Professor Ben Taylor
Research
13 Oct 2010
“Disaster Movie”
Disaster Films: Disasters have been the subject of film-goers' fascination since the time of silent film epics, and this interest continues to exist up to the present time. Catastrophes can take so many different forms - but they are mostly man-made or natural. They can be either impending or ongoing, or they can exist locally or globally.
The most commonly portrayed disasters in films are:
- natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tropical storms, etc.)
- accidents (skyscraper fires, plane crashes, ocean liners capsized or struck by icebergs, viruses unleashed)
- planetary-related (asteroids or meteors off-course)
- criminally-instigated (bombs planted in planes, terrorist conspiracies)
- alien invasions and rampaging creatures (often mutant)
- nuclear-related crises
- millennial-related (the end of the world, or end of the century tales)
- about failed technology or technology-gone awry (computers running amok)
Along with showing the spectacular disaster, these films concentrate on the chaotic events surrounding the disaster, including efforts for survival, the effects upon individuals and families, and 'what-if' scenarios. The best disaster films comment upon the negative effects of advancing technology, demonstrate the 'hubris' of scientists and other individuals, deliver uplifting moral lessons of sacrifice, and provide a 'how-to' in terms of survival skills.
(TIM DIRKS “Disaster Films” )
Chinese “Disaster Movies” getting start is very late .The first disaster movie 《雾海夜航》(Night Shipping In Mist Ocean)is shot at 1957 by Director Shi Hui.1960 the second disaster movie《十二次列车》(The Twelve Trains) had been playing on Beijing. Until 1999 The first commercial “Disaster Movie”《Emergency Landing》 had been created by director Zhang Jian Ya ,meanwhile high-technology first time to be used in shooting disaster movie.After 20th century more and more “disaster movie” to be created in China like《人命关天》(Human Life), 《惊心动魄》(Soul Stirring), 《危情雪夜》(Dangerous In Snowy Night ),etc. Although Chinese disaster movies have a plenty of subject matters too ,but it pay more attention on emotional part than spectacular scene.
What is the main reason to cause the big different between American disaster movies and Chinese disaster movie.
l Culture
l Film Technology lagging behind
l Weak Investment
Culture is the most important factor to result in the different between Chinese disaster movies and American disaster movies .
l American Disaster Movie 《2012》
Critical response
The film topped the international box office in its first weekend with $225 million.[37]It ultimately grossed over $769 million worldwide, becoming Emmerich's second highest grossing film, behind Independence Day. The film is Emmerich's first feature film to be shot using high-definition video cameras, specifically the Panavision Genesis.
The film received mixed reviews from film critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 39% of 2012 critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 5.1 out of 10.[38] Among the site's notable critics, 26% gave the film a positive write-up, based on a sample of 34. The site's consensus is that "Roland Emmerich's 2012 provides plenty of visual thrills, but lacks a strong enough script to support its massive scope and inflated length."[39] Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score out of 1–100 reviews from film critics has a rating score of 49 based on 34 reviews.[40]
（Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia , reception）
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