Volcano
A series of earthquakes in LA have caused cracks in the fault lines to allow magma to flow through, and now a volcano has formed underneath
With a giant flow of lava travelling through downtown, it is up to new director of Emergency Management Mike Roark and Seismologist Dr Amy Barnes to save the day.
Direction
Directed by The Bodyguard’s Mick Jackson – does a solid job of ‘disaster movie trope’ – with good use of practical effects in the damage caused. Some of the visual effects were a little dated, even for 1997.
Cast/Characters
Tommy Lee Jones plays Sam Gerrad Mike Roark, who must navigate those around him, his teenage daughter and his ex wife all while trying to save the day. It is a good use of his talents, and he is always enjoyable in these ‘leadership’ roles.
The late Anne Heche, who was in her popularity era at the time is sound as Barnes, who gets to do more than the traditional damsel in distress thing. I also enjoyed the fact that they did not “push” these two together – even at the end, rather hinting that they ‘could’ be.
Gabby Hoffman plays Roark’s daughter Kelly – who could quite possibly be the most cliche child in a disaster movie with her dialogue, characterisation. She gets all the damsel in distress moments – and there are plenty.
Quite a few ‘that guy’ in either secondary or tertiary roles, such as Don Cheadle, John Carroll Lynch, Richard Schiff, and Keith David.
Screenplay/Setting/Themes
Aside from the technical inaccuracies, this is a fun movie to sit through.
The second of 1997’s volcano movies, this was the poorer film sadly due to the absurdity of the logic.
There are also too many ‘forced emotion moments that we are supposed to feel for these characters.
There also didn’t seem to be enough ‘human’ elements, with only scattered mentions of Roark’s ex wife – and his work life balance. It felt like it was only included “because”.
Overall
While not a bad film by any means, it is fun to sit through. despite some ‘aged’ technology (pagers etc), some silly cliche’s it still holds up quite well.
3/5
If you’re able to, please “buy me a coffee”