Dante's Peak (DVD, 1998, Keep Case: Collector's Edition Widescreen)

In the grand tradition of "Cannonbal Run" and "Zardoz" comes "Dante's Peak". Ever since James Bond took to the screen in the sixties, there have been times when he needed a break from all that fancy British spy nonsense. The ridiculous mad villains get on your nerves now and then, and what better way to get your mind off of the constant chase than to shift gears and do make a different kind of B movie. Well, Pierce Brosnan chose the disaster genre.

He's a geologist who doesn't play by the rules! He tried to warn them, but didn't care if it scared off business. Rogue USGS agent Harry Dalton can afford to go against policy when he needs to because, as his boss knows, he's the best they've got. Mayor of the town of Dante's Peak, Sara Connor, has just finished a press conference declaring her city the "2nd most desirable place to live in America" (with some other kind of stupid, tounge-in-cheek qualifier). No sooner does she finish her boast when Harry Dalton comes rampaging through with his ragtag team of scout geologists, coffee enthusiasts, and robots. His team have orders to study the volcano to make sure it's safe. Harry on the other hand constantly reminds the Mayor that the town is in serious imminent danger and that everyone in her town has to evacuate. Oh, and he's very attracted to her.

Although he has to drag grandma around with him (and she succeeds in dragging the movie down for a bit) Harry is, of course, vindicated when the town is flattened by a series of carefully named volcanic processes. Simply put, there's a LOT of very convincing danger from not only lava, but earthquakes, gaping fissures, collapsing mines, huge clouds of hot ash, and boiling acid water. What more could you ask for?

This is truly a great action packed movie. A town is in shambles as a nearby volcano errupts, raining havoc on the small town. Linda Hamilton, and Pierce Brosnan star in this heart pounding adventure as they run from red hot lava to save there loved ones from tragic death. The town seems to ignore Bronston's advice about the volcano being unstable, but his biggest fear is about to become a reallity.

A wonderful natural disaster movie. A scientist goes to a mountain village and finds out the volcano is about to blow. He tries to convince the experts of this, but they dont listen. He makes friends with the local law, a strong woman with 2 kids and an abstinate ex mother in law. She helps the scientist try to convince everyone. When the volcano blows, everyone races to leave while the scientist and the lady law go to find her kids who have gone to warm the grandmother. There are beautiful shots of mountain views, a really great digi volcano blow, melting lava, heated waters, lots of grey mass, exciting run away sceens, a bit of romance, a few people dont make it, and did I mention a great volcano blow up sceen? This isnt a wishy washy disater movie. Its a down to earth version you'll enjoy if you give it a chance. A really wonderful watch as disaster movies go. Get the popcorn and soda and find the plushiest part of the sofa! If youve seen it before, you know its great. If you havent, read the reviews. Well worth the money for good entertainment.

This film has everything going for it: Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton and a host of very likeable and reliable charactor actors! A first rate Director, Roger Mcdonald with an array of pyroclastic effects and dramatics. He uses real volcanology and fantastic visuals. Some minor comic releif and some feel good saves, but nothing beyond belief. The story line is fast moving and attention getting. Some of the conflicts might remind us of sheriff versus town hall in 'Jaws', but this plot works even better in this case. Add in a dash of romance and some troublesome memories and you spice up what appears to start off as predictable. Pierce may be the whistle blower and monster killer all in one guy, but his sincerity and tenacity make the situations seem very real! This isn't a monster anyone can stop! But somehow, things do not take the expected turn and you almost despair of anyone surviving. This is an amazing, heart stopping, breath taking view of what we could be in for being at the mercy of A Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Pele or a Vesuvius in full explosive glory! Seeing is believing! You won't want to watch it once.

Pretty good production of the typical disaster movie. In a small northwest community, a cozy little town nestled in a valley under a volcanic mountain is suddenly plunged into danger when it's mountain starts to rumble. Pierce Brosnan, a volcanologist and scientist is dispatched to the area to check out the mountain and make an assessment as to whether or not there is anything to worry about. He is greeted by the mayor of the town, Linda Hamilton, and there is somewhat of an instant attraction. His preliminary opinion is that the mountain is going to blow! The towns people are more worried about their businesses, a pending deal for a big factory, and their bank accounts, and don't take any of this seriously. His colleagues don't share his opinion, and think that this is just a mild awakening that will soon subside. Everybody just wants this mountain and Brosnan to just go away. He presses his opinion but to no avail, and for a few week nothing happens. Then all of a sudden it erupts. With typical disaster movie precision, the whole place explodes in ash, fire, and lava. Everyone is trying to escape and Brosnan and Hamilton constantly stay one step ahead of death. This film contains great scenery, and a lot of action sequences, a pretty good love story, and a happy ending. Entertaining, but pretty unlikely.