Dante's Peak (1997)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Roger Donaldson

Writer (WGA):

Leslie Bohem (written by)

Release Date:

7 February 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

The pressure is building...

Plot:

Dr. Harry Dalton discovers that Dante's Peak, which has recently been named the second most desirable place to live in America, is being threatened by a volcano that hasn't been live for years.

Plot Keywords:

Volcano | Mayor | Lava | Cascades | Volcanic Eruption

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Pierce Brosnan	...	Harry Dalton
Linda Hamilton	...	Rachel Wando
Charles Hallahan	...	Paul Dreyfus
Jamie Renée Smith	...	Lauren Wando
Jeremy Foley	...	Graham Wando
Elizabeth Hoffman	...	Ruth
Grant Heslov	...	Greg, USGS Crew
Kirk Trutner	...	Terry, USGS Crew
Arabella Field	...	Nancy, USGS Crew
Tzi Ma	...	Stan, USGS Crew
Brian Reddy	...	Les Worrell
Lee Garlington	...	Dr. Jane Fox
Bill Bolender	...	Sheriff Turner
Carole Androsky	...	Mary Kelly (as Carol Androsky)
Peter Jason	...	Norman Gates

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for disaster related peril and gore.

Runtime:

Poland:104 min | USA:109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #35097) | Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Poland:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Agua Dulce, California, USA

Company:

Pacific Western

Trivia:

According to director Roger Donaldson on the DVD commentary the camera Pierce Brosnan uses when he first investigates the volcano surroundings is Brosnan's own.

Goofs:

Continuity: While driving around the abandoned town shortly before the volcano erupts, Harry's truck passes the same overturned police car four times.

Quotes:

Harry Dalton: Ever been deep sea fishing?
[the Children nod no]
Harry Dalton: Neither have I. Listen, when we get out of here, we'll go to Florida, and we'll get us a boat, and gather all of the yummy bait that we can possibly get our hands on, then we'll catch us a big, old fat fish.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Tycus (1998) (V)

Soundtrack:

Blue Moon Revisited

Good Effects Make It Fun To Watch

This "disaster film" had some of the best special effects of its day (almost 10 years ago). I have to say "of its day" because technology has made CGI become dated quickly these days.

This film is all about a volcano, a la Mt. St. Helen's, erupting and killing people and destroying a small town below it. Some of the scenes were just jaw- dropping and, at least for the first-time viewer, a lot of suspense over whether the main characters of the story will survive it.

Of course, there are some credibility gaps in here, things that just could not happen such as little boy drive van up a mountain (when his feet wouldn't reach the foot pedals!) but you just go along for the ride and enjoy the tension and special effects even if the story gets a little hokey.

It might not be the most intelligent film, but it's very entertaining 109 minutes, and that's the name of the business. It's good escapist fare, and that's all. It's worth two looks.