Rating: 
Summary: An excellent natural disaster flick.
Review: I saw DANTE'S PEAK in science class and it's very good! Pierce Brosnan (the new James Bond), stars as Harry Dalton, a geologist (an expert on volcanos) who comes to this beautiful town in Washington state that's highly populated to research a volcano next to the town which is said to be extinct, but Harry discovers that this volcano is still active, and it's only a matter of short time when this volcano will erupt. Harry tries to get the town's attention, but hardly anybody believes him except for the town's mayor, Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton), until it is too late. Now, Harry does whatever he can to save Rachel (whom he's secretly falling in love with), her two young children, and the children's grandmother and get them out of the town and far away from the volcano. Harry desparately tries to get Rachel and her family to safety because several years ago, his wife died while they were trying to escape another erupting volcano and doesn't want the same thing happening to Rachel. Yes, this is a natural disaster movie and some of it is politically incorrect, but it is still a fun movie to watch. The performances are especially excellent, especially by Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton, and the two children. The visual and sound effects are truly superb and a thrill ride! There is a good storyline to it, as well. DANTE'S PEAK will keep you on the edge of your seat. This collector's edition DVD is awesome! It has behind-the-scenes, deleated scenes, interviews, and much more. The sound on the DVD is top quality, and so is the picture quality. If you are into natural disaster flicks, then DANTE'S PEAK is for you!
Rating: 
Summary: Fun and intense action!
Review: Action, suspense, and intensity abide in the effects-driven disaster film "Dante's Peak," a movie that will leave you awestruck and numb. I was completely enamored by almost everything the movie had to offer, even if some of the scientific information was a bit far-fetched to make room for the plot's twists and turns. Actors bring life and a human factor to the movie, but the real action lies with the astounding special effects used to bring a volcanic eruption to vivid and detailed life. When seismic readings and graphs point to some geologic activity going on around the small town of Dante's Peak, the United States Geological Survey sends volcanologist Harry Dalton to investigate the possibilities. His arrival brings a silent tension on the town, which becomes voiced when he, along with Mayor Rachel Wando, come across two badly scorched bodies in the local hot springs. Dalton believes that the volcano may be "waking up" from a dormant period, but his boss shows up to calm his theories and instill calm back into the town council. Of course, the movie points in all directions to the impending eruption, in subtle ways that the characters have no interaction with. From here, the group of scientists begin taking samples, surveying the landscape as well as taking helicopter trips into the volcano to determine if the recorded activity is of any consequence for worry. Meanwhile, Harry and Rachel get close, and their delicate relationship is put in the balance when the warning signs become more fervent, forcing them to call an evacuation of the entire town. But it comes too late, and soon everyone is fleeing for their lives as the mountainous volcano begins to spew hellfire and ash into the air, destroying the landscape and casusing massive destruction that stands in the way of Harry and Rachel's escape. "Dante's Peak" follows a very well-known pattern for the duration of its plot: a situation that has implications of disaster is presented, one person knows what it going to happen but no one listens, and then all hell breaks loose. This movie carries off this particular structure quite well: it starts out slow and then speeds up to full speed, never slowing down and heightening the suspense given us by the incredible action sequences, smart dialogue and intense and vivid special effects that are the showcase of the movie. I found myself cheering it on in places, becoming completely enamored with what was going on, and satisfied with the final outcome of the movie. The special effects for this movie are stupendous, and add a lot to the atmosphere the movie portrays. From the moment the mountain begins erupting, the effects give us the feel that everything is larger that life, from the volcano itself to the large, expansive cloud of ash that spreads across the sky and keeps the sun from penetrating. The nice thing about this film is that most of the effects are done with miniatures, giving it a mucher richer look than if it were only done with computerized effects. The sound is incredible, bass-heavy and prominent in wrapping us up in the action. All of these elements at work put us right in the middle of the film, bringing us into the experience as we hold our breath for the next new twist. The scientific aspect for this movie is, for the most part, authentic, and while there are certain liberties taken, it is evident that the filmmakers wished for it to be as true to life as possible. Dalton throws out a lot of technical terms and phrases, making the sincere and believable. Allusions to eruptions and catastrophes of the past give the movie a sense of foreshadowed doom, while also keeping the suspense building. The overall effect this portion of the plot will have on you is overall intellectually backed up by facts and data, which keeps the movie real to life while keeping it moving. The two main leads for the film are excellent in their roles, adding a lot to the experience. Pierce Brosnan is the ideal Harry Dalton: rough, rugged, and totally charming. He has the image of a loner who is looking for the right person. He also has a starkly emotional human side to his personality, as is shown in the beginning sequence when he loses his fiancee in a volcanic disaster. Linda Hamilton, playing Rachel, has a complex role of leader, damsel and mother. She does all three of them at different points, and her ability to combine her performance into all of them makes her performance the best of the film. "Dante's Peak" is the kind of movie you watch with eagerness for the next scene, and then when it's over, all you want is more. The action comes to a screeching halt, and you've been throttled with so much of it already that to have it stop is murder. The movie is one that shakes the senses, and makes us believe in movies that have romance, suspense, intense action and rousing suspense.
Rating:
Summary: Dante's Peak will Blow You Away!!!
Review: I saw this movie in my science class for our unit and this movie was awesome! It begins with a volcano erupting and killing a scientists wife. But then he returns to the town of Dante's peak where it is being named 2nd best place on Earth to live. But the fun turns to terror when the huge volcano erupts, and the town must flee before the final pyroclastic cloud eruption wipes them all out. Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton are the two main people in the movie, in which Pierce and Linda, along with Linda's two kids and their grandma must escape the town. The movie is a little scary, with chases, explosions, and more. But if you like disaster movies like "Twister" then DANTE'S PEAK will blow you away!! The movie is PG-13 for violence/gore/peril.
Rating: 
Summary: Peak Performance
Review: Dante's Peak, was the first of two "volcano diaster flicks" of '97. While it is infinately better than the Tommy Lee Jones version, of a similar story, I still found "Peak" somewhat lacking. Volcanologist Harry Dalton (Pierce Brosnan) is sent reeling, followong the death of his wife, while studying the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in Columbia. Soon after though, he finds himself back at work, called to a small Pacific Northwest town to investigate the rumblings of the local dormant volcano. Though he instantly fears the worse, he must convince the skeptical townspeople and his suspicious superiors who believe he is overreacting in the wake of his own tragic loss. The town's beautiful, widowed mayor Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton) believes him, however, and soon they find themselves in a fight for surrvival, as "Dante's Peak" erupts ten miles high, raining ash and fire over everything in its path. Director Roger Donaldson has helmed his share of thrillers over the years, with modest success, including 13 Days and The Recruit. For Dante's Peak though, he shows some "spunk" with the special effects for the film. They are quite good in the movie. Quite frankly though, that also oulines part of the problem here, while Brosnan and Hamilton are serviceable, it's the script that knocks Peak off its stride. While the actors and action compensate somewhat, things can still get overwrought and predictable at times. The Collector's Edition DVD offers a fairly wide array of bonus material. The commentary by director Donaldson and production designer J. Dennis Washington is pretty solid but can also be dry at times as well. The documentary is a fairly typical excercise but offers interviews with Donaldson, Brosnan, Hamilton, Ilona Herzberg and vulcanologist David Harlow, and their thoughts. As a bonus you can hear the film's underscore, in stereo, on a separate audio track during the documentary. Production notes, the theatrical trailer, storyboards, production designs, on set still photographs, the original advertising campaign, and access to the shooting script top of the disc. Despite the film's problems, if you have to choose between either volcano flick, Dante's Peak is the better way to go.
Rating:
Summary: An explosive treat!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping!
Review: While it contains remarkably realistic special effects, those who have been told that "Dante's Peak" is merely a piece of "eye candy" can consider themselves among the woefully misinformed. It isn't a simple sugar-coated snack to be consumed and hastily digested; it is an elaborately composed symphony of a film. It contains riveting performances, breathtaking locales, a captivating love story and an extremely agile dog. Thus, the "eye candy" label would be ill-suited for this particularly film and more properly directed at other assembly-line disaster movies. Reader, I assure you, after one viewing you will understand: to watch "Dante's Peak" is to have your retinas treated to 109 minutes of cinematic fillet mignon. The story involves the charmingly quaint town of Dante's Peak and its charmingly quaint inhabitants. While the town is the embodiment of peace and tranquility, there is trouble brewing beneath the surface. Geologist Harry Dalton (played with unwavering masculinity by Pierce Brosnan) and Mayor Rachel Wando (played with unwavering masculinity by Linda Hamilton) believe the town in danger of being destroyed by an unexpected eruption from the presumed-dormant neighboring volcano. Their quest to rescue the town meets resistance in the form of a stubborn city counsel, Dalton's ignorant boss and, of course, an enormous volcano. It should be noted that "Dante's Peak" is the perfect star-vehicle for Pierce Brosnan. He is pitch-perfect as the resolute Dalton. In fact, it occurred to me while watching the film that nobody other than Brosnan could have played the role (he just looks like a "Harry Dalton," doesn't he?). In the face of Mother Nature's wrath, Brosnan provides the searing rivers of magma with a worthy human adversary. Early in the movie, his character is introduced vigorously doing a grueling set of pushups. Seeing this, we immediately think, 'The volcano doesn't stand a chance.' Indeed, Brosnan is a force of nature all his own. The film itself is an uplifting one; a tribute to the human spirit. The only thing which disappoints me is that a sequel has yet to materialize. Years have passed since the film's initial release and it has failed to escape the consciousness of movie-goers. "Dante's Peak" has given us such rich characters and wonderfully-realized scenarios, who wouldn't want to witness the further exploits of Harry Dalton & Friends? Personally, upon first viewing the film, I envisioned a trilogy. I could imagine a sequel where the U.S. government calls Dalton out of retirement to stop the potential volcanic eruption of Mount Rushmore. Perhaps in the third installment Dalton & Co. could be thrust into the deep unknown of outer space as they investigate the unusual seismic activity of a dormant volcano on Mars. These sequels, I believe, would prove to be lucrative for the studio while also satiating the overwhelming public thirst for more "Dante's Peak." Regardless of how many sequels are made, the original film will always remain a classic. A skillfully-crafted spectacle filled with wonderful performances and indelible images, you don't have to be a geologist to realize that "Dante's Peak" is a gem.
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable...
Review: [Dolby Digital Version]
Movie Rating: C
Video.......: B+
Audio.......: A-
Extras......: D Overall: C+ You must leave any sense of skepticism behind in order to enjoy this movie, but less so than "Volcano". Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton are great actors, and they show it in this movie. However, don't expect anything more than a popcorn flick. That being said, Dante's Peak does give some great thrills now and then. It's a good movie to watch with your sound system turned up -- it will certainly give it a workout. Surround details are not distracting, as many movies of this genre can become. I would suspect that the DTS version of this disc has a more enveloping surround field, because the surround field fell a bit flat from time to time in this Dolby Digital version. The video is very good, with few artifacts visible from the compression. Considering the huge amounts of smoke and fog in this movie, that's an acheivement. Overall, a good disc for some home theater thrill rides.
Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary Special Effects !
Review: A volcano blows up next to a beautiful town. You do get all you can expect from this content. Romance, action, drama, etc. Good caracter build-up and good story telling. The actors are also good. Specially Linda Hamilton as the Town's mayor and Pierce Brosnan as the expert volcanologist. But the children and townfolk are also very good. The children's grandma is not as good, maybe because the caracter is not very well developed. Linda Hamilton plays her role much better than in both Terminator films. Casting her was a clever move. Pierce Brosnan is getting better with each film he does. This DVD is incredible in special effects. Screen and sound are very good. You can also get some interesting extras such as behind the scenes and special effects explanations. Overall it is a very good movie that takes advantage of a good home theater.
Rating:
Summary: Peak Performance
Review: Dante's Peak, was the first of two "volcano diaster flicks" of '97. While it is infinately better than the Tommy Lee Jones version, of a similar story, I still found "Peak" somewhat lacking. Volcanologist Harry Dalton (Pierce Brosnan) is sent reeling, followong the death of his wife, while studying the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in Columbia. Soon after though, he finds himself back at work, called to a small Pacific Northwest town to investigate the rumblings of the local dormant volcano. Though he instantly fears the worse, he must convince the skeptical townspeople and his suspicious superiors who believe he is overreacting in the wake of his own tragic loss. The town's beautiful, widowed mayor Rachel Wando (Linda Hamilton) believes him, however, and soon they find themselves in a fight for surrvival, as "Dante's Peak" erupts ten miles high, raining ash and fire over everything in its path. Director Roger Donaldson has helmed his share of thrillers over the years, with modest success, including 13 Days and The Recruit. For Dante's Peak though, he shows some "spunk" with the special effects for the film. They are quite good in the movie. Quite frankly though, that also oulines part of the problem here, while Brosnan and Hamilton are serviceable, it's the script that knocks Peak off its stride. While the actors and action compensate somewhat, things can still get overwrought and predictable at times. The Collector's Edition DVD offers a fairly wide array of bonus material. The commentary by director Donaldson and production designer J. Dennis Washington is pretty solid but can also be dry at times as well. The documentary is a fairly typical excercise but offers interviews with Donaldson, Brosnan, Hamilton, Ilona Herzberg and vulcanologist David Harlow, and their thoughts. As a bonus you can hear the film's underscore, in stereo, on a separate audio track during the documentary. Production notes, the theatrical trailer, storyboards, production designs, on set still photographs, the original advertising campaign, and access to the shooting script top of the disc. Despite the film's problems, if you have to choose between either volcano flick, Dante's Peak is the better way to go.
Rating:
Summary: Master of Disaster
Review: Actually, the best part of this Golden Turkey is when the town
gets wiped out by a pyroclastic flow-I cheered for the volcano! Hilariously bad performances from a cast who should have known
better, but then, maybe they needed the money.....! Grab a bowl of popcorn, and enjoy this turkey!
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