Based on the novel ‘One Shot’ by Lee Child, Jack Reacher (played by Tom Cruise) is an investigator… of sorts. He is the type of man that, when you see him, you step aside… a lot of men didn’t and a lot of men died…. Granted he isn’t loading sixteen tons or anything but he is a bad ass none the less. On this go around he reads about a situation in a heartland town where several residence were shot and killed. It is suspected that a trained sniper is the one who has done the killing. A man has been arrested but unequivocally denies any involvement. Jack comes to town to dispense his own justice to the man, but upon arriving he decides to look into what really happened. This is when the backside tanning really begins.
With the talents of Rosamund Pike, Richard Jenkins and the national treasure that is Robert Duvall costarring with Mr. Cruise, this has the makings of a pretty good popcorn flick. Granted TC is a very polarizing figure; people either love him or hate him. Personally I have always liked the Cruise. He seems like a nice guy. Personal life crap aside (Which really is none of my business) he has made some bold career choices and nearly all have paid off in the end. Plus you need to respect him for the stuff that he is willing to do… heck not willing, assistant upon doing. Some of his stunt work is borderline insane, but he does it and I respect him for it because I know he wants a sense of realism in his films. There needs to be more of that.
Unless you are living under a rock there are two things you should know; it is 2012 and in 2012 the world is supposed to end. Well it marks the end of the Mayan calendar which most believe was a prophecy that the world is supposed to end on the 21st of December this year. Hollywood has always used the paranoia of the end of the world to fuel ticket sales. And it is a combustible formula that works because people like to know, no matter how implausible, every ‘what if’ scenarios. Be it aliens, volcanos, monsters or just a little rain, people want to see what might happen ‘if’. I am no different… ok, I am a little different. I enjoy a good disaster movie for its face value; entertainment. These things are just straight excuses to eat popcorn… maybe some Hot Tamales or Sour Patch Kids.
So…
Here is a list, in no particular order, of my favorite Disaster Movies.
2012
Yep… have to put in this one. From the “Disaster Master” Roland Emmerich, it is an enjoyable popcorn movie. Good action sequences coupled with a great crazy man played by Woody Harrelson and a blockbuster turn from John Cusack make it anenjoyable 158 minutes.
The Day After Tomorrow
The classic wether weather will do us in plot. The end got a little global warming preachy for me but other than that I enjoyed this frozen possibility for the Earth’s demise. Also the thought that people in North Dakota wouldn’t really notice. They would just make sure to plug-in their cars and maybe wear an extra pair of long undies.
The Core
This movie usually gets lost in the disaster movie genre. That is sad. It has all the hallmarks of greatness; improbable premiss, invented technology, cheesy dialog, “famous” actors and a license to make crap up. It is worth a watch if you are a fan of this movie type.
The Day After (1983)
In my humble opinion, this is the most disturbing manmade disaster flick of them all. Granted it may have been my young age when I watched this made for TV movie. But in my head it was (and still is) very disturbing. Just the visual of the mushroom cloud will chill you to the bone. I think the most affecting part of movie is that: THIS CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN! Be
it disaster flicks, horror movies or the like, that quality, reality, is the scariest thing to me. There is something to be said about human imagination conjuring up disturbing images and situations as well. However, in the end, that is all in your head. Plus it had Steve Guttenberg in it….
Mars Attacks!
Cheese at its world ending best. I love the campy, tongue in cheek manner that this movie was presented. No excuses. I love this movie. It makes me laugh.
Independence Day
While Mars Attacks! has the straight up cheese factor where alien movies are concerned, Independence Day has the cool factor. I remember the marketing for this movie. The months leading up to July 4th there were these images of the White House being blown to bits and pieces; needless to say I was intrigued. I admit I was at the theater opening weekend to see
Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum save the world with a laptop. And it has one of the best rally speeches of all time…
Twister
This makes my list because of the myriad of horribly inaccurate dialog. Sooooo bad… but yet it sucks you in. Why? “We’ve got cow.” What more is there to say? oh yeah… “He’s in it for the money, not the science.”
Deep Impact
A more realistic look at the end of the world via a giant meteor. It was well done but totally overshadowed by the last movie on my list. Well worth a watch though.
Armageddon
When you think disaster movie you think Armageddon. The cast, the effects, the premiss, the bad science, the one lners, the soundtrack (This movie gave us Aerosmith’s 1st #1 hit) put all those things together and it makes for one of the best, if not thee best, disaster movies ever made. It really has it all.
Honorable mentions go to Dante’s Peak, The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), The Towering Inferno, Volcano, The Poseidon Adventure, Hard Rain, The Andromeda Strain, Godzilla (1954), Godzilla, King of the Monsters! (1956)
There it is, for better or worse. That is my list of Disaster Movies.
The Average Movie Nerd 