San Andreas

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)

The Rock is cool, no doubt about it. Otherwise, this is just a bunch of terrible, boring clichés, dull dialogue, amateurish acting and overwrought CGI; just everything I hate so heartily about the current mass production of the dream factory. And three people wrote the script for this? This shows that some professions in Hollywood are even easier than receiving welfare. I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Emmerich! (27/08/2015)

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. (26/05/2015)

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)

It's actually awful bollocks, but Dwayne Johnson is a likeable guy, Carla Gugino and Alexandra Daddario are very nice to look at, and there's always something going on. Sometimes that's all I need. (29/08/2015)