Earthquake [Blu-ray]

After years of wanting Shout factory came through and released the hit 1974 film "Earthquake" on Home Video on blu-ray witch includes not only the theatrical cut but the television version that ran about 20 minutes longer.The Sensurround track I could not judge to well but the movie itself and the extras are very good. The special effects are dated here and there but the story moves at a brisk pace so you don't notice too much.The film itself is badly cast. Ava Gardner and Heston are 20 years too old for their parts. However if the film is still a fun evening television. The added television footage does not add much and is filler for the most part. It's fun to see but adds nothing. In fact most of the footage was shot a few years after the film was released.Now the plot is thread bare but it is much better than any film that Michael Bay has ever directed.

I just finished watching my new BluRay of Earthquake. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the sensurround track. I have a Dennon surround 875 watt 5.1 system. Also aPolk 350 watt subwoofer. When the quake happen in the picture it shook the whole room. ICould feel it hit my chest. The picture quality is also very good. As far as disaster movies go it holds up pretty well if you can take all of the soap it offers. I gave this 4 out of 5 stars because I feel that they had to many big name stars with nothing toMove the story forward. All in all a very good action and special effects movie for it's time.

Still holds up after all these years. Yes, there is some of the 70s schlock, like soap-opera plot lines, overacting, and what are now considered stereotype characters. But it is still suspenseful and entertaining. The special effects remain impressive, especially considering they involve physical models since they had no CGI. A few are cheesy, but that's okay. I remember seeing it in Sensurround in the theater, which involved installing extra subwoofers for enhanced low frequency rumble, which is just what you need with an earthquake movie, right? Well, it was a mildly amusing gimmick in the theater, and not very convincing. You don't miss it here. And, it's good to see many stars in their earlier years, although Ava Gardner looked old and stretched. Her overly dramatic acting didn't help, either, considering hers was not a very likable character to begin with. In many ways, Earthquake helped set the stage for more modern epic disaster movies, so it is well worth seeing to get some perspective on how this genre has evolved.

This movie was made when families stayed home and couldn't wait for the all star cast picture to be made. This and The Towering Inferno were such great movies. Why? Again, all star casts. These were actors of yesterday, but there was more depth in those days. Even though by todays standards and current earthquake type movies this one still stands out. For one, the great Charlton Heston, second the dam bursting scene and just the overall feeling of the movie and how we come to each others aid in time of crisis. You had everything with this movie from the psychotic pervert Marjoe Gortner had to play........to the downright jealous antics of Ava Gardner realizing her husband had the hots for someone else. Each actor brought his craft to this picture. Mark Robson didn't do too bad either with directing.. A must see.

Yes, it was made in 1974 and special effects have come a long way since then but it is nostalgic and fun. I have the DVD and some of the reviews on here complain about now Sensaround but my DVD has audio options of 5.1 Dolby Digital or Sensaround 3.1. I know how to make my home theater system adapt to different movies. I can turn the sub woofer way up and the walls will shake! The minitures are pretty realistic and when it came out in the theaters way back when I got a "making of "book do I know how the effects were done. Just microwave some popcorn and ENJOY!

I would have bought this long ago but was scared off by the multiple complaints on graininess - which i absolutely hate, but it is not that bad. YES, the first opening scene is a blue sky shot, very dingy looking and lots "mosquitoes" flying around...... but that is only a few seconds in the movie. For that matter there is probably only 30 MAYBE 60 seconds of the entire film looks like this, and a few other scenes that are slightly grainy, and the rest looks more or less what you would expect an older movie remastered to blu-ray to look like. Yes the sky can look bad once in a while, but all the rest of the time it looks much better/cleaner than even a good DVD can look like. It is not up to the 'James Bond' remasters, but this is not THAT bad.... and i would not wait around for another remastering of this film, because it probably wont happen nor would be worth the wait, it was long enough for this one.I was fine with the sound, i prefer the default 5.1 - the sensuround sound thing i felt had even worse bass and the dialog was just too buried and flat, for what it is and how it was originally recorded and this type of movie, the default audio is just fine. no complaints. Nice closed captioning as well.This also has an automatic repeat function which i like, there is a minor pop menu if you hit the button on your remote, otherwise it just goes directly in the movie and after the credits just goes back into the movie again. No special features/featuretts what so ever.Yes this could have been a little better, but it is what it is now and you probably wont get it better. There is both a little under and over acting, typical for the 70's, but not as bad if had been shot in the 60's..... all and all i like this movie, of which i recommend as well as this blu-ray version. Dont wait around for a better version.

This the Earthquake film that when you saw it at the Cinema, the wall's actually cracked due to the base sound being used at the time it was shown. This is also the original film which started all the other's following it. Don't forget this was made in the 70's. I thought it was excellent. A very good story line. Excellent character's played by decent star's. All in all a damn good movie. The special effect's are very good for their day. If you want action, you certainly get it. There are some funny moment's in it as well. Watch what happen's at the end of the car chase. It is still well worth a watch even today. You decide if you want to buy it. I think it's worth it. PC. 16.12. 2017.

'A WELL STAGED APOCALYPTIC MOVIE FROM YESTERYEAR' (A CLASSIC OF IT'S DAY)Watching films such as this have to be viewed realising that all the effects had to be staged using polystyreneand models, not having the benefit of the virtual reality today's technology brings to the screen.With a cast of many of the big-names of the day this apocalyptic movie was certainly a must-see back then, asthe returns at the box-office clearly shows.The film tells of a catastrophic 'Earthquake' in the Los Angeles region of California...........After a series of mini-quakes many begin to believe the 'Big-One' was imminent.......do the authorities cause wide-spread panic by making the findings of seismologists public.When the devastation occurs it see's people trapped in buildings people buried by falling debris...panic and confusion,with unlikely heroes emerging in the face of adversity including 'Graff's' (Charlton Heston) father-in-law 'Royce' (LorneGreene) who at great risk to himself helps many of his staff escape his badly damaged Office block.Many are drawn to an underground car-park where emergency measures are in-place including medical attention andfood, however after a strong after-shock those in the temporary shelter become trapped.'Graff' who's wife 'Remy' (Ava Gardner) and indeed lover 'Denise' (Genevieve Bujold) and son 'Corry' (Tiger Williams)are among those trapped is helped by LAPD Officer 'Slade' (George Kennedy)(a drunk brilliantly portrayed by 'Walter Matthau' barely felt the Earth move)However, the danger is not over for many of the trapped and indeed their heroic rescuers.The film was produced and released in 1974 given which the Blu-ray upgrade is actually pretty good, the special-effectsimpressive for that time......though many would argue perhaps a little dated....still worth a re-visit in my view.* Must admit, am looking forward to the special-effects blockbuster 'San-Andreas' though of course not wishing for thereality's of that particular 'Time-Bomb' which would of course be devastating for the highly populated region.

I remember this fondly from growing up in the 70’s. We’re on a disaster movie mission at the moment and after working our way through the the usual suspects (airport box set, towering inferno, Poseidon), I came across this gem which I’d forgotten about. Special effects aren’t great (putting it mildly), unintentionally funny at the most in opportune moments and the usual 70’s rhetoric but it was worth it for the nostalgia. Absolutely fab.

An all Star cast in 1974 Starred in this Classic Disaster Movie before CGI. From Charlton Heston, Lorne Green, Genevive Bujold and Ava Gardener and Richard Roundtree ( Shaft Trilogy) Along with George Kennedy (The Dirty Dozen) As Californians in Danger from an Earthquake.

Good engrossing film. I remember going to a cinema when I lived in London as a boy to watch this film in a preview screening. When the Sensurround soundtrack kicked in the whole cinema started vibrating and, for a moment, I was genuinely concerned. I had hoped to re-create that room shaking bass back home with my sub woofer but alas it did not materialise. Don't know why, but I was disappointed.I still recommend this film though because as well as an all-star cast including some of the biggest names in the business back then. The director captures the mounting suspense and concern about the earthquakes and the collateral damage they cause highly effectively. The film has that 'big budget' feel to it so you can tell you're in for a treat.