Compare Prices
Postage & Packaging: £1.​21
Postage & Packaging: £0.​00
Postage & Packaging: £0.​00
SHOPPING > DVDs > Action & Adventure > Volcano (DVD) > Reviews

Volcano (DVD)

from (5 offers) · Product Information

Volcano (DVD)

Quote-start

It blew up on itself

Quote-end

2 Feb 1st, 2006 

27 Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful

Advantages:
Reasonable special effects, Tommy Lee Jones

Disadvantages:
Weak plot, poor characters

Recommendable No:

Detailed rating:

Did you enjoy it?

Story

Characters / Performances

Special Effects

Soundtrack

christianfilmcritic

christianfilmcritic

About me:

.....

Member since:21.01.2006

Reviews:263

Members who trust:363

Mike Roark (Tommy Lee Jones) is about to spend some quality time with his daughter (Gabby Hoffman), when a small tremor forces him to return to work as the head of Emergency Management in Los Angeles. Shortly afterwards, some city workers are mysteriously burned to death whilst working in one of the city's many underground tunnels. As Roark investigates, he realises that something is not right and calls on the expert advice of geologist Dr. Amy Barnes (Anne Heche) to try to work out what is going on. Barnes and Roark realise that all the events are being caused by volcanic activity going on underneath Los Angeles. Before they can convince the people in charge of Los Angeles, a local attraction explodes with a sea of lava which starts flowing through the streets, destroying everything in its way. It's up to Roark to find a way of stopping the river of lava and all the destruction.

This could have been a semi decent disaster movie, but unfortunately it relies on the special effects to try and keep you entertained. The storyline is weak and totally unbelievable as the actual possibility of a Volcano forming in Los Angeles is impossible due to the geographical location.

The main star of the film is Tommy Lee Jones, who plays a stereo typical hero who has to save the day, even though no one would listen to him. You can't blame Jones for this performance as the character doesn't have any history or real depth of character. Accompanying him is Anne Heche who is not believable as someone with a knowledge of geology especially volcanoes. The supporting cast are there and do a job but don't really stand out.

The film is directed by Mick Jackson (The Bodyguard) and although he hasn't done a terrible job in keeping the film moving, he hasn't made the most of the story. The whole film relies on the special effects to keep you glued to it, but if he had made an attempt to explain the characters a bit more and work more with the storyline, he could have made a reasonable film. The soundtrack to the film is totally unmemorable, which is a shame as a decent soundtrack would have helped make this film more than it is.


The Cast
-----------

Tommy Lee Jones .... Mike Roark
Anne Heche .... Dr. Amy Barnes
Gaby Hoffmann .... Kelly Roark
Don Cheadle .... Emmit Reese
Keith David .... Police Lieutenant Ed Fox
Jacqueline Kim .... Dr. Jaye Calder


Technical Details
-----------------------

Certificate: 12
Length: 104 mins


The Message & Christian View Point
-----------------------------------------------

There is a very small sub story in this film which deals with racial prejudice. It demonstrates that we are all the same and that it's better to work together than against each other.


Conclusion & Rating
--------------------------

With the weak story, poor characters and only special effects to drive the movie, do not bother with this film. There are plenty of other films out there which have better effects, decent stories and believable characters. If you want to watch a good disaster movie, I would recommend The Towering Inferno, it may be getting on a bit, but at least it's believable.

The film is currently available on Amazon for £5.99 which to me is to expensive for this film.
 

How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines

exceptional

very helpful

helpful

somewhat helpful

not helpful

off topic

Products you might be interested in »

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle Of Life (DVD)

Lara Croft - Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle Of Life (DVD)

Production Year: 2003 - Action/Adventure - Director: Jan De Bont - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Angelina Jolie, Ciaran Hinds, Chris Barrie, Gerard Butler, Noah Taylor, Djimon Hounsou, Til Schweiger

User reviews (7)

Buy now for only £ 0.01

Cypher (DVD)

Cypher (DVD)

Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam

User reviews (2)

Buy now for only £ 1.98

XXX (Xtreme Edition) (DVD)

XXX (Xtreme Edition) (DVD)

Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Rob Cohen - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson, Asia Argento

User reviews (2)

Buy now for only £ 0.69

Zulu (DVD)

Zulu (DVD)

Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green

User reviews (14)

Buy now for only £ 0.55

Deep Blue Sea (DVD)

Deep Blue Sea (DVD)

(+) good shark film
(-) makes you jump

User reviews (126)

Buy now for only £ 2.96

The A-Team - Series 4 (Box Set) (DVD)

The A-Team - Series 4 (Box Set) (DVD)

Action/Adventure - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Mr T, Dirk Benedict, George Peppard, Dwight Schultz

Rate it now

Buy now for only £ 0.01

Comments about this review »

Aussieme1106 11.10.2007 05:34

I actually enjoyed this film, just for what it was...... A corny volcano movie...... Very predictable plot, and some nice, cheesy acting..... Tommy-Lee Jones with the jack-hammer, laughable.... I agree with you on the racial differences.... I picked up on it straight away....... That was a trueism....... xx

034keb 28.09.2006 18:48

Very Good Review

SnowiestElf 01.02.2006 21:56

Great review, sounds like something I would be really interested in. :-)

Compare prices for Volcano (DVD) »

1 to 5 out of 5 offers for Volcano (DVD) Show all offers   sorted by: Price 
Volcano [1997] [DVD]

Volcano [1997] [DVD]

Get mindless for awhile with this 1997 disaster flick, starring the La Brea Tar Pits in ... more

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...

amazon marketplace dvd

Postage & Packaging£1.21
AvailabilityUsually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
 Visit Shop  >
amazon marketplace d...
Volcano

Volcano

Quakes. Riots. Mudslides. Los Angeles has seen it all...almost. Get set for nonstop ... more

action, searing suspense and explosive special
effects when Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones stars in
'the first great action film of the year!' (Matt
Levitz, Syndicated Ra...

LOVEFiLM.com

Postage & Packaging£0.00
AvailabilityIn Stock
 Visit Shop  >
LOVEFiLM.com
Volcano-DVD

Volcano-DVD

thehut.com

Postage & Packaging£0.00
AvailabilityIn stock - Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
 Visit Shop  >
thehut.com
Volcano [1997] [DVD]

Volcano [1997] [DVD]

Get mindless for awhile with this 1997 disaster flick, starring the La Brea Tar Pits in ... more

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...

amazon dvd

Postage & PackagingFree!
AvailabilityUsually dispatched within 24 hours...
 Visit Shop  >
amazon dvd


More reviews »

Volcano (DVD) - review by Coloneljohn

Advantages: Entertainmant
Disadvantages: Not enough of a story

Volcano (DVD) - review by Coloneljohn Coloneljohn 23.07.2006 (23.07.2006) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Volcano (DVD)

Volcano (DVD) - review by lukerussell

Advantages: Great Idea, Great Special Effects
Disadvantages: The idea wasn't fully exploited

Volcano (DVD) - review by lukerussell lukerussell 16.07.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: off topic
Review of Volcano (DVD)

Volcano (DVD) - review by Deenie

Advantages: Realistic lava :)
Disadvantages: Poor characters, weak storyline, unrealistic events

Volcano (DVD) - review by Deenie Deenie 26.11.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Volcano (DVD)

Volcano (DVD) - review by TheNeil

Advantages: Good effects
Disadvantages: Weak story, terrible characters

Volcano (DVD) - review by TheNeil TheNeil 11.12.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Volcano (DVD)

Volcano (DVD) - review by Biffa

Advantages: Tommy Lee Jones!
Disadvantages: Special effects are a bit dodgy in places

Volcano (DVD) - review by Biffa Biffa 27.08.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Volcano (DVD)



Are you the manufacturer / provider of Volcano (DVD)? Click here