Geostorm

Geostorm – ‘Dutch Boy’, a number of climate-controlling satellites which help with the world’s increasingly devastating natural disasters yet malfunctions causing terrible catastrophes. Dutch Boy’s creator, Jake Lawson, is brought in to figure out what’s gone wrong and attempt to fix it. However, he suspects fould play when he finds information has been erased. With the whole Earth in danger, how far does the conspiracy reach?     

Geostorm (2017) – Director: Dean Devlin

Rating: 12

Running Length: 109 mins

Starring: Gerard Butler, Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish

Genre: Disaster

REVIEW: ‘GEOSTORM’

Technology to control the planet’s weather patterns from space; what could possibly go wrong? ‘Geostorm’ asks this question and answers it with all the subtlety of a mega-tsunami but, let’s be honest, we wouldn’t have it any other way!

No nonsense scientist Jake Lawson (Gerard Butler) has created ‘Dutch Boy’, a huge satellite system that will put a stop to the numerous natural catastrophes that have been blighting the planet. But in order to stop a catastrophe he brings it online earlier than the official launch date (stupid bureaucrats!) so he was removed from the project. His younger brother is put in charge (stupid siblings!) and yet inevitably things go awry and Jake is brought back on board (stupid cliches!).

Disaster movies are ten a penny with virtually no conceivable catastrophic event left uncovered, so any modern big budget film like this has to have ‘something’ to make it stand out. Enter Gerard Butler, an actor who rarely deviates from stone-faced/stoic tough guy, but is now a personable and *likeable* lead. The ethics of whether humans should be in charge of the world’s weather patterns are skimmed over by stating that ‘Dutch Boy’ will be internationally owned at a certain date when the US government will hand over control (absolutely nothing could go wrong with that!). Conspiracy theories are always fun to watch play out and Geostorm has these abundnce. The suspicions surrounding the President’s involvement are combined with scenes on the orbiting ‘Dutch Boy,, which are intertwinned with plots pondering what bizarre natural disaster will hit the planet next, ‘Geostorm’ provides plenty of entertainment to keep you hooked.

Of course ‘Geostorm’ won’t be for everyone and could hardly be called high art but it is an easy movie to watch on a day when you’re stuck inside and, with the way the world is currently looking, this is something that is increasingly desirable to do.

CONTENT: IS ‘GEOSTORM’ SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?

At the beginning of the movie there is news footage of disasters around the world. This includes images of a body bag being carried by two people and then lines of bodies on the ground. These scenes aren’t graphic but kids may be distressed by what are potentially real images.

Soldiers enter a village which, despite being in the middle of a desert, has been frozen. All the villagers have been killed by being frozen solid while going about their daily lives, A soldier touches the hand of one such frozen person which falls off and the frozen blood inside is shown briefly.

A man is trapped inside an airlock which malfunctions. He desperately tries to escape but the room is opened to space. His face discolours and he is blasted into space and killed.

Numerous global disasters are shown including fires which erupt from under the ground as cars try to flee. One car is crushed by falling debris. Huge hail stones hit and kill people as well as destroying vehicles.

A woman wears very revealing nightwear.

A man is deliberately pushed in front of a vehicle. He is shown with blood on his face before he dies.

CAN I SEE A CLIP?

VERDICT: IS ‘GEOSTORM’ FOR KIDS?

Fun and far fetched (exactly what we want from a big budget disaster flick) ‘Geostorm’ doesn’t disappoint. We feel this movie is appropriate for kids aged 8 and above.

• Violence: 2/5 (a man is deliberately pushed into the path of a vehicle and is fatally wounded – some blood is seen on his face. A close friend cradles him as he dies)
• Emotional Distress: 2/5 (a character chooses to sacrifice themselves as it is the only way to ensure the survival of others. They have a very emotional conversation with a loved one)
• Fear Factor: 1/5
• Sexual Content: 2/5 (a couple kiss passionately in bed. A woman is seen wearing revealing clothing)
• Bad Language: 3/5 (mild to moderate cursing and blasphemy)
• Dialogue: 1/5
• Other Notes: Deals with themes of natural disasters, sibling rivalry, single parenthood. responsibility, government conspiracies,

Words by Laura Record