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China Syndrome, The [Blu-ray]
Additional Multi-Format options | Edition | Discs | Price | New from | Used from |
Watch Instantly with | Rent | Buy |
Genre | Drama |
Format | Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen |
Contributor | Richard Herd, James Hampton, Scott Brady, Wilford Brimley, James Karen, Jack Lemmon, James Bridges, Jane Fonda, Daniel Valdez, Peter Donat, Stan Bohrman, Michael Douglas See more |
Language | English |
Runtime | 2 hours and 2 minutes |
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Product Description
Nominated for four Academy Awards® including Best Actor and Actress (Jack Lemmon, Best Actor; Jane Fonda, Best Actress–1979), THE CHINA SYNDROME stars Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon and Michael Douglas in the "superbly suspenseful, expertly crafted, entirely riveting" (Richard Schickel, Time) white-knuckle thriller that famously predicted Three Mile Island meltdown, a nuclear disaster that occurred just 12 days after the film's theatrical release. It started as just another assignment. Reporter Kimberly Wells (Jand Fonda) and cameraman Richard Adams (Michael Douglas) were covering the daily routine at a Los Angeles power plant when the unthinkable occurred – a nuclear accident that could have wiped out Southern California. And Richard caught it all on tape. When their TV station refuses to air the footage, Wells and Adams recruit plant supervisor Jack Godell (Jack Lemmon) to expose the terrifying truth: the facility is a ticking time bomb. But with millions of dollars at stake, company officials cannot let the story break. When the trio attempts to broadcast live from the plant's control room, the utility company does everything in its power to silence Godell permanently, as the world watches.
Product details
- MPAA rating : PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
- Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 0.01 ounces
- Item model number : IMG134BR
- Director : James Bridges
- Media Format : Multiple Formats, Blu-ray, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
- Run time : 2 hours and 2 minutes
- Release date : October 14, 2014
- Actors : Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas, Scott Brady, James Hampton
- Subtitles: : English
- Studio : Image Entertainment
- ASIN : B00LH98RLC
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #59,731 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #4,696 in Drama Blu-ray Discs
- Customer Reviews:
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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The film unfolds with meticulous pacing, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats as it explores the potential dangers of nuclear power and the ethical responsibilities of those involved. The direction by James Bridges is taut and focused, creating an atmosphere of palpable suspense.
What sets The China Syndrome apart is its ability to balance thrilling entertainment with a sobering examination of corporate greed, journalistic integrity, and the potential catastrophic consequences of technology gone awry. The film's relevance persists, making it a timeless and essential piece of cinema that continues to provoke thought and discussion. The China Syndrome is a riveting and socially impactful cinematic experience.🎬🌐⚡
Which is why "The China Syndrome" received enormous attention, it played in front of a sold-out audiences, for weeks.
That interest got revived when only seven years later, on 26 April 1986, the Chernobyl disaster happened, more or less exactly like the movie suggested that such a disaster could happen. Of course, I never forgot the movie's powerful plot; now I rented the movie again. For my work I needed the example of a movie with an "ordinary hero" who is also a tragic hero.
To me that's Jack Lemmon as Jack Godell.
Still, never mind how much excellent research "The China Syndrome" presents, in actuality it's a movie about people - good people!
Jane Fonda's Kimberly Wells, a hot-looking, ambitious female TV reporter who wants to move beyond "soft community stories with a heart."
By chance, at the nuclear power plant when the plant goes through an emergency shutdown (SCRAM) Kimberly knows that this is "her story," but, she also wants to keep her job. The station didn't hire her for her reporting skills, but for her looks. All signals are turned to "Do not talk about this incident."
Michael Douglas's Richard Adams, Kimberly's excellent cameraman is a man with a mind of his own. He is the only character who does not think "my job comes first." Adams secretly records the SCRAM event and also steals the film when the TV station does not want to air the material. Douglas' character's actions force all news people to follow his lead, because he acts like a renegade.
Wilford Brimley plays Ted Spindler, Jack Godell's best friend. Though, through most of the movie he obeys the power plant operators' commands because he worries about his job, at the end of the movie, after the catastrophe happened, he goes on record, on live-TV and delivers the doubt Kimberly Wells thinks everybody at the plant should have/feel.
These and other fine performances are dwarfed by Jack Lemmon as Jack Godell. Humanity at its best.
Shift Supervisor Jack Godell loves this("his") nuclear plant. "... I love this plant. It's my whole life." When after the first "incident" he finds out that that the welding X-rays are copies, hence possibly or even likely the plant is not safe, he will take action.
Lemmon's Jack Godell is a man who does the right thing, always. He touches a nerve in all of us makes us hope that all people who work critical jobs are "Jack Goddells" yet we know it isn't so.
Even the move plants doubts, Jack Goddell seems to be one of a kind.
And, Goddell gets shot and killed.
It's a modern Shakespearean tragedy.
Brilliant. Moving. Riveting, never outdated, 30 years after the movie was released.
The movie reminds us that we have to think for ourselves and take action.
Loved it, then in 1979 and now in 2017.
5 stars,
Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger
Ps you have to accept that when this was made BIG HAIR was in style. So please overlook Jane Fonds ridiculously big, teased up long hairdo.
I know it’s hard to ignore but really try. This is one of the best movies ever with a very believable cast. Even if the lead actress has unbelievable hair. Opps, I said ignore it.
Top reviews from other countries
evitarla
Great, understated and memorable movie. This is about some great actors at their peak. To modern eyes it feels like only part of the story (I could've sworn it was longer when I watched it when I was young), a modern movie would pack in an awful lot more (surprised we don't have a remake with Gerard Butler running toward then away from a nuclear facility with a woman and young kid in tow). However, I think there's a lot of atmosphere, nuance and story told through implicit means. E.g. the conference shows the tension going on at the time over nuclear because of things like the Cuban missile crisis and cold war. But it's only introduced partway through the movie so you get the characters introduced to the wider picture to give context to their situation at the start. There's the fear of workers losing their job, a sense of class snobbery with the shady business managers, ex-sub captain middle manager and the worker, a local guy who they probably took as an apprentice. There's the bustle of modern (at the time) newsrooms learning how to deliver news at such a pace, and the demands on its journalists, the casual sexism that Jane Fonda's character experiences, and the lack of mobile phone communications and email! And in the end, an unexpected tale of courage. Michael Douglas makes for an excellent supporting role and good pace driver. Jack Lemmon just absolutely steals the show, with Jane Fonda a very close second. I think the sets also help this movie a lot. The control room feels so solid and real.
Besondere Brisanz bekam der Film, als es etwa zwei Wochen nach dem Kinostart zu einem schweren Reaktorunfall im Kernkraftwerk „Three Mile Island“, in der Nähe von Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, kam.
Regisseur JAMES BRIDGES erzählt in „Das China Syndrom“ die Geschichte der Fernsehjournalistin KIMBERLY WELLS (Jane Fonda), die mit ihrem Kameramann RICHARD ADAMS (Michale Douglas), zufällig eine Reportage in einem Kernkraftwerk dreht, als es dort zu einem Störfall kommt.
Als sie auf der Galerie des Kontrollraums drehen, kommt es zu einem Beben, de ein Vibrieren der ganzen Anlage folgt. ADAMS, der trotz eines Drehverbots die Kamera heimlich mitlaufen ließ, nimmt das Chaos im Kontrollraum auf.
Zwar versuchen die Verantwortlichen den Vorfall herunterzuspielen, doch die beiden Journalisten lassen sich damit nicht abspeisen und recherchieren auf eigene Faust weiter, nachdem der Sender sich geweigert hat das Material zu senden.
Sie legen den Film einer Gruppe von Experten vor, die schockiert sind und ihnen bestätigen, dass es sich um einen ernsten Störfall gehandelt hat und es beinahe zu einer Kernschmelze gekommen wäre.
Auch dem leitenden Ingenieur des Kernkraftwerks, JACK GODELL (Jack Lemmon), lässt der Vorfall keine Ruhe, er stellt eigene Ermittlungen an und stößt dabei auf einen unglaublichen Skandal …..
JACK LEMMON, JANE FONDA und MICHAEL DOUGLAS können in diesem Katastrophenfilm voll überzeugen. Ihnen ist es zu verdanken, dass der Film so mitreißend ist, weil es eben überzeugt gespielt ist.
Vor allem JACK LEMMON finde ich großartig, er ist eben nicht nur der Komiker, wie man ihn überwiegend kennt, der hat auch die ernsthaften Rollen drauf.
Für weitere Brisanz sorgte der Film wegen der Parallelen zum Fall der fünf Jahre zuvor, unter mysteriösen Umständen, gestorbenen Gewerkschafterin KAREN SILKWOOD. Diese spielte damals eine wichtige Rolle bei der Aufdeckung eines Skandals in der US-Nuklearindustrie.
Da gibt es übrigens auch einen richtig tollen Film der schlicht „Silkwood“ heißt, mit MERYL STREEP in de Hauptrolle.
Mein Fazit: „Das China Syndrom“ ist ein richtig guter und spannender Film, der Elemente des Katastrophenfilms mit dem eines Thriller verbindet.
Die drei Hauptakteure sind richtig gut, allen voran JACK LEMMON, auch dass das Thema immer noch aktuell ist, macht den Film irgendwie zeitlos.
Reviewed in Germany on September 9, 2020
Besondere Brisanz bekam der Film, als es etwa zwei Wochen nach dem Kinostart zu einem schweren Reaktorunfall im Kernkraftwerk „Three Mile Island“, in der Nähe von Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, kam.
Regisseur JAMES BRIDGES erzählt in „Das China Syndrom“ die Geschichte der Fernsehjournalistin KIMBERLY WELLS (Jane Fonda), die mit ihrem Kameramann RICHARD ADAMS (Michale Douglas), zufällig eine Reportage in einem Kernkraftwerk dreht, als es dort zu einem Störfall kommt.
Als sie auf der Galerie des Kontrollraums drehen, kommt es zu einem Beben, de ein Vibrieren der ganzen Anlage folgt. ADAMS, der trotz eines Drehverbots die Kamera heimlich mitlaufen ließ, nimmt das Chaos im Kontrollraum auf.
Zwar versuchen die Verantwortlichen den Vorfall herunterzuspielen, doch die beiden Journalisten lassen sich damit nicht abspeisen und recherchieren auf eigene Faust weiter, nachdem der Sender sich geweigert hat das Material zu senden.
Sie legen den Film einer Gruppe von Experten vor, die schockiert sind und ihnen bestätigen, dass es sich um einen ernsten Störfall gehandelt hat und es beinahe zu einer Kernschmelze gekommen wäre.
Auch dem leitenden Ingenieur des Kernkraftwerks, JACK GODELL (Jack Lemmon), lässt der Vorfall keine Ruhe, er stellt eigene Ermittlungen an und stößt dabei auf einen unglaublichen Skandal …..
JACK LEMMON, JANE FONDA und MICHAEL DOUGLAS können in diesem Katastrophenfilm voll überzeugen. Ihnen ist es zu verdanken, dass der Film so mitreißend ist, weil es eben überzeugt gespielt ist.
Vor allem JACK LEMMON finde ich großartig, er ist eben nicht nur der Komiker, wie man ihn überwiegend kennt, der hat auch die ernsthaften Rollen drauf.
Für weitere Brisanz sorgte der Film wegen der Parallelen zum Fall der fünf Jahre zuvor, unter mysteriösen Umständen, gestorbenen Gewerkschafterin KAREN SILKWOOD. Diese spielte damals eine wichtige Rolle bei der Aufdeckung eines Skandals in der US-Nuklearindustrie.
Da gibt es übrigens auch einen richtig tollen Film der schlicht „Silkwood“ heißt, mit MERYL STREEP in de Hauptrolle.
Mein Fazit: „Das China Syndrom“ ist ein richtig guter und spannender Film, der Elemente des Katastrophenfilms mit dem eines Thriller verbindet.
Die drei Hauptakteure sind richtig gut, allen voran JACK LEMMON, auch dass das Thema immer noch aktuell ist, macht den Film irgendwie zeitlos.