San Andreas, Surprisingly Good

[enviousdominous]

I'm the type of pro-wrestling fan who tends to shy away from movies that prominently feature pro-wrestlers. I would rather remember my favorite performers for the roles they play within the pro-wrestling world, but circumstances will at times get the better of me.

I was not expecting much out of this film, which likely worked in its favor.

Dwayne Johnson honors either audience he appeals to by playing a stoic badass who's not completely infallible, his character is haunted throughout the movie by a family tragedy that he blames himself for. Sound cheesy? Don't worry, he's technically not the main character.

The main character of this movie is the earthquake (or series of earthquakes rather). The characters can't dwell on their personal drama for too long because of the impending destruction that constantly creeps up on them. People who hate drama get relief in the form of mass destruction, and people who love drama get to revisit the soap opera that's occurring among the other main characters in between the devastating tremors.

Paul Giamatti is the star of the film's sub-plot, his character uses scientific terms that are way over my head to give you a sense that humanity is going to use superior understanding to make future earthquakes our bitch.

The movie as a whole is cheesy, obnoxious and predictable. I loved every minute of it, highly recommended. Does anyone concur?

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

I watched it last week, and thought it was brilliant.

The special effects were fantastic, and I thought the whole storyline was really well good. I actually ended up caring about the characters by the end of the film, which I can't say for a lot of films I watched.

You can see Dwayne Johnson has really improved as an actor over the years, from his early films like Doom and The Scorpion King. It's no wonder he's one of the biggest draws in Hollywood these days. For me, this is the best acting performance I'e seen from him so far, and I thought Alexandra Daddario (who plays his daughter Blake was excellent too.

And my god, Alexandra Daddario has some incredible bouncing boobs!

 

[enviousdominous]

The special effects were fantastic, and I thought the whole storyline was really well good. I actually ended up caring about the characters by the end of the film, which I can't say for a lot of films I watched.

I saw that the majority of reviewers for Metacritic apparently hate hate hated San Andreas.

http://www.metacritic.com/movie/san-andreas

From what I read, their reviews reek of the kind of over-analytic perspective that comes from being a film major. Kind of like how die-hard smarks can seem too obsessed to people who just want to sit and watch some pro-wrestling.

I had no problem believing that I was literally watching San Francisco crumble. I don't mind CGI, to some critics using any CGI at all draws their ire.

My favorite part about The Rock's performance is that he plays a guy who can be a badass, but doesn't insist on being a badass ALL the time. He takes things as they come, and steps up to become his inner juggernaut when something stands in the way of keeping his loved ones safe.

It's one of those movies where any potentially negative criticism I might have for it is actually a very endearing quality that kept me engaged. The Rock plays your typical "Come with me if you want to live!" savior, but his heroic circumstances didn't seem far fetched. More like he was a hero who preferred to fully analyze the situation before springing into action.

 

[Dave]

I watched it last week, and thought it was brilliant.

The special effects were fantastic, and I thought the whole storyline was really well good. I actually ended up caring about the characters by the end of the film, which I can't say for a lot of films I watched.

You can see Dwayne Johnson has really improved as an actor over the years, from his early films like Doom and The Scorpion King. It's no wonder he's one of the biggest draws in Hollywood these days. For me, this is the best acting performance I'e seen from him so far, and I thought Alexandra Daddario (who plays his daughter Blake was excellent too.

And my god, Alexandra Daddario has some incredible bouncing boobs!

Oh my god, you are so right about the the boobies! If you've seen True Detective then you'll know exactly what we're dealing with here. And if not, do yourself a favour and check it out.

As far as the movie goes, it's decent at best. I'd hardly say that it was a great movie but it was pretty enjoyable, if not completely predictable. And whilst the cast of the movie played their roles with serviceable ease, I don't think that anyone really stood out in a noticeable way. The Rock, as a top calibre talent works really well in this movie. He's tough as nails but not completely infallible. He was believable if not a little far fetched.

In terms of the movie, I really liked it. It reminded me a lot of Gravity in that the main antagonist of the film was the environment. It was a tense affair from start to finish and very cinematically pleasing. Some of the effects in the movie were awesome and better than I expected.

In total, I'd give it 7/10

 

[Akhilleus]

I haven't seen the movie, it didn't really interest me too much. It looked like just another action movie to add to the list of action movies we've got bombarded with in theaters this early summer. Way too many...I went to the theaters back in March to see Run All Night, and I swear every single movie they showed in previews was an action movie. San Andreas was one of them, the new Fast and Furious movie another. Mad Max....

Anyway I'm sorry I can't particularly relate with the rest of the movie. However as far as you wanting to stay away from movies that feature wrestlers...don't mix Dwayne Johnson in that category. I think at this point he may even be known more for his movies than he is his time in wrestling. John Cena, Triple H, etc....I don't blame you for staying away. However, Dwayne is different. He has gotten WAY better since he first started acting. He's not like Brad Pitt or anything, but he is not like the normal wrestling actor.

Pretty much he can do way more than just the cliche redone action film. Most wrestling actors cannot.

Like I said he's no top tier actor that's for sure. He doesn't carry most of his movies, but he doesn't sink them either. And for someone from his background that is very impressive. He's getting better with each of his films, and I think at this point it's more about which films he chooses to do rather than how he performs in them. I'd like to see more movies like San Andreas, and less like the Tooth Fairy.

 

[enviousdominous]

Oh my god, you are so right about the the boobies!

While I usually abstain from these kinds of subjects so I can trick as many people as possible into believing that I'm more mature than that, I have to admit that the cleavage shots in this movie were masterfully well done. It wasn't like "Oh, by the way. Boobs."

Ms. Daddario and Ms. Gugino perform as strong women who are caught in the midst of a series of earthquakes occurring during the summer months in San Francisco. I don't blame them for not caring that if they leaned over they'd be showing off some boobage, if you're killed in an earthquake because you let yourself be distracted by boobs then that's just natural selection at work. I don't think it was gratuitous, thank goodness.

 

[enviousdominous]

However as far as you wanting to stay away from movies that feature wrestlers...don't mix Dwayne Johnson in that category. I think at this point he may even be known more for his movies than he is his time in wrestling. John Cena, Triple H, etc....I don't blame you for staying away. However, Dwayne is different. He has gotten WAY better since he first started acting. He's not like Brad Pitt or anything, but he is not like the normal wrestling actor.

This brings up an interesting point, which I'll address so as to casually shy away from the fact that I've conceded to every other point that you made.

I remember the first movie I ever saw The Rock perform in; Be Cool. He didn't carry that movie, but he most certainly saved that movie for me. I'm not a big James Woods guy, I hated Videodrome. I think John Travolta is worse than John Cena. I've honestly never gotten Cedric the Entertainer's humor. The Rock played a gay man who convincingly got trounced by John Travolta, he played an actual character who was as funny as intended. He was the most nuanced character in a movie that barely utilized him.

My point is; pro-wrestlers should play more nuanced roles that present them as near to the exact opposite of the role they perform for the pro-wrestling world. If they want to be taken seriously as actors that is.

I don't know for sure if they aren't given that option, or if they're afraid that they'd alienate their fanbase. To both of those points I say; for fucks sake!

If you're clearly being typecast, don't accept the role. I realize that John Cena played a prisoner in Legendary (don't hate, it wasn't THAT bad), but it was more like he was playing pro-wrestler John Cena as a prisoner. I'm sure if he sent his portfolio out there, he could get a bit part in an upcoming Oscar-bait flick that features him as a hunchback or a sleazy loanshark with poor dental hygiene. Something that makes him look like he has range.

If you're afraid that your fans will be too confused by an appearance that betrays their assumptions of your in-ring potential, recognize that The Rock played a gay man (nothing wrong with that). The pie eating Rock played a sausage stuffing disco enthusiast. If your fanbase is the g-rated crowd, I'm sure that if you're good enough it'll go over their heads that they're watching you in their favorite movie and if they do recognize you then I'm sure their parents can easily explain that movies are fake unlike pro-wrestling.

I honestly think that pro-wrestlers are the greatest actors in the world today; if you can knowingly charge into a situation where you'll get hit like a loaded freight train without flinching while performing live, Hollywood doesn't have shit on you. If they really want to make successful movies, they have to perform outside of their comfort zone.

 

[ABMorales787]

The movie is carried completely by the charisma of the characters. Rock, Carla, the Blake girl, the two British kids, Giamatti and Mr. Fantastic all perform to an utter tee.

But when you look at the meat of the movie? Its weak, overblown CGI. An exaggeration of science. A typical, improbable friendly divorce plot. Its basically Day After Tomorrow with better actors. Hell, its not even the first time Carla Gugino plays love interest to The Rock. Its another popcorn flick carried entirely by The Rock and his co-stars presence. Which says a lot about how good they are.