Worst2First: My Top Ten Natural Disaster Films
Worst2First:
My Top Ten Natural Disaster Films
Here are my personal top ten natural disaster films, worst2first...
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#10
San Andreas
Earthquake
Earthquakes happen frequently and, unlike other natural disasters, could be predicted before they occur. Sure, the story of "San Andreas" is laughable at its center. Dwayne Johnson is a helicopter pilot rescue man who travels all over California to save his family after the San Andreas Fault gives, but it's not the story that's the most important. The film is a disaster porn film in the truest form, and the only reason people went to see it was to see the destruction of one of America's biggest cities - and I'll still never understand why they decided to build such a huge city on such a volatile fault line.
#9
The Mist
Fog
What's the most scary thing about a fog is that you have no idea who - or what - could be right in front of you. Alright, so the story isn't anything that can happen in real life, but monsters from a parallel dimension arrive to Earth in the cover of a thick fog - or mist, if you will - and a group of small town citizens are holed up in a department store, without any signs of hope. The film features several amazing actors including Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden (who, in particular, stole the show with her vile nature), Andre Braugher, Toby Jones, and three future "The Walking Dead" stars (Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn and Melissa McBride in a small cameo appearance). It's a terrifying tale that centers on the monsters outside, but, more importantly, the monsters within. Of course, it's based off a novel by Stephen King, so of course its spine-tingling.
#8
Dante's Peak
Volcano
Volcano eruptions are the most dangerous events in the world, just ask the citizens of Pompeii. Starring Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton, "Dante's Peak" centers around a small town faced with extinction after the volcano that rests above the town explodes. What follows is typical death and carnage, with effects that have held up surprisingly well since it was released in 1997.
#7
The Perfect Storm
Hurricane
What's the most terrifying thing about a hurricane is the sheer destruction it leaves in its wake. The true story of a group of fishermen who travel out of their Massachusetts home and comes into contact with a hurricane (as well as three weather fronts that inexplicably collide), "The Perfect Storm" is a harrowing tale of heroism, unity, and the ultimate fight for survival starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, John C. Reilly and Diane Lane.
#6
Contagion
Viral Outbreak
Now, more than ever, it's so easy for a virus to spread. We travel all over the world on a daily basis, and we come into contact with all types of people, environments and situations that could cause us to unintentionally spread a deadly virus. "Contagion" tells the story of what could happen if that would happen, and the worldwide panic and destruction it would cause. The film boasts a huge ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lawrence Fishburne, Jude Law, John Hawkes, Marion Cotillard and Bryan Cranston.
#5
Backdraft
Fire
Fire is a very unique thing. It's one of the first things that mankind invented, and it's something we necessarily need to survive. Yet it can also be very dangerous, as in Ron Howard's classic film "Backdraft." The film centers around brothers who work at the same fire station, trying to uncover a series of arson fires being set in a way that results in a backdraft - when fire consumes all oxygen and explodes when more oxygen is present, making it even more deadly. The film stars Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert De Niro, Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rebecca De Mornay.
#4
Twister
Tornado
Tornadoes are one of nature's most destructive forces. They can appear out of nowhere, and can leave massive devastation in its wake. Thankfully, there's storm chasers who can help predict when a twister is going to touch down so they can warn the general populous, and that's what "Twister" is about. Estranged husband and wife travel in search of incoming tornadoes using their own prototype for detecting tornado data in hopes of saving lives. Surprisingly, the effects still hold over twenty years later, and it's still an exciting race against nature.
#3
Armageddon
Asteroid
We live on Earth, which is just one planet in one solar system in a galaxy of innumerable systems with an insurmountable amount of things that can at any time get caught in our gravity and cause worldwide devastation and extinction. Michael Bay's "Armageddon" looks at one of those extra-terrestrial threats when an asteroid that could wipe out mankind sets its sights on our blue marble. It's up to a driller and his ragtag group to go into space and plant a nuclear bomb on the asteroid before it annihilates the world. The film is exciting, full of action, and boasts a great cast including Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Billy Bob Thornton, Will Patton, Steve Buscemi, Owen Wilson and Michael Clarke Duncan.
#2
The Impossible
Tsunami
Sometimes it's the events of nature that defines the human spirit, and shows that nothing is greater than the love of family. Based off the true story of one family's search for each other after they're separated after the disastrous tsunami that struck Asia in 2004, the film is filled with harrowing action, emotional climaxes, and superb acting from Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Holland (the future Spider-Man).
#1
Snowpiercer
Blizzard
Earth has experienced several Ice Ages throughout its history, a time where the entire globe was covered in snow and ice, and pretty much all life ceased to exist. In the future, another Ice Age has struck, and the survivors live on a train that continually travels the globe. The train, much like society, is split into different compartments - the front houses the most wealthy and are given the most luxury, and the back houses the destitute, the poor, and offers little to no luxury. When one man decides to rebel, he leads an army of men who are tired of being treated as less than human. Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris and John Hurt star in this exciting, dramatic film that also serves as a metaphor for modern society.
Comments
Post a Comment