Category 7: The End of the World

[FoolKiller]

Did anyone watch this on CBS last night?

I did. I decided to see how laughably bad it could become and 15 minutes in I realized it was a propaganda smearfest. First, it was a sequel to last year's TV version of Day After Tomorrow, Category 6: Day of Destruction. Within the firts few minutes the main character says that she wants to find out what is causing all these storms. I immediately looked at my wife and said, "Global warming, I know it."

Only a few minutes later did we find out that these storms had been predicted but because the administrations ties to the energy groups it was buried and the scientist labelled a crackpot. A few minutes later someone mentions the Kyoto Protool and if the adminstration had any regrets about not signing it. Then we meet a member of the presidents adminstration who another character says has his pet project of the energy industry. When he turns around I could have sworn it was Dick Cheney. I love the stereotypical condescending Republican.

Let's also not forget the Christian preacher and his wife who feed on our fears. The wife even goes so far as to create a "plague" by releaisng horseflies into the Capital. The preacher gets portrayed as foolhardy to the point that he is struck by lighting because he was trying to show his followers that there is nothing to fear when you trust in God. One of his followers is portrayed as fanatical to the point of kidnapping (with we assume the intent to kill) the first-born children of Washington elites. I also love the stereotypical fanatical Christians that are willing to do anything to get people to follow them.


All that aside it was bad science (shock!), bad effects (double shock!), and horrible writing/acting (super shock!!!). At least Randy Quaid was semi-funny and they get to fly in an SR-71 Blackbird (through a tornado! ) Oh, and did you know that the Statue of Liberty is in downtown New York City? Yep. The torch-bearing arm falls off and from above you see buildings below, in fact some of our heroes are about to be hit in the last scene when it ends to tell us about part 2 next week. This means that the arm fell 300ft down while flying over 1.5 miles to the side. This was the worst part of the movie for me.

So, once again we have learned that Republicans are bad, not signing the Kyoto Preaty has doomed us all (including France), and Christians just feed on all our fears to gain our money and are willing to even kill to get you to believe them and give them money.

Wow, this with Vampire Bats last week means that CBS will have had 3 straight Sundays of "evil corporations will kill us all with thier polluting" themed movies.

I won't be watching the second half.

Sorry about the rant but this movie was bad on so many levels that I had to rant.

 

[Zardoz]

When I heard the radio ads for it I decided to set the alarm on my watch to remind me. Like you, FK, I had a morbid fascination to see just how bad it would be, so I turned it on and kept an eye on it while I caught up on paperwork, paid some bills, and answered some e-mails.

It exceeded all my grim expectations. You summarized it well, FK, but its like the devastation of Hurricane Katrina: You can't appreciate how bad it is until you actually see it for yourself.

My favorite part was the electrocution of the preacher, and Swoozie Kurtz' half-hearted attempt at showing horror as she watched him fry. It looked like she was struggling to keep from busting out laughing.

I also loved their use of an SR-71 as a storm-chasing hurricane hunter, along with that shot where it executed an instantaneous, 50-G turn, snapping around like a little aerobatic ship. I had no idea Blackbirds were so agile!

I'm gonna have to watch at least some of Part Two, just to see if they can top the sheer awfulness of the first half. I have a feeling they'll manage it somehow.

 

[livemusic]

So you guys enjoy watching bad movies? That's a first...

 

[FoolKiller]

So you guys enjoy watching bad movies? That's a first...

I guess you have never seen Mystery Science Theater 3000, huh? It turns watching bad movies into an art form.

 

[Zardoz]

So you guys enjoy watching bad movies? That's a first...

Yer darned tootin' we do, and we aren't alone:

The Ed Wood Box

Ed Wood is the consensus winner of the title of "Worst Motion Picture Director of All Time". The wretchedness of his flicks defies description. How this guy managed to actually make full-length features is such a fascinating tale that Tim Burton and Johnny Depp made a biographical movie about him:

Ed Wood

Loving bad movies is hardly a "first". Come on, stuff like Wood's junk and "Category 7" are as funny as any "real" comedy, hence the boxed set of badness, and my desire to see Part Two of "The End Of The World".

 

[FoolKiller]

I still can't decide whether "Category 7" or "10.8" is worse.

 

[Joey D]

This was bad, I mean really really really bad. I was with my girlfriend and we were trying to find something to watch, she suggested this so I said meh and went along with it. It was so bad it was funny, I mean we were laughing the entire time we were watching.

But I hate political movies like this, give it up, a movie isn't going to change the way you think about something, let alone a movie this bad. It was almost like watching a Michael Moore "documentary" but with-out a fat-ass stupid white man trying to convert people.

And even though it is a "made for TV" movie they could have tried to make it good.

 

[FoolKiller]

This was bad, I mean really really really bad. I was with my girlfriend and we were trying to find something to watch, she suggested this so I said meh and went along with it. It was so bad it was funny, I mean we were laughing the entire time we were watching.

But I hate political movies like this, give it up, a movie isn't going to change the way you think about something, let alone a movie this bad. It was almost like watching a Michael Moore "documentary" but with-out a fat-ass stupid white man trying to convert people.

And even though it is a "made for TV" movie they could have tried to make it good.

But will you watch next week?


And I can't wait for "Category 8: Weather Apocalypse" to come out next year.


OK, I have to go to CBS's boards and make fun of this.
EDIT: They don't have any boards. I figured since NBC and ABC do that they would too.

 

[Zardoz]

...OK, I have to go to CBS's boards and make fun of this.

EDIT: They don't have any boards. I figured since NBC and ABC do that they would too.

Another indication of how bad things are at CBS, and what they have sunk to. No surprise that they have no boards, considering what people would post there.

 

[Kylehnat]

I hate these awful "science" (cough, fiction, cough) TV movies. 1)Hurricanes go no higher than Category 5 (It's an arbitrary scale, so I guess there could be if there was a real need for it.) 2)Hurricanes CANNOT hit New York City, and 3)any global warming will not destroy the earth in three days (Day After Tomorrow, I'm talking to you). And 10.8? I don't think that an earthquake of that magnitude is even possible on this planet. Maybe if the whole continent were ripped in half?? I wish they would at least do 5 minutes of research on these things. It's not hard. I guess ocean levels slowly rising over centuries doesn't make for good TV.

What's worse is that people lap this stuff up, and even worse, believe it. What they see on network TV MUST be true (would the socially responsible networks deceive us? NO!!!). Could they think for themselves for a minute? Maybe. Would they take the time to maybe look some stuff up, and actually learn FACTS? No. Only nerds do that. About 10 years ago, there was a mini-movie on FOX detailing the horrible swarms of killer bees that were supposedly migrating slowly northward. They billed it as "this WILL be a true story" (people being consumed by the bees, all bedlam breaking out). I laughed at it, and wished a horrible death on it's creators. Why was I not afraid of killer bees, even as a 10 year old? Even I realized that they could not migrate northward forever. They are from a tropical climate. They would not like the weather here in Seattle. In fact, they would probably freeze to death 10 months out of the year. Secondly, even though they do live in California, I'd never heard of anyone being bothered by them, and certainly not swarms taking over Los Angeles. I guess people like to be scared ****less of nature, instead of learning more about it

 

[Joey D]

But will you watch next week?


And I can't wait for "Category 8: Weather Apocalypse" to come out next year.


OK, I have to go to CBS's boards and make fun of this.
EDIT: They don't have any boards. I figured since NBC and ABC do that they would too.

I'll only watch it if my girlfriend makes me. But I think I'm going to have to convince her we need to NOT watch that, and maybe watch something a bit less...oh I don't know...stupid.

 

[Solid Lifters]

I skimmed through it. You should know it's going to be a liberal movie when you see James Brolin listed as a character. Remember who his wife is?

This movie was complete garbage. But, it was in high-def, had some cool things falling appart and since I recorded it, I watched a little bit of it.

 

[dropzone]

I tuned into it, but since I was in the computer room, I jumped onto the forums here within seconds that it started. I think my dad watched the whole thing in the living room while the movie helped put my mom to sleep in her room in like minutes. When I just heard dialogue and no action for like, what seemed to be the whole 2 hrs I was like , I don't think I could've put up with it. I was also occupied by the Packers/Steelers game last night. I think I might watch the second part and hope for more action and see if I can get some laughs of the awfulness of the movie. When I found out it wasn't commercial free I felt it wasn't gonna be good. If it was as good like Twister then I'd have it worn out on tape quick.

 

[FoolKiller]

1)Hurricanes go no higher than Category 5 (It's an arbitrary scale, so I guess there could be if there was a real need for it.)

Last year's "Category 6: Day of Destruction" created a new category for storms because they were so bad. They were also not hurricanes but super cells on land. However in "category 7" the super cell is about to collide with a category 5 hurricane over DC creating a Category 7 strom.

2)Hurricanes CANNOT hit New York City,

1938 New York City Hurricane - Not a global warming issue though.

And 10.8? I don't think that an earthquake of that magnitude is even possible on this planet. Maybe if the whole continent were ripped in half??

This would be the mythical California breaking off into the ocean scenario that was popular in the 80s and made worse by "Superman: The Movie" when Lex Luther used a nuke to start a massive earthquake and turn all his cheap desert property into expensive ocean-front property.

See, it has been like this for a long time. When I hear people freak out over these movies I just look at them and say, "You realize that you're an idiot, right?"

 

[Kylehnat]

Last year's "Category 6: Day of Destruction" created a new category for storms because they were so bad. They were also not hurricanes but super cells on land. However in "category 7" the super cell is about to collide with a category 5 hurricane over DC creating a Category 7 strom.

OH DEAR GOD PLEASE SPARE US!!

1938 New York City Hurricane - Not a global warming issue though.

Didn't know about that one 👍 Okay, I'll retract my "cannot" statement, but add that a hurricane hitting NYC is a freak occurance, as hurricanes tend not to like the cold water of the Northern Atlantic too much. I'd be more worried about killer bees

 

[FoolKiller]

OH DEAR GOD PLEASE SPARE US!!

I might mess this up but the quote was something like, "If this happens it won't be a category 6, it will be category 7." This only 20 minutes after he explained how there was really no such thing as a category 6 but they had to create one to describe the strength of the new storms.

So, take two parts "Day After Tomorrow" and one part "The Perfect Storm," throw in some semi-legitimate actors, including the brother of "The Day After Tomorrow's" star actor, mix, and you get "Category 7!" Never mind the fact that a regular storm colliding with a hurricane actually means that the hurricane will be stripped of its moisture and weakened. We saw the perfect example of this when a frontal system collided with Wilma and took her from a cat 5 to a 2.

 

[Kylehnat]

Oh yeah, what's with this "end of the world" stuff? If this storm were possible, and actually did destroy the Northeastern United States, I would still be quite comfortable here in my corner of the country. More East Coast-bias, I presume...

 

[FoolKiller]

Oh yeah, what's with this "end of the world" stuff? If this storm were possible, and actually did destroy the Northeastern United States, I would still be quite comfortable here in my corner of the country. More East Coast-bias, I presume...

It's because they have all the cool monuments. Odd, you being from Seattle call it east copast bias while people from New York complain that Hollywood keeps beating up on them (as if it's real).

Maybe the "category 7" storm powerful enough to be like the red spot on Jupiter and it never goes away. It just circles the globe destroying everything with non-stop tornadoes and high strength winds.

Does anyone else realize that a category 7 storm would have tornado strength sustained winds? Does that mean that no tornado could form because the sustained winds would destabilize its cyclone or does that mean that the tornadoes would be supersized?

In checking my plural spelling of tornadoes I found an interesting fact at Dictionary.com.

tor·na·do ( P ) Pronunciation Key (tôr-nd)
n. pl. tor·na·does or tor·na·dos
1. A rotating column of air ranging in width from a few yards to more than a mile and whirling at destructively high speeds, usually accompanied by a funnel-shaped downward extension of a cumulonimbus cloud.
2. A violent thunderstorm in western Africa or nearby Atlantic waters.
3. A whirlwind or hurricane.

Maybe this is category 7, a 200 mile wide tornado!

 

[Kylehnat]

Maybe this is category 7, a 200 mile wide tornado!

If a 200-mile wide funnel cloud started to come down from the sky, my underwear would require a wash....with bleach.

 

[FoolKiller]

If a 200-mile wide funnel cloud started to come down from the sky, my underwear would require a wash....with bleach.

I am sure that if you actually witnessed that your underwear would be the least of your worries. Unless, of course, you were in the super trucks they have in all these weather disaster movies.

Remember in "Twister" when the entire neighborhood is destroyed but their cars are all still sitting there without a scratch? I think it is the same design as the truck in this movie. Maybe they made are made from the same stuff as black boxes?

I might miss pasrt 2 this Sunday because UK plays their basketball season opener Sunday night. It depends on if I find a friend with ESPNU.

 

[Zardoz]

24 hours to go until Part Two. I'm working up my nerve to watch it.

I hate the idea of spending any time at all watching something like this, but I have a feeling its going to be even worse than Part One. Its like knowing a train wreck is going to happen, and you don't want to miss seeing it.

 

[s0nny80y]

I've been through Wilma and Katrina this year and trust me, nobody goes out during a category three let alone a category 7. and a hurricane isn't some surprise disaster like a tornado, people can actually prepare before the hurricane hits. and when a purported category 7 is about to hit your part of town, you should probably pack your bags and leave or shutter up your windows (shutters during a 7 would make no sense however).

So many idiots were running around in the city (in the show) it made me laugh (when normally i wouldnt laugh at fictional death and destruction). Also, they made it seem like you could actually see the eye wall. Yes you do notice if the eyes over you but you really don't see a wall of clouds or what not (the eye past over me during Katrina=Cat 1, no need for shutters). And there's one part where the girl makes a comment on the pressure dropping and her ears popping. It's absolutely true however the comment was unnecessary. They shouldve just looked for a way out.

 

[Zardoz]

I couldn't get past the first hour. Funny bad is one thing. Boring bad is another altogether, and Part Two wasn't even fun. It just stunk, period.

All involved in the making of it should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

 

[FoolKiller]

I couldn't get past the first hour. Funny bad is one thing. Boring bad is another altogether, and Part Two wasn't even fun. It just stunk, period.

All involved in the making of it should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

If this storm was as bad as it was supposed to be why was their a need to shut down power at all? Shouldn't this storm have knocked out all electricity pretty quick?

Since when did shutting down power cause such a dramatic change in temperature? Concrete and metal holds heat like crazy.

And I missed the very beginning. Did we see how Randy Quaid escapes the Statue of Liberty torch flying directly at him.

 

[Zardoz]

...And I missed the very beginning. Did we see how Randy Quaid escapes the Statue of Liberty torch flying directly at him.

Didn't turn it on until about eight minutes were gone. Dunno.

 

[slackbladder]

Being in the UK didn't see any of this. Did see something on TV last year about Yellowstone National Park blowing up and turning into a Super Volcano or something.
Found this link
Good grief....
Or link
Oh those stereotypical religious zealots exist alright..
At least this seems sane link
As for that film it sounds like a big bag of bulls testicles. The other thing is it makes a mockery out of science. I really don't like that.

 

[FoolKiller]

Being in the UK didn't see any of this. Did see something on TV last year about Yellowstone National Park blowing up and turning into a Super Volcano or something.
Found this link
Good grief....
Or link
Oh those stereotypical religious zealots exist alright..
At least this seems sane link
As for that film it sounds like a big bag of bulls testicles. The other thing is it makes a mockery out of science. I really don't like that.

The Yellowstone thing was another poor science natural disaster movie.

As for the religious zealots from your link, they did not fake plagues or kidnap and kill people. That is the difference between real life and the movie. The entire Yellowstone scenario has been discussed and debated by scientists for years. Conspiracy shows and magazines have been predicting it for a long time. It was not something created as a scare tactic by religious zealots.

 

[Zardoz]

Sure it'll happen, many thousands of years from now:

http://www.yellowstone.net/caldera.htm

Fortunately, the Yellowstone volcanic system shows no signs that it is headed toward such an eruption. The probability of a large caldera-forming eruption within the next few thousand years is exceedingly low.

 

[FoolKiller]

Sure it'll happen, many thousands of years from now:

Which is why we make cheesy made-for-TV movies about it happening today. It's fun to watch when it isn't real, especially if you get to laugh at it for being bad.