New York is about to get hit with some heavy rain over the next few days. While I acknowledge that it’s nowhere near as heavy as what some states have seen, it’s still enough to keep this cinefile indoors for the weekend. So here is my list of top five weather related films:
1. Twister (1996)
There is no way that there could be a list of Man vs. Weather films without including the one that sparked such terrible reality shows as Storm Chasers. This epic film about a group of scientists chasing an impenetrable wall of wind was written by the late Michael Crichton and starred such fantastic 90’s actors as Bill Paxton (not to be confused with Bill Pullman or Bruce Boxleitner) and Helen Hunt. The real storm isn’t in the skies but instead is in the relationship between the Hardings. With their marriage in shambles, Bill (the name of both the actor and character) shows up to serve his wife Joe divorce papers. The big question is whether or not the suffocating bonds of marriage will kill them before the insanely high velocity winds. Given the campy nature of the movie, I’ll let you guess how their relationship works out.
2. A Perfect Storm (2000)
The movie should be renamed The Perfect Cast or Really Expensive Cast for a movie with such a B-Horror feeling. George Clooney and “Marky” Mark Wahlburg are accompanied by Diane Lane, John C. Reilly and Cherry Jones on this rollercoaster ride based on true life events. The fishing boat Andrea Gail is stuck in the middle of a weather phenomenon that slams into the North Atlantic. How will they survive? Better yet: Will George Clooney wink at the camera as the wall of CG water approaches off of the port bow?
3. Top Hat (1935)
Get in your time machine and go back to a time when a lot of rain created romance instead of dread. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers engage in a bit of competition over who has the best choreography. As it does in most of these old musicals, that competitive natures becomes extreme romance. Considered one of Astaire’s best roles, it is a happy break from the doom and gloom in the rest of this collection.
4. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
I believe that Roland Emmerich must really hate major cities. Most of his films revolve around bringing down the most famous landmarks in cities like New York, Chicago and Washington DC. This time he employs the efforts of Mother Nature instead of space aliens. Dennis Quaid plays Dr. Hall, who is unaware of the consequences of Global Warming. His son, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, gets stuck in the middle of a cataclysmic climate shift while visiting New York. 80 feet of rain, tons of snow and ice storms of the least of their concerns as they await the passing storm. As long as you can survive the absurdity of the premise and not take it too seriously you’ll see just how Dennis Quaid saves the world, or just his son, once again.
5. The Karate Kid Part 2
You may be scratching your head as to why I would have chosen such an obscure sequel as The Karate Kid Part 2. The answer is simple: THE EPIC MONSOON THAT HITS OKINAWA! Daniel-san finds it hard to win over the tough rural Japanese crowd. Especially after he discovers the tension between Mr. Miyagi and his old love. Fortunately a heavy Monsoon comes forcing Daniel-san to be a true hero. After that all he’s got to do is win over Chozen in an epic battle that makes you wonder why any parent in their right mind would let their son go anywhere with Mr. Miyagi.
- Riv
- Amanda