Earthquake [Blu-ray] [1974] [Region Free]

From 1974 comes this classic movie showcasing the stars of the time in the event of a major earthquake in L.A. before I.L.M. And special effects common nowadays, all the effect are done the old fashioned way. Great film

A great example of the disaster movie genre. Charlton Heston at his best too. Since it's release in 1974, it has aged pretty well. Plenty of drama and sub plot, all done without the CGI nonsense. A worthy watch...

Classic movie from the era, big names, big effects

i love this film i have watched it so many times but could not get anywhere so glad amazon had it thank you

Everything was great

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.

This is the same version as the American release and although it's superior to the DVD, it has major problems. The transfer has been digitally over sharpened which reduces the filmic qualities and - like so many other Universal transfers - creates a strange video effect and an un-natural appearance of "grain". I actually suspect there is also "machine noise" over the print which adds to the problem. The sound mix on the transfer is also bad as there is inadequate volume on the centre speech channels on both the 5.1 and 2.0 Sensurround track. That said the Blu Ray is certainly watchable and on a small TV these elements might go unnoticed but not on projection where these flaws show up much more clearly. To be frank it's similar to the disappointing mess of Universal's "Citizen Kane" and couple of its recent Hitchcock (eg "Marnie" and "Family Plot") and it should have been better. Universal really needs to get its act together. My criticisms about Earthquake have also been made by all the major blu ray review sites and over the problem of the low level speech channel they recommend boosting that channel on viewing the disk but frankly this really shouldn't have been necessary if the product had been properly transferred in the first place! I find it impossible to understand how a couple of Amazon reviewer have talked about the "wonderful" nature of a transfer which for me makes the film look it was shot through a nylon stocking, in a bee storm, where the speech channel is so far back it sounds as if the cast were talking in another room. There really is no excuse for this....

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.