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Dante's Peak Customer Reviews (25 - 27 of 35 Reviews)

Thar She Blows!!!
This 1997 movie came out around the same time Tommy Lee Jones' movie "Volcano" did too. This one is better. I might be a little biased because this movie was filmed about 45 miles or so away from where I live. I guess I have a case of favoritism going on here. Pierce Brosnan(Bond, James Bond)stars as a volcano expert named Harry Dalton from the U.S. Geological Survey who is taken to the small, quaint, picturesque town of Dante's Peak, when there is evidence of an active volcano. He meets Rachel Wando, the town's mayor(played by Linda Hamilton)and alerts her that her town is in danger. Not everyone, including some of Harry's co-workers, think there is imminent danger. Oh they would be wrong. So wrong. Before you can say 'Mt. St. Helens', the volcano erupts and the town is in it's warpath. Ash flies everywhere, lava destroying everything in it's path, steaming lakes, mudslides, flooding. You name it. This is a disaster film and they throw in plenty of disaster. The effects in this movie are really awesome. If anything, there's that. It's very realistic and pulled off very nicely. Trees and buildings being incinerated look really good. For me, the best sequence in the film is when Pierce, Linda, her kids, and Grandma are traveling across the steaming lake in the little boat and the boat is slowly being eaten away. Great suspense in this intense and nerve racking scene. Pierce Brosnan is a charming presence, and is pretty believeable in his role as a volcano expert. Linda Hamilton doesn't whip out the finely tuned muscles she had in "Terminator 2", but she holds her own. Nicely cast as a mother and mayor of a small town. Charles Hallahan, who will best be remembered as the captain in the "Hunter" TV series also stars. I got the chance to drive over to this town and saw some stuff being filmed. I caught a brief glimpse of Linda Hamilton, but nothing great. I saw Pierce's chair. I was there to see the filming of the town racing out of the school as the volcano erupted and the church steeple crumbled over and smashed into the school bus. It was a great sight to behold. This was in Wallace, Idaho. This isn't a monumental film that most people will probably remember afterwards. It's pure Hollywood entertainment in every way. It's fun, exciting, and it is very entertaining. That's what we expect with a film like this and that is exactly what we get.

Fun Movie, incredible DTS sound.
The formula for these summer actions movies seems to be: Take an improbable but predictable plot filled with stereotypical characters, then add a bunch of special effects. While Dante's Peak is guilty of following this formula, it's actually not a bad movie. Sure, there are a lot of things wrong with this movie but it is fun to watch. The chemistry between the Bronson and Hamilton characters is actually pretty good, although it's true that most of the other performances in this film are forgettable. The plot is predictable (you know the volcano is going to blow in the end) but there are enough twists and turns in the action to hold your interest.

Admit it -- we watch movies like this for the special effects, and this film doesn't let you down. This film combines miniatures, live action, and computer generated effects in a very believable way. The sound on the DTS DVD is incredible. It's like watching the film in a THX theater.

Sure, this is not Citizen Kane, but it's a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

An explosive treat!
Dante's Peak seems like the ideal place to live... the serenity of the mountainous landscape and the friendly atmosphere seems to wipe out the fact that the town is nestled at the base of a dormant volcano. However, when the U.S.G.S. begins to pick up signals from the volcano that indicate a possible eruption, they send Harry Dalton (Pierce Brosnan) to investigate. While there, he befriends town mayor Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton) and informs her of the risks. When he begins to get the city council into an uproar, his advisor shows up to cool things down and wards off any ideas of an eruption. But the symptoms begin to grow, and soon, ash and rock are flying in the sky as the mountain explodes upon the small township. It's a race for survival for Dalton and Wando, as they must search for Wando's children and get them out before the impending final showdown with the volcano. Digital Domain's special effects contribute so much to the story, making it real and placing its characters in real peril. Suspense, action, romance and a terrific cast make this disaster movie a winner. The DTS version is remarkable, and it is recommended that this be the version you buy.

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