by Max Scheinin Read more of Max's reviews at http://www.garfieldlib.com/yanews/july97/max/max.html
In the last few years, the disaster film has been making a comeback. Last year we had Independence Day and Twister. Now we have Dante's Peak and Volcano. Disaster films can be great fun--they can also live up to their title. For an example of the latter, take Dante's Peak a completely silly little picture about a volcano. Yep, nobody knows that it is alive, but it is. It explodes. So, uh, is this movie gonna make sense? No, just watch. Uh, is it gonna be fun? If you don't think--just watch. But, uh, shouldn't it require intelligent participation? No, just watch.
Sound like fun? Judge for yourself--I found this movie completely disrespectful to my intelligence. The special effects were not very good. It was never convincing. I wanted to, y'know, walk out. After five minutes. It is truly ludicrous. I don't mind a movie that isn't "deep", but this movie fails to "entertain".
Now take Volcano, a simple little film that came a few months later. Maybe they were doing extra filming--don't ask me. How's it compare? Next to Dante's Peak, it's Citizen Kane. It's exciting and well-edited and makes the concept of volcanos seem quite realistic. It does what it wants to. You might not find yourself cheering, but you'll probably be on the edge of your seat. Sure I think of the cinema as an art form, and sure, I like to be challenged by a film--to have my morals questioned--but by no means am I so snobbish that I can't appreciate escapist entertainment--and that's what this film provides. I don't think you should pay more then $4.50 to get in--but I don't think you'll altogether regret it if you do.
Dante's Peak: F Volcano: B+
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