To VolcanoWorldOn Friday, February 7, 1997 movie theaters erupted with the first of two volcano movies to hit the big screen this year. Dante's Peak, an action adventure movie staring Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton, is about a small town threatened by a large volcano.
Dante's Peak really IS the most realistic "volcano adventure flick" ever made, but the problem is that lots of viewers didn't recognize the real stuff as being realistic! Volcanologist Jon Fink has pointed out that this is one of the few examples of a "scientific adventure film" that gets higher marks from knowledgeable scientists than from the general public -- usually the opposite is true and those in the know give it lower marks than the general public! It will be interesting to see what the public thinks of the film "Volcano" when it comes out this spring. That film is pure sci-fi with no scientifically-redeeming virtues, but maybe that's what the public wants! But dear viewers, please take it from me -- despite some hokey spots (e.g. the truck driving over lava), the volcanology was mostly pretty real and Pierce Brosnan acted like a pretty real volcanologist -- and I know -- I are one too!
DANTE'S PEAK, despite some obvious and laughable technical goofs, still merits a B+. That was the conclusion of a group from the Puget Sound chapter of the Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) who attended a weekend showing of Universal's new volcano epic.
On the plus side, there was a virtually seamless blending of location shots, mixing Mount St. Helens and other stock volcano footage, the artificially constructed volcano set, and computer graphics. The volcanologists looked, acted, and talked believably; references to and use of modern volcano monitoring technology were reasonably authentic. Even the robot, "Spider Legs", was based on its real life counterpart, "Dante". A member who is on the staff of the Cascades Volcano Observatory reports that they gave the mudflows an A- (they weren't big enough) and the gas monitoring a B+. Of course, all the formula elements that disaster-tale buffs expect were there.
As for the minuses, one was extremely disappointing considering the top quality technical consultants, and sharply points out that no matter how good the technical advice may be, there is still no guarantee that producers will follow it! In this case, Universal has only added to the public's ignorance and unfounded fears about the Cascade volcanoes. There was a chance to educate while entertaining, and they blew it--big time. CASCADE VOLCANOES DO NOT--REPEAT, DO NOT ERUPT FLUID, HAWAIIAN-TYPE BASALT! Especially while erupting typical andesitic/dacitic ash and pyroclastic flows! Any lava would be thick, slow moving, and confined to the immediate base of the cone. Film makers can't seem to get that through their heads, no matter how many technical consultants tell them otherwise. Other faults (pun intended) listed by AWG members and CVO personnel were these:
Other geologists also pointed out that there was no way the water would become that polluted that quickly--and, if it did, where did the crystal clear water in those pitchers come from? Also, one geologist was pretty certain that the "volcanic rock" Harry picked up was actually sedimentary.
There were some unexplained lapses of time, and two horribly done, horribly obvious painted backdrops. Where was their computer graphics tech?
And finally, after being trapped in that crushed truck, with a compound fracture, for "two days" Harry would most likely have died from shock and loss of blood. If he somehow survived, he couldn't have walked out under his own power, with scarcely a mussed hair.
As fun as it was to critique the scientific and other errors, both the AWG members and professional volcanologists agreed that DANTE'S PEAK is still several orders of magnitude (magmatude?) better than any other volcano movie ever made. We give it a B+. Without the basalt it would have earned an A from the professionals. That quality certainly owes much to the three principle technical consultants: Jack Lockwood, Dave Harlow, and Norm MacLeod.
Source:Volcanolistserv and Volcano Quarterly.
I had the opportunity to see the much advertised new movie "Dante's Peak"
on Wednesday night. My view is that you shouldn't go to this movie for
the plot. Simply put - boy meets girl, boy saves girl (plus children
including dog) from volcano, boy and girl live happily (presumably) ever
after. But, it is worth seeing for the special effects. They have done a
great job of creating what it is actually like to be around an active
volcano. A number of liberties have been taken, such as a fluid basaltic
eruption coincident with the explosive (Mt. St. Helens style) phase, a
lake that turns to acid over night, bombs which look more like falling
wads of burning paper (which they probably are), ash not really "dirty" enough.
But that said, this amalgamation of EVERY type of volcanic activity
possible (in a remarkably short period of time) is fun to watch. Now if
more volcanologists looked like Pierce Brosnan.......
This is a better picture than "Twister" for which we probably have John
(Jack) Lockwood, Dave Harlow and Norm McLeod (???) (sorry if I have the
third name wrong) to thank. (The movie volcanologists need some training
on how to take COSPEC measurements though.......)
Have fun, Cathie.
I think that Dante's Peak was a very bad movie because the dog would have
been incinerated and the little girl would have been killed. I think
"Volcano" was a way better movie than "Dante's Peak". Thank you and that's
all I have to say about that.
I thought Dante's Peak was too fictional. They had lava with plyrclastics
which don't go together. Even if they didn't have the lava, they still had
ficticious parts. When the truck drove over the lava it should have
exploded from the extreme heat of the lava. Another thing is that the house
would have caught fire when the lava came through the wall.
I thought that the movie,"Dante's Peak" was a good movie. I enjoyed it very
much. It was very factual and had a lot of excitement. I learned a lot about
volcanoes and how earthquakes occur before volcanoes erupt. I learned about
weird animal behavior occuring seconds before a volcano erupts. Other
warning signs were also given. I would recomend this movie to anyone who
likes excitement and would like to learn more about volcanoes.
First of all I think that the movie was a great action film but it had some
definate flaws. First of all you CANNOT have pyroclastics and a lava flow
at the same time. The invinsible car was impossible also. I don't see how
that car could drive across 2200F degrees and not first melting the tires
and rims of the car and then blowing it up after the fire got in contact
with the gas tank. All in all though, I enjoyed the movie and I can over
look these extremely impossible scenes.
its snowing here! we dont have volcanoes in this area.I was forced to watch
this movie oh ya I liked the movie alot it wa just grand.i think volcanoes
are wonderful.
I thoutht that this movie was far fetched. Becuase the truck in the lava
would have blown up. And in the beginning of the movie when the volcanic
bomb hit the girl, she should have been hurt more and the hole in the truck
should have been a lot bigger.
I saw Dante's Peak in my Earth Science class. We first watched the National
Geographic special on volcanoes. The movie Dante's Peak had some very
factual parts, but was very fictitious also. The most fictitious part would
have to be how there was both types of lava coming out of the volcano.
There shouldn't have been pyroclastics and lava flows. The ways they used
to predict the eruption were very good ways, and would work. In all Dante's
Peak was a good movie although it had some flaws.
I liked the movie Dante's Peak, because it had a number of factual
events,and realism in it. But it also had a number of fictional parts which
kept the movie interesting. Although some parts where real farfetched,
others where realistic. The only part of the movie I didn't realy like was
when the dog all of a sudden appeared again in the middle of the movie.
Obvioysly the dog no way would have lived through the volcano and lava flow
without getting burnt or killed. Another part that was way off was that the
kids drove to their grandmothers house, Ruth,and did not crass or get hurt
by anything. It kind of seemed like none of the characters could get hurt or
cut or have anything happen to them. Also no way could a man live 3 days
with a bleeding wrist and no food or water.
I thought the movie had a good acting cast but was a little far fetched do
to the inaccurate volcanic eruption and the invincible dog and main cast.
Then again it is just another over rated hollywood movie that uses more
fiction than fact.
Dante's Peak was a good movie. It was interesting but a lot of the stuff
really couldn't happen. It had a good acting cast. The cast wouldn't have
survived if this were real. A lot of the action scenes were not accurate.
I think that the movie was good because it had a lot of good action in it.I
also think that it had a lot of things that were fictitious in it like there
were both kinds of lava and pyroclastics. When the truck drove over the lava
the gas tank would have exploded and when the car was in the water the
engine would have stalled.
I thought Dante's Peak was exciting and an excellent movie.
It had a few exagerated parts but other than that it was pretty much
factual. The part that I thought was exagerated was when the car drove
over the lava. The wheels should melted or burned and the gasoline
tank would have blew up. Also the part where they where in the acidic lake,
after they got out of the boat it sunk. In real life the boat would have
sunk while all the weight was in it, not after the weight was out of the
boat.
I thought the movie was entertaining and was real for example when there had
been an earthquake before the volcano erupted. It was easy for me to folllow
along with the movie and understand it better when they talked about things
like volcanic ash and volcaic bombs.Although there were many thing's like
the invincible dog and the indescructable truck,and the grandmother actually
surviving the acidic water and being burnt a little bit
Dante's Peak was an interesting movie. Even though there was some fictitious
parts, like a truck driving through lava without the trucks tires being
poped, the truck blowing up or the truck catching on fire. Other than that,
the movie was good and I could watch it over and over and not get bored with
it.
I liked Dante's Peak because it showed the many factual and nonfactual
secens in the whole movie. I liked how they showed the volcanic bombs
coming out of its mouth, even though they didn't look as large as I thought
they were. Also, I didn't like how the old grandma lived through the acid
water, even though she would have died almost immeditly. Overall, I enjoyed
the movie completely and I wouldn't mind to see it again.
Hi. I just recently saw Dante's Peak and I felt that it was a fairly
accurate representation of an eruption. I also believe it could really
happen, well, except for the dog on the lava rock, the truck driving through
lava, the peoplae standing a foot from lava, the extremely acidic lake
water, the volcanic bomb not ripping off the girl's head in the beginning,
and the volcano releasing enough carbon dioxide to kill small forest
creatures. Aside from that, I thought it was a pretty good movie, but I
don't think it had enough fire to satisfy the pyro in us all. Thank you for
your time. E-mil me, please, I'm really bored!
I thought that the movie "Dantes Peak" was not that good of a movie. The
only reason I liked it a little is because of Pires Brosin. The eruption was
ok but not as good as a real life explotion. And thats what I think about
your movie.
I watched the movie Dante's Peak in class and I thought it was a very good
movie. I thought Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton did a nice job of
portraying people in a volcano. The movie showed many factual scenes but
the truck could travel through anything and that part was extremely
fictional. I think the movie would have been much better if it was more
factual. Overall I thought the movie was well put together and the volcano
scenes were very interesting and exciting. I think it is worth seeing and I
would recommed it to anyone.
Dante's Peak the movie was a pretty good movie. it did have some faulsts:
ex. the boat sinking the dog living, ect. And those truckS, notice truckS,
contrary to most internet beliefs who say they would like to get that truck:
the first truck drove up to the grandmothers and swam the river, they then
left that truck behind and went acrosse the lake they jumpstarted another
truck and that was the one whick drove through lasva and outran the
pyroclastic flow . Another thing if the water became that pollusted where
did the crystall clear water in those pithers at the gym come from. I also
don't think that other scientist guy should have died.
The fakest thing about dantes peak is when they drive through the lava
becausev i realize that if that realy happend the car would have exploded
or caught on fire
I thought Dante's Peak special effects were very good , example when the
lava was exploding out of the mountain . That was phat , but i think the
story sucked it was really corny. The kids in it acted fake , but special
effects were good
I think Dante' s Peak was a good movie . It showed may facts such as the
types of lava , how much dammage a volcano can really do and what to do when
an earthquake occures. For example , when one does occure , you should pack
things like flashlights , extra batteries , food and clothing . Dante's
peak also showed how people can go into panic stages . You should not try
to go into panic . Just get your things and leave. the movie was a good
source to show what to do and what not to do. the movie would have been
better if they would have made the lava more realistic. When they were in
the car trying to escape , they drove through lava and that is impossible .
The tires would have melted within seconds and the car would have exploded .
That was my only complaint .
My favorite movie is "Dante's Peak". It was extremely exciting and a
non-stop action film. The saddest part of the movie was when the grandmother
died, after saving the family's lives. The best part was when everyone came
out alive and the funniest was when Henry was shouting " Thank
you,NASA,Thank you,NASA". my most favorite part was when the man made a
promise that if they lived, they all would go deep-sea fishing in Florida.
I didn't know alot about volcanos until I saw "Dante's Peak". It was a very
fictional movie but, it also had some facts. I think it would have been alot
better if the movie was a little bit more true. Because some of the movies
parts was so far from true it was unbelieveable. Like the part when they
were at the grandmothers and they were running from the lava they would have
been cooked (flash burned) in real life if they were that close to lava.
I thought the movie was incredibly well done - and I sure aren't a
volcanologist. I'm a Network Administrator, but who cares. The way the
movie, er 'flowed' was fantastic. the only parts I couldn't quite grasp were
the truck driving over the lava and the kid stealing a truck and driving up
the mountain. A natural phenomenon with that kind of presence would have
scared the bejeezus outta me as a child. If I stole a truck it would have
been to get down! I saw "Volcano" as well, even Tommy Lee Jones couldn't
save that one - ridiculous.
I thought it was GREAT, even there were faults, and it makes you
realise what can Happen in an Volcano Eruption, and what happens before it
occurs, but once agan it was GREAT
Its a good movie but has some fake points. Watch it if you haven't seen it
I thought this movie was very good. I think there should've been some more
action though and some of the acting bit. But other than that, it was good.
Hi,
I saw Mt.St.helens in the spring of 96 and have been a volcanoe nut ever since.
Although i thought that Dante's Peak was a great movie ( much better than the
movie Volcanoe ) the damage the volcanoe done wasnt near the damage i saw at
Mt.St.Helens. Am i the only one that thought that cabin on that lake would be
a dream house or what ?? I started to look for real estate in the N.Idaho area
shortly after the movie!! I think they should make a movie on Mt.St.helens and
that Harry Truman guy and the loggers and volcanologist that was killed ( that
has some real potential )!!!
that the movie in my reason would had been a blockbuster, but Volcano had to
come in and take what Dante's Peak would have a lot of awards but that had to
happen
Lockwood's comments are right on. It is mostly my nongeology friends who
think this film is dumb. I love it in spite of the silly stuff.
I've seen it 5 times and my favorite thing to do is run the pyroclastic
cloud in slow motion forward and backward. It's my favorite feel-good movie.
I get it when I'm depressed or mad and watch it twice in a row. The movie,
Volcano, is a terrible movie that is only good for a laugh. Who besides me
would like to strangle that seismo-bimbo?
I think about the Dante's Peak movie is so realy to me, in that movie a lot
people die in there
I am studing Geology at University and I am very interested in volcanoes so I
went to watch Dante's peak and I thought that the film was amazing and that I
would sit down and watch it again and again, it keeps you on the edge of your
seat because it is packed with action (and Pierce Brosnan!!!)
My name is Candice and I think it was wonderful. I really like it. My favourate
part was when the volcano exploded . I'm 11 years old.
With the first showing of the movie, a lay volcano buff like me noticed
only that a Cascade volcano would not have a fluid lava flow and certain
not a truck that could drive over it. Other wise a great movie. I just
purchased the video, watched it again tonight and will enjoy it many more
hours. Were the crater shots from the helicopter of Mt. St Helens? I
assume so. I am very interested in the Cascade volcanoes in general and
any activity not matter how slight. I have started a post card collection
of volcanoes of this range and even have some of Lassen erupting in the
early 1900's. Incidently, I went to school with Dave Harlow at Towle High
School in Newport NH. He was in the class ahead of me. I have also met
and visited with Jack Lockwood at the HVO. He spent some time with our
family. Thanks for a great movie, guys!
I live in Japan. I saw this movie in Japan. My friends and I thought this
movie was very exciting. But I thought this movie had some '?',because I
am interested in volcanoes. so ....
I'm sorry that I can not tell my idea.because I am a japanese is no good
English speaker. I want to speak English very well. so I have watched
English movie. so ,I think that next movie is 'volcano'.
It had killer graphics/ it was awsome
It was pretty cool but I think they could have done some stuff better or
have been more realistic on the fact of them surviving things that they
should have died in.
I liked it so much I sat up front!!!!!!!
Excellent Movie seen three times. Makes me want to learn about volcano's.
Soooooo Coooooool
I thought that Dante's Peak was a very good story but,not very educational.It
is a good story just like Twister was but, it wasn't very practical.
I am an eighth grade science teacher who is taking 200 kids to see the movie as
part of their volcano and plate tectonic studies. I have seen the movie
already and although the plot is predictable I think the science is pretty
accurate. I wanted my students to learn the science of studying volcanoes and
I think the technology was well presented. However one should never
underestimate the force of great special effects on adolescents! I know they
will love it.
Just went to see it tonight, 10 Jan 97, after work. It was very enjoyable and
they kept the tension high throughout the movie. Pierce Bronson did his best
acting to date. I don't know how realistic it really was, but as a 50 year old
college grad it looked real enough to me. I have seen very few movies that had
so much action and tension and NO BAD GUYS. Refreshing. There were no evil
people, or even slightly bad people in the movie, GREAT. One of the 10 best
movies I have seen, and I've seen a lot.
I thought Dante's Peak was a mediocre movie. It's only aspect that saved it
from being a total bomb was the special effects, the best of which involved a
pyroclastic cloud demolishing the town.
But the dialogue was hokey and the plot was full of holes you could drive a Mac
truck through.
My advice is to wait for it to get to your local cheap theater or rent it when
it comes out on video.
-jg
I loved Dante's peak. It was a fantastic movie about an andesitic volcano
which erupts and nearly buries a whole town (actually, it does bury the town).
It really stirs a big interest in geology and volcanism. I, though, have been
interested in this field of interest for a long time.
I love learning about geology and the workings of the Earth. I wish everybody
could have the interest and fascination
in geology. It is the most amazing sciences I have ever known! This site is
marvelous! Keep it going. Thanks.
Doug Ware
Here is a review by Cathie Hickson, a volcanologist...
Jon Hilfiger Saw the movie and said:
Adam Saw the movie and said:
Corrie Saw the movie and said:
Melissa Mathews (14) Saw the movie and said:
Andrew Saw the movie and said:
Andy Saw the movie and said:
Sean Saw the movie and said:
Eirn Saw the movie and said:
Mike Saw the movie and said:
Sarah Saw the movie and said:
Matt M. Saw the movie and said:
Susan Saw the movie and said:
Elijah Lillie Saw the movie and said:
Ginger Saw the movie and said:
Ashley Saw the movie and said:
Shaun O'Connor Saw the movie and said:
Dominic Saw the movie and said:
Jennifer Saw the movie and said:
Andy Saw the movie and said:
Chris Gauthier Saw the movie and said:
Mary Beth Saw the movie and said:
Bethany Saw the movie and said:
Amy Lee Saw the movie and said:
Rob Saw the movie and said:
Eric Pickup Saw the movie and said:
Sophie Saw the movie and said:
Bob Saw the movie and said:
Jon Saw the movie and said:
Ana Saw the movie and said:
I thought dante's peak was the best movie I've ever seen. I really enjoyed it
and hope to see it again!!
Jeff Davis Saw the movie and said:
charles Saw the movie and said:
Katherine Lee Saw the movie and said:
THANT WAI Saw the movie and said:
Laura Jones Saw the movie and said:
Candice Bennett Saw the movie and said:
Jacqueline C. Cote Saw the movie and said:
yoshimichi senda Saw the movie and said:
John Cooper Saw the movie and said:
David Murphy Saw the movie and said:
Aaron Lempert Saw the movie and said:
Brian Davis made the following comment about Dante's Peak:
Christina McCabe Saw Dante's Peak and said:
Joanne Vincent An eighth grade teacher wrote:
Albert Lynn Clark Saw the movie and said:
Jeremy Gibbens, a VW Team Member saw the movie and said:
Doug Ware Said:
Matt Cubbage liked the movie and said the following:
Chuck's Answer
Matt - Dare I admit it, I haven't seen the movie yet? From what I read I
thought the volcano was all electronic (and maybe augmented with some
models). Anybody else know the answer to Matt's question?
Chuck
Jeremy "Beechnut" Gibbens, a VW team member, had the following response:
In response to Matt Cubbage's question:
The volcano used in Dante's Peak was not real. It was digitally inserted
behind the town, which was real (but not called Dante's Peak).
-jg
It was An interesting movie. I like the part when it blew up. It was well played by the actors!
I would love to see it again.
A while later he wrote back and said:
I just saw it again! I really enjoy the movie! I have told all of my friends to go see it. I really like it when they are trying to out run the volcano. I am surprised that it is as good as it is. Better then I thought!
I recently had a chance to see this somewhat predictable action flick. I feel the same way I did about the movie Twister -- BORED. It really never got my attention and although the special effects were superb, the plot is so thin that I found myself falling asleep. I really could not suggest this movie to anyone.
Dante's peak was heart pumping excitement and i thought twister was good!
It was a bit unbelievable at times, but all in all it was pretty good. Good cast.kc
My wife and I saw it and enjoyed it. It was too difficult for me to accept tires driving over hot lava without them burning up in seconds.
The movie was very entertaining. The special effects were great, and the sound was fantastic. My wife and I would give it four stars or two thumbs up. It spurred me into looking up this site to learn more about this very fascinating part of our earth.
Good movie all around, but fake. Spins tires in Pahoehoe lava, fake, floors truck to 130 MPH to escape a pyroclastic cloud, cataclysmic eruption in a week. Ash like snow. 7 year old kid driving truck? much to list but anyway the special effects were good.
There is a precedent for both Lava & Pyroclastic flows in some of the Cascade Volcanoes. Mt. Baker has Basaltic Cones on part of its flanks. The propensity for both happening at the same time is rare although it must be admitted that Vesuvius can and has exhibited characteristics of such an eruption as portrayed at Dante's Peak.
The Jeep riding atop the burning lava completely destroyed any scientific credibility. Lava burns at an average temperature of 2000 F. I wonder what kind of tires they were using I would like them for my truck!! It is possible that a Lake such as portrayed can become acidic overnight. This happened in Cameroon not too many years back. The sleeping villagers were asphyxiated by the noxious gas.
Lake gas. I found the episode with the truck and the car trying to maneuver the Lake was laughable in the extreme. Linda Hamilton doesn't know the difference between a Lahar and a Pyroclastic flow. She needs to sign up for Geology 101 which I teach at Salt Lake Community College. I would give this film -4 Turkeys for scientific content, but then this is Hollywood and I did enjoy the special effects.
I saw Dante's Peak and I thought it was well done. The acidic lake to me was not believable. The special effects and the acting were superb!! I will definitely see it again!!
I feel Dante's Peak was a success. It was informative and creative. I enjoyed the references to Pompeii and Mount Saint Helens. I also noticed that the grandmother who lived on the mountain was similar to the man who refused to leave Mount St. Helens. Overall I enjoyed the movie.
Well, After seeing Dante's peak twice, I thought it was a well made movie. The one thing that really caught our attention is that it very clearly showed the power and awesome force of a volcanic eruption. Having seen the destruction wrought by the eruption of Mount Saint Helens, I would have to give the movie a B+. However, the only body of water that I've seen that is that acidic, is thousands of years old and lies near the Dragon's Mouth in Yellowstone National Park.
Great action movie. Many parallels to the actual eruption of Mt. St.Helens. Good for students to see in that it shows technological instrumentation used by volcanologists, related terms, and some real pre-eruption tell tale signs.
I loved this movie! I have always been intrigued by volcanoes and geology, although I really do not know much about the subject. I was a bit suspicious of some of the special effects (i.e. could the acidic lake happen in real life, etc.) but thought it was a blast! I highly recommend Dante's Peak to anyone who enjoys action movies. I am determined now to learn more about volcanoes!! Pierce Brosnan was fantastic as well!
It was soooo cool. I started thinking about becoming a volcanologist. I totally want to see all of the other volcano movies that come out. Dante's Peak was really exciting. It spoke to my adventurous spirit.
I just saw Dante's Peak. I thought it was pretty good. The visual effects used were great. A Tour de Force of special effects. It was reminiscent of the actual destruction caused in 1980. In fact, that famous eruption was mentioned in the film. Though I've always had an interest in volcanoes, i am a bit more so now. I think that anyone with even the slightest bit of interest will enjoy the picture. And, i recommend it for all fans of action movies or those into natural disasters. I am eagerly looking forward to the next volcano film, due this Summer. I give "Dante's Peak", *** on a scale of 1 to 4.
I enjoyed Dante's Peak, though some of it was unbelievable, such as they all survived the acid lake and pyroclastic flow. They would have been overcome in real life. But, it is all for effects and you can't have the lead actors die in the movie! Would much rather see a documentary on real volcanic eruptions.
I saw Dante's peak on the 15th of February. I think it is honestly one of the best movies I have ever seen. I liked it overall very much.The special effects were very good! But the bit about the lake eating the boat so fast was not at all believable. Well,anyways,I think that you did a very good job on making this movie.
It was a great movie - kept me on the edge of my seat. Some of it was pretty phony, but overall extremely entertaining. In my 8 year old son's words - It was awesome!
I was disappointed. Linda Hamilton has been in 2 bad movies this year this one and Shadow conspiracy. The script was stupid. She and Pierce Brosnan appeared to be sleep walking throughout the movie. The fate of the grandmother was just a cheap vehicle to try and make us experience the horror of a volcano (oh it didn't work).
That is the biggest let down. I didn't feel much during the movie. The only time I was remotely engrossed was when the volcano exploded and when Pierce was trapped in the car (i felt extremely cramped in the theater at that point).
I can only recommend seeing parts of it for the special effects. I hope Volcano is better.
I am a geology major at Humboldt State University, and all I have to say is that it was a very entertaining ride. Fooled me!
ecj
The movie was very entertaining. It had very good special effects. I didn't like the story line too much, it seemed like the same story that was re-told over and over again, only with a different setting.
On a scale of one to ten I would say it's an 8.
I have now seen the movie twice. I enjoyed watching it very much. I realized after watching it the first time that my knowledge of volcanoes is very limited. I immediately got on the Internet and learned a lot about volcanoes. The second time I saw it, I was better able to understand what they were talking about - but I still enjoyed it even if they stretch the truth a bit. I went to the move to be entertained and I was.
In my personal opinion...I thought Dante's peak was one of the most entertaining as well as educational movies,that I have ever seen.I never thought about volcanos.After seeing the movie..I have definitely found a new interest.Unlike the movie twister which was very slow in spots..Dante's peak kept myself as well as a crowded movie theater on the edge of their seats...Never a dull moment!!!A few things where a little unbelievable... such as the truck being on fire...and driving over the hot lava with rubber tires...but that was so minor and so forgivable...I plan to see this movie again before it leaves the theater!
"Dante's Peak" was a surprisingly spectacular movie. It had it's unbelievablity and "yeah right" moments but it is a film of that nature so you should go in knowing this. Siskle & Ebert have this movie so wrong. If anyone does read this, "two thumbs down" (which S&E gave it) should really mean the way the kids say bad now a days......Because it is an incredible film.
Dante's Peak was a quite spectacular movie. You would have to be someone who is up for suspense and a thrill if you are planning to see it, though. It is definitely a heart- pounding action packed film. Yet it was some what predictable, it kept me up on my toes. If you are into science and action/adventure films, this is a must see.
I realize that there were some scientific inaccuracies in this movie, but putting those things aside I think that the film did a credible job of portraying a Mt. St. Helens style of eruption. I liked the movie and I'm steamed over the dead panning movie critics are giving it.
HI
My name is Elizabeth.I just saw the movie DANTE'S PEAK
,and I think it is explosively fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And between that and Independence Day I'd probably choose
DANTE'S PEAK. I think it is the best movie this year. It
didn't get that high of a score but I gave it two thumbs up.
there's one part that is very cool it is the part where the
car goes through the magma and the car gets caught on fire.
I ENJOYED DANTE'S PEAK SO MUCH I SAW IT TWICE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN GEOLOGY. FROM READING THE PREVIOUS COMMENTS, THE CLOUD TOWARDS THE END OF THE MOVIE THAT THEY ESCAPED FROM IS CALLED A PYROCLASTIC CLOUD? DO THEY REALLY HAVE THAT EFFECT IN REAL SITUATIONS? COULD SOMEONE TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THESE CLOUDS?
Chuck's Response
Kim - Yes, Pyroclastic clouds (or pyroclastic flows - pfs) are real and deadly. They move at speeds of about 100 km/hr and are impossible to escape (unless you can quickly get to high ground - they are like water flowing down hill). The only people who survived the pfs from martinique in 1902 were two prisoners in underground cells. Chuck
I enjoyed Dante's Peak immensely, even though the plot was thin and the movie was interspersed with technical goofs. I felt they sacrificed believability for a Hollywood ending. (But, I'm a sucker for Hollywood endings. I was lucky enough to see it and discuss it afterwards with a couple of volcanologists, Chuck and Britt. (They aren't quite as cute as Pierce, sorry guys).We all had a good laugh about the fluid lava. I thought the lahar looked a lot like the pictures I've seen of the Toutle River when Mt.St. Helens erupted. I thought they got the scientific lingo down great. I also enjoyed the references to reality such as Mammoth Lakes, Mt. Baker and Galeras (the volcano in Colombia I believe they were referring to), and the robot. And bathers HAVE died in hot springs at Zao and Tokachi-Dake in Japan, though not necessarily the same way they did in the movie. Despite some unbelievable stuff, I enjoyed the Dante's Peak. In fact, I've seen it twice. I disagree with anyone who says you should wait for the video. I say see it in a theater with stadium seating, a big screen and the latest sound technology.
I thought this movie was great. I have always been fascinated with volcanos ever since I was there when St. Helens blew. After I witnessed such awesome power I was hooked for life. This move I feel could have left the lava flows out because the Cascades DO NOT HAVE LAVA FLOWS. If your expecting lava flows you might want take a trip to Hawihii. I know I was stationed there for three years in the USMC. The special effects were good but I don't know about the lake turning into acid that deadly that fast. And I know those expert volconalogits knew that you should be wearing some kind of respirator to protect their lungs from the ash. Hay I liked this move so I won't knock it down any more.
Well, although I did expect Dante's Peak was going to be "Jaws" with lava, (you know, "cue the ominous music, cue the bottom lit corn syrup") but it wasn't. I had a great laugh when the lava came sneaking across the road, but I am still wondering how they got down that road when it was blocked by that tree... Lava and ash mixed? Some volcano. What got me was the acidic lake. I don't know about any of you, but when I get near fluids acidic enough to eat a propeller, I find breathing a bit difficult, if not impossible.
I personally liked best the cave with the metal doors that, while they previously opened outward, when crashed into with a truck will automatically seal behind the vehicle. Love those tires! Overall, a B-, and the grade is above a C only because there wasn't a evil developer trying to keep people from leaving.
Walt Stone
I am a geology student at George Mason University and haven't studied volcanology very closely, but even I could pick out some things that just didn't seem right (scientifically of course!). The movie was exactly what I was expecting though. It was extremely entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat almost the entire movie! I would recommend it to anyone! Unfortunately I don't think that Hollywood will ever have a movie that is very accurate scientifically due to the fact that, yes, sometimes science isn't that exciting. BUT! In defense of the scientific community (and as my duty as a soon to be geologist!) it is very possible to make a movie about volcano's, earthquakes, or dinosaurs scientifically accurate and still keep the nail- biting suspense and excitement!! All it takes is some highly trained scientists to provide the correct information and the movie makers to pick the fun/exciting parts from that and incorporate them in the film (with the scientists watching of course, to make sure that the info doesn't get skewed!). It is possible to make a movie both very entertaining and very informative.....I'd even go as far to say it could be a learning experience! :)
I just saw the movie on saturday the 15th and thought it was great except for some part in the movie like the chopper actually able to fly even for a split second in all that ash the turbine engine would have melted that ash into glass and the engine would ,well in short it wouldnt have ran for more than a couple of seconds and would never have made it into the air. Also I have to agree with the experts whats with this fluid lava flow on the west coast never never never thick gassy pasty sticky explosive lava thats what I believe they would see, and that hot spring scene if that lava would have even made contact with the spring water boom it would flash to steam and explode in an instant, the fireballs looked fake and again the rock he looked at in the movie at the beginning did not look volcanic. But it was exciting and it looked like quite a mean strato volcanoe and the pyroclastic flow looked OK but the truck would have burned up even in the mine the flow would be burnin hot, and as for the lava crossing, Please give everyone a break were not that ignorant nor would we be so stupid as to think that this vehicle would make it within 2 feet, we are talking aboiut hot hot hot lava arent we, anyhow the movie was still great I just with they could finally get movies right for once but I will by it when it comes out on video
Other than the lack of much suspense (the volcano starts erupting ~halfway through and the whole rest of the movie is just one long chase scene), the thing that struck me was the fact that almost everyone was white. In fact, there were only 2 non-white folks in the whole movie, and one of them was dead after the first 3 minutes. Would 'Money' magazine really give a big award to a town that had no black people living in it? I doubt it. Who says Hollywood is full of liberals?
Scott
Surprise, Surprise, Hollywood took some license with eruption characteristics! Unfortunately, ash-falls don't photograph too well and I'd rather cope with big funky flakes 'o insulation in the movie than the dark fog with no visibility typical of real ash falls. Yeah, the basaltic lava was incongruous with the whole scenario, but lots of Cascade volcanoes have basalt lavas within the main cone sequence (e.g., bodaceous ropey pahoehoe flows about 1000' below summit of Middle Sister, which is an andesite-dacite stratovolcano). At least the volcano isn't located in LA.
One nonredundant point. I thought the movie did a very credible job in outlining the basic problem in evacuation and risk assessment - when is there enough confidence in the data to stake your neck out as say with reasonable certainty that the volcano is going to blow? There is very little tolerance for false alarms and quite a cost associated with them. Brosnan's boss wasn't some ignorant knucklehead who's refusing to listen to the mellifluous voice of scientific reason, but has to weigh somewhat ambiguous data with the political reality. This alone makes up for some of the technical liberties in the movie. And, to reward his thoughtful behavior, his bosses saddle him with a dog van that can't make it across the bridge! _That_ was technically correct (although I still want Brosnan's CVO VulcanikPanzerschwimwagen. Animal!)
DANTE'S PEAK was so cool!!!!!! I also thought it was way better than TWISTER. In fact, my boyfriend & I even made that comment immediately after the movie. We're going to Hawaii in a few months, and I couldn't remember from my geo 101 class if the volcanos there are basaltic or andesitic (like the movie) so I had to check this website to make sure it was the former!
I really liked the story line! The 2 made a really cute couple, the kids were
adorable, and the brave grandma almost made me cry! After seeing the
depressing IN LOVE & WAR, it was nice to see things work out well!!!! I would
recommend it to everyone, unless you really like going in hot springs. :)
********************************************************************** :)
Sheralyn
I thought the movie was great! A definite collectible. Took out the National Geographic Video on Volcanoes out of the library right afterwards to review with the kids; looks like the Dante's Peak screenwriters had watched this video before completing the script. Several of the parts like: the boat in the acid, the old man up by the Lake at Mt. St. Helens, and much of the footage shot by the Kraffts on pyroclastic flows and eruptions were neat to see in real life versus Hollywood hype. Still a great movie overall, (yes, except for the truck crossing the Hawaiian Lava)...
I guess the movie makers had to get rid of Grand-ma. She would have been too slow for the rest of the movie. The funny thing is that they find the time to pick-up the dog while driving "the Batmobile" on hot lava. It must have been the "batmobile" I saw tonight on the screen to be able to roll on hot lava without getting stuck there and exploding. This movie is full of such silly things. This is kind of sad. The idea was good.
Next time, I'll read "National Geographic" to know a little bit more about volcanoes.
I enjoyed "Dante's Peak" for its shear fun. I felt as if I was on a roller coaster ride and I wasn't sure where it would go and when it would stop. It was fun seeing Wallace, Idaho blown up and to see the truly beautiful scenery. As a native Idahoan, I like to see our beautiful country on the big screen. I also felt that Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton were believable and did a great job. Unlike many of the critics who felt that they were stoic and uniteresting. I thought they did a terrific job selling the high action thriller.
I thought Dante's Peak was a total blast!Actually it was sad when the grandma died in the acidic lake. Also when the two love birds go skinny-dipping in the hot springs and when Harry,Lauren,Graham,and the mayor go there,Lauren finds the two people floating in the water and dead!And the special effects were cool!
I loved it! It had great special effects and story. It looks just like real lava and a real volcano. If you haven't seen it yet you gonna a have to!
Jason.
My boyfriend and I thought that Dante's Peak was an extremely well done. The special effects were breathtaking, however if it were a toss up between twister and Dante's Peak, We would definitly choose Twister.
This movie was a terrible waste of money. Though it was not as bad as "Twister" it was still a waste. My list of complaints:
I took two of my high school geology classes to see the movie this week. They loved it and it gave us an excellent chance to talk about all the real and erroneous scientific aspects of the movie. I hope all the other Geology teachers out there use this movie as a learning tool. There is enough good information in it and it is presented in a fashion that the kids crave. What a golden learning/teaching opportunity! P.S. I was so proud of my students, they picked up the fact that there shouldn't have been a basaltic lava flow mixed in with the pyroclastics!
I saw Dante's Peak at a special screening before it opened, and contrary to most of the comments I have read, I hated it. A plot was nonexistent, and the inaccuracies and impossibilities in the movie (driving a truck over a pahoehoe flow!) ruined the movie. I thought the movie was about three hours long and was shocked when I left the theatre and saw it had barely been 90 minutes.
This movie kicked booty! I especially loved the parts where the two people fryied in the hot spring and the part where they outran the pyroclastic cloud. If I was Siskel or Ebert, I would give this movie two-thumbs up. You people criticizing it just don't know how to enjoy a good movie.
I went to check out the movie's special effects. The plot was predictable and the part in which the four-wheel-drive vehicle scoots across flowing lava without nary a scratch is unbelievable. Otherwise, a good action movie. It would have been more effective had the initial scenes of the Colombian volcanic eruption which were very good (dirty) and moved them to Dante's Peak. The post-eruption Dante's Peak was much to clean.
My husband and I just returned from our 2nd viewing...went last night with another couple and today took our 4 and 7 year old girls who love Jurrasic Park and Twister. Opps...too much for them. (Part of parenting is the mistakes!)
When we see movie commercials, we decide right away if a movie NEEDS the big screen (Dante's Peak, Twister, Independence Day) or will it be okay on video (Up Close and Personal, Circle of Friends). Dante's Peak is definately the "BIG SCREEN" experience.
Okay, okay, so the lava flows and indestructible tires aren't realistic. If I wanted reality, I'd check out the nature channel. When I want entertainment, I go to the movies! We were very entertained. I felt the acting was adequate, the writing was good, the plot was exciting and overall it was a good theatrical experience.
I'm glad I visited this web page AFTER seeing the movie!
I want to order as many of "the truck" that could go through lava, spin tires, in lava without melting rubber,rims,exploding the gas tank and everyone in the truck that I possibly can.Perhaps I could sell it to NASA and they could use it on the hot side of the moon or perhaps the sun, Yes, that is the ticket,they could drive it on the sun, even though it is a ball of gas, that truck could walk on water. I feel that it could of been just as entertainig as well as informative if they went for the truth instead of man saves everyone but Grandmother( it was she who saved everyone by jumping in the acid water and pulled the boat to the dock)who I imagine wasn't worth the trouble to save for the movie sake. To me, special effects are great but as you see are not worth much if the story line is ridiculous It did one thing, I wanted to learn the truth of the matter and go on line and look up valcano and there effects on the world and everything in it. I have gread admiration for volcanologist, who without them, many lives would be lost. Thank you for risking your lives so that others may live. Susan
I think Dante's Peak was, so far, the best volcano movie I have ever seen. I am waiting for Volcano to come and see how that compares. I hope it is just as good, if not better. I like the action and the suspense in Dante's Peak. The only part I didn't like was when his bone was showing out of his arm. Everyone one in the entire theater shared my feelings with me on that, with a loud "Ewwww" and a loud "Ohhh." When the movie Volcano comes out, I want to see how the helicopters with their little water scoops actually "put out" the lava flows in the streets (as seen in the previews).
I thought "Dante's Peak" was well-done (pun intended) and very enjoyable overall. The special effects were excellent overall, and the ash was the same shade of battleship gray as the ash I collected from the Mt. St. Helens eruption and it really does look a lot like snow when it's falling). The lahar was very well-done, but who in his right mind would to try to drive through one (or through molten lava?)
The special effects of this movie were great and the actors did a wonderful job. On a scale of 1 to 10 this movie was at least a 9. This has to be Brosnan's best acting yet!
Fun but predictable...how many small towns (under 20,000 remember) do you know of that have a freeway overpass in them. The minute I saw that I told my wife "It's going down." Needless to say my wife didn't really enjoy sitting next to me as I predicted everything that was going to happen. And the inconsistancies...big lava bomb hits truck at beginning of movie - truck keeps moving - small (2-3 inches)bomb penetrates truck roof and kills girl. Acid lake melts boat in seconds after they get in it but is sitting in the acid as they approch it: wouldn't it have already melted? Just remember, in these kinds of movies: lead roles survive and are in love by end, kids and dogs always survive but get everyone deep into deep doo-doo, grumpy grandmas who live by lakes (and Harry Truman) always dies. Anyway I kind of liked it. It fit into our "natural disaster night" - my wife just had to make it home for "Asteroid." Did you ever notice how things that shouldn't explode or burn (like concrete) always do so in these movies. P.S. My wife hates me now.
I thought the movie was very exciting. I imagined my self as Linda with raising two kids on her own and Having to struggle. She sould of been more assertive in dealing with issues. The acid scene in the boat was nice also. I enjoyed the movie.
I THOUGHT IT WAS BETTER THAN TWISTER IT IS A MUST SEE MOVIE! EVERY MUSCLE IN MY BODY STAYED TIGHT AS CAN BE WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. I GIVE IT 10 STARS!!! ITS A VERY GOOD MOVIE.
I thought that Dantes Peak was a really ggod movie. As towards real life volcanos - I don't know... I have never seen a real volcano erupt. But, with the forces of nature the way they are this movie is the closest. Some say that the actual eruption is from Mt. Saint Helens Eruption? If it is then the force of nature is more deadly then anyone thinks.... After all, Isn't the Mammoth Lakes area now showing the same or simular signs as dantes peak? Who knows, The whole setup is but a guessing game and if they get it right, there is a pool of magma 8 mile in Dia. 5 miles down. that wont take long to reach the upper crust and make its way to the surface. I change my Review ---- Dante's Peak ---- is a great movie with excellant special effects..
It is the best movie ever made! I love it! It is my favorite movie of all time! I went to see it 3 times in 2 and a half weeks. It's so great and Peirce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton were wonderful!
I'm a geologist currently teaching at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and I took a few of my intro geology students to the movie. Our critique exactly matched yours. We also think the movie was fun and worth watching, and I would add that the effects that were done right became real in a way no lecture could make them. No need to post this comment; thanks for your web site!
I, personally, liked Dante's Peak. Especially at the end when Pierce Brosnan gets hurt. You see all these movies where the characters walk away without a scratch... But this was not the case. Anyway, I liked this movie a lot.
As a volcano enthusiast, I read and research as much as I can about volcanoes. Dante's Peak was AWESOME !! even though the film really stretched the truth to the breaking point at times. I really enjoy the movie and saw it again a week later with my family members that hadn't been to see it yet ! And it was cool also , because they were asking questions about things we all saw in the movie and wanted to know, "does that really happen like that? Can they do that in real life? " When I last visited my uncle in Seattle, hiking on Mt Rainier was the high point of my vacation !
Enough about the truck! We all know that the truck would not have been able to do what it did. No movie that I have ever seen has been 100% scientifically accurate. Get over it!! It is called poetic license. Enjoy the movie for what it was--a good movie. Perhaps everyone would have been happier if the plot had involved some Quentin Tarentino style gangsta's with guns selling drugs in a volcano cone. Thank you.
P.S. This thing was really filmed in Idaho?!
P.P.S If you haven't seen this movie, do so in the
theater!
I thought it was very well done and also accurate. But I also thoutht that the part where Harry is trappeed in the truck under all those rocks was really unreallistic.
A very exciting action packed movie. I really enjoyed the storyline as well as the vocanoes special effects.
Dear all
Dante's peak does take liberties with a number of falsehoods about Cascade
volcanoes. However the film has created interest in volcanology and the
way nature and humans cope and recover from such disasters.
My name is Mike Gaudern, I work at Mount St. Helens as a volcanic
interpreter. People are asking questions about the the details and I beleive
the film will continue to inspire more people to investigate these natural
wonders for themselves. The film is a spark for futher investigation, not a
documentry.
Hope to see some of you at St. Helens this year.
I am a geology major in CA. I have seen Dante's Peak twice (obviously, I have enjoyed it!). Having suffered an open compound fracture of the left arm, I must say that Brosnan's "fractured arm" in the movie looked REAL. I actually felt pain in my arm during that point in the movie. Heh! If anyone finds out where those incredible tires are sold, let me know!!!!
This movie was okay but it took too long for the action to take place. It wasted so much time saying the volcano was going to explode and when it did then the movie was over. There is another movie coming out called Volcano and that looks much better. I am going to check that one out when it comes out.
I teach geology at Coconino Community College in Flagstaff, AZ. I saw it by myself first, and totally enjoyed it. I got a particularly good chuckle over Brosnans' line about Astrid who was into crystals, not rocks. With all the new-agers hanging out in this area, particularly around the vortices near Sedona, it was nice to see some fun poked at them. After I saw it, I decided it had enough scientific merit, both from what was done right and what was done wrong, to take my class to on an optional field trip, with informal discussion afterward at a local watering hole. Overall, more than half of my class has seen the movie, and we've generated some great discussions. We live in the shadow of an enormous stratovolcano that did a Mt. St. Helens back about 300,000 years ago. After seeing Dante's Peak, my students are very happy that our local stratovolcano is extinct (as far as anyone can tell...). If one of our local little cinder cones wants to produce a new basalt flow, though, that would be okay with all of us. (By the way, I want one of those trucks too.)
Dante's Peak was a good movie. I would see it again when it comes out on video. It was a real nail biter. A must see for nature lovers, and volcano lovers. I loved the movie a lot.
I thought it was a fun check your brain at the door movie, despit the obvious dramtic license. I loved how slow the pyroclastic cloud moved, and the hawaiian type lava flow. I spent much of the movie looking at the scenery, ( I am a former Washington resident and volcano hobbyist, not a volcanologist by any means, but would like to become one.)
As a teacher of science and physical geography, I was really looking forward to seeing Dante's Peak, and I made sure all my students knew about it. Most of them saw it before I did, and raved about it, so I went tonight. What a disappointment! The web site for the film is much better than the film itself. I realize Hollywood thinks the public needs frenzied and unbelievable action and chase scenes to sell tickets, but I'm appalled at the scientific problems caused by the need for Brosnan to be shown as capable of solving any new hazard. This leads to most of the incredible and, after a while, laughable events. One that no one has mentioned so far on this site (or at least I think not) occurred at Grandma's house. One minute we're looking at old photos ... the next a lava flow bursts through the wall. Then outside, a river of lava is beside the house. Don't you think they would have noticed this before? Wouldn't the heat have already have started the old place burning? The pyroclastic cloud and the lahar were the best parts. I just saw video of a pyroclastic flow on Unzen (in connection with the Kraafts) and I thought the Dante's Peak version looked similar and but not as sinister. I'll tell my students all this Monday, but I'm afraid this version of a volcano is going to stick with them a lot longer than the great stuff on Discovery and TLC.
I've enjoyed reading all the comments. Saw the movie today with my two kids (11 and 5). They both thought it was "awesome" -- as did I. Some of the critical comments reveal that people weren't really watching all that closely. OK, so the truck drives across a lava flow and the gas tank doesn't explode - duh. But the tires DID burn up, almost instantly. And there were TWO bad guys -- the helicopter pilot and the "boss" computer guy who dies when the bridge gets swept away. And I saw plenty of "non-white" people, including two of the volcanologists (maybe the fellow who complained about that needs to come take my course on human variation! I thought it was a great movie -- bettwer than "Twister", which I loved. The compound fracture was a bit gross. But hey, it's Hollywood, and as I kept telling my 5 year old "It's just a movie -- these are just actors pretending -- everyone will be fine in the end." I liked the humor, and the special effects were awesome -- I liked the log jam going over the dam and the bridge being swept away, and the pyroclastic cloud at the end. I'd love to see a film on "The Making of Dante's Peak." Glad I live in Texas -- no earthquakes, no volcanoes, no hurricanes where we are, seldom a tornado. . . .
I thought the movie was well presented, both in the acting and the information portrayed. The action was very intense and very enjoyable to watch. The wonderful critics of the movie just need to take a nerve pill and lighten up. We don't watch movies to fill our heads with loads of technical stuff. That takes way too much work. ENJOY THE SHOW!!!
I thought it was great! The action pack drama kept me on the edge of my seat. I am currently enrolled in an Earth & Space Science class at UCLA and we are studing volcanoes and and earthquakes. This is a fascinating subject and a scary reality. I just love Pierce Brosnan and thought he did an excellent job.
I enjoyed the movie and took it as a hollywood experience. The great this is that I think children will become motivated to study our region's volcanic history. I think the movie will provide great motivation.
This movie was awesome. It was so good that I told everyone to go see it. The movie was so packed that we sat up front. I loved the special effects about on the eruption scene so much that I went on the web and checked out www.dante'speak.com for those who haven't checked it out, you should. It gives a lot of information about the movie.
Lori Edwards wrote:
After reading the negitive comments posted in reference to Dante's Peak, I would just like to remind these people that this movie is only a movie. Hollywood does not usually go for textbook reality, they want to entertain (seen Twister? or Jurassic Park?). As stated similarly by another person, you go to the movies for entertainment, Discovery channel for reality.
I went to see the movie once with my daughter and we loved it. The special effects were just great. Much more, I saw it a second time with some friends and they enjoyed Dante's Peak as much as I did. Pierce Bronsnan is a very good looking man. Too bad he does not have a web site.
I saw the movie today and thought it was great. I have visited the volcanic mountain in Eastern New Mexico called Capulin mountain and have been fascinated by it. I would love to see more about the Mt St. Helens eruption and other eruptions around the rest of the world but would particularly be interested in the volcanoes located along the west coast of the US. I understand the techinical problems with the movie Dante's Peak but the idea is to entertain 1st then educate. I understand there has been recent activity around Mammoth moutain in California and possible some increased activity around Mt Rainer in Washington How could I find more information about effects from eruptions of these volcanoes.
I really liked this movie and I thought the special effects were groovy!!It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time( the fractured arm was too icky!) I recommend it to people on the BIG screen but I don't think it would be as effective on video at home. I loved the coffee jokes! P.S.Why did Paul(the boss) have to die? He wasn't really a bad guy you know!
I loved it. It was thrilling and it kept my attention. My family had a great time watching this movie. It has inspired my sister and I to study vo to study vocanos.
How in the world did they get that rather large bulldozer up the mountain to dig out Harry after the bridge and most of the road had been destroyed? Did they beam it in there?
Danta's Peak was slow moving at first,but picked up after while,over all it was a great movie.
We thought the movie, Dante's Peak, was AWESOME!! It was SO much fun. We really liked the part when Harry's elbow got chipped. We would go see it again any day! We have NEVER seen such an EXCITING MOVIE!!!!
I enjoyed the movie as an action movie, but as a volcano buff since St. Helens I thought some of it was silly. The oft-quoted tire scene had me almost laughing, and The Dog That Survived Everything was even more unbelievable than Pierce Brosnan's multiple escapes. As for the eruption itself, I kept getting deja vu...because I read every National Geographic article on St. Helens, and even the bridge washing away was the same! (I'm sure you can find pictures on the web, to see what I mean.) And I was really surprised the old granny in the family lodge by 'Mirror Lake' (even sounds a bit like Spirit Lake, doesn't it?) wasn't named Harriet. 8-) I wasn't worried about the acidity of the lake so much as the lava flows, which I told my mates at the time were unrealistic. It WAS entertaining, and Pierce and Linda acted their hearts out, but even the best actors can't do much with a bad script. Thanks to the volcanologists who worked on the film to make it as realistic as it was (which, as has been pointed out, had its bad moments, but if it hooks even ONE kid on a scientific career or a new hobby, don't we all win?). Kudos to the SPFX people... it was odd to see a movie NOT done by IL&M! 9-) I'd write more, but I think these have gone on long enough..
I have not seen the movie yet.Please send me some information in the mail.I would like to know how many times volcanoes erupt and how.
I thought this movie was incredible! It was one I would definently see again. I think it made the movie "Twister" look boring. The action was the best I've seen in any other movie. The producers, directors, and actors did a great job!
This movie was filmed in my home town, and it was v-e-r-y interesting to see it blow up. And yes, Mike Duffy, there is really a freeway overpass that goes along above the town.......which is a * very* small town, population 1000, tucked in amongst the mountains. A beautiful place to grow up and play in the hills. I liked the movie; thought the plot was a little hokey, but definitely enjoyed seeing Wallace Idaho make the big screen.
I saw Dante's Peak once and I had to see it again. It was so Awsome. It was a lot better then Twister. Keep up the good work!
To VolcanoWorld