SAN ANDREAS (2015) Movie Review

So, it should come as no surprise that the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles have always been and will always be plagued by earthquakes. One theory suggests that the two cities would one day merge due to the constant sliding of two plates. However, it remains highly doubtful that California will break apart.

The film San Andreas though intriguing is just a story loosely based off of scientific studies. However, that shouldn’t suggest that Californian residents should remain unprepared and ignorant. Not only am I a California resident, but my hometown lies between Bakersfield and Los Angeles. I am at risk of experience a fault line quake. Had it not been for this film, I would have remained ignorant of the fault line.

The destruction portrayed in the film, San Andreas , is more substantial than anyone could anticipate, causing an appalling death toll and unspeakable damage to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and everywhere in between. The audience goes on a nail-biting journey throughout Southern California as the characters struggle to understand the events around them and most importantly survive.

Though the film exaggerates the potential of what the San Andreas fault line can do, the natural disasters that occur are very real. It is something that rescue pilot Ray sees on a regular basis. His experience and expertise makes him a crucial person to everyone he encounters through the series of disasters.

Both he and Dr. Lawrence Hayes saves many lives, because of their knowledge and resources. At the same time, Dr. Lawrence Hayes devotes his studies to possibility of predicting earthquakes before they happen. He pushes the book he writes wherever he goes in a desperate attempt to educate the public on the looming disasters. However, it is not enough. The people do not listen until it is too late.

There was a point as I watch a tidal wave thrust a carrier ship into the Golden Gate Bridge where a question comes to mind.

Can these poor victims continue believing in a merciful, loving God after such a trial?

To this, I say absolutely.

The people have the chance to heed the warnings available to them, but they chose not to. They have every opportunity to avoid this tragedy if they would only educate themselves about the fault line on which they reside. In a culture filled with free, accessible information, it would seem easy for citizens to educate themselves. There is no excuse for us not to educate ourselves.

Facts about the San Andreas Fault are readily available on the internet. If you are a resident of Southern California, I highly recommend you educate yourself about the history of the fault line. To everyone else, I urge you to educate yourself about weather patterns of your home. Stay informed. Be prepared. Remain safe.