San Andreas

The Americans tend to shoot a disaster movie once in a while, cry their eyes out and show Americanism in its harshest form. And they usually take down Los Angeles or San Francisco. It lies on two tectonic plates, so it’s strongly fitting for a similar movie. For many decades now. Fortunately, San Andreas doesn’t deviate from the standard and performs solid popcorn entertainment, which is supported by Hulk Dwayne and solid CGI. It’s almost a surprise that a similarly tuned movie wasn’t made by Emmerich, but by the talented Peyton instead, because he massacred the surroundings very well. (05/07/2016)

A genre routine without a shred of narrative innovation and insight, served exclusively in the company of surprisingly annoying and cluttered digital effects. Where the similarly destructive 2012 had a far more entertaining story, memorable "last-minute" escape scenes, and an air of fatalism about it, San Andreas only has likeable characters – but how can we even root for them when it's clear from the start that nothing can happen to them....? A big disappointment, the muscular physiognomy of Mr Rock and the lush breasts of Ms Daddario in top form definitely deserved much better advertising. 40% (10/09/2015)

I feel greater ambition from this than in Emmerich's recent film, which simply rudely get your money without delivering anything interesting. Gone are the days Independence Day. San Andreas is a more ambitious film in this aspect. Although the dialogues and the concept of the script are one big American cliché with all the flaws and shortcomings that we are used to, at the same time, I occasionally see a subtle homage to the nineties in it, depending on how much someone delves into the genre. However, the formal side is captivating. So much tension and phenomenally escalating scenes, not only in terms of destruction and visual effects, but also the panoramas, the raids, the flyovers, and several great shots without cuts (especially the opening one in San Francisco on the roof of a building) – it’s definitely on a higher level than just mindless entertainment. I felt the effort there. It’s not a groundbreaking film, and will also be forgotten over time, but it definitely won't offend the intellect if approached reasonably and some things are overlooked. Dwayne Johnson can act! (29/05/2015)

A great feet-up movie where the main attractions in my eyes aren’t San Fierro blowing up, but Alexandra "look at them wobble" Daddario and her movie mother. The Rock puts on a good performance and the movie certainly doesn’t lack entertainment. The putting the family back together plot line is typically Americana dumb, but suffices for this popcorn piece. (29/10/2016)

Nobody expected a revolutionary cliché-free contribution to the genre, not even from Warner Bros. The same goes for Emmerichian wit and insight. The characters are fine, unlike those in last year’s Into the Storm, and better than those in Poseidon. So, overall it’s an alright movie, a display of decent craft without errors and surprises. (27/05/2015)