kzg-79866 I remember when my dad introduced me to 1990s disaster classics. In my early childhood, I would watch nothing other than "Volcano;" now that I'm a little older, I realize that "Volcano" is too unrealistic and predictable. That's why I moved on to "Dante's Peak.""Dante's Peak" is a mind-blowing state-of-the-art disaster film from Universal Studios, Digital Domain, and CIS Hollywood. In my point of view, this film is much more realistic and slightly more scientifically accurate (composite volcanoes do not eject fast-moving, low-viscosity lava) Although a lot of perspectives have their ups and downs, "Dante's Peak" is a good film, and it somewhat keeps the audience in suspense of what would happen next.

Special-K88 Dr. Harry Dalton is a volcanologist with the U.S. Geographical Survey sent to investigate seismic activity in Dante's Peak, a small town in Washington that borders a dormant volcano. What begins as a routine assignment quickly turns frantic and deadly, as he becomes the sole 'voice of reason' while trying to convince his superiors and the blissful town inhabitants of an impending eruption. Despite an obvious setup, it's well-acted with beautiful scenery, first-rate special effects, and a solid buildup of suspense...it's only the dramatic aspect of the story-specifically character relationships-that seem familiar and unconvincing, along with an ending that feels much too convenient. **½

brandonjlong Gather your essentials, and your loved ones, and get the hell out of here! Eruption is on the rise in Ronald Donaldson's Dante's Peak, which puts a town of the same name at risk of destruction from a once dormant volcano that is coming out of hibernation. Dante's Peak lies in the Cascade mountains in Northern Washington. In the midst of the town's festival, the United States Geological Survey receives seismic activity readings that must be addressed. Their best scientist, Harry Dalton (Pierce Brosnan), is sent to investigate the situation. He is welcomed, and ushered around town, by Mayor Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton), who may or may not catch feelings for the presumed hero.After running tests, and making observations, Dalton is highly concerned with the activity the mountain is displaying. However, his team does not share the same concern, and they do not back up his idea to alert the town of the possible risk. With the town on the verge of substantial growth due to a major development, the council does not want to disrupt the community. Well, this decision turns out to be the wrong one, and calamity erupts throughout the town, along with the volcano. After complete destruction of the town, Harry Dalton manages to escape death, and save Rachel and her children. But what about the facts? How accurate can this volcanic event be?From what I have gathered, the eruption seems fairly accurate, to some extent. The volcano is a stratovolcano, which produces explosive eruptions with pyroclastic flows, tephra, and lava flows. Tephra is any debris that becomes airborne in an eruption such as, ash and rock. Flooding from the melting of snow, and ice caps, due to the release of extremely hot gases from beneath the crust is an actual possibility that the movie displays. However, the lava flow scene might not be as accurate. Given the type of volcano, lahar flows that are thick, debris filled flows that move slowly, are the type of flow that should have been depicted. The flows in the film moved at a much faster pace. Also, in a scene where Harry and his new friends are trying to make it back down the mountain, they are cutoff by lava flow, and he decides to drive across it. The truck would have never made it across. Heat from the lava can reach well over 1000ºF, and would have destroyed the vehicle. Hey, it is Hollywood, right?Despite a few inaccuracies, the film provides a pleasant, engaging experience and is overall a good movie. I recommend anyone to view Dante's Peak, and experience a nice natural hazard thriller. It may just spark an interest in geology, and volcanology for some. On a scale of five stars, I give it four stars.

Ben Priestley Dante's Peak Movie ReviewDante's Peak was released in 1997 and rated as a PG movie. It is 112 minutes long. The Genre is action, adventure, disaster, thriller. It was written by Leslie Boham and directed by Roger Donaldson. Dante's Peak is a gripping human drama starring Pierce Brosnan as Harry Dalton a volcanologist who arrives at a countryside town which was named Dante's Peak after a long dormant volcano. Dalton befriends the town's mayor Rachel Wando played by Linda Hamilton and ends up having a love affair with her. There is mounting alarm as the scientist discovers dead trees,dead squirrels, brown drinking water and other early warnings of volcanic doom, indicating that Dante's Peak may wake up at any moment. The movie has elaborate special effects with citizens fleeing the town while the mountain roars, ash falls from the sky, melting snow causes rivers to rage out of control, a dam bursts, bridges collapse and shock waves flatten forests etc. As a year ten student I really enjoyed the movie. As we are covering volcanoes as a topic in school I felt the movie was a good source of information showing the impact of a volcanic eruption. I thought it was realistic and accurate but I would have enjoyed it more if there had of been even more gore in it! I thought the plot was good with a few twists and turns. All in all – a great watch!!