San Andreas

This terrifying action thriller follows LAFD search-and-rescue helicopter pilot Ray Gaines (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) and his estranged wife, Emma (Carla Gugino), as they make their way from Los Angeles to San Francisco, trying to find their daughter (Alexandra Daddario) in the aftermath of the largest magnitude earthquake in recorded history. Also caught in the ensuing chaos are an eminent Caltech seismologist (Paul Giamatti), a TV journalist (Archie Panjabi), Emma's architect boyfriend (Ioan Gruffudd) and two British tourists (Hugo Johnstone-Burt, Art Parkinson). Directed by Brad Peyton, San Andreas incorporates more than 1,300 visual effects, as Hoover Dam crumbles, freeways collapse, bridges break, and a tsunami engulfs San Francisco's cityscape. An entertaining blockbuster, this is recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Brad Peyton, the behind-the-scenes featurettes “Dwayne Johnson to the Rescue” on the star (10 min.), “The Real Fault Line” (6 min.), and “Scoring the Quake” (6 min.), as well as deleted scenes (5 min.), a stunt reel (3 min.), a gag reel (2 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are bonus DVD and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a special-effects-laden disaster flick.] (S. Granger)