Cast:
Dennis Quaid as Jack Hall
Ian Holm as Professor Rapson
Jake Gyllenhaal as Sam
Emmy Rossum as Laura
Sela Ward as Dr Lucy Hall
Director:
Roland Emmerich
Synopsis:
What if we are on the brink of a new Ice Age? This is the question
that haunts climatologist Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid). Hall's research
indicates that global warming could trigger an abrupt and catastrophic
shift in the planet's climate. The ice cores that he's drilled
in Antarctica show that it happened before, 10,000 years ago.
And now he's warning officials that it could happen again if they
don't act soon. But his warning comes too late.
It all begins when Hall witnesses a piece of ice the size of Rhode
Island break off the Antarctic Ice Shelf. Then a series of increasingly
severe weather events start to unfold around the globe –
hail the size of grapefruit batters Tokyo, record-breaking hurricane
winds pound Hawaii, snow falls in New Delhi and then a devastating
series of tornadoes whips through Los Angeles.
A phone call from a colleague in Scotland, Professor Rapson (Ian
Holm), confirms Jack's worst fears. These intense weather events
are symptoms of a massive global change. Melting polar caps has
poured too much fresh water into the oceans and disrupted the
currents that stabilise our climate system. Global warming has
pushed the planet over the edge and into a new Ice Age. And it
all will happen during one global super storm.
While Jack warns the White House of the impending climate shift,
his 17-year-old son Sam (Jake Gyllenhaal) finds himself trapped
in New York City where he and some friends have been competing
in a high school academic competition. He must now cope with the
severe flooding and plummeting temperatures in Manhattan. Having
taken refuge inside the Manhattan Public Library, Sam manages
to reach his father by phone. Jack only has time for one warning
– stay inside at all costs.
As full-scale, massive evacuations to the south begin, Jack heads
north to New York City to save Sam. But not even Jack is prepared
for what is about to happen to him, to his son, and to his planet.
