Read Mixed User Reviews for San Andreas

4

csw12Sep 5, 2015

I'll take a wild guess and say the writers spent no more than a day on the script because the best way to describe anything but the action sequences is pathetic. Its borderline embarrassing in parts and silly. The movie works better when theI'll take a wild guess and say the writers spent no more than a day on the script because the best way to describe anything but the action sequences is pathetic. Its borderline embarrassing in parts and silly. The movie works better when the camera shows the larger picture instead of the personal view of lousy characters. Oh did I mention its the biggest cliche movie of all time? .… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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4

sanyrubNov 15, 2015

Typical disaster movie. Can be entertaining. Don´t look for anything else. Oh and after Mad Max Fury Road this year, all these CGI overload which gets bigger and bigger with the years seems just so unimpressive (if used right it is great, butTypical disaster movie. Can be entertaining. Don´t look for anything else. Oh and after Mad Max Fury Road this year, all these CGI overload which gets bigger and bigger with the years seems just so unimpressive (if used right it is great, but lately it is being too much and the only thing going on in so many of these blockbusters, for example in most of the comic book movies, which have literally nothing else going on for them).… Expand

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6

AliceofXJun 30, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The film begins with a scene of a careless driver who seems to have no regard for her safety and well being, or that of others. If you were in the mood to search for deeper meanings in a supposedly dumb action flick this is almost a subtle introduction to the story. The film's disaster earthquake that wrecks everything could be taken as symbolic for Ray and Emma's divorce and the damage that the separation of families does to children.

That said, this is about as deep as the story goes. As is typical of action movies the action takes the front seat instead of the plot and in San Andreas it is just exciting enough to make you ignore the plot weaknesses. If anything San Andreas could have done with less unnecessary back story and cringe worthy dialogue.

Particularly the worst part would have to be the Malory Talk where it gets all dramatic as Ray is talking with Emma about their dead daughter. It is just so out of tone with the rest of the film. And of course I did not think for one second that Blake was actually going to die.

Overall San Andreas is an enjoyable action flick that is fun to watch but nothing too special that you would have to rush to the cinema to see it.… Expand

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5

TheDude-Jun 29, 2015

San andreas has some cool special effects but the characters are poorly written, most of the performances were stale and awful, the one liners were cheesy as hell and every single 90s disaster film cliché makes an appearance in san andreas.San andreas has some cool special effects but the characters are poorly written, most of the performances were stale and awful, the one liners were cheesy as hell and every single 90s disaster film cliché makes an appearance in san andreas.
Overall: Stupid movie with some cool special effects… Expand

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6

ConnorkirkerSep 20, 2015

San Andreas is good with the special effects. But the plot is overstuffed and the characters is just not that thrilling. But Dwayne Johnson has a great performance in the movie.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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6

FilmGobMay 29, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. In the aftermath of a massive San Francisco earthquake, a rescue pilot makes a dangerous journey across the state in order to save his family.

Dwayne Johnson is charming and manly as always, playing the pilot who saves his estranged wife Carla Gugino from a crumbling tower and together set out to find their daughter, delivering cheesy one liners along the way. Their daughter, played by Alexandra Daddario, is on a journey of survival as she befriends Hugo Johnstone-Burt and his younger brother. Meanwhile Paul Giamatti, along with Archie Punjabi's news team, try to understand the earthquake's movements and warn the city in order to save lives, with cliche dialogue that is now expected from these kind of films. San Andreas keeps a focus on these characters, with some time for Ioan Gruffudd and his strange sudden shift from likeable step-dad to a cowardly survivor who meets a timely death. Kylie Minogue makes a cameo... but to zero affect.

The silly but exhilarating action sequences are worth the price of admission, especially the boat race over the tsunami and destruction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Overall It's nothing we haven't seen before from modern disaster films, with a family drama played out alongside stunning but repetitive special effect sequences.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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6

quincytheodoreMay 29, 2015

San Andreas does have flaws, but the bumpy ride through spectacular visual with rock solid lead proves to be an entertaining one. Using the same premise from many disaster movies such as 2012 and even Volcano from years before, San AndreasSan Andreas does have flaws, but the bumpy ride through spectacular visual with rock solid lead proves to be an entertaining one. Using the same premise from many disaster movies such as 2012 and even Volcano from years before, San Andreas delivers a more superior spectacle. However, it also copies many cliché elements. Cheesy script to build up tension and assortments of convenient plot devices are scattered through the story. This is a movie designed to entertain with over-the-top visual, and with welcomed addition of Dwayne Johnson as the lead, it succeeds in doing so.

In a streak of unfortunate geological events, California is in immediate danger of massive earthquakes. Ray (Dwayne Johnson) is a pilot of rescue helicopter who must journey across the quivering land to save his family. The calamity serendipitously offers a chance of reuniting the estranged father as he proves how far he's willing to go for his wife and daughter. This theme has been done so many times, Day After Tomorrow and 2012 comes to mind. Luckily, The Rock is a demanding on-screen presence, with charisma and superhero physique, he's a good cast as the savior type.

The script offers back stories, while not all of them pan out, The Rock does his best to convey his character. Another perspective is presented by Paul Giamatti as Lawrence, a professor who investigates the incoming catastrophe. He's here to deliver partially scientific explanation to the audience. Ironically, his role is quite predictable with foreshadowing comments to get the momentum rolling.

Visually, San Andreas is breathtaking. Expect tons of falling buildings witnessed in extraordinary viewpoints and multiple set pieces to awe the audience. There's one particularly amazing continuous shot that follows characters as they weave back and forth as everything collapses around them. It will not disappoint those who come for high octane explosive scenes.

It does have several problems like predecessors of the genre. Some of the sequences are highly implausible, most notably with the characters having plot armor and impeccable timing. Dialogues are not always charming as only few moments of the human drama are thoroughly engaging. It then eventually sets up for resolution analogy or the inspirational survival gimmick. Audience should be familiar with this method of suspending disbelief.

Although the plot can be faulty, San Andreas is still a visually delightful journey. Presentably fascinating for a popcorn flick.… Expand

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4

chugheadJun 21, 2015

Another apocalyptic disaster summer film. It has to fit in there somewhere to skim off the rest of the blockbuster successes. San Andreas is like Donald Trump running as a presidential candidate to crash the party just to get attention andAnother apocalyptic disaster summer film. It has to fit in there somewhere to skim off the rest of the blockbuster successes. San Andreas is like Donald Trump running as a presidential candidate to crash the party just to get attention and recognition, but not to be taking seriously. It makes 9/11 look like a ****… Expand

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4

FallsDownzJun 4, 2015

Honestly i don't know what to say about this movie because it's so wrong in many level.

If you go to see this movie for just entertainment and CG you might be okay with it but for me this is probably the contender of the worst movie ofHonestly i don't know what to say about this movie because it's so wrong in many level.

If you go to see this movie for just entertainment and CG you might be okay with it but for me this is probably the contender of the worst movie of this year (Taken 3 probably take win the title though)

Every single thing is super cliché and super repetitive you can just see the ending and plot twisted from miles away and you won't even feel exciting about those plot twisted either.

The plot is cliché , the characters is terrible , dialog is bad , some CG is good (like those tsunami scene in the trailer) but some are just terrible and looks fake and ultimately the movie make no sense in like every single way it's just dumb stupid movie that just doesn't try to be smart at all (and that's good in some way....)

Overall for pure entertainment San Andreas probably just super barely pass the gate but in the quality it failed so hard you just don't want to watch it again even it's free.… Expand

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6

MattBrady99May 30, 2015

San Andreas is today's vision of The Day After Tomorrow, Deep Impact and 2012 but a lot more fun.

The story San Andreas is about a massive earthquake rocks California, a rescue chopper pilot will stop at nothing to find and save hisSan Andreas is today's vision of The Day After Tomorrow, Deep Impact and 2012 but a lot more fun.

The story San Andreas is about a massive earthquake rocks California, a rescue chopper pilot will stop at nothing to find and save his estranged daughter.

So I just San Andreas and I had a lot of fun watching it, it's not a amazing movie if I'm looking at it closely and yes the movie dose have it's flaws, but really what was I expecting from this movie? well I was expecting Dwayne Johnson character saying really cheesy one liners that are bad but funny. Big CGI environment, dramatic music from every disaster movie out in the 90's and everyone being dead serious. And I got some of that but not that the cheesy one liners which I'm glad it's not in the movie.

Who every says that Dwayne The Rock Johnson can't act...you are right but this guy has been acting for a while now and it's getting pretty old saying he's acting wooden, same with Arnold Schwarenegger he's been performing for almost 40 years now and everybody just accepted his acting as I think everybody knew it got old after a while saying the same thing. Both have something in common, both can't act but at least they both have that likability to them that every time they on screen I'm happy to see them, because they both really likable in real life. Dwayne Johnson in this movie pulled off a action hero very well and at least he had fun with the role and he didn't take it way way too seriously.

Now it comes to disaster movies you got to have good visual effect's and for the most part this movie did have good effect's. It really helped to set the scale of a big disaster and it give the action scenes that solid concrete impact that a movie like this needed.

Now for problems: When I said some of the CG was good, well there was some noticeable and fake looking CG at times. The opening of the movie which involves a car crashing and hanging off a deep hole in the background. Some of the effect's worked and some didn't.

The character's in the movie are so freaking retard and I don't mean Dwayne Johnson, Paul Giamatti and Carla Gugino character's, I mean the supporting character's. This isn't really a spoiler for the movie but these a scene where Dwayne Johnson daughter played by Alexandra Daddario, she's stuck in the middle of this disaster and then she finds out about a tsunami that's on it's way due to all of the earthquake's, and what does she do? goes into a unfinished building that's not even close to done and she thinks that would save her from the tsunami, nope the building couldn't hold the power of a giant freaking waving that's more power then other wave (The movie made that point out about the tsunami and earthquake's) and it starts flood the whole building and soon falls over.

I got nothing against Alexandra Daddario. I've seen her do a solid performance in TV shows and movies, but she wasn't all that great in the movie, actually she was pretty bad. She kept doing that boring looking face even when this big disaster is happening around her.

Overall San Adreas is a enjoyable action movie. As I said before it's not flawless but it's better then most disaster movies that we got today. I thinking if this movie came out in the 90's this would have been a smash hit and this could have been the next Independence Day, just think about it.… Expand

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5

danippMay 29, 2015

Great action sequences, great sound and the charismatic The Rock don't help San Andreas from being another catatrophe movie full of clichés. Fans of the genre will enjoy it for its adrenaline but we have such an unoriginal script that youGreat action sequences, great sound and the charismatic The Rock don't help San Andreas from being another catatrophe movie full of clichés. Fans of the genre will enjoy it for its adrenaline but we have such an unoriginal script that you should watch something else to avoid spending your money in something you've seen many times. We have a couple who reconnects, a villain with a creepy death, a hero that saves everyone without getting hurt even a little bit and some romantic scenes to make us moved with the script. In the end, of course, we have to see the flag of USA as usual. Love Dwayne Johnson and the rest of the cast is awesome but San Andreas is only worth it in case you really love action movies and couldn't care less about the story, only explosions, tsunamis and buildings falling. You search for this? Go for it. If you don't, go watch something else.… Expand

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4

FilmPhonicMay 29, 2015

As you might expect from a CGI-laden big-budget disaster blockbuster, ‘San Andreas’ is visually impressive with set-pieces of wanton destruction as good as anything we’ve seen and an epic score that sets a massive action scale, but even for aAs you might expect from a CGI-laden big-budget disaster blockbuster, ‘San Andreas’ is visually impressive with set-pieces of wanton destruction as good as anything we’ve seen and an epic score that sets a massive action scale, but even for a film of this type the neglect shown to every other aspect of the film is beyond disappointing.

‘San Andreas’ follows the same narrative you’ve seen in every other disaster movie offering nothing new and featuring attempts at emotional depth that are so cringeworthy they make Michael Bay movies seem profound, but at least Bay has the good sense to spread some camp humour over his cheesy film toast.

The entire creative talent in this film seems to be focused in the visual effects department but no amount of action and spectacular visuals can gloss over the incredibly predictable narrative and sub-par performances, not to mention the surprisingly dull hour or more between massive action set pieces.

Add to this the fact that ‘San Andreas’ exists in a California where virtually everyone looks like an Abercrombie & Fitch model with only Paul Giamatti to redress the balance, plus a PG sensibility that means no graphic consequences of the devastation and that fact that you can predict what will and won’t happen to every character from the start, the result is a film that’s barely memorable for Californians and completely forgettable for the rest of the world.

The Bottom Line…
Visually stunning and epic in scale, ‘San Andreas’ is little more than a collection of action set-pieces with no entertainment value beyond, predictable and lacking any depth, mildly enjoyable and completely forgettable.… Expand

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5

TheQuietGamerNov 5, 2015

There are a few moments of pretty glorious destruction here. Unfortunately everything else in the movie is just boring and completely predictable. "San Andreas" borrows stale tropes from other disaster movies and mixes in bland charactersThere are a few moments of pretty glorious destruction here. Unfortunately everything else in the movie is just boring and completely predictable. "San Andreas" borrows stale tropes from other disaster movies and mixes in bland characters played by usually talented actors who just aren't trying here.

The family drama that is supposed to make us care about and root for these characters falls flat on it's face. We've seen this stuff before and know exactly how it's going to play out. Maybe it would be a little bit better if these characters didn't suck. They aren't fleshed out at all and they are given some cheesy lines. You can tell the actors know the material they have been given is generic and subpar, because they put forth no effort at all. It makes things harder to watch.

The movie's big moments of destruction can be quite grand and exciting. Some moments of shoddy CGI and special effects are noticeable, but sometimes the shear scope of the chaos onscreen is enough to make us overlook it. It's just a shame there isn't more of it. It takes a little bit for the destruction to start taking place, but once it does it really delivers and doesn't let up for a bit. Unfortunately once it does let up it never really gets that energy again. We are left following the plot which dips into moments of all too familiar melodrama with characters we just don't care about. The film really only has two moments of truly exciting set pieces and the rest just drags on.

It's meant to be an exciting, mayhem filled popcorn flick, but it doesn't deliver enough mayhem. When the city starts to crumble we are treated to exciting spectacle that really is a blast to watch. It's a shame the rest of the film that follows isn't nearly as good. Everything is boring from that point on and makes this a movie not worth recommending. You've seen this disaster movie before, and it was more exciting then. Maybe not as pretty, but certainly more fun.

I give "San Andreas" a 5.5/10.… Expand

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6

Jim222001Jul 23, 2015

San Andreas has all the disaster movies cliches. Such as a family trying to reunite during a crisis; that we even saw in Godzilla last year for instance.
You also have the Rock of course having to be there for his ex wife (Carla Gugino) andSan Andreas has all the disaster movies cliches. Such as a family trying to reunite during a crisis; that we even saw in Godzilla last year for instance.
You also have the Rock of course having to be there for his ex wife (Carla Gugino) and be the hero she and her daughter needs. While Gugino's new boyfriend of course is a coward. The Rock and Gugino some how finding time to discuss where their marriage went wrong is also pretty cliche.
However the movie has great cgi and plenty of exciting gripping moments. While the Rock and Carla Gugino (Spy Kids) work well together and they should; this is like their 3rd movie together. I was into the movie throughout despite deja vu from many disaster films that have come before it.… Expand

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5

dharmaMay 29, 2015

Entertaining, but straight forward disaster flick starring the Rock. Some great effects, and as usual, the Rock is a great presence. Everything about it though is predictable and cliche. See it on the big screen for a pretty good time, butEntertaining, but straight forward disaster flick starring the Rock. Some great effects, and as usual, the Rock is a great presence. Everything about it though is predictable and cliche. See it on the big screen for a pretty good time, but don't expect more.… Expand

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4

AxeTJun 3, 2015

In two words: Big and dumb. Once again Hollywood shows an amazing ability for stunning spectacle while proving it can't even make disaster movies anymore as smart and serious as those it produced in the seventies. That's a low bar scriptIn two words: Big and dumb. Once again Hollywood shows an amazing ability for stunning spectacle while proving it can't even make disaster movies anymore as smart and serious as those it produced in the seventies. That's a low bar script wise. Chalk up another way over-the-top silly phony emotion baiting nonsense entry here. And no, it is NOT just a fun thrill ride! That has to also mean it's a good movie that doesn't completely insult the intelligence of everyone!
The critics that always use this worthless "but it's entertaining" second tier excuse when reviewing are stupid jackasses themselves. I find mindless action and solely spectacle in narrative movies a complete bore every time.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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4

Movi3R3vi3werMay 30, 2015

A premise like this with some impressive visuals and Dwayne The Rock Johnson in the lead role, you would think this movie might be oh what's the word? Fun?

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

duncan1964Jul 16, 2015

For those of us who remember the disaster movies of the 70's and 80's this is a nice little time warp movie. The San Andreas fault is opening up and The Rock is the only one who can save us, with nothing more than a helicopter, a speedboatFor those of us who remember the disaster movies of the 70's and 80's this is a nice little time warp movie. The San Andreas fault is opening up and The Rock is the only one who can save us, with nothing more than a helicopter, a speedboat and grim determination. The cliches are all present and correct, as are the gaping plot holes and stereotypical characters only this time with a whole bunch of CGI magic to make it look ultra real. Forgettable popcorn fodder.… Expand