The China Syndrome details
| Format: | PG DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas |
| Director: | James Bridges |
| Genre: | Thriller - Drama |
| Studio: | UCA |
| Collections: | 100 Top Thrillers |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
The China Syndrome |
PG Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 1 hour 56 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 13 Oct 2003 |
| Main languages: | English |
| Dubbed: | German, French, Spanish, Italian |
| Subtitles: | Czech, English, French, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Polish, Turkish |
Write your own review
Most helpful review
Jack's great, but Fonda's a bit of a Lemmon.
By a customer from Wales , 22 Jun 2004[Highly rated reviewer]
Lemmon is totally watchable as the ordinary everyman confronting his realisation that his faith and certainties about the nuclear industry he's spent his life working for could well be misplaced. The early sequences are very well done, brilliantly building the the tension of the nuclear 'incident', and the plot rattles along well enough from there. Sadly, and unusually, it's Fonda that lets the side down, being unconvincing in her role as a TV reporter. She comes across as an actress acting the role of TV reporter, rather appearing to be actually be one!
Still, this is well worth watching for Lemmon, and for the relatively low key, unostentatious narrative style and direction.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (7) Yes |
- No (1)
All reviews
(14)Excellent Corporate Conspiracy Thriller
By JayLow (122 reviews) , 03 Aug 2012A top quality, corporate conspiracy thriller which nails it's colours to the '70s wallpaper.
The China Syndrome has a strong script, some great acting and, unusually for a Hollywood thriller, respects it's audience's IQ.
Jack Lemmon really is fabulous as the good-guy-doing-the-right-thing and there's strong support from Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas and the likes of Wilfred Brimley.
It's overtly, even refeshingly, political. NuKUlar (thanks Michael Douglas) is bad and will kill us all, that is if the money-grabbing-corporate-goons don't get us first. This is no bad thing, but it would be interesting to know exactly how that message was received at the time, and, perhaps more pertinently, how it would be received by the general American populace today. It's almost a shame that a John Wayne stylee anti-anti-establishment film doesn't exist. Or perhaps not.
The film does have it's flaws - the last 20 minutes or so feel slightly rushed, which is a shame after the constant assured pace of the rest of the film. Perhaps the film was cut...perhaps those corporate goons got involved...- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
What could happen if it all goes horribly wrong...
By Ferry41 (223 reviews) from Oxford , 13 Jun 2011A classic and only slightly dated disaster film along the lines of Towering Inferno. However, still very watchable as some of the issues remain very topical (i.e. with what has recently been happening in Japan). Particularly good performance from Jack Lemmon as ethical nuclear powerplant worker.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
Still tense
By Countryboy (81 reviews) from Perthshire , 22 Feb 2011Even though this is becoming a little dated now - what about those 1970s clothes and sets? - it is still gripping and over the duration of the film tension is expertly built and maintained. Jack Lemmon and Jane Fonda both put in excellent performances - possibly their best. Still well worth watching, even after all these years - I first watched it soon after release and it didn't disappoint this time round.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (1) Yes |
- No (0)
very good
By a customer from worcestershire , 08 Sep 2010a very exciting film. I've seen it before, but the excitment has not diminished. worth watching.a a a a a a a a- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
Still edge of seat drama
By commanderd (13 reviews) from Swindon , 02 Jun 2010Although the technology has marched on considerably, it is best to watch this film forgetting anything you might know about modern-day nuclear reactors.
The drama, thriller and genuine 'what is going to happen next?' tension still hold true and I cannot express enough my admiration for the final scenes which even sent a cold chill down my jaded spine (I'm not going to say what happens though, suffice to say it is incredible).
Michael Douglas puts in a truly amazing performance, Jane Fonda not so much, but I still highly recommend this to fans of thrillers.- Was this review helpful to you?
- (0) Yes |
- No (0)
