SummaryAfter the infamous San Andreas Fault finally gives, triggering a magnitude 9 earthquake in California, a search and rescue helicopter pilot (Dwayne Johnson) and his estranged wife (Carla Gugino) make their way together from Los Angeles to San Francisco to save their only daughter (Alexandra Daddario). But their treacherous journey north ...
SummaryAfter the infamous San Andreas Fault finally gives, triggering a magnitude 9 earthquake in California, a search and rescue helicopter pilot (Dwayne Johnson) and his estranged wife (Carla Gugino) make their way together from Los Angeles to San Francisco to save their only daughter (Alexandra Daddario). But their treacherous journey north ...
The reason you go see San Andreas is to see what the state of the art looks like when you destroy an entire state, set piece after set piece, and Brad Peyton delivers on that.
You know, there's a definite correlation between films that do good and bad on metallic. Films that do good, are films that are simple and are usually either heavily based on a book and have little special effects to them and only have good acting BC there's no change complex plot. Films that do bad or mediocre, are the ones where you can see the makers and actors have tried and the ones where you can see that a lot of love and thought went into them. This film fits into those unfairly reviewed films. This film is phenomenal and just amazing. And you know its actually good BC if you look on other sites or just anywhere else other than metacritic, you'll see that it has done well a long with all the other poor reception films. This is why metacritic should be discontinued, BC it's full of bias and clearly not regulated for hate reviews. Many other really good films have fallen victim to the metacritic scandal.
There are things in San Andreas that no one would have dreamed of seeing 40 years ago, when "Earthquake" (with its tacky, plaster-cracking “Sensurround”) represented the state of the art. But nothing means anything. The spectacle feels less earned than Dwayne Johnson’s biceps, which are ludicrous but not hollow.
Handsomely shot by Steve Yedlin, Rian Johnson’s regular cinematographer, and boasting a typically likable Dwayne Johnson as its star, San Andreas nonetheless struggles to drum up tension or interest, even as skyscrapers topple like Jenga towers and massive tidal waves sweep through San Francisco Bay.
"Another earthquake film in which California will be obliterated." That's what I thought when I discovered this film. I was not mistaken. It's just another disaster film, similar to so many others in its mistakes and virtues: it's stupid, but it entertains wonderfully.
Against the backdrop of the famous "Big One", the devastating earthquake that hangs over California like a Damocles Sword, the film follows the efforts of a veteran of the Los Angeles Emergency Services to save her own daughter in San Francisco, in a story that is perhaps the most odd I have ever seen in a disaster film. He totally ignores his professional duty, selfishly choosing to save those who matter to him instead of presenting to his service and saving as many lives as possible. Of course, in the midst of all, he saves other people, if he were not the hero, but it was not what motivated him. And of course, the daughter proved to be totally capable of getting away with herself when everything seemed like the Apocalypse.
The cast is led by an actor I have never particularly liked, Dwayne Johnson, but who has risen considerably in my expectations since he proved to be more than just a muscle mount. He's not brilliant, but he has improved and choose more carefully his roles, gaining with that. Here, he does what he has to do and gets along reasonably well, but he does not establish any chemistry with Carla Gugino, who plays the ex-wife he still cares about, and who seems to be acting with a wall instead of a human actor. Paul Giamatti is a noble actor who is used to dignified characters and with a certain charisma, and he had everything he needs here. Alexandra Daddario, on the other hand, brings to the film a dose of charm and fun in the feminine, in addition to a beautiful curvaceous body.
Personally, I think that what draws the most attention in this film, in addition to the most comical moments that lighten the tension, is the massive dose of CGI where the film spent a notable slice of the budget. And California has never been more beautifully devastated! The CGI is wonderful and there are visually extraordinary scenes that make us think that only in a movie can someone escape by a hair for a wall falling the next instant. With the massive dose of destruction, so realistic that we can smell it, and the decent work of the cast, the film makes up for any defects with solid entertainment and acquires value for that very reason.
Cliche after cliche is what this movie is. Writing this script probably must have taken less than a single hour, because this movie is about the drama and drama only. What is important to me as a viewer is that you start to care about the characters, but with this movie, you just don't feel anything for them. They are just the main characters in a disaster movie and nothing more.
If you really, and I mean REALLY are into disaster movies, you might give it a try, but otherwise, just skip this one.
*Girl/Woman Screams* ... *crashing sound* ...is what I am sure 75% of the movie's subtitles would look like. Its not good. Repetitive and boring for an action flick. Special effects are great one scene and **** the next. Even the Rock couldn't save this one from stinking up the joint. If you must watch it, wait until you are on the couch, tired, and don't care if you fall asleep.