YMMV / Earthquake

• Funny Moments: Walter Matthau's character doesn't let a major earthquake stop him from enjoying his whiskey.
• Heartwarming Moments: Is there anything that can keep you from going: "Dawww..." when Slade rescued the small puppy?
• Narm: Many people cite the blood spatter "effect" in the elevator scene.
• One-Scene Wonder: Walter Matthau, under screen name "Walter Matuschanskayasky," as the drunk at a bar.
• Special Effects Failure:
  • A few of the scenes in the earthquake sequence are a bit dated by today's standards, such as some in which a shaking effect is achieved by distorting the camera. Special mention goes to the blood splatter effect in an elevator. Ironically, the film won a special achievement award at the Oscars for visual effects.
  • Somebody was doubtlessly awful proud of the idea of sending a cattle truck over the edge of an elevated highway. Too bad the model of the truck that actually went over had all the little cow models glued in place.
  • During the first big earthquake scene, a woman is injured as glass from a building impales her face. If you look closely however, you can see some glass on her right before the chunk of glass hits her.
• Visual Effects of Awesome:
  • For the most part, however, the earthquake sequence still remains impressive, making its Oscar win still deserving.
  • Some of the shots of buildings quivering from the earthquake were accomplished ingeniously by filming the building reflected in a mirror and distorting the mirror.

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