The director of 'Independence Day,' 'Godzilla' and 'The Patriot' has certain attributes, all of which are given full vent in 'The Day After Tomorrow.' He's crude, stupid, slick, cornball, predictable, laughable, relentless, trivial and, the sum of all these, ridiculous. He's never made a movie you could believe and he still hasn't.

The quote "The director of 'Independence Day,' 'Godzilla' and 'The Patriot' has certain attributes, all of which are given full vent in 'The Day After Tomorrow.' He's crude, stupid, slick, cornball, predictable, laughable, relentless, trivial and, the sum of all these, ridiculous. He's never made a movie you could believe and he still hasn't." by Stephen Hunter is a harsh critique of Roland Emmerich, the director of the aforementioned films. Hunter takes aim at Emmerich's filmmaking style, describing his movies as crude, predictable, and trivial. The quote suggests that Emmerich’s films lack substance and believability, relying on flashy spectacle rather than strong storytelling or realistic characters. By listing a series of negative adjectives, Hunter implies that Emmerich’s films are more about entertainment and style than offering any depth or authenticity.

The origin of this quote is from a review written by Stephen Hunter, a renowned film critic known for his sharp, often scathing, critiques. Hunter was particularly critical of Emmerich’s work in "The Day After Tomorrow," a 2004 disaster film. In this review, Hunter highlights the director's tendency to create spectacles that prioritize action and visual effects over coherent narratives or believable characters. By dismissing Emmerich's work as predictable and laughable, Hunter reinforces the idea that Emmerich’s films are designed to be crowd-pleasers rather than thought-provoking or realistic.

Hunter’s criticism centers on the predictability and corniness that he feels characterize Emmerich’s filmmaking style. The phrase “cornball” implies that Emmerich’s films rely on cheesy or overly sentimental moments, while terms like crude and stupid suggest a lack of sophistication or intellectual depth. Hunter’s point is that, despite the commercial success of Emmerich’s movies, they lack the credibility and substance that might elevate them beyond simple entertainment.

Ultimately, this quote reflects Hunter’s view of Emmerich as a director who is more concerned with creating blockbusters that thrill audiences visually rather than challenging them intellectually. It serves as a critique of modern blockbuster filmmaking that prioritizes spectacle and predictability over realism and meaningful content.