The Towering Inferno

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Matty D The Towering Inferno is perhaps the greatest fictional disaster film ever made. It is producer Irwin Allen’s masterpiece. Although it was first released in the mid-1970s, many of the movie’s themes and core elements still resonate today in timeless fashion. Paul Newman and Steve McQueen both give engaging and empathetic performances in the lead roles. However, it’s the film’s supporting characters that prove to be the heart of the story. There’s a real sense of danger and it’s made all the more impactful when not everybody is meant to survive the night’s inferno. The whole thing is gorgeously filmed and has top-notch special and practical effects which are far better than anything CGI could produce today, given that the fire on-set is real and not computer generated as is the case in modern films. What’s more is that it is an ode to firefighters and civil engineers, who perhaps do not get the recognition they deserve for ensuring our daily safety. Easily one of the greatest blockbuster films ever made, The Towering Inferno is a must-see movie. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/25 Full Review NiB Y The ULTIMATE Disaster movie alongside Poseidon Adventure, both from the master himself Irwin Allen. THIS, was the original Blockbuster, not Jaws (Technically it actually was D. W. Griffith's 1916 Intolerance but that's a whole 'nother complicated story). Amazing and memorable performances of both leads (McQueen and Newman) and UNFATHOMABLE visual effects. This movie was one of the EXTREMELY rare cases where i didn't check my clock a single time despite it's towering (pun intended) runtime of a whole 160 minutes! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/06/24 Full Review Nol P TI started out nicely with some good promise but as the movie went along, the hokey levels started to go up and up. The special effects for the time were as good as they could accomplish and I always factor in timelines of movies with these reviews. It seemed that not many at all showed much fright and most were cool as beans almost always. I know I would have been scared as yes I am scared of fires. I take all accounts and precautions seriously to never be in one! I would have also shown way more concern that was shown by almost everyone there after the whole building was engulfed in flames. This is also a one and done watch for me and I give it yes a 5.5 of 10 only. Paul Newman and Steve McQueen were very cool actors of their time but their acting skills were not utilized nearly enough by this director who is at fault for the overall big picture. And with a very long running time too. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 04/25/24 Full Review DanTheMan 2 Although it threatens to crumble throughout its slow-burn runtime, The Towering Inferno remains just as exhilarating today as it did 50 years ago, with the glass-spangled exterior burning with an uncontrollable lust for spectacle as the gold standard when it comes to disaster movies. With plenty of bombastic set pieces matched to an understated and delightful score by the legendary John Williams, Director John Guillermin utilises the big co-production budget to a triumphant degree, delivering tense and incredible stunt work and insane pyrotechnics, while netting himself a brilliant cast and all-rounded performances to match. Steve McQueen is just awesome (as he is in everything he's in) while Paul Newman gets to be the everyman hero alongside the lavish conflagration of other big-name stars. Rather than being a reflection on the true terror of a fire of this scale, The Towering Inferno is a gloriously constructed and tremendously entertaining film, with heroes to root for and villains to boo all built with the precision of an architect. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/24 Full Review Jerry A I don't care what the critics say Towering Inferno, Earthquake and The Swarm was good to me. I remember watching them back in the day when I a was a kid. I'm 53 now and yes it's out dated over time but still entertaining to me. Now more for nostalgia. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/16/23 Full Review Tony B A fantastic cast led by Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. Some really exciting and memorable scenes. A great score by John Williams. The special effects hold up very well. Definitely has more impact on the big screen than on TV. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Towering Inferno

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