San Andreas (Rated T)
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandria Daddario
Genre: Drama
Dwight's Rating:

Exhausting! After only the first 40 minutes, I had just about all I could take of the earthshaking, building-collapsing, people-crushing, and death and destruction of "San Andreas". The earthquake movie is the latest in a long line of natural disaster flicks, seeking to prove that aliens, zombies, dinosaurs, vampires or man-made nuclear apocalypse should be the least of your concerns; the greatest threat to human beings is the Planet Earth itself, which seems intent to be free of the scourge of the human race.

Seismologists have predicted that California is long overdue for "the big one" -- a gigantic catastrophic earthquake. In "San Andreas", California's day has come, as the notorious fault line triggers a devastating magnitude nine quake -- the largest in recorded history. Ray Gaines (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) is a search and rescue helicopter pilot with the Los Angeles Fire Department, and he's determined to rescue his estranged wife (Carla Gugino) and their daughter from impending disaster. That leads him on a rescue mission from L.A. all the way up to San Francisco.

FYI -- that's 381 miles!: a fact not mentioned in the movie. But its omission tells you that realism is not exactly at the forefront of this tale. Predictability is, however. There are little to no surprises here at all. Typecasting is apparently a priority as well. It feels like Paul Giamatti is almost always playing an all-knowing geeky scientist. He's the one warning everyone about the coming destruction. And Johnson gives a by-the-book performance as our hero.

Credit must go to the screenwriters for at least having put slightly more thought into the usual natural disaster backstory than most films of this genre. The family drama at the heart of the story is actually more interesting than the complete obliteration of the USA's most populous state. But alas, people go these movies, not for the brilliant storylines or mind-blowing acting performances, but for the special effects. Yet, even that's a mixed bag here. I'd say only about two-thirds of the visuals are impressive and even unsettling.

There are moments, when visually, "San Andreas" is quite stunning. The rest of it, however, borders on the heights of cheesiness. Cars topple over into the abyss. OMG! Were those toys?

Our hero and his wife are zipping along on a speedboat down a river that used to be a San Francisco street, but they're not getting wet and there's no wind. Giant skyscrapers collapse like dominoes, and your mind wanders to the slightly better graphics you saw on recent video games. The most shocking thing of all is a ridiculous comment Johnson's character makes at the end, and the surprisingly bizarre way U.S. patriotism is weaved into this story. Some people might just prefer sitting through an actual earthquake!

 

Continuing with the expansion to new users and new countries, HBO Latin America announced that subscribers in the Caribbean can now access the online premium entertainment platform HBO GO for the first time, beginning with DIRECTV customers in Barbados, Curacao, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago. Offering the best of the HBO content in original English language on the go, the service is available at no additional cost to subscribers of the HBO/MAX premium packagewith access to DIRECTVPlay.com. 

“The launch of HBO GO with DIRECTV provides access online to the vast library of English language content that HBO offers in the Caribbean, as we continue to innovate and introduce the means to bring the highest value to our subscribers. With the introduction of HBO GO in the Caribbean, more fans in more countries can enjoy all the benefits of the full HBO experience, whether live on screen, through HBO On Demand, or on mobile devices from wherever they are,” said Javier Figueras, Corporate Vice President of Affiliate Relations at HBO Latin America.

HBO GO offers more than 2,000 titles of the best HBO content anytime, anywhere. With complete past seasons and all the latest premieres always available, subscribers can access the newest episodes of popular series such as “Game of Thrones,” “Silicon Valley” and “Veep,” watch each moment of award-winning series such as “Boardwalk Empire,” “The Sopranos” and “True Blood,” and enjoy exclusive blockbuster hits from the world’s top studios, including “Sex Tape” and “The Wolf of Wall Street,” which will be available this month on HBO.

Commenting on the newest addition to his company's technology offerings, DIRECTV General Manager Mr. Bernard Pantin expressed his excitement on being “the first to offer this premium online platform in the territory -- as, from its inception in 1997, DIRECTV has led the pay-TV industry with technologically advanced products, being the first to introduce digital transmission, DVR capabilities, High Definition and now HBO GO to the Caribbean."

The service offers multiple means to customize the user experience, with functions to create interest lists of favorite shows and the ability to watch programming on the best resolution available, with or without subtitles. The platform has a simple and intuitive navigation and content is divided into Movies, Series, Specials, Children, Documentaries and Adult, with the option to set parental controls.

Subscribers can access HBO GO via www.directvplay.com, or www.hbogola.com on desktops and laptops (PC and Mac), on Apple devices with iOS by downloading the app from the App Store, and on Android devices with operating system 2.3 or higher through Google Play. Users will also be able to enjoy the service from wherever they are in the Caribbean or Latin America (excluding Brazil).

An image can be found here: http://we.tl/MStOlyKdrT

About HBO Latin America

HBO Latin America Group is composed of affiliates of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. and Ole Communications Group. HBO Latin America Group owns, operates and distributes the leading cable and satellite programming services in Latin America, Brazil and the Caribbean, including HBO, HBO2, HBO Signature, HBO Plus, HBO Family, HBO Caribbean, HBO On Demand, HBO GO, MAX, MAX Prime, MAX UP, MAX Caribbean, Cinemax and Cinemax GO, A&E, AXN, Canal Sony, E! Entertainment Television, Lifetime, History, H2, and Warner Channel, in addition to the representation and distribution of Telemundo Internacional.

About DIRECTV

DIRECTV, Inc., is the leading provider of television satellite service that provides the highest image definition television and is available to more than 20 million customers in the U.S. and over 17 million customers in Latin America and the Caribbean. Every day, DIRECTV subscribers enjoy 100% digital sound and quality, leading customer service in the industry, including advanced technological superiority DVR service and HD DVR Proclaimed Control Plus ™ technology, and the most comprehensive coverage of the most important events, leagues and sports packages provided with interactive features that only DIRECTV can provide. For more information, visit www.directvcaribbean.com.

HBO presents its exclusive movie premieres during the month of May, debuting each Saturday at 21:00 hrs. AST* in the Caribbean. HBO continues its commitment to bring audiences the best box office hits from the world’s top studios, including Warner Bros. Pictures, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment, as well as a new original production this month from HBO Films.

It’s love at first sight when Annie (Cameron Diaz) and Jay (Jason Segal) first meet in Sex Tape (Saturday, May 2), directed by Jake Kasdan. But after 10 years and two children, their passion-filled relationship became quite the opposite. In attempts to rekindle the flame, the couple decides to make their own sexy film but soon discover that their private recording has accidentally gone viral. The film also stars Jack Black (HBO’s upcoming new series The Brink), Rob Lowe (HBO’s Behind the Candelabra), Ellie Kemper and Rob Corddry.

In the sequel and animated adventure Planes: Fire and Rescue (Saturday, May 9), Dusty learns that his engine is damaged and he must now switch careers. When he joins an elite fire-fighting team devoted to protecting Piston Peak National Park, he discovers what it takes to be a true hero, with the help of his brave colleagues. Featuring the voices of Dane Cook, Stacy Keach, Danny Mann and Julie Bowen, among others. Directed by Roberts Gannaway.

Bessie (Saturday, May 16) stars Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith, the "Empress of the Blues." This HBO Films original, which premieres in the Caribbean simultaneously with the United States,  premiere paints a vivid portrait of a tenacious spirit whose immense talent and love for music, despite the difficulties, took her out of anonymity and turned her into one of the most successful and influential artists of the 20th century. Directed by Dee Rees, the original film also stars Michael Kenneth Williams, Khandi Alexander and Mo’Nique.

Directed by Noam Murro, 300: Rise of an Empire (Saturday, May 23) is a follow-up to the 2007 film ‘300,’ based on Frank Miller's latest graphic novel Xerxes. This new chapter of the epic saga follows the events surrounding King Leonidas and his force of 300 men who fought the Persians at Thermopylae. While the Persian Army marches towards the major Greek city-states, general Themistocles leads the charge against the invasion by making an alliance that will change the course of the war. The film stars Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green and Lena Headey (HBO’s Game of Thrones). 

Martin Scorsese’s (HBO’s Boardwalk Empire) Oscar®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning film, The Wolf of Wall Street (Saturday, May 30), depicts the true life of Jordan Belfort (portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio), who founded his own brokerage firm while still in his 20s and made a huge fortune by defrauding wealthy investors out of millions. While Belfort and his cronies partake in a hedonistic brew of sex, drugs and thrills, the SEC and the FBI close in on his empire of excess. Also starring Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie and Matthew McConaughey (HBO’s True Detective).

 

 

About HBO Latin America </br></br> HBO Latin America is the premium television network leader that, in addition to being recognized for the quality and diversity of its original programming, films and documentaries, also provides services with the highest technology in SD and HD formats in more than 24 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean through its channels HBO, HBO2, HBO Signature, HBO Plus, HBO Family, HBO Caribbean, HBO On Demand, HBO GO, MAX, MAX Prime, MAX UP, MAX Caribbean, Cinemax and Cinemax GO. </br></br> Press Contacts </br></br>  HBO Latin America Melody Regalado Tel. +1 (305) 648-8114 mregalado@hbo-la.com </br></br> Burson-Marsteller Valerie Mesa Tel. +1 (305) 347-4337 Valerie.Mesa@bm.com 

About HBO Latin America

 

HBO Latin America is the premium television network leader that, in addition to being recognized for the quality and diversity of its original programming, films and documentaries, also provides services with the highest technology in SD and HD formats in more than 24 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean through its channels HBO, HBO2, HBO Signature, HBO Plus, HBO Family, HBO Caribbean, HBO On Demand, HBO GO, MAX, MAX Prime, MAX UP, MAX Caribbean, Cinemax and Cinemax GO.

 

Press Contacts

 

HBO Latin America

Melody Regalado

Tel. +1 (305) 648-8114

mregalado@hbo-la.com

 

Burson-Marsteller

Valerie Mesa

Tel. +1 (305) 347-4337

Valerie.Mesa@bm.com 

 

HBO's Game of Thrones phenomenon is about to enter its fifth season, returning April 12 exclusively in The Bahamas on Cable Bahamas' REVTV digital television service.

For those that have heard so much about the Emmy Award-winning series but haven't yet indulged in the fascinating fantasy universe, REVTV and HBO are bringing the first two seasons for free to any REVTV digital subscriber via video on demand.

Cable Bahamas REVTV Manager Teneile Simmons said that non-HBO subscribers now have the opportunity to join in on the Game of Thrones craze with HBO Free Pass on 500 REVTV On Demand.

Beginning Sunday, March 22, non-HBO subscribers can access HBO Free Pass to enjoy the entire first two seasons of Game of Thrones, at no added cost.

REVTV cable TV subscribers can access HBO Free Pass by pressing the orange "on demand" button on the cable remote control or by tuning to channel 500.

"HBO Free Pass is giving people who aren't familiar with Game of Thrones an opportunity to test it out for free," Simmons said.

"We're very excited to be able to offer this content to all of our REVTV subscribers and hope that, as a result, we will see even more of our customers signing up for HBO to receive full access to Game of Thrones via HBO and HBO On Demand."

HBO On Demand provides all HBO subscribers with unlimited access to the entire HBO On Demand library - currently more than 260 titles, including 40 episodes of Game of Thrones - at no additional cost.

The service includes original HBO series, movies, documentaries and special events."Game of Thrones has a huge following internationally and we know that it's very popular in The Bahamas as well," Simmons said.

"We have the complete four seasons of Game of Thrones on HBO On Demand and we know that a lot of persons are binge-watching to catch up on all the previous episodes to be ready when the new season arrives."

HBO has revealed that the all-new fifth season of Game of Thrones will comprise 10 episodes.

Fans of the series can expect more treachery, triumph and carnage than ever before as Game of Thrones producers have confirmed that the upcoming season is the show's most shocking yet.

Simmons said the company is thrilled to continue its longstanding partnership with HBO to bring Bahamian viewers another exciting season of Game of Thrones.

She noted that Game of Thrones is a global phenomenon and said it is rewarding to offer the series in The Bahamas, where the show has amassed a considerable fan base.

More can be learned about REVTV's HBO and Prime Movies package by contacting Cable Bahamas toll free nationwide at 1-242-300-2200.