Rating: 
Summary: Too many disaster movies. WAY too many!!
Review: In the 1970's, Hollywood seemed to fall in love with a new genre of movie: the disaster film. By, the time "Earthquake" was released in 1974, film audiences had already been treated to big guns of the disaster movie canon: "Airport", "Poseidon Adventure", and "The Towering Inferno". By now, Hollywood had perfected the disaster film formula. It includes the macho leading man who has all the answers and leads people to safety (while typically battling a failing marriage and worrying about his mistress), the all-star cast, the clueless people who ignore warning signs and act stupid when the disaster occurs, the silly rescue sequences, the cheesy (but fun) special effects of the disaster, and, most importantly, George Kennedy(!). The macho guy in this movie is ... Charlton Heston, who is dealing with a crumbling marriage to Ava Gardner while carrying on an affair with a young Genevieve Bujold. All the while, his business partner and father-in-law, Lorne Greene, turns a blind eye to the marital problems. There are a few scenes where some scientists predict the earthquake coming and where some dam workers are affected by the early tremors. There are a few other generic 'slice-of-life' caricatures going about their lives completely oblivious of the impending doom. None of the characters are the tiniest bit memorable. Once the earthquake actually starts, the movie gets moderately entertaining. The special effects are cheesy, but it still is amusing to watch. Of course, the earthquake is the big thing in this movie. The story had little cohesion prior to the disaster and almost none after the disaster. There are just a bunch of rescue attempts and scenes of general anarchy in the aftermath. All in all, there is very little to recommend this movie. It is nothing more than a generic, paint-by-numbers disaster flick. But, if you like the disaster movie genre and it comes on a local TV station some Saturday afternoon, it may be worth a little bit of time watching... like when you're doing your laundry!
Rating: 
Summary: Not Quite the Movie I Remembered
Review: Just didn't measure up to a 9 year old's recollection of this film. Still, it wasn't too bad. There is some good action, and while heston is loud and pretentious, it's an unusually subdued performance by his standards. Walter Matthau plays a drunk that seems to pop into scenes inexplicably. Victoria Principal is very cute as the sister who wears a T-Shirt of a daredevil because she has large enough measurements. Marjoe Gortner plays Jody, the oft-mistreated store clerk who wears giant blond afro hair that supposedly fits under a "regulation" length wig when called to duty by the reserves. of course, once in charge during the quake, Jody goes nuts, shoots his enemies, and tries to rape Victoria Principal, who looked at him once in the grocery store and obviously wanted it.The DVD is pretty short on extras. Picture quality is alright and sound also, nothing spectacular. Typical disaster script, with affairs and turmoil leading up to the big shake, then lots of overwrought acting from the various lovers in the cast. Some of the special effects really are well done.
Rating: 
Summary: still great disaster flick
Review: no it can't compare to some recent disaster flicks. it tops them. the special effects are outstanding and thouroughly convincing. the sensurround gimmick is not all that nessecary but the simulation of the earthquake was so convincing that it was frightening. whatever tecnique was used it remains as one of the best, most convincing disasters to ht the screen. Volcano and armageddon are also great disaster movies of different themes that require different imagery. Earthquake is a classic with a great cast of characters and great drama as well. buy the dvd and experience the thrill of it. you won't be disappointed. There is nothing cheesy about this.
Rating: 
Summary: A Very Bad Disaster Flick
Review: Paying seven or eight great actors 1/6 of the national debt does not a great film make. Although it won two Oscars for Sound and Special Effects, it was an all-around terrible movie. There is little drama and suspense. The special effects were very cheesy. By the end, it is quite clear that the concrete columns are only styrofoam. The screenplay was written by Mario Puzo, author of "The Godfather". Shame on him for making such romantic and melodramatic drool. Even Heston and Gardner are not on the top of their games. The rest of the bit players, Kennedy, Nolan, Bujold, Greene, and Principal perform as admirably as a poor script can allow. The movie was nothing like the real thing.
Rating:
Summary: Non-stop entertainment!
Review: The evening following the recent earthquake we had in Seattle, I got together with one of my friends and we rented this fine movie, hoping for a cheesy laugh. Neither of us had seen it before so our expectations weren't high. But wow ... only hours after living through the largest earthquake experienced by the Seattle area in decades, this movie really hit the spot.Not because it's a "quality movie", mind you, but because it's cheesier than a good pizza. We were laughing from start to finish; we even had to revisit several scenes with the rewind button, either to catch something we'd missed from laughing too hard, or just to confirm our incredulity from what was going on. ("What? There's *phosgene* in the office building? WHY?!?!") Two weeks later, we showed "Earthquake" to some coworkers and it was a huge hit. A bunch of us, watching a grainy VHS image projected onto the wall of our conference room, and we laughed ourselves silly. In fact, this movie is even better when viewed in large groups. Get everyone together -- especially if you've been through an earthquake lately -- and have a party. Personally, I haven't laughed this hard at a cheesy movie since "Fire Maidens From Outer Space". So ... this movie is a splendid comedy, through and through, and each of the performers give it their all. From big-shots Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner, all the way to the minor players, especially the technician at the dam and the city engineer in the sewer. Combined, everyone serves up enough ham to satiate John Candy. Kudos all around. At the price of $10, it's easily worth the money. You have no excuse; just buy this movie and keep it handy; you may need it someday.
Rating:
Summary: What a Hoot! If You Have Extra Cash....
Review: The last gasp of multiple starred disaster films of the 70's, "Earthquake" is a masterpice of Hollywood formulatic shlock. All the actors were past their prime (except Ms. Bujold) and thus gave pseudo credibility to a hackneyed novelty film. But you can have fun with this DVD. First, turn that sub-woofer WAY up for the "realistic" earthquakes effects (if you live in California, don't bother. You know what an earthquake really sounds and feels like). When introduced in the theaters in 1974 with SurroundSound, the multi-plexes showing this film jarred the neighboring films every time an earthquake started! Get this. The earthquakes in this 'film' don't slowly sneak up on you as in real life, but suddenly pummel you like a plane crash. It's a gas. Even better, you get to see such bizarre scenes like Walter Matthau as a drunk in a bar trying to unsuccessfully sip a drink. Get a kick out of Lorne Green as a heart attack victim being strapped in an office chair, lowered from the 50th floor to the 45th (or whatever it was). People really do these things in real life. The best part of the film is the end where you can watch our Gun and Rifle President, Charleton Heston, in a storm sewer trying to decide whether to climb up to gorgeous Genevieve Bujold or save his fat bitchy wife, played by Ava Gardner. Natch, he does the manly thing and drowns with the old hag. Note: No guns involved. A cinematic historic time. Have fun!
Rating:
Summary: A Classic 'disaster'...
Review: The most catastrophic earthquake hits Southern California, levels Los Angeles and with it, changes the lives of all people who live there. 'Grand Hotel' formula with larger than life acting, plus some of the most chilling special effects ever filmed. Earthquake still remains one of the most successful disaster movies in film history. Charlton Heston plays the construction engineer, Ava Gardner is his spoiled, rich wife & George Kenedy plays the tough cop. Also starring Lorne Greene, Genevieve Bujold, Marjoe Gortner, Lloyd Nolan, Barry Sullivan, Victoria Principal & Richard Rowntree watch out for Walter Matthau in a cameo role.
An average DVD presentation, the PAL version released in some European countries is much superior than this one (with Charlton Heston & Ava Gardner on the cover) & includes 4.1 Sensurround & presented in 2:35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen.
Rating:
Summary: It rumbles!
Review: The old vhs video did not rumble. This DVD RUMBLES! It shook the house. Thanks for restoring the "sensurround"
Rating:
Summary: Kind of dated!
Review: The special effects may be good but I think the movie itself is kind of dated these days and like most disaster movies the special effects are the main attraction and the dialogue is a little hokey!
Rating: 
Summary: The only decent dvd made by Goodtimes Video
Review: This classic movie was somehow given to the "Goodtimes Video Company" that is know for releasing horrible picture quality on their dvds. "Earthquake" however is decent. The picture quality is as good as the vhs video release and the only bonus to this dvd is the fact is is in widescreen format. Goodtimes Video Company is the worst company to buy from in my opinion. I avoid buying from Goodtimes like the plague. I would say this dvd is excellent quality comparred to anything else I've seen from Goodtimes besides "Airport 75". The quality of picture is just like the video. No new enhancments or re digitalized or anything. The picture is as good (if not a touch better) than what you'd see on vhs or television, so it is worht buying for a low cost.The sound quality SHOULD'VE been redone in DTS or Dolby Digital just because of the old Senssurround that went with this movie. However the sound quality on this dvd is in mono, the quality is not that bad for what you've heard before on vhs or television. I would say, if this is the only release on DVD available, it is worth buying if you loved this movie.The ONLY other dvd release by Goodtimes Video that was done ok was "Airport 75". ALL other dvds released by this company have been horrible and not worth a nickle. "Airport 77" was absolutly horrendous to watch on their dvd. Bad picture (dark) and had a soundtrack suppossedly called Dolby Digital that in my opinion was a lie because all I heard was mono.Anyways, "Earthquake" was an ok buy at a low enough cost.
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