VOLCANO

US, 2004, 104 minutes, Colour.
Tommy Lee Jones, Anne Heche, Gabby Hoffmann, Don Cheadle, Keith David, John Corbett, John Carroll Lynch, Jacqueline Kim.
Directed by Mick Jackson.

Volcano was pipped at the release post by Dante's Peak. However, Volcano seems to be much the better film (not necessarily more spectacular or exciting) but better in plot, focus and a certain plausibility that this might be the way to handle a volcano in LA. It is more of a problem-solving movie than a disaster movie. Tommy Lee Jones looks and acts like the man you could trust in this extraordinary situation as people wake up to lava flows, ash and quakes in downtown LA. Perhaps it is all solved too fast. Perhaps we don't know enough about the characters. Perhaps the family heroics at the end are too much. But, Volcano delivers on a spectacular situation, dangers and human spirit to do something about it. Interesting disaster and solutions.

1. Disaster films? In big cities? The volcano and fire of the disaster? Credible? Interesting and entertaining?

2. The Los Angeles settings? The detail of downtown Los Angeles? The buildings, the streets? The hospitals? Authentic atmosphere for this kind of speculation? The musical score?

3. The title, audience knowledge about volcanoes, eruptions, the tectonic plates and earthquakes, lava streams? The effect of lava? Dealing with a volcano, the underground channels of lava, blocking them? Controlling?

4. The city, the details of the way of life? Everybody in their ordinary jobs? The experience of the earthquake? Mike, at home, his background, his concern for Kelly and her fears? Doctor Barnes and her work with her team? Emmit and his work with the government control? The doctors at the hospital? The police? The situation with the underground railway, the work being done, the protests against it? The disruption of the Los Angeles underground, the tar pits, the potential for earthquake and volcano?

5. The eruption, the visuals of the volcano? The eruptions, the fireballs, the lava streams? The fires, the collapse of the buildings? The means taken to confront the lava, the fire brigades, accidents and deaths? Cars, collapsing buildings? The rescue of people? The underground, the fireballs, the lava? The escapes? The decision to find a cul-de-sac? The lava pushing through? The decision to drill into the sidewalks, the release valves, the control?

6. Mike, his skills, his interaction with Emmit and the police? Driving with Kelly, her being burnt, getting her to the hospital, the phone calls? The focus of sentiment and human interest? His meeting with Doctor Amy Barnes, their discussions, the bonding? Continuing to connect with headquarters? The police? The traps, his decisions, the men? His insights, his focus on the now rather than possibilities? The saving of Kelly, his gratitude to Doctor Barnes?

7. Doctor Barnes, her expertise, talking with the media? Her ideas, the possibilities of controlling the volcano? Her going underground? Her theories? Her going to rescue Kelly?

8. Kelly, the broken family, with her father, her angry mother? Her fears, in the car, getting out, the lava? Her being burnt? Going to the hospital, having to come out of herself, helping the children, her being found by Amy? Reconciliation with her father?

9. The doctors, at the hospital, Doctor Calder, her work, with the firemen, with Kelly? Her husband, his pressures, the facing of the situation?

10. Stan, the intransigence of the underground team, the building of the underground railway? The difficulties of closing down transport in Los Angeles? His men, the teamwork? Under the ground, his rescuing the driver, throwing the driver’s body to safety, his being consumed by the lava and fire? The other members of his team?

11. The police, their decisions? The black man and his being arrested, freed? The decisions by the police?

12. Emmit, at headquarters, handling the situation, channelling communications, his personal concerns?

13. A portrait of Los Angeles, coping with difficulties – and coping with disaster? Audience interest in disaster films, vicarious entertainment, what if…?