Dante's Peak

Amazon.com

The first of 1997's volcano disaster movies (the second being Volcano) was arguably the better of the two, but both of them made for passable entertainment with some spectacular special effects to serve as icing on the stale cake. After all, Dante's Peak doesn't pretend to be anything more than an updated variation on a whole catalog of disaster movie clichés. Despite all that, it's reasonably enjoyable. It's an added bonus that the script is just smart enough to allow Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton to play their roles with straight faces, never condescending to the audience of the formulaic story. He's a volcano expert from the U.S. Geological Survey, and she's the mayor of a cozy Washington State town perched beneath a volcano that's about to blow. Telltale signs are everywhere, so evacuation must be carried out immediately. Of course, not everybody's eager to leave, and even some of Brosnan's colleagues think his alarm is premature. This sets the stage for massive ash clouds, rivers of raging mud and molten rock, flattened forests, and death-defying escapes by Brosnan, Hamilton, and some (but not all) of her family, friends, and townsfolk. So what if it's all pretty flaky... and can a four-wheel-drive vehicle travel over fire and molten lava without bursting its tires? Don't ask too many questions, and you'll find Dante's Peak to be (if you'll pardon the pun) a total blast. The Collector's Edition DVD includes a documentary about volcanoes, Getting Close to the Show, in addition to behind-the-scenes footage, exclusive coverage of the creation of special effects, and audio commentary with director Roger Donaldson. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Dante's Peak starring Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton.......2007-08-03

Was very pleased with the campy, family oriented feeling I got from this film. A small, pleasant town is suddenly rocked with the huge challenge of accepting the possibility that the nearby inactive Volcano could soon decimate the peaceful world around them. Brosnan is great but the actress who plays alongside him is even better. Linda Hamilton has always impressed me in the roles that she plays in and her role in this one is just as good.

A single mother of 2 and a leader in the community, Hamilton soon teams up with Brosnan as they begin to run across signs that show the area is in trouble. A small but sweet romantic spark seems to start between the two, but there is no time for love when the trouble begins.

Earth shaking scenes of carnage and lava flows devouring everything in their path suddenly put everyone in peril, and the scenes of escape and also of being trapped do add some suspenseful feelings as the second half of this film really rocks with scene after scene of the action, and the impending after effect of the lava. There are a lot of natural disaster style movies that came out during this time, but I happen to feel that Dante's peak was one of the better ones.

Explosive but Fun.......2007-07-13

I really enjoyed this movie. Thought it might fall into the 'running from a catastrophe' type movie, but found it to be very family oriented fun with characters that were pretty defined.

I did enjoy the explosive volcanic scenes very much but also loved the way mom/mayor Rachel Wando (played so well by Linda Hamilton), tried so hard to protect her kids. This made the movie action packed but great family fun.

Pierce Brosnan & Linda Hamilton had good chemistry as well.

Sheryl (shersim3)

Emotionally dead and unrealistic.......2007-07-09

This COULD have been an excellent movie, however, this movie lacks acting, emotion and realism.

Rachel (Linda Hamiltons character) dosen't seem to like her kids at all, actually, she just seem annoyed and irritated with the whole world. One of her quotes is "Fun? What is that? Oh right, that's when you don't have two kids, a shop and a town to run."
Lauren (Rachels Daughter) is a well-behaving, optimistic, caring little angel, you'd think that with all the attitude problems from Graham (Rachels Son), Rachel would be proud of and enjoy being with her daughter, but Rachel just seems irritated and angry all the time. Even when Lauren helps her with her speech and helps her find her jacket, she just gets ignored. Rachel just never seems to want to spend time with her kids.
Another emotion problem is when important characters die, their family and friends just don't care. For example, early in the movie Harry's (Pierce Brosnan) girlfriend dies instantly next to him in the car, getting hit by a volcanic meteor in the head. He leans her towards him, crying, but is more occupied with driving the car!
It's like "OK, you're dead, but I'll mourn you when I get out'a here."
It would have been better if he would have stopped the car and don't want to leave her, having his co-workers forcing him away.

Even though I'm facsinated by volcanos, I actually enjoy watching the movie before the volcano explodes. I thought the story flowed along together nicely, the characters (though lacking emotion) were really easy to read and understand right away, you didn't need might introductions to know their character.

When the Volcano explodes, this movie turns into a super-unrealistic action movie. Harry, Rachel and her kids survive ANYTHING. Rachel dosen't even seem to care that her kids could die within seconds, she just moans and sighs when they are near death.
Some of these unrealistic things includes driving through lava with a car, walking through an acid lake (which magically melts metal, but not Pierce Brosnans jacket) and driving away from a pyroclastic cloud.
Add the totally emotionally dead characters to the mix, if it wasn't for Lauren, you could never guess they were in real danger.

I've seen this movie over 40 times, I do not know WHY I watch it since it's so bad, but I guess it's because this is the "best" of the Volcano movies I've unfortunately seen.

A Decent Volcano Movie........2007-06-14

An interesting story with its moments. The build up to the eruption was great! All the little momments like the too hot hot springs! Though once the lava starts to roll, the script gets a bit unrealistic. I guess it builds suspense. All in all, a good volcano flick.

Volcanic delight.......2007-05-08

I've always been fascinated by volcanos, and have always like Pierce Brosnan doing his thing on screen also. Linda Hamilton is pretty good, though a little lost at times. The others, I hate to say, were just filler. They were never allowed to really fly, or even be more than scenery. Effects are solid, but overdone in some spots. The lead up to the actual blast is the best half. It's an ok film.

Average customer rating:

A great advance in the sound of hd-dvd format
My new HD-DVD video reference title
Enjoy the fireworks
Formula disaster movie

Dante's Peak [HD DVD]
Starring: Pierce Brosnan , Linda Hamilton , Charles Hallahan , Jamie Renée Smith , and Jeremy Foley
Director: Roger Donaldson
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000Q66QAG
Release Date: 2007-07-10

Description

Without warning, day becomes night, air turns to fire, and solid ground melts beneath white-hot lava. From director Roger Donaldson comes an adrenaline-pumping adventure starring Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton. Welcome to the town of Dante's Peak, where a long-dormant volcano is about to erupt with devastating force. Who will survive when the inferno unleashes its fury? the answer will leave you breathless, and the special effects will blow you away!

Customer Reviews:

A great advance in the sound of hd-dvd format.......2007-08-16

I've always thought that we would have "the best of both worlds" joining the picture quality of hd-dvd with the sound from blu-ray format. That's the reason I support and buy the two formats. Anyway, in this occasion I think the sound of the stuff is really great. You can feel every stone falling over your head and your roof. The story itself makes me not to rate 5 stars.

My new HD-DVD video reference title.......2007-08-16

WOW!!! This video transfer is the best HD-DVD video transfer I think I have had the pleasure of viewing. It is absolutely brilliant, it may not be everyones "cup of tea" as far as storylines go but you cannot fault the transfers they are fantastic.

Enjoy the fireworks.......2007-07-16

The 'old-fashioned' disaster movie scenario enjoyed a brief resurgence in the latter half of the 90s. After the success of Twister and ID4, films like Hard Rain, Titanic, Armageddon and Deep Impact followed in its wake. Like the two competing asteroid movies, Dante's Peak was in competition with the imaginatively named Volcano as THE Lava flow of 1997. Which one is better? Well, comparing the two is like comparing an atomic blast to a popping pimple.

Pierce Brosnan is Harry Dalton, a Vulcanologist (or James Bond in disguise if you want) who predicts a major eruption in the quaint Pacific-Northwestern town of Dante's Peak. No one wants to listen to him since the town has just been named the 2nd most desirable place to live in America and is in the early stages of a thriving economy. It's the politics from Jaws all over again. Despite being shouted down by his superiors, Harry sticks around to keep his eye on the imposing mountain and woo Mayor Wando (Linda Hamilton), who is the only one who believes the 4000-year dormant volcano might blow its top.

If you've seen one disaster movie, you've seen 'em all in terms of character importance. Yes, it's bloody obvious who is going to die, some of these people might as well have a death clock counting down stuck on their foreheads. And the panicking idiot mobs don't deserve anything less firey. When will nameless extras learn that following the crowd isn't the best way? I guess this is the weakest part of Dante's Peak, it never really distances itself from that single, eternal cliché of disaster films.

But the film is really nothing but a showcase for special effects and it does them surprisingly well. Made before the extreme popularity of CGI, Dante's Peak has a lot of real-life destruction, in-camera effects and stunt-work. Yes, there is a fair bit of CGI and for a 10-year-old film they still hold up really well. All Volano (Zzzz...) had to offer was a very, very slight lava flow and an unintentionally hilarious scene with a melting man but with Dante's Peak we get earthquakes, boiled skinny dippers, lakes of acid, ash blizzards that create a unique atmosphere, thunder and lightning, red hot boulders raining down from the sky, mudslides, lava (of course), a massive pyroclastic cloud and lots of deep, deep bass sound effects.

It's not a life-changing film by any means, but as disaster movies go it's one of the best, has an occasionally spooky score and entertains really well despite Brosnan taking it all so seriously. I would have given it a higher rating if they killed the dog (more original) and deleted the annoying Grant Heslov's utterly pointless character.

The HD-DVD presents the film is gorgeous 1080p 2.35:1 with a brilliant Dolby Digital+ sound design. The best of the extras from the SD-DVD are ported over, but why the horrible new cover.

A definite must-have for HD-DVD fans.

Formula disaster movie.......2007-06-04

This movie is a good disaster movie with all the elements of a disaster movie. There are all the stereotype disaster characters form the "I'll ride it out" to the "You are scaring my customers".

Naturedly the person that knows what will happen (Pierce Brosnan) has no credibility with the authorities. Then the disaster happens and he must save the beautiful (Linda Hamilton) and family. At first indifferent soon to become enamored.

I do not want to go too much into detail as you will lose the shock value. I can tell you it involves a volcano and a budding love story.

Average customer rating:

seat gripping
yeah right
Volcano: Pure Action Entertainment
A fun film to watch.
it has Tommy Lee

Volcano
Starring: Tommy Lee Jones , Anne Heche , Gaby Hoffmann , Don Cheadle , and Jacqueline Kim
Director: Mick Jackson
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 630528072X
Release Date: 1999-03-09

Amazon.com

Get mindless for awhile with this 1997 disaster flick, starring the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles as a funky place for lava to spew, plus Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche as the brave souls who know how to shut off the spout. Director Mick Jackson (The Bodyguard) wastes no time getting to the good stuff--it's happening even before opening credits are over--and neither should anyone in the mood for technical efficiency without the burden of art. --Tom Keogh

Description

Something unspeakably chilling is heating up The City of Angels. Beneath the famed La Brea Tar Pits, a raging volcano pushes to the surface, raining a storm of deadly fire bombs and an endless tide of white-hot lava upon the stunned city. Experience the pulse-pounding thrills as the dream capital of the world erupts into the stuff nightmares are made of.

Customer Reviews:

seat gripping.......2007-08-12

i think this movie is seat gripping, filled with action -drama-down to earth kind of movie

yeah right.......2007-08-11

Sure it is cool to see the filthy city of Los Angeles get cleaned up by some hot molten lava, but c'mon now this is too far fetched. You got these Chevys driving around on asphalt that is melting from heat but the tires don't pop...yeah right.

Tommy Lee Jones is running around like he is Carl Lewis on a bad day, yet is never out of breath...yeah right.

Some kid shows bravery and actually minds his dad, instead of telling his dad and the co-workers to take a hike while he goes joy riding in the suburban...yeah right.

Fun disaster film but you know...yeah right.

You know what I am talking about. Twister Volcano Hurricane Tsunami Earthquake you know they did like every single one now so there cannot be another. oh wait...Tornado? Yeah right.

Volcano: Pure Action Entertainment.......2007-08-04

I can remember going to the theater to see this movie when it first came out. After it came out on DVD, I couldn't help but to purchase it on VHS and then on DVD when it came out. While sitting here reading some of the comments by other reviewers, I can see why they might feel the way they do about this movie and I kind of agree.

However, this is your typical Hollywood movie. Full of action and known for creating movies out of impossible scenarios. Just about every movie to come out of Hollywood is like this. However, it is Entertainment and it surely is a ride. While the movie start the set itself up, and it tends to start off a little slow, the action start to pick up when Tommy Lee Jones and his sidekick "Gator," played by Michael Rispoli, head into the tunnels below Los Angelos and discover the fiery surprise just lurking below the city.

Just when the movie seems to slow down to give you pause, suddenly the action kicks into high gear once more. Once the big 'quake comes along, the movie kicks itself into high "action" gear as Tommy Lee, Don Cheadle and Anne Heche get their characters moving into high form. While the movie does seem to create an impossible and most likely improbable situation, this movie is intended for Action buffs and will likely be entertained by such. If you're a movie fan looking to nitpick at the inaccuracies in this movie, then it's not for you, but it presents an excellent vehicle for Tommy Lee as an "action star."

A fun film to watch........2007-06-22

When it comes to having a volcano erupt in the middle of a city, it can't get any more un-real than that. With that being said, once you manage to suspend your disbelief it's actually a pretty fun movie to watch.

The acting is definetly over the top, even Mr. Lee Jones himself manages to over-do his character. You learn very quickly while watching this movie that the characters are not worth caring about! They make very stupid decisions that show they have no common sense whatsoever, and its hilarious watching it happen.

The plot itself is very basic and follows the sterotypical Hollywood "survive a natural disaster" storyline. Complete with the lead character who is usually a male coming to the aid of the city (Jones) his sidekick which is generally a female (Heche) and the annoying son/daughter of the main character. All is done perfectly cliche' which makes this movie (in my opinion) a fun and adventurous comedy.

I recommend this movie for some good laughs and a fun time pointing out the sad mistakes Hollywood makes when it comes to these type of movies.

it has Tommy Lee.......2007-05-22

What else can I say? It has Tommy Lee Jones in it, LA is on fire and I used to shop there.
Get out the pop corn and enjoy.

Average customer rating:

a forgotten wonder
lot of black/white
Gwangi in a scorpion suit
1950'S BLACK SCORPION ROCKS
Excellent queso!

The Black Scorpion
Starring: Richard Denning , Mara Corday , Carlos Rivas , Mario Navarro , and Carlos Múzquiz
Director: Edward Ludwig
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0000B1OGC
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Amazon.com

Fans of '50s science fiction should be pleased by this "big bug" chiller, which offers a fine showcase for the talents of special effects master Willis O'Brien (King Kong). The Black Scorpion follows closely in the multiple footsteps of Them!, produced three years earlier by the same company (Warner Bros.)--again, giant insects threaten mankind, though here a volcano is responsible for unleashing them, and the metropolis in peril is Mexico City. Though direction, acting, and scripting aren't on par with Them!, O'Brien's title creatures (which sport implausible yet creepy faces) are memorably monstrous, especially during hero Richard Denning's visit to their nightmarish underground lair. Warner Bros.' DVD features a surprising amount of extras for an older title. "Stop Motion Masters" is a short tribute to O'Brien by his famed student Ray Harryhausen; also included is O'Brien's dinosaur-laden opening for Irwin Allen's The Animal World documentary, and legendary test footage for two unfilmed monster projects by O'Brien's assistant, Peter Petersen. --Paul Gaita

Description

They're big. They're bad. They scuttle along in caverns miles beneath the Earth - until an earthquake opens paths to the surface. Now these monsters of genus Arachnida are invading our world with deadly force. With top special effects co-designed by King Kong's Willis O'Brien, The Black Scorpion is horror with a sting more lethal than the king-sized ants that overran Los Angeles's sewers in the classic Them! Can humankind survive these invincible juggernauts? That fate rests on the shoulders of Hank Scott (1950s monster movie stalwart Richard Denning) as the creatures rip a train from its tracks, snatch a helicopter from the sky and, in the film's most gripping sequence, battle each other in their subterranean lair. Watch out!

DVD Features:
Featurette:Stop-Motion Masters with Ray Harryhausen; Never-before-seen test footage of the Las Vegas monster and beetlemen; Harryhausen-animated dinosaur sequence from Irwin Allen's 1956 The Animal World
Theatrical Trailer:Giant monsters trailer gallery featuring this film, The Beat from 20,000 Fathoms, Clash of the Titans and The Valley of the Gwangi

Customer Reviews:

a forgotten wonder.......2007-09-10

With special effects sequences created in Willis O'Briens garage, you shouldn't expect too much of this movie. But I love it! Giant scorpions on the loose, mysterious caverns and some of the weirdest monsters ever put on film! Richard Denning puts in another good performance, as the other players do, with the exception of the inevitable annoying kid. Most of the extras are worthwhile as well.

lot of black/white.......2007-08-25

good orig. show but the scorps where too,same loud. some repeated scorp scenes of itself and robotic. the scorps face closeups where too stiff lookin and a dark shadow of the scorp superimposed 2 lg. over the peo. of mx.-dumb. rather ent. movie; worth buyin fer monsta buffs. i rem. seein this flic in a motel in 69, in biloxi ms. b/4 hur. camile hit. funny how some memory stix.

Gwangi in a scorpion suit.......2007-04-09

Yep it is the standard big bug 50's sci-fi with a Mexican twist.

We start with the obligatory narrative and a description of what may come. The narrator thinks that volcanoes are evil and bring destruction to farm land. To this land comes a pair of archaeologically strange doctors. They discover a fallen girl (that was just horsing around) and one of the scientists falls in love. The other states "man is born single."

I will not reveal the ugly threat that you already see on the cover. However I think they used them again in "Attack of the Giant Crabs". Also it is fun to look at the technology of the time; they use huge walkie-talkie's, flash cameras (out of flash range), and Bakelite phones. The annoying part of the movie is the kid that will not stay in the car; we all hope he gets eaten early in the story.

1950'S BLACK SCORPION ROCKS.......2007-03-08

The 1950's Black Scorpion rocks,if you are a 1950's science fictionaholic. This one's got all the bells and whistles of the premo black & white science fiction era. It's fun, its campy, it's a classic!

Excellent queso!.......2007-02-26

Yes, that's some high quality cheese. A giant bug movie set in Mexico and for the most part, the Mexicans are treated with respect and dignity. For the most part. So here's what happens. An earthquake/volcano montage of exploding volcanoes from all over the world occurs in Mexico, near the village of San Lorenzo. Two geologists, one from Mexico and one from the USA travel long and hard to "study" the effects. Along the way, the rescue a baby from an empty, thrashed house with a dead policeman in it! They arrive at San Lorenzo where everyone miraculously speaks perfect English. Thank goodness for us viewers! Anyway, the rumbling earth is not the only thing the locals have to deal with...something is picking off folks one family at a time! So the geologists venture forth, rescue a beautiful woman, discover the giant, scary scorpions, go into a cave full of them ("stay, Juanito, stay!"), get tricked back to Mexico City, devise an electric prod to kill the giant bug and a Mexican Army General in the only laugh-out-loud scene in the movie, kill the bug and all ends well. The American leaves early with the girl and everyone else has to stay behind to clean up.
Not bad at all, really, considering that they re-used a lot of footage and the bug scenes were either pretty good or laughably bad. My six year old declared it "The best movie EVER" so there you go. He was quite concerned about the giant bugs and how to kill them, as they were not effected by bullets. He especially liked the final scene where they get the bug into an arena and attack from all sides. Recommended for Family Night!

Average customer rating:

terrific!
Excellent DVD
Hot, Hot, Hot
Real Toasted Coast!

National Geographic - Volcano!
Starring: National Geographic
Manufacturer: National Geographic Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00009B8FB
Release Date: 2003-07-29

Description

Travel around the world for a firsthand look at volcanoes - perhaps the most dazzling but destructive natural force on earth. Massive volcanic eruption can turn day into night, releasing the power of an atomic blast, spewing toxic avalanches of lava, gas, and ash. National Geographic Video transports you to some of the world's most notorious volcanoes, including Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines and Japan's Mount Unzen. Join volcanologists in their dangerous quest to forecast eruptions and save lives and experience the explosive excitement and human drama surrounding volcanoes.

Customer Reviews:

terrific!.......2007-01-29

This is absolutely the best DVD on volcanoes out there because it shows the impact on human life - not only on the people who live in the shadow of an active volcano, but on the people who study or chase volcanoes.

Even though it covers many different eruptions (both old and new), it is well organized and effective.

Highly recommended.

Excellent DVD.......2007-01-09

I bought this for my six year old daughter, who has an interest in Volcanoes. It was a little much for her, but I really enjoyed it. Stunning images and very informative. I highly recommend it.

Hot, Hot, Hot.......2005-02-24

Explosive. Engaging. Horrific. Packed with amazing tales and footage, this DVD has even got a true Romeo and Juliet love story in it about two volcanologists who fall in love, chase eruptions around the world and are finally killed by a volcano. Some of the blazing images will make your skin tingle in awe, in beauty, in fright, in amazement. Nature DVDs don't get any better than this!

Real Toasted Coast!.......2003-12-31

This is one of NGs better productions - partially because the subject itself is so fascinating - partially because of the spectacular footage of the eruptions of Mt Unzen (Japan) and the famous blast at Mt Pinatubo some years ago. Overall, the program gives a good general description of the geological issues, the different types of eruptive activity, as well as larger historical and disaster mitigation subjects. The material is well organized and presented. The DVD version is much better than the original VHS release, and has some additional programming of particular interest.

For all the "sound and fury" of some of Hollywood's recent forays into Volcano disaster movies - this one has the best "special effects" - it's all real!

For further reading (notwithstanding the technical nature of the contents), you should definately aquire the recently published Encyclopedia of Volcanoes (Haraldur Sigurdsson, et al. - Academic Press). Here's what truly lies beneath!

Customer Reviews:

THAT ONE STAR REALLY MEANS NEGATIVE 1.......2006-12-27

JESUS HELP ME! THIS MOVIE WAS SO CORNY, I SHOULD FIND THE DIRECTOR AND PUT HIM IN JAIL! WHAT MAKES THIS MOVIE SO EWW, THEY DIDN'T EVEN FILM THE MOVIE IN NEW YORK! ALL THEY DID WAS SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF FOOTAGE OF A EVERYDAY NEW YORK STREET, THEN IT WILL CUT OFF QUICKLY OF THE NEW YORK STREET AND HAVE THE CHARACTERS STANDING IN BUILDINGS! WHEN THEY DID SHOW THE VOLCANO ERUPTING IT SHOWED PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND IN A CITY THAT LOOKED LIKE BOSTON OR PHILLY! PLUS WHEN THEY SHOWED THE CHARACTERS STANDING OUT SIDE OF THIS NOT NEW YORK STREETS THEY HAD POLICE SIRENS GOING OFF IN THE BACK GROUND THE WHOLE TIME! TAKE IT FROM ME PEOPLE I LIVE IN BROOKLYN, YOU DON'T HEAR SIRENS LIKE THAT ALL DAY! PLEASE DO NOT BUY OR RENT THIS GARBAGE!

LAVA IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING.......2006-11-10

Yep, that's right...a volcanic eruption in NYC is the premise for this hokey but mildly diverting disaster flick. Seems like nasty doctor Michael Ironside is trying to develop a source of geothermal energy and doing so he starts a volcanic rift under the Big Apple. Dedicated tunnel worker Costas Mandylor is the first to discover the lava flow but of course no one believes him. Enter Alexandra Paul as his geologist ex-wife who is called in to find out what's going on. The FBI is certain it's the work of terrorists, while a high city official is secretly funding Ironside's experiment.
The movie is nowhere as intense as the earlier VOLCANO, as it's pending doom never seems large scale enough for a good disaster movie, and the effects aren't that impressive.
Diverting entertainment for fans of the genre.

Average customer rating:

Ring of Fire
stunning imagery, but...
Good Imax Film
Very educational, not so entertaining.

Ring of Fire - IMAX
Starring: Robert Foxworth , Gary Rosenquist , Lawrence Blair , and Dr. Norman Banks
Director: George Casey
Manufacturer: Vista Point Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000FI8MNE
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Customer Reviews:

Ring of Fire.......2007-09-06

I actually bought this for my 4 and 6 year old sons. They love it and it made them interested in volcanoes and earthquakes. They quote it! It is informative and shows more than a US perspective, although a lot of time is spent on San Fransisco, Mount St. Helens. and Hawaii. It also covers a Japan and Indonesia. It entertains and informs. The trailers included are good too.

stunning imagery, but..........2007-06-09

Yes, the footage is stunning, huge and colorful. However, the presentation of information is not really compelling. The topic is interesting, but what's its relationship to everything else? I was disappointed. If you're a teacher, and you're teaching about volcanoes, this is a good one for one period, because it's short. But actually not that thought-provoking. For my money, I'd still prefer to show Dante's Peak, even though the filmmakers have taken some artistic license to tell the story.

Good Imax Film.......2001-05-30

I have purchase several Imax DVD'S. I would rank this film better than most(Grand Canyon and Niagra) and below (The Liveing Sea and Alaska. It is more educational but it does not lack spectacular photography. That is one of the reason I buy Imax is to see thing's you do not ordinarely see. Some Imax films try to tell two to four short stories in a film; to me those film's don't work. I do not buy Imax to see pedestrian plot's; I buy to learn and enjoy the photography. This film fits the bill. If your interested in volcanoe's I do not think you could buy a better film.

Very educational, not so entertaining........2000-08-24

The standards for documentaries nowadays are very high. You need to succeed not only in the educational side of the story but also in entertaining the viewer. As an example, Greg Macgillivray's work in The Living Seas, Stormchasers or The Magic of Flight does everything in order to keep you on the edge of your seat without loosing the story's edge. Here, you can learn a lot from the sysmic and volcanic activities that determine most aspects of the people that live inside the Pacific Rim. Nevertheless, you never feel quite engaged and/or commited to the story as you do with the formerly referred work. The story starts with a visit to Chile's newly born Navidad crater and leads us through a journey that involves San Francisco, the Aleutian Islands, the coasts of the former U.S.S.R., Japan, Hawaii and Indonesia. Anyhow, some shots are impressive- like San Francisco's earthquake recordings- some are really dull. The video and audio quality are very good, though not impressive. Unless you want to complete your dvd collection, try other stuff such as the discs referred above or Africa-The Serengetti or Imax-Alaska.

Average customer rating:

Very Informative
Not enough
Excellent!!

National Geographic - Forces of Nature

Manufacturer: National Geographic Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002CHIM4
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Customer Reviews:

Very Informative.......2007-01-10

Excellent footage, scene set up, and computer graphics. You are "there" for each event. The computer graphics allow you to "see" what is happening beneath the surface during an earthquake, as well as educating you on volcanic activity. The narrative was very informative, however for some inexplicable reason the volume starts dropping at a certain point for a few minutes. A tad annoying, but easily fixed, though you might miss the first few words. There could be a tendency, when putting together a film like this, to over-dramatize, however, the filmmakers resist and we get a reasonable presentation of the facts. I would highly recommend this well done documentary. Be sure to watch the bonus features.

Not enough.......2005-03-10

This video is very short and doesn't have a lot of content. Thier are some great sceens but overall its nothing you havn't seen before. I would have liked to see some avalanches and better explanations of all natural disasters with more depth.

Excellent!!.......2005-01-12

Saw this at the Milwaukee Public Museum on IMAX screen. Oh, the wonders of nature! It will give you a deep respect for the power and the fury of Mother Nature!

Average customer rating:

Killer...
Great, but please--we're adults!
I WAS THERE!!
In the Path of a Killer Volcano

NOVA - In the Path of a Killer Volcano
Starring: Hal Holbrook
Director: Noel Buckner , and Rob Whittlesey
Manufacturer: WGBH Boston
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000C8STOO
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Product Description

The Philippines' Mount Pinatubo is about to blow big. Is there enough time to evacuate the hundreds of thousands in its raging path? Stay with the scientists who remain behind- and see some astonishing footage of the world's largest volcanic eruption in 80 years. Local tribespeople were the first to see the signs. "There was a flash of light from the sky," said one. "I thought it was my time to die." The Philippines' Mount Pinatubo was acting restless- and the volcanologists at Clark Air Force Base were starting to sweat. An angry mountain is highly unpredictable. If they misread its fits and starts, a violent explosion could send pyroclastic flow- hot, dense avalanches- roaring down its sides at 100 miles per hour, burning everyone and everything in its path. But if they ordered an evacuation and nothing happened, these experts could lose their credibility for good. With a typhoon headed in their direction, the stakes are even higher. Torrential rains turn ash and rock into hot mud flows that can bury a town in minutes. Is it time to issue a Level 4 alert- ordering hundreds of thousands to flee their homes? Stay with the courageous scientists who remain behind- and see some astonishing footage as the world's biggest eruption in 80 years really starts to blow.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Killer..........2007-03-25

Used in class to illustrate the power of volcanoes and the uncertainty associated with predictions. The video is good - but a bit too long and over done in the dramatics.

Great, but please--we're adults!.......2006-08-25

I used to use this in VHS format (my own taping, not the PBS product) for my university-level geology students. It's a wonderful tool--informative, exciting, and visually grand. However, I was disturbed to note that the DVD version contains very clear--and silly--drops of words such as "hell" and "damn" from the geologists' interview clips. This really rather mild language adds color to the accounts, and its deletion is so obvious as to be insulting. How tender do those at NOVA think our ears are, anyway? And have they been to any movies lately--or watched any commercial TV?

I WAS THERE!!.......2006-04-30

I was one of the 20,000 American's evacuated from Subic Bay Philippines when Mt. Pinatubo erupted. I have the VHS version -- it is spot on.

In the Path of a Killer Volcano.......2006-01-26

I am a teacher of Earth and Environmental Science and have the VHS version of this fabulous documentary. It excels at highlighting the science of volcanology as well as the real world decisions that the seismologists/volcanologists from the U.S. Geologists had to deal with. It profiles a few scientists who quickly became my heroes after watching this including John Ewert, Rick Hoblitt, and Dave Harlow (among others). I will be purchasing the DVD version of this when it is released. It is a must have if you want to impress upon your students 1) how truly awesome volcanoes are and 2) how important scientific research is in helping to save lives. The DVD version of this should be fantastic. I think that you'll find that it is a real nail biter!

Rameau - Les Indes Galantes / Petibon, Croft, Hartelius, Agnew, Rivenq, Berg, Strehl, Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Paris Opera

Average customer rating:

Opera as a total artistic expression,.....delightfull
OUT OF 120 DVD, THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL
Musically rushed
Now this is more like it!
Great Dance music

Rameau - Les Indes Galantes / Petibon, Croft, Hartelius, Agnew, Rivenq, Berg, Strehl, Christie, Les Arts Florissants, Paris Opera
Starring: Richard Croft , Patricia Petibon , Danielle de Niese , Paul Agnew , and William Christie
Director: Thomas Grimm DVD-Director
Manufacturer: BBC / Opus Arte
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0009S4EQO
Release Date: 2005-08-16

Customer Reviews:

Opera as a total artistic expression,.....delightfull.......2007-09-13

In which moment of life "the opera" concept took away the DANCE?
Seven years ago, in Cancun, a french friend recomended me to enjoy this opera, he was in a live performance in Paris. Now I can say it is one of my favorites operas. The production is espectacular, the music just wonderfull.

OUT OF 120 DVD, THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL.......2007-07-23

I have been checking out library opera DVDs for over a year with the hope that I can find another production of equal quality to this one. So far only a few have come close. Most have serious staging problems often called Eurotrash.

If I was not a fan of one of the singers (Malin Hartelius) I might have missed out on this wonderful production as Rameau is not a composer that I collect.

To all those people who wished that the dance was Baroque, let me say that most people would be bored by baroque dance, after a few minutes. This is a brilliant blending of modern dance and baroque music.

Musically rushed.......2007-07-10

Great to see this staged, but the music is so terribly driven - fast, even rushed - to the extreme. So much of the beautiful detail is lost. Much prefer to listen to Bruggen.

Now this is more like it!.......2007-02-09

This is far and away the best Rameau DVD out there. Though the production is modern, it stays within the Barouqe style and is not a distraction from the music. The tempi are lively and slow arias are touching. The premise of the opera is original by even today's standard and offers the viewer a good idea of what a baroque opera prouction would have looked like in the 1730's while making full use of modern technology. Good extras on the DVD and very exciting music, of course!

Great Dance music .......2006-12-14

Great Fun, Great performence too!Music representing early colonial period of France You will Christie dancing at the end of the show!

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