Review of Dante's Peak (1997) by Stuart K — 01 Feb 2011

A by-the-numbers action-disaster film directed by Roger Donaldson (off The Bounty (1984) and Species (1995)), this came out in the same year as another volcano disaster movie, called erm... Volcano (1997), but this one is better and alot more scientifically accurate than the other one.

This has volcanologist Dr. Harry Dalton (Pierce Brosnan) travelling to the town of Dante's Peak, Washington to investigate some volcanic activity that has been occuring near the town's titular mountain, an inactive volcano that hasn't erupted for about 7,000 years.

But, the tremors get more and more frequent, and the discovery of the dead bodies of a skinny-dipping couple in a nearby hot spring confirm Dalton's worse fears. He enlists the town's mayor, Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton) to evacuate the town, but as it happens, a big eruption occurs, and all roads out of town are blocked off, and Rachel's children are stranded up at a cabin near the volcano, so Harry and Rachel attempt to rescue them.

Alot of the action is very cheesy indeed, but it does have moments of suspense throughout. The big climactic eruption is something enjoy, but it's like Twister, only with volcanos. :P.