DANTE'S PEAK

US, 1997, 112 minutes, Colour.
Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton.
Directed by Roger Donaldson.

What comes round, comes round, they say. After a twenty year gap, the disaster movie returned, appealing to a new generation and providing spectacular effects. 1996 saw Twister and Daylight. 1997 was the year of volcanoes. Volcano was due to erupt mid-year, but first to blow is Dante's Peak. Once again, the experience is the thing, not the drama.

Widescreen special effects ensure that we feel the threats, the dangers, the vicarious thrills. Stars Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton are strong and resilient. It's what you would expect. Vicarious thrills.

1. Entertaining disaster movie? Memories of B-grade disaster films of the '50s? The A-budget films of the '70s? Perennial popularity?

2. Audience interest in volcanoes? The histories of eruptions and destruction? From Pompeii to Krakatoa? The movie film tradition about volcanoes and destruction? The change in information-gathering, technological know how to combat volcanoes and to help people escape?

3. The North American settings, the Rockies, the forests, the towns at the foot of the mountains? The town of Dante's Peak and its pride, the parade, economic ambitions? A typical American town?

4. The familiar framework of the structure of the film: the introduction to the expert, his personal grief because of volcanoes, his expertise and dedication to his work, the first rumblings?

8. Pierce Brosnan as Harry? The visualising of his past, his skills, the eruption and the danger? His love for Marianne, wanting to rescue her? The driving, the shock and grief of her death? The four years passing? His personal knowledge and scientific skills? Not taking a holiday? The phone call and the answering machine, seeing him doing relentless push-ups? His calling in, the situation at Dante's Peak, being asked for advice? The screenplay setting him up as a hero? His going to the town, quietly arriving, the hotel, the meeting with the mayor, being caught up with her children and their problems, her mother-in-law? His caution about the volcano, his intuition about the danger? Going with Rachel to the tunnel (and its being the final refuge)? Going to see the grandmother - preparing for the need to rescue her and escape from the mountain? Going with the children to the hot springs, the body of the bathers? His evidence and his decisions?

9. The town of Dante's Peak, the award being made, the plans for industrial development, the members of the council, the meetings, questions of economy, the threats to Rachel and her responsibility? The ultimate meetings and Rachel's being vindicated?

9. Rachel in herself, the family abandoned by her husband? The children and their bond with their grandmother? Rachel and the tension? Lauren and her helping her mother go to the award, calling out the name of Karen? The meeting with Harry? Driving him in the car, children and the tension, the tunnel? The grandmother and the explanation of the situation? Rachel and the award, the speech? Her gratitude to Harry for saving the children at the hot springs? Her decision to call the meeting?

10. The background of the town, the people, their jobs, relationships? Preparation for the disaster?

10. Harry and his continued investigations? The meeting and his decision? The phone calls to Paul? Paul and his arrival, the differing views, calling him out of the meeting? Giving him a fortnight? The team coming to the town, the different personalities within the team? Their computers, the robot? Discerning the signs of seismic movement? The trees being burnt, the boiling water? Ultimately the water supply and its being contaminated? The helicopter rides and the dangers? Taking the robot to the summit - and its falling and the worker being injured?

11. The more personal aspects of Harry's time in Dante's Peak? Rachel and her inviting him to the meal? Going to her store? The cups of coffee and her bringing them to the workers?

12. The signs of danger? The meeting and the possibility of people leaving? The disaster plan? The eruptions and the people's response? The hall, the meeting and the panic? The time of day? The cars and the chaos of people trying to leave the town? The contaminated water, the clogged bridges?

13. The film and its special effects for spectacle? For the dangers and the eruption? The lava flow? The fire? The deadly reality of the eruption of a volcano? The collapse of the buildings? The vehicles? The destroyed bridge? The poisoned water?

14. The phone calls to Ruth? Her refusing to answer? The children and their deciding to take the car and go to their grandmother? Rachel wanting to go to the children? The drive across the water (and the cars foolishly following)? Going up the side of the mountain? The car, the rescue, Ruth and her change of heart? Going down the mountainside, the roads, the trees? Getting in the boat, the acid water? The contamination of the oars, the bottom of the boat? Ruth getting into the water and pulling them to the shore? Harry carrying her? Her collapse, her apologies? Her death? The irony of the dog still being alive - and the effect on them all as it came? The driving through the town, the lava pursuing them? Harry and the idea of going to the tunnel and crashing into it?

15. The team and their withdrawing from the town, Paul coming last, on the bridge, the team watching and his being swept away? His having had the chance to apologise to Harry?

16. The group in the tunnel? Harry and his having picked up the signal? The group seeing the flash working? Their going to the rescue? Harry in the meantime leaving the family, his being crushed in the car? The drama of the rescue? The rescue of Rachel and the children? The promise of a holiday?

17. The character of Rachel - the strong woman? The typical children? Ruth and the obstinate mother-in-law? The various personalities of the town - Jean and her curiosity? The owner of the hotel? The comparisons with the geological team?

18. The popularity of the disaster films? The mid-'90s and the rekindling of interest? Human beings and their knowledge, using their wits? The background of danger and fear? Heroism? Natural disasters, human response? The continued challenge?