Flying Films

Copacabana Palace - reprodução de cartaz do filme " Flying down to Rio" (Photo credit: monicaewagner)

 The films that I'll be listing in my April postings will not necessarily be films that I'd call my favorite films, but they will be favorites in the genres I'll be naming.   The A to Z genres are very specific micro genres as opposed to the broader genres like action, romance, or comedy.

Flying Films

      I realize there are tons of movies that can fit into this category, but I'm only going to list four.  You can give me more in the comments.  

      Flying is such an iconic concept of our age that it has captured the creative imaginations of many from the beginning of cinema history.   Seeing planes and airships is thrilling and offers some great viewing for moviegoers.  Even now with most of us having flown at some time in our lives, flying offers excitement for a movie audience and opportunities for some amazing stunts.

Con Air (1997) -- I will shamelessly admit to being a big Nicolas Cage fan so that's the first point for me in favor of this film and maybe a black mark for some of you.  I like the concept of the story, the characters, and the action.   The premise here is a planeload of prisoners being transferred aboard a plane called the Jailbird (how clever is that) and the plane getting hijacked.  And that scene with the body dumped from the plane and landing on the old couples' car is priceless.  

Airplane! (1980)--  An insanely fun parody of those star laden disaster films, this is one of the funniest films I've seen.  I'm sure some of you will agree with that assessment.

Flightplan (2005) -- One of those Jody Foster thrillers in which this time she loses her daughter on a really big plane.  I was sufficiently entertained and the movie held my attention.   Not a great film, but a fine way to spend a Friday night with a movie at home.

Flying Down to Rio (1933) -- This film is the main reason why I picked the genre of flying.  It has some very weird things in it, the primary one being a dance number done in the air on wings of old planes--you know, the kind with open cockpits.   It's a very strange and entertaining sequence in my book.  The film features one of my favorites, Fred Astaire, in his first onscreen pairing with Ginger Rogers.  Good music, good dancing, and an utterly silly but fun story.

         What are some flying movies that you enjoy?   Have you seen any of my picks?  Are there many movies funnier than Airplane!?

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Earthquake Movies

English: San Francisco Mission District burning in the aftermath of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 The films that I'll be listing in my April postings will not necessarily be films that I'd call my favorite films, but they will be favorites in the genres I'll be naming.   The A to Z genres are very specific micro genres as opposed to the broader genres like action, romance, or comedy.

Earthquake Movies

       The earthquake has been a special effects staple since the silent film era.  The effect can be as unrealistic and silly looking as a shaking camera and stumbling actors or the effects can be quite dramatic and powerful with the earth cracking open and buildings crashing to the ground.

       Living in an earthquake prone zone like Los Angeles, you'd think I might not be too keen on seeing earthquakes.  Don't get me wrong--I'm in no way itching for the big one to come our way, but I'll have to admit the earthquakes I have experienced, while frightening, can also be quite exhilarating.  The ground moving is one heck of a powerful force.

       Many films depict earthquakes and many have focused on the phenomena.  Here are a few that I have found entertaining:


Earthquake (1974) -- One of those star-studded Hollywood spectacles that were so prevalent in the 1970's, this film offers some decent effects amid some powerfully bad acting and script.  But it's all good fun and we get to watch Los Angeles get destroyed.  It doesn't get much better than that.

Volcano (1997) --  Of course adding a volcano preceded by earthquakes makes for an even better destruction of L.A.   This film outdoes Dante's Peak by bringing the earthquakes and volcano into an urban area.  Lots of cool destruction of buildings and hot lava flowing through the streets of Los Angeles.  What's not to like with this film even if it is ridiculous?  

San Francisco (1936) -- Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy meet the grandaddy of all American earthquakes.  The Great Quake of 1906 has been incorporated into many films.  This old film doesn't do half bad recreating the quake and its aftermath.   Seems like a bit of a depression era message of hope and optimism at the end--a real Hollywood ending.

Old San Francisco (1927)  -- Next we step back to the silent film era for this Great Quake epic with a side story of human trafficking.   The effects are not to bad considering the era.   The most memorable part for me was that in the version I saw on TV they used a piece of music that has haunted me since childhood and I've wondered what it is.  I'm still wondering since I didn't see any music credits.  Boo!

        I know I've missed some earthquake movies, which ones do you recommend?   Have you seen these?   What kinds of real life earthquake experiences have you been through?

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Disaster Films

The Poseidon Adventure (1972 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 The films that I'll be listing in my April postings will not necessarily be films that I'd call my favorite films, but they will be favorites in the genres I'll be naming.   The A to Z genres are very specific micro genres as opposed to the broader genres like action, romance, or comedy.

Disaster Films

       I'm a real sucker for disaster films.  The more action, the better the disaster experience is for me, but sometimes it's the story that impacts me the most and in those cases I may not need to have the special effects.  I hope I never have to experience any disasters in real life, but I'll gladly take a movie version for entertainment sake.

      My first disaster film was Godzilla in 1955.  I was five at the time and fascinated by the destruction of Tokyo.  Disaster films have always seemed to be a mainstay of the movie industry so I guess I'm not the only one who likes this sort of thing.  In the past few decades the effects have become so much more realistic that it's sometimes almost as though we are seeing the real thing.  For me it becomes easy to let go and suspend disbelief for the disaster movie experience.

Here are a few disaster films that I've enjoyed (no earthquake films--those come tomorrow):

Dante's Peak (1997) -- I thought the opening scenes were very effective, but it became especially exciting to see a devastating volcano occurring right here in the United States.   Decent effects with an exciting story.

Deep Impact (1998) or Armageddon (1998) -- Similar type movies released in the same year, take your pick or if you're like me take 'em both.  Who doesn't want to see a big rock from outer space collide with Earth to create utter havoc?

The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) -- This older film is not particularly big on effects, but is more thoughtful as it focuses on story and acting.  This is one of my favorite films.  It's probably one of the earliest films that addresses the concept of global warming.   I love the ending of this film--so fiftyish.

The Day After Tomorrow (2004) -- A more recent global warming movie and possibly one of Al Gore's favorites.  Heavy on CGI (computer effects) there is a lot of visual fun in this one.   Big floods.  I like to see big floods.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972) --I read the book and saw the movie.  This is the original and not the more recent remake, which I missed but heard was not all that great.   A ship turned upside down and a group of people has to escape by climbing up to the hull.  Lots of cool fun and excitement with a dynamite cast.

Titanic (1997) -- This oft told story hit true mega blockbuster status when it came out and remains a favorite of many.   Very fine special effects.

2012 (2009) -- This is a big favorite of mine.  Totally stupid, outrageous, unrealistic (in concept), and nonsensical.   Disaster movies don't get much better than this in nonstop action and very fine CGI effects.  This is like one of those virtual reality rides at an amusement park.  In fact I wouldn't mind at all taking this ride although a couple of hours of this kind of intensity could be pretty wearying.  Great fun nevertheless.


        Got any favorites in this bunch?   Do you like disaster movies?   What are some you would have included?

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