Review of The China Syndrome (1979) by Florence . — 29 Jun 2013

I got a VHS copy of this movie just around the time I lived through the nuclear meltdown in Japan. I finally watched tonight and was impressed. Forty years before the Fukushima disaster, Jane Fonda and Michael Douglass exposed the reality behind the business and danger of nuclear power. The sets, acting, dialog, and story are all excellent and believable here. Perhaps the best scene is the 'accident' that sets the stage for the story. The tension was very real thanks to great acting, and sound (not music). The film also examines journalists role in society. With the absolute bullshit state of journalism, and the recent stories of whistle blowers, "The China Syndrome" is well worth a watch, and remains as relevant today as ever.

The only thing bad about this movie is the fact that a car goes rolling down the cliff and doesn't even explode. That was a waste of a stunt, but given the fact that SPOILER ALERT, the character doesn't die, I guess they get away with it.