no. Back then I was allowed to watch movies that were rated R, I watched scary movies and many other rated R and it did not bother me. But this one they said no. After the 3 night movie was over I was like wow that sucks and I wanted to watch it. Not until I went to college and a friend had it in his video collection. So we sat down and watch it one afternoon and I was at a awe. The effects was astounding, for a movie that was made in the 80s for television. The many horrible things that happened to the people with the radiation all over the place, was Scary I do not get scared and when I saw this movie I was like wow now I understand why my parents did not want me to watch the movie. Radiation sickness, hair falling out, going blind from looking at the nuke going off, and other things that was disturbing to me. This movie was not as much as a anti war movie but as a anti nuke movie.
The characters in the movie were convincing and the dark grim look was astounding. It was very graphic for its time and I remember that it was very controversial. I now why now later when I watch , that my parents did not want me to watch the show. It was scary for that time to which the movie was made and it had a profound effect on president Reagen. It leaked out that after he saw the movie he made a call on the Red phone and wanted to try to find a way to redouse nukes stockpiles. It had a powerful feel to the film, it actually showed the best way they can at the time the horrible and evil that Nukes can do to normal every day America, People who just wanted to get married, go to school, work his farm, and see her daughter get married like all moms do. Over all the movie is good and makes a good statement, but remember that it was made in the 80s not the now.
Movie Review: Still packs a multi-megaton emotional wallop
Summary: 5 Stars
This made for television film first aired nearly 25 years ago while the Cold War was on - and it still packs the same sobering multi-megaton emotional wallop as it did back then. The story and scenes of human and animal tragedy and suffering will haunt for days afterwards. It's very good early 1980s period piece that fairly accurately depicts the rising Cold War tensions early in the Reagan administration. In a reprise of the Soviet blockade of Berlin two decades earlier in 1961, the plot begins with a Soviet blockade of access points between East and West Germany, following by the massing of troops on the border between East and West. When the Soviet bloc troops move across the border, NATO responds by unleashing tactical nuclear weapons on the invading forces, destroying two German cities in the process. The Soviet responds by targeting a NATO regional headquarters in England. It rapidly escalates from there to a major exchange of MIRVed ICBMs, including electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons that detonate high in the atmosphere and knock out all electrical and electronic equipment.
All of the European developments are depicted via fast paced news reports and bulletins coming into a worried American heartland on what would have been an otherwise typical early September weekend as people went about and planned their lives. One of the more chilling scenes vividly depicts the contrast between normal life and unfolding nuclear exchange. Two children innocently watch television, unaware of the gravity of the situation, as their amorous parents slip upstairs for a quick interlude before breakfast. Suddenly a TV bulletin interrupts to report the use of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe. The scene then shifts to a nearby Strategic Air Command base as klaxons wail and B-52 crews scramble to get their planes into the air. The film is set in Kansas City and Lawrence, Kansas. Jason Robards puts in a fine performance as a doctor and the central character.
Movie Review: A wickedly entertaining 80's propaganda film
Summary: 5 Stars
Just happening to catch this little gem from the 80's recently on cable, all the memories flood back from the original airing on ABC when I thought: "So, what's the big deal?!".
Having known someone who saw the film in a preview in Lawrence, KS and having been told about the people in the audience sobbing hysterically, I was expecting so much more that I got when I finally had the opportunity to see it for myself. It is only the context of history that now lays bare the hilariously tacky overacting and absurdly ridiculous plot that obliterates Kansas City, but spares the ICBM fields from any strikes, which in reality would have been the converse (in other words-Buh Bye, Lawrence). Not to mention the embrace of the idea of a local skirmish culminating in a 'bolt from the blue' nuclear attack on the US.
All the bunny huggin' liberals writing the glowing reviews of this film also bring me back to the 80's, when the very same no-nukes crowd went absolutely crazy during Reagan's brinksmanship with the (now FORMER) USSR.
This is a quite dramatic, and suspenseful film nonetheless, but to me represents the zenith of the 80's anti-nuclear movement with a masterfully executed attempt at affecting public opinion through production of a straight propaganda piece. Contextually, a great historical snapshot of the opposing side of the strident debate about deployment of the Pershing II in Europe, the MX missle, the 'leaked' planning studies for the aftermath of WWIII, and Reagan's hardline position against the Soviets, all of which scared the bejesus out of the aforementioned bunny huggers.
Of course, with twenty years now in the rearview mirror, the USSR fallen, Reagan vindicated, and after a massive nuclear build-down, it only serves as punctuation to this film, a nice little postscript of historical perspective to complete the circle begun in 1983.
Highly recommended.
Movie Review: Nuclear Holocaust still vivid 21 years later
Summary: 5 Stars
I watched this as a 15 year old in 1983 and it scared the daylights out of me. I was in HIgh School and all you ever worried about those days was world war III between soviet union and USA. both countries had the finger on the trigger every minute of the day back then and we all were vulnerable to an end of the world apocalypse any day. I remember there were several "close calls" where malfuntions or errors in the systems actually almost started nuclear attacks from both sides!
The part about this movie that stands out is when the father/farmer/husband comes back on horseback to find stragglers having a bbq on his front yard eating dead and radiated cattle not caring if its contaminated. He pulls out his shotgun and asks what they are all doing there and the people look frightening...all men and a young boy or two. ONe of the men sneaks up behind the farmer and shoots him right in the back! We see a quick flash of his wife and daughter in kitchen suddenly turn to the gunshot sound and you wonder what happened to them later (at the mercy now of the men in the front yard?) - scary exclamation point that comes well after the mushroom clouds blow up....
this movie will scare you like no other....the storyline of the sequence that leads to the war is also quite accurate and believable in terms of berlin being the flashpoint.
I think the greatest movie of all time about nuclear war and its apocalypse is "TESTAMENT"....nothing can ever compare to that movie (still waiting for dVD though) but "the Day After" is anexcellent movie.
Movie Review: The Ultimate What If
Summary: 5 Stars
Here's a movie to test your intellectual mettle, that over twenty years after it's initial run on television remains as timely and unsettling as ever.
I'm a huge fan of Horror films and the reason I like them so much is that they almost always focus on the fantastic, the make believe. This movie is not anywhere near the realm of fantasy.
The Day After could happen every second of every day that nuclear weapons exist. Everything you know and love could be erased in a second of blinding light and searing heat. Those close enough to the epicenter of any nuclear strike would be the lucky ones. Those who survive would truly suffer.
The sheer intensity of emotion and terror depicted in this film is almost nauseating. Give me monsters, gore, chainsaw wielding maniacs and I'll be fine; show me the potential extinction of the human race as a consequence of politics and I'm sleeping with the lights on.
It's hard to believe that this was a made for tv movie and that it was presented in its entirety. It's doubtful that something this scathing could be shown on television in the current atmosphere of government sanctioned censorship. Too many people might start to think.
The Day After is a movie that should be re-made with extreme, stark realism because the danger presented here is still looking over our shoulders. If you're seeking a reason to be paranoid watch this movie with friends and family. You'll never look at mushrooms the same way again.