The Storm

A couple of hundred years ago Benjamin Franklin noted that the two certainties in life were death and taxes. While this may seem axiomatic he overlooked one extremely important factor to the human experience that is equally universal; the weather. No matter where you live on the globe the weather will have an impact on your life in some fashion. It may be as begin as a pleasant week while you are on vacation to the annoyance of a snow storm in winters. For many who live in regions prone to extremes in weather tornados, hurricanes and tsunamis can be catastrophically deadly. Even in this age of technological wonders weather is still the one topic that people can complain about but really have no way to alter it. Weather is the one thing that truly runs the gamut from local to global affecting every form of life on the planet. This also makes it the perfect theme for science fiction and disaster movies. One of the more recent uses of this topic is a television miniseries aptly called ‘The Storm’. It is a worst case scenario extended disaster flick with a project capable of altering weather patterns being co-opted by the military for their own nefarious designs. It is pretty much what you expect for a mid season miniseries but there is a little something about it that seem to make it more enjoyable than I had originally anticipated. This is not to imply that the flick works out as anything more than a fairly family friendly movie to watch on a Saturday afternoon, especially if inclement weather has derailed your plans. It is now on DVD thanks to Genius Products, provider of some of the more esoteric faire currently available on disc. I never quite know what to expect when I get a screener from them but I can be sure it will be interesting.

The screenplay was devised by two men with significant experience with television; David Abramowitz and Dennis A. Pratt. Abramowitz’s resume is heavy on the science fiction/fantasy genre with such well regarded program as ‘Highlander’, ‘MacGyver’ and the original ‘V’. Pratt has a somewhat lighter career direction with writing for TV detective shoes and comedies like ‘Simon and Simon’, Highway to Heaven’, ‘Remington Steele’ and ‘Night Court’. This may seem like an unlikely career path to create something in this particular genre but considering both men are relatively new to this format the deported themselves quite well. The story has the typical plot holes big enough to pass a hurricane through and the actors have a perchance towards the melodramatic but after all, that is part of the fun of the disaster flick. This kind of movie answers to s different criteria than most, the purpose is only to give a fun ride for the audience they adhere to a strict formula and this example is no different. Like a rollercoaster ride you know there will be peaks and valleys, you can even see them coming; there is no expectation of surprise. In a disaster flick the same holds. You know exactly what is going to happen so you just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Dr. Jonathan Kirk (James Van Der Beek) was a brilliant scientist working for the Atmospheric Research Institute looking for a technology that can guide weather systems, it is his goal to be able to coax rainclouds to relieve a drought or divert a hurricane away from populated areas. This is a laudable goal that was derailed in an effort to militarize the project. If you have ever seen any movie with this general theme you know that science and guys in military uniforms are never a good combination. In this case the man with all the stars on his shoulders is General Wilson Braxton played by former JAG star David James Elliott. I guess he was offered a promotion if he was willing to bring the world to the brink of destruction. He is under a lot of pressure to justify the enormous amount of cash the Pentagon has pumped into controlling the weather as a tactical weapon. Dr, Kirk is hindered by having a strong moral compass so when the first full test goes awry creating a storm that kills a lot of people he refuses to continue leaving the General in dire need of a successful demonstration. Fortunately for the general there is always an assistant looking for a promotion no matter how dangerous things may be. Fortunately for the general Dr. Jack Hoffman (Rich Sommer) is willing to ignore the catastrophic consequences. Driving thing behind the scenes is billionaire Robert Terrell who always wanted the ability to control the weather so the combination of jingoistic zeal and greed led him to fund the research. He also is responsible for sending henchmen to kill the good doctor. It seems that even in bad economic times henchmen are in demand. Kirk attempts to blow the lid off the plans by going public by way of local television newswoman Danni Nelson (Teri Polo) but all that comes from is running from the hired killers (one played by former TV heartthrob Luke Perry) as the deadly storm grows stronger and closer.

Bouncing massive beams of energy of orbiting satellites actually comes across as one of the more believable aspects of the flick. What is worse than a power mad four star general controlling the weather is that some guy with more money than common sense has the Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff bought, wrapped and in his pocket. This does shift the focus from a straight forward disaster movie to one spiced up with a good old fashion military industrial complex conspiracy. The special effects are moderately used not driving the story only adding the required thrill or two. The acting is typical; professional but the actors realize they are not getting an Emmy for this one. It is good rides just keep you expectations in check.

Posted 11/19/09