Search - 10.5: Apocalypse on DVD

DOOMSDAY DISASTER

Michael Butts | Martinsburg, WV USA | 09/21/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This sequel to 10.5 is a disaster freak's dream come true. We get destruction of Hoover Dam; Las Vegas sinks into the sand; Mount Rushmore crumbles, and Houston is dessimated.
While probably not geologically accurate, I found the movie pretty much enjoyable except for the too lengthy rescue sequence in Las Vegas, but the first half and the final third are pretty involving. There are no super star performances, but you get adequate ones from Kim Delaney, Frank Langella, Dean Cain, Oliver Hudson, Beau Bridges and Carlos Bernard. The CGI effects are pretty decent and although some of it is reminiscent of THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE, there have been a lot more disastrous disaster films, so if you're a genre fan, you shouldn't be too disappointed."

I originally was going to give two stars...

Theodore Kalogeris | Columbia, MO USA | 06/29/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"...just because this silly movie is one of those that has the potential to be one that's so bad it ends up being "good," i.e. trying so hard to be serious that it ends up being unintentionally hilarious. I'll leave aside the predictable plot twists (e.g. "let's all celebrate now, 'cause we've beaten it, oh wait, oh my God, turns out we're not out of the woods yet"), and the ridiculous scientific premise, 'cause after all this is supposed to be science fiction/disaster/adventure, and there's no law written saying that reality suspension is necessarily bad in such a movie. A lot of the comedy potential is in the nauseatingly petty, overacted middle-school drama going on between supposedly adult characters--which they somehow have the time and energy to indulge in even while the entire world is crumbling around them. This lends itself to derisive laughter as well as cynical contempt for all concerned--you might find yourself rooting for the ever-expanding crack in the earth to swallow them all up and give a nice, juicy, self-satisfied belch. This movie could thus end up being a cult classic.

However, all this comedic potential is ruined by the annoying, amateurish camera work--the entire movie feels like it was filmed by some 8-year old who just discovered the zoom function on his parents' video camera. In and out, in and out, in a little further, whoops, a little too much, so pan back out just a smidge, then zoom in again so fast it makes your head spin. This goes on in EVERY SINGLE SCENE, the idea being, I suppose, to create "drama" or "tension." But such a gimicky technique is simply being used here to try to artificially infuse drama into the most banal of scenes. In this it fails miserably, succeeding only in creating intense irritation and utter loathing for the cameraman, the editors, the director, the producers, indeed the entire movie. My suggestion: don't waste your money on this cheesy dreck--even only one star is too much for this clunker-- if you feel like you can't live without seeing it, wait until it appears again on one or more of the cable channels--which it seems to do with startlingly contemptible regularity. And if you are the sort of person who DOES feel like they NEED to see a movie like this, then, well, I'm at a total loss for words..."

A Near Disaster

MultiMapper | Portland, OR United States | 01/09/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"You have to suspend disbelief to some degree to enjoy any disaster movie, but the follow up to 10.5 requires a bit more than I'm comfortable with. The action was decent and the acting was alright, but there were some fundamental flaws in the premise and conclusion that were really hard to swallow. There were a few subplots going on that really didn't enhance the story for me, but they were worth enduring to get to the next action sequence. If you enjoyed 10.5 as I did, then you'll probably enjoy seeing what happens to our heroes next."

Entertaining, predictable

SereneNight | California, USA | 11/14/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"10.5 apocalypes is a disaster film about quakes. Essentially, a big quake reverses the continental drift and causes a huge gulf to form in the central USA. The first part of this film was pretty good. You see the aftershocks take down Mount Rushmore, several cities and cause massive computerized destruction.

The problem I had with the film is the blandness of the characters. Some were even unlikeable. The friction beween Brad (Dean Cain's Character), his little brother and his wife was just painful. They act like teenagers. Who couldn't predict what happened to Brad? I didn't honestly like any of them, didn't care whether they lived or died, and had no interest in their soapy melodramas.

The response from FEMA given their field record in real life was a bit comic. The disasters, however were great, and well worth watching, although the story lagged in the second part with the rescue in the casino.

3 stars. Would've been vastly improved by likeable characters."