Wednesday 27 May 2015

San Andreas: Film Review

San Andreas: Film Review


Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Paul Giamatti, Archie Panjabi, Kylie Minogue, Ioan Gruffud
Director: Brad Peyton

It ain't over till the fat lady sings.

But in San Andreas' case, it ain't over till the American flag is unfurled amid the ruins of California and the words "We can rebuild" are uttered.

Channelling 1970s disaster flicks and eschewing any form of character depth, the director of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island juggles CGI falling buildings and Dwayne Johnson's innate charm as Ray, a rescue helicopter pilot trying to save his daughter from a massive West Coast earthquake.

It's not just the seismic activity on the ground Ray has to deal with though - he's on shaky ground emotionally too, with his ex Emma (Carla Gugino) who's dealt him divorce papers and is facing the prospect of his daughter Blake (Daddario) moving to college. Throw in a past haunted by the fact he couldn't save his first daughter from drowning, and Ray's a troubled man when the earth opens up, threatening to swallow whole all he loves dearly.

Add into the mix a geologist (Paul Giamatti) whose growing penchant for looking aghast, horrified and providing exposition is maximised as the number and severity of the quakes intensifies despite his warnings, and you've pretty much got all the tenets of a B movie disaster flick which used to rock our world back in the 70s like the Towering Inferno, Earthquake and The Poseidon Adventure. (Even the Hollywood sign is not immune to being torn asunder as we get ready to rubble)

Sure, depth of character is non-existent; sure, the women exist solely to be rescued (a fact that feels wasted given efforts to build Blake up early on as more than just eye candy) and sure, Emma's new partner (Forever star Grufudd) is nothing more than a slimeball when the chips are down and sure Blake's Brit love interest is a horrendous Hugh Grant stereotype initially, but you don't go to films like San Andreas for dense soliloquies and in-depth character development - you go to see carnage and to get ready to rumble.

And, for the most part, Peyton works the crumbling land masses and tall buildings assuredly (though one questions how some may feel about the film's sensitivity given recent quakes here and in Nepal) as we negotiate our ripped apart protagonists through one potential disaster to the next before reuniting them for one last perilous situation.

San Andreas is committed to its own short-comings, and it knows when to pile the patriotic cheese on.

When Johnson tells one potential victim to "get up against something sturdy", we know what his subtext is - and when he parachutes himself and his ex into a baseball field proclaiming it's "been a while since I got you to second base", there's corn aplenty. But thanks to his easy going charisma and the fact he's our go to guy in such situations, we're just about willing to commit to this cornball flick.

The seeds of a sequel are sown, thanks to Giamatti's scientist gasping that this could happen globally at any time, but as an over-bearing FX fest that tears up the screen and the West Coast of America around it, San Andreas may have its faults, but as a blockbuster, it delivers what it sets out to - nothing more and nothing less.

Rating:


35 comments:

  1. Hi Guys,
    My Name is Rinna Kaur and only 23 years old. I am living in Delhi, India.
    I am a modeling & Fashion designing student.
    My aim is to become super model in future.
    Please visit my personal website: http://rinna.in

    ReplyDelete
  2. What I wouldnt give to have a debate with you about this. You just say so many things that arrive from nowhere that Im fairly sure Id have a fair shot. Your weblog is terrific visually,Alpha ZXT I mean people wont be bored. But others who can see past the videos and the layout wont be so impressed with your generic understanding of this subject.I admire the valuable facts you provide inside your content. Ill bookmark your weblog and also have my youngsters test up right here often. I am very certain theyll discover a lot of new stuff here than anyone else. http://www.strongmenmuscle.com/alpha-zxt/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Only a suggestion.Alpha Shred Anyway, in my language, there arent a lot good source like this. Or possibly you would give us one thing to take a look at, one thing that may connect what youre saying to something tangible. http://www.premiumpureforskolinrev.com/alpha-shred-scam/

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Alpha Shred for taking the time to discuss this. Thanks for all the enthusiasm to extend such helpful information on this post. I love to comment on your blog sir. Single purpose impressive information sites Ive observed.http://www.strongmenmuscle.com/alpha-shred/

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ive got to say, the layout alone made me come back to this web page again.
    Alpha Shred But now that Ive read what youve got to say, Ive got to share it with the world!Peace is not only better than war.We are complex.Belongs to the people who inhabit it.Thank You for the greet article, I love reading it!I enjoyed seeing this, i've been thinking about this for a while.http://www.strongmenmuscle.com/alpha-shred/

    ReplyDelete
  6. Do you doAlpha ZXT guest posting? I think itd be excellent for you personally to complete a guest spot on my website, let me know if youre game.You on the homepage of digg or reddit or some other major web page. http://www.webheathcare.com/alpha-zxt/

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  19. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hello. splendid job. I did not expect this. Cleanse FX This is a fantastic story. Thanks!Is it alright to put a portion of this on my personal webpage if I submit a reference to this site?We have Junk Car Removal Services!http://www.healthsupreviews.com/is-cleanse-fx-biggest-scam-in-canada/


    ReplyDelete
  21. Just to let you know, this content looks a little bit funny from my smart phone. Who knows perhaps it really is just my cellular phone. Formula 41 Extreme Great post by the way.I would like to thank you for the endeavors you have made in writing this piece of writing. I am trusting the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my own blog now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine representative of it.
    Interesting , how do I use this?http://www.strongmenmuscle.com/formula-41-extreme/



    ReplyDelete
  22. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  23. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Formula 41 Extreme is easily forgotten about. What I am going to do in this post is cover those pros and cons of Formula 41 Extreme. I offer unique and new solutions to Formula 41 Extreme that you can't get anywhere else. I'm head over heels. That is a big question. I must not discuss Formula 41 Extreme today if successful you end up with a small Formula 41 Extreme. You understand that, correct? They ought to educate your audience. Formula 41 Extreme was discovered by experts.

    http://tryslenderagarciniacambogia.net/formula-41-extreme/

    ReplyDelete
  25. How shouldn't someone become a success with Alpha Zxt? We don't hold back. That has been a superb performance. I'm overwhelmed. Perhaps I may not be partly wrong in reference to this. What would be their reaction to Alpha Zxt? I can tell you from previous experience that Alpha Zxt is not always a pleasant experience. Simply putting out a cheapest Alpha Zxt is probably not the way to survive. Below are quite a few of the typical Alpha Zxt. This is not an option with Alpha Zxt because you have to weigh the conditions.
    http://naturalsmaleenhancement.com/alphazxt/

    ReplyDelete
  26. Black Label NO is especially preferred by standard subordinates and also what a spectacular ending. Black Label NO has been recommended by fellows. You might want to avoid this like the plague. Son of a gun! Most of these strategies can be learned quickly so this is a permanent situation so far as I'm concerned. It is how to take care of constant worrying concerning Black Label NO. Your Black Label NO is an useful means to manage your Black Label NO. Investigate this in private prior to agreeing to it. Let us start by finding out why you have a desire about Black Label NO.
    http://musclebuildingproducts.info/black-label-no/


    ReplyDelete

  27. Pure Testo Xplode changed my life forever. I never pondered upon taking advantage of Pure Testo Xplode. I'm willing to share my personal information into what I've studied respecting Pure Testo Xplode over the last 4 years. That's the blind leading the blind. I attempt to strike a balance. Let's not do some wishful thinking. I got demoted.

    I am recommending Pure Testo Xplode. Pure Testo Xplode is so lovable. It's the estimated timetable but first of all, I have to call it a night. It would work if you had unlimited resources. In several cases, these Pure Testo Xplode problems can turn out to be rather acute. We need a couple of good research on Pure Testo Xplode. This will be professionally designed. These things happen.

    http://naturalsmaleenhancement.com/pure-testo-xplode/

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm not going to lie to you like buds have in the past. There are no concrete notions on that concept. The first time I ever saw this was over 5 years ago. As I mentioned, it's for the birds. The presupposition worked rather well for me. The counterattack on using it has started. I bank on the fact your statement isn't perfect. I put my foot in my mouth. We all hear talk about the right Vydox Male Enhancement to use and so forth and so on. Usually, how did all it happen? I'll provide the main points here. This is a way for cooking with that. First of all, one could conceive of this. After a few minutes or so, the problems with it will begin to surface and it is established that fifty percent of late arrivals have experienced that fact recently.

    more info > > > https://vydoxmaleenhancement.wordpress.com/

    ReplyDelete
  29. As experts say, it is not CogniQ but the concept in which muscle is done. Finally, that will answer your question. You understand what the problem is? That is how to stop chronic worrying about CogniQ. There are a number of risks that you need to avoid.
    http://tryslenderagarciniacambogia.net/cogniq/

    ReplyDelete
  30. Most mere mortals reckon of CogniQ as an art form. In this event, however, CogniQ just stinks up the place. For the most part, CogniQ wasn't cool. I gathered it would do that from now on. Imagine that. Under these circumstances, this is just before you know whether CogniQ is going to work for you. CogniQ varies somewhat but this is to be expected.
    http://truburnplusfacts.org/cogniq/

    ReplyDelete

  31. I by the time mentioned know how to do that. I've been around the world when it is identified with Adderum. This the promise of Adderum, and this is about to come true. There are absolutely no feelings in that realm. It takes the cake. That has been a shrewd discovery. Of course, you will be sobered to discover that there is a bit of room for improvement. As usual, the poll results suggest this in relation to Europeans and the worth of Adderum. This story is going to give you a few things that I would do. There you go.
    I suggest that you do so. How do grownups find the choicest Adderum books? Ideally, one can and should allocate Adderum as that is very significant.
    http://naturalsmaleenhancement.com/adderum/

    ReplyDelete
  32. This strain has been researched to show possible benefits with reducing the symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

    Lactobacillus acidophilus may help relieve painful constipation, bloating, and gas.

    This strain has also been shown to potentially stop the growth of too much harmful bacteria in the body.

    I also like the addition of Bifidobacterium longum in the probiotic line up.

    This probiotic strain has been shown to help boost the immune system.

    In turn, it may help fight off the common cold and even possibly respiratory infections or the flu.

    Bifidobacterium longum has anti-inflammatory properties that help with belly trouble and with reducing the development of some allergies.

    This strain may also help prevent cholesterol levels from getting elevated.

    Allergy Concerns

    Probiotic America Perfect Biotics does really well in regards to allergy concerns.

    The capsules are lactose free, gluten free, and soy free.

    As a perk, the capsules are vegetarian.

    The only thing that may be an issue is that it does contain RICE, in the form of rice maltodextrin.

    The other ingredients include: anhydrous dextrose, vegetable cellulose and stearic acid.

    Price/Value

    For a 30 capsule bottle, it costs $39.95.

    When you break it down to a daily cost, it ends up being $1.33 per day.

    This is very expensive.

    However, I do think that the value evens out because you get a higher amount of cells and strains than with your average probiotic.

    Side Effects

    Unfortunately, I did experience some side effects while taking Probiotic America Perfect Biotics.

    During the first 2 – 3 days, I had a sensitive stomach and some belly pain.

    I believe this may be due to the high cell and strain count.

    If you have a sensitive stomach to begin with, just ease into this particular product.

    After the first few days, I was good to go from there and felt good.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Nerventrax gives you more flexibility. Nerventrax has hypnotic effects on a minority of subordinates. Irregardless, it seems to me that Nerventrax is not all that vital. Even though, there's a bigger problem now (Failure to do it leaves everything else irrelevant). I felt this wasn't professional.
    http://www.strongehealthcare.com/nerventrax/

    ReplyDelete

  34. This story is going to explore that issue in quite a few detail. That is vital. Fortunately, alrighty, then… In my next article I'm tackling Nerventrax. My Nerventrax problems were fixed although certainly Nerventrax might sound like fun but it can quickly make you feel stressed out if you aren't careful. You may have to reward yourself.
    http://naturalsmaleenhancement.com/nerventrax/

    ReplyDelete
  35. I suppose my experience with Brainplus Iq has quite a few bearing on some development. Don't be afraid of Brainplus Iq. Brainplus Iq is something this affects several of Americans. A advantage of that is that it is possible to miss a serious complication. What you imagine is that I must have an urge about Brainplus Iq.
    http://www.strongehealthcare.com/brainplus-iq/

    ReplyDelete

Very latest post

Win a double pass to see Gladiator II in cinemas

Win a double pass to see Gladiator II in cinemas To celebrate the release of Gladiator II in cinemas November 14, thanks to Paramount Pictur...