The China Syndrome

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: March 16, 1979

8.0	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 21 Ratings

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Compi24Feb 14, 2019

Three powerhouse performances punctuate this rousing effort from director James Bridges. And though its subject matter might not necessarily age in the sense that it features many "pressing" questions about the current pace of our country'sThree powerhouse performances punctuate this rousing effort from director James Bridges. And though its subject matter might not necessarily age in the sense that it features many "pressing" questions about the current pace of our country's energy consumption, that doesn't necessarily mean that the issues discussed in "The China Syndrome" aren't reverberating in different respects throughout society today. In fact, problems such as negligence, indiscretion, and general corporate oversight still plague many different forms of the energy industry today (i.e. "Erin Brockovich," "Deepwater Horizon" etc.) It's a truly worthy and riveting effort, featuring one of the best Jack Lemmon performances I've seen. Definitely a must-watch.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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eva3si0nMay 5, 2023

The China Syndrome is a drama that you watch like a thriller. During the filming of the TV report at the nuclear power plant, a serious accident occurs. Journalists manage to shoot everything that happened at this time. They are trying withThe China Syndrome is a drama that you watch like a thriller. During the filming of the TV report at the nuclear power plant, a serious accident occurs. Journalists manage to shoot everything that happened at this time. They are trying with all their might to broadcast this material, but influential people stand in the way, interested in presenting the accident as just minor problems. The classic plot and excellent acting blow of the still young Michael Douglas and the beautiful Jack Lemmon. I advise everyone to watch, even more than 40 years after the release, it still looks great. And all this was filmed 6 years before the events in Chernobyl… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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BroyaxOct 29, 2018

Eh ben dis donc, Michael Douglas en tout jeune débutant, barbu et quasi-hippie et Jane, la merveilleuse Jane certes moins jeune mais toujours aussi gracieuse. Même avec ses semelles compensées... et sa Golf mazoutée ?!... ils en ont vendu deEh ben dis donc, Michael Douglas en tout jeune débutant, barbu et quasi-hippie et Jane, la merveilleuse Jane certes moins jeune mais toujours aussi gracieuse. Même avec ses semelles compensées... et sa Golf mazoutée ?!... ils en ont vendu de ces merdes à gazoute qui pue, là-bas ? Bon, au moins, Jack Lemmon roule dans une jolie 2002, l'honneur est sauf ! mais tout de même, question nuisances, ça fait désordre.

Et donc c'est le "syndrome chinois" parce que quand ça pète, les radiations vont jusqu'en Chine... mais rassurez-vous, tout est sous contrôle. Ou presque. Etonnant film de "lanceur d'alerte" donc... quelques années avant Tchernobyl. Oui, ça fait réfléchir, un petit peu quand même. Et les déchets avec leur "demi-vie" de 250 000 ans... aussi.

Un film donc plutôt bien fait qui dénonce intelligemment les risques mais qui se perd également dans quelque méandre caricatural de la grosse société exploitante qui a tout l'air d'une organisation mafieuse (!). On a tendance à exagérer ici pour attirer l'attention, ce qui fait perdre en crédibilité...

Quoi qu'il en soit, on ne s'ennuie pas un instant et les comédiens sont très bien, y compris ce vieux Jack vraiment très bon lorsqu'il ne s'égare pas dans des comédies hystéro-bouffonnes. Un film tout-à-fait intéressant malgré ses excès.… Expand

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Popcorn55Jan 5, 2020

This film has aged well. It's astonishingly well-researched and techno-evocative, especially for its times (the late 70s). Here we have a fully-developed thesis about the corrupt nuclear-industrial-corporate system and its dangers, longThis film has aged well. It's astonishingly well-researched and techno-evocative, especially for its times (the late 70s). Here we have a fully-developed thesis about the corrupt nuclear-industrial-corporate system and its dangers, long before any such thesis was mainstream. In retrospect, one can conclude that this film likely darkened the public perception of nuclear power across America to some degree, all by itself, which is a much more important and historic change than most people realized at the time. Now, the nuclear industry is on its last legs, and this film stands near the effective beginning of the movement and the social stigma that has gradually taken down that industry over the course of two generations.

Bravo to a historically-important film well-written, well-researched, well-acted, and well-directed, that serendipitously was in theaters during 3-Mile Island. Makes you wonder if this project was really developed and injected into the system by time travellers tweaking history at just right moment.… Expand

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