Why we should give another disaster movie, "Geostorm", a chance!

Writer: Casey Chong

Gerard Butler is ready to go in "Geostorm".

Here we go again: another big-budget Hollywood blockbuster, another disaster movie of epic proportions!

We have seen them all before in movies like "The Day After Tomorrow" (2004) and "2012" (2009). We even saw it in "Independence Day: Resurgence" last year, yes, even though the movie combined the sci-fi and alien-invasion genre, and yet, this month, Hollywood is at it again with disaster movie called "Geostorm". So what's new?

But wait, you might've heard about this movie. It originally wrapped filming back in 2015 and was scheduled for a 2016 release. Then poor test screenings happened and the studio (Warner Bros.) ordered an extensive reshoot. Of course, if you are familiar with the Hollywood method of filmmaking, reshoots are nothing new at all. Besides, many big-budget blockbusters have undergone reshoots such as last year's "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" and even the upcoming November release of "Justice League".

Despite the troubled production history, and after a two year delay, we figured that we should at least give the 'cleaned-up' "Geostorm" a watch. Here's why:

A scene from "Geostorm".

From the look of the trailers that have been released so far, Dean Devlin's directorial debut in "Geostorm" is obviously cut from the same cloth from Roland Emmerich's brand of end-of-the-world disaster pictures. After all, Devlin is a writer/producer who frequently worked alongside Emmerich in movies that include "Moon 44", "Universal Soldier", "Stargate", "Independence Day", "Godzilla", "The Patriot" and "Independence Day: Resurgence". "Geostorm" is basically the kind of cinematic escapism often seen in the crowded summer movie season where you just sit back and enjoy the show. Besides, October isn't particularly known for releasing an effects-laden blockbuster like "Geostorm". With the next audience-friendly blockbuster movie "Thor: Ragnarok" only arriving weeks later, "Geostorm" is obviously a go-to blockbuster picture for early October.

Jerry Bruckheimer was hired to oversee the production of "Geostorm".

Mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer wasn't originally involved in the production of "Geostorm", but he was hired to oversee the production during the extensive reshoots. Bruckheimer, of course, is no stranger to handling a big-scale Hollywood production like "Geostorm". Besides, he did produce an asteroid-based disaster movie before via the financially-successful "Armageddon" back in 1998, which starred Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler. With Bruckheimer actively involved in "Geostorm", most audiences are familiar with what to expect in this movie.

Danny Cannon, the TV director of "CSI" and "Gotham", was brought over to direct "Geostorm".

Jerry Bruckheimer wasn't the only one who got hired for the extensive reshoots, as Danny Cannon was brought over as well. The British director may have had a poor track record in the past during the 90s (remember "Judge Dredd" and "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer"?). But he gradually earned his reputation as a sought-after filmmaker when he made his mark in the acclaimed television series like "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", "Nikita" and most recently, "Gotham". Given Cannon's improved resume so far, his additional input as the director of "Geostorm" would surely only elevate the movie.

Gerard Butler leads the cast as Jake Lawson in "Geostorm".

It's Gerard Butler trying to save the day against all matters of (CGI) extreme weather in "Geostorm". If you are familiar with the types of movies he's always in (e.g. "300", "Olympus Has Fallen"), you will know it's going to be a mindless fun kind of entertainment fit for all.

Andy Garcia and Jim Sturgess in a scene from "Geostorm".

While special effects are often the main star in any big-scale disaster movie, the cast is equally important as well. Thankfully, "Geostorm" has it with recognisable stars that include Jim Sturgess ("Across The Universe", "21" and "Cloud Atlas"), Abbie Cornish ("Somersault", "Candy" and "Sucker Punch") as well as veteran actors Ed Harris and Andy Garcia playing the role of a U.S. president.