Thursday Movie Picks: Natural Disasters
1) The Impossible - About a devastating tsunami, I've never been so grateful to not see a movie in theaters. I cried not even exaggerating through about 80% of this movie. It was a lot
2) The Wandering Earth - I wanted to think outside the box a bit, in this film, the sun is dying out, so it's part natural disaster/part dystopia. While I think the film overall had some pacing issues, it was a really interesting story.
3) The Day After Tomorrow - We have tornadoes, we have floods, we have blizzards, this film is a feast of natural worst nightmares.
We match with The Impossible! It is a tough watch but so compelling. God, I remember watching this on TV when it happened. I have not seen The Wandering Earth but OMG! The Day After Tomorrow is on TV somewhere almost every frikken day! It's a good flick if not a bit annoying....like the girl helping the woman in the cabin not seeing the wall of water coming. She would have died for sure especially since that woman and her kids probably died later on anyways. Why are wolves almost always portrayed as evil? I hate that. Otherwise a good flick.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Wolves always get such a bad rap. That movie really is on TV all the time.
DeleteI remember watching The Day After Tomorrow in the theaters waaaay back when. Visually fun to watch but the story itself was a bit meh? The Impossible was also amazing!
ReplyDeleteSame. I saw that one in theaters too!
DeleteI LOVE The Day After Tomorrow in all its ridiculousness excess and foolishness (favorite bit when Dennis Quaid outruns the Ice Age and saves himself by lighting a stove!?). I'll freely admit it's not a good movie while enjoying it nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteI can't say the same for The Impossible. It's a fine film but a different sort of disaster film being based on actual events. I remember vividly that tsunami hitting so watching it unfold was deeply disturbing.
I haven't seen Wandering Earth, it does sound like a bit of a twist on the disaster genre.
I am an unapologetic disaster film junkie-good, bad, indifferent I don't care I'll give them a shot always hoping for, if not something golden at least something so bad it's good. That gave me a wealth of possibilities but since we've done this theme before I've used all my favorites-Airport, The Towering Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure etc.- I dipped into narrative films that happened to have a disaster woven into their leitmotif using Earth, Wind and Fire as my guide.
The Colossus of Rhodes (1961)-Soldier Darios (Rory Calhoun) arrives on the Isle of Rhodes during the Hellenistic period to finds King Serse (Roberto Camardiel) has commissioned a larger-than-life statue of Apollo (destined to be one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World) meant to protect the harbor. Upon meeting master builder Carete (Félix Fernández), who has been commissioned to erect the statue Darios falls in love with his daughter Diala (Léa Massari). Through their alliance Darios also becomes involved with Peliocles (Georges Marchal) and his rebel force who seek to overthrow the tyrannical king. As a revolt foments a massive earthquake lays waste to nearly all.
Tornado (1943)-Coal miner Pete Ramsey (Chester Morris) has a whirlwind romance with rapacious showgirl Victory Kane (Nancy Kelly) who is passing through town and impulsively marries her. Social climbing Victory pushes Pete to work his way up in the company to enter a high tax bracket but still unsatisfied takes up with Gary Linden (Morgan Conway), the philandering son of the mine owner behind Pete’s back. As matters come to a crisis point the title tornado blows into town and coal isn’t the only thing to hit the fan.
Red Skies of Montana (1952)-After a tragic incident that resulted in the loss of his crew smokejumper Cliff Mason (Richard Widmark), unable to recall the event, is fearful that cowardice might have been at fault. Though cleared though an investigation he is determined to prove himself again especially since one man's son, Ed Miller (Jeffrey Hunter), suspects Cliff was responsible for his father's death. When a canyon wildfire breaks out Ed pursues Cliff there for a confrontation but when they become trapped Cliff must take desperate measures to save them both.
The Day After Tomorrow is certainly not boring. I haven't seen any of your picks this week, I like that you included one about a wild fire. I didn't consider that for some reason.
DeleteIt sounds like I need to see The Impossible. We have a match with The Day After Tomorrow, for different reasons. It's a feast of something, alright.
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly..something. lol
DeleteMan, the Day After Tomorrow is such a popular pick this week and I still haven't seen that movie yet! Guess I better start soon!
ReplyDeleteI figured it would be. lol
DeleteWe share a pick with The Day After Tomorrow. That film was so lame!
ReplyDeleteIt definitely wasn't the greatest, but it had its moments. And terrible CGI wolves, that's always fun.
DeleteNice picks! The Impossible has been on my to-watch list forever, but I'm afraid of how emotional it might make me. Definitely agree about The Day After Tomorrow. I'm pretty sure it was responsible for 99% of my nightmares as a teen. lol
ReplyDeleteThe Impossible is SO emotional. I was even happy crying at points. lol
DeleteWe match with The Day After Tomorrow 😅
ReplyDeleteThat was so popular this week!
DeleteI thought nobody was gonna mention The Wandering Earth, that is so random lol :D
ReplyDeleteI was so surprised to see it on your blog because I thought I was kind of reaching with it. lol
DeleteI haven't seen your #1 and 2 picks. I don't think I can watch The Impossible as I'm from Indonesia and that'd hit way too close to home for me. I haven't heard of The Wandering Earth so I'm gonna have to check that out.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you. What happened there was devastating.
DeleteHave never heard of The Wandering Earth.
ReplyDeleteThe Day After Tomorrow - I totally forgot all the stuff that happens. All I remember is the snow which I suppose is because of the poster.
And the terrible CGI wolves lol
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