Dante's Peak
There are these cinematic moments where similar movies come out at the same time. Whether or not it is a happy coincidence or some kind of studio warfare, a film will come out and all of a sudden another big blockbuster of a similar theme will too
Ok, so it seems that a lot of this is happening nowadays and if you haven’t noticed all the action heroes are having their daughters stolen or are coming back for one last heist. But back in the day, well, if two collided like Armageddon and Deep Impact, then it was shocking and uncouth. Similarly, Volcano came out about the same time Dante’s Peak came out.
And although, Volcano delighted in polls and critics, I actually prefer Dante’s Peak.
Dante’s Peak is about a sleepy mountain town of the same name that lives in the path way of a dormant Volcano. When Pierce Brosnan’s team of volcano experts turn up, they discover that the mountain is actually going to explode any moment and they have to evacuate the town before it actually blows up. Unfortunately, like many natural disaster movie, no one believes Pierce and his plucky crew until it is too late and molten lava. It’s up to our leading man and mayor Linda Hamilton (they have character names, Harry and Rachel)) to help as many people as they can before Pompeii happens all over again.
Why is it Bad?
Obviously, like with any action movie, you find it really hard to connect to the characters. More importantly, you don’t like them. Mainly because they speak in this action movie trope of over angst and overly dramatic. You don’t actually give a shit about anyone. They are annoying, particularly Linda Hamilton. And when you put her with Pierce, who doesn’t pull the strong heroic lead well at all, means that our lead character are useless and two dimensional. Also, when watching a disaster movie, there is something so cheap about it, you cannot shake that lack of empathy away.
Why is it Good?
With the more scientific accuracy of how a volcano explodes, Dante’s Peak is realistic. Attending another layer to the tension then, the movie is just as action packed as any. Although sporadic, it has some tender humanistic moments with surprising deaths. Especially, the super sad Grandma bit. Despite the flaws, stupidity and predictability, there is something of a thrill bubbling underneath to an epic conclusion. You may not care about them but you do want to see some fire and ash and that certainly delivers. It is a natural disaster movie after all.
Dante’s Peak may not have lasted like others in the great “Fuck You Mother Nature” genre. But still, it’s mindless at best. It can be gripping and that’s the point you aren’t supposed to think too hard, you’re supposed to watch it for the building tension. And the bloody great mountain that spews the depths of hell on an ignorant town of people.
Yes…..fun.
Well, I think it’s better than Volcano….
TTFN
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