The China Syndrome (1979)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:27
Fresh:23
Rotten:4
Average Rating:7.4/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: A modern nightmare nearly becomes reality in this timely, tension-filled story about an "incident" at a nuclear power plant. Jane Fonda stars as Kimberly Wells, an ambitious TV reporter covering a... [More]
Starring: Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas, Scott Brady
Director: James Bridges
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Reviews for The China Syndrome
| Tomatometer | Critic | Review | Category |
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The film is one of those rare modern thrillers that manages to combine fantastic acting and intelligent dialogue with real, heart-stopping suspense. Full Review |
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3.5/4 |
Not a comforting film, but an undeniably potent one. Full Review |
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A tightly assembled didactic thriller. Full Review |
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A moderately compelling thriller about the potential perils of nuclear energy, whose major fault is an overweening sense of its own self-importance. Full Review |
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A- |
It's an exciting and worthwhile old-fashioned thriller about the dangers of a nuclear power accident. Full Review |
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4/5 |
No review available.
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5/5 |
No review available.
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3/5 |
File this one under 'Hasn't Aged Well.' Full Review |
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All a bit too earnest, despite the seriousness of the subject, with Fonda setting her jaw and stepping into father's footsteps as Tinseltown's very own protector of humanity; but it's tightly scripted and directed, and genuinely tense in places. Full Review |
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4/5 |
Crackling drama about TV reporter (Jane Fonda) investigating a coverup at a faulty nuclear reactor, and pressing upon conflicted technician played by the first-rate Jack Lemmon to go public with the story.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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3/5 |
No review available.
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4/5 |
Whistleblower saga that still packs a punch.
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7/10 |
The film does still competently pull together a string of solid performances by all concerned. Full Review |
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4/4 |
Even without its eerie parallel to real life, this superb film generates enough drama on its own. Full Review |
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4/5 |
Controversial in its day, it still scores
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4/4 |
A terrific thriller that incidentally raises the most unsettling questions about how safe nuclear power plants really are. Full Review |
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2/5 |
No review available.
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4/5 |
Not the greatest thing since sliced bread, but an effective thriller.
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