Magma: Volcanic Disaster
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Movie Reviews of Magma: Volcanic Disaster
Movie Review: MUSHY MAGMA
Summary: 3 Stars
Originally airing on the Sci-Fi channel, this is another one of those disaster movies with a wholly illogical scientific basis and mediocre special effects. As a disaster movie, it also fails to deliver any real scenes of personal crisis or danger, leaving us with a talky treatise on governmental incompetence.
Xander Berkeley is quite good as the heroic scientist whose theory of cataclysmic disaster is rejected by other scientists; Reyko Aylesworth is very good as his estranged wife whose own life may be in peril; and Amy Jo Johnson is the oh so bright graduate student.
While certainly not a classic disaster flick, it's an okay timepasser.
Movie Review: Typical Made for TV Disaster Movie
Summary: 3 Stars
I won't spoil this movie for anyone who hasn't seen it so this review will be short. Having seen this movie on the Sci Fi Channel, I can say it is about average for a made for TV disaster movie. It starts off good with an interesting premise and quickly goes downhill as the plot become cheesier and cheesier.
The only bright spots in the entire movie are the characters played by Xander Berkeley and Reiko Aylesworth who most people probably know from the Fox show "24." Despite the mediocre script and ridiculous plotline, both manage to shine in their roles. If you're a fan of either Xander or Reiko, the movie is worth purchasing.
Movie Review: Definitely a B-Grade movie
Summary: 3 Stars
Obviously done on the cheap. For example; In a scene where there were supposed to be multiple explosions, was really one explosion done at different angles. Would have worked fine if they had bothered to check the background, and noticed that the extra that got hit in the first explosion, was the same extra that got hit in the second and third explosions.
It's like this throughout the entire movie. Very poor film continuation, weak plot and cornier than a bowl of popcorn. And it's so obvious.
Good for a laugh at the special effects, which again were definitely done on the cheap.
Movie Review: Decent Acting, Terrible Writing
Summary: 2 Stars
I can add little to what has been written about this movie, except that I can tolerate a bad movie; but not a stupid movie, and this is a stupid movie. The opening eruption that bathes a scientific survey team in lava is accompanied by violent tremors and aftershocks and a massive cloud of spewing ash, all witnessed by a rescue helicopter crew; yet five minutes later the protagonist/volcanologist declares the fate of the team "a mystery." And later, while his own team wander along a mine shaft, they all fail to notice glowing lava dripping from the ceiling. The "science" of the movie is equally ridiculous and the President of the U.S. is amazingly gullible about how to save the world--I would have required a lot more convincing before unleashing the Navy to fire nuclear missiles in the Marianas Trench. Finally, I never enjoy watching people falling into lava, but in this movie they are almost casual about it, which considerably lessens any feeling of dread.
Yet there are good points. The acting is above reproach and the interactions of several of the leads, while predictable, are actually interesting. The rest of the movie is TV-budget competent, and since one of the producers is the Sci-Fi Channel, it does no good to expect realistic special effects. The DVD is perfectly adequate, although for some reason the movie trailer is more letter-boxed than the movie itself. The credits at the end of the movie are too small to read on my TV screen, which implies theatrical release overseas. If so, no wonder they hate us.
Movie Review: a simple matter of relieving pressure . . .
Summary: 2 Stars
For some reason, the Earth's core has become unstable, and rising internal pressure has caused an increase in volcanic activity at weak points in the crust, around the world. Magma: Volcanic Disaster (2006), asks that you believe that man has the ability to affect the course of volcanic activity.
Scientist Peter Shepherd (Xander Berkley) and his team happen to be on site at some of the hot spots of volcanic activity, and develop a theory that explains the pattern of events. To spice things up, there is some minor drama involving the reporting of findings to the President. And Shepherd has some personal trials, losing a close friend to an exploding volcano, and is also working on repairing his relationship with his ex-wife (Reiko Aylesworth).
Realistically, what man can do when dealing with a planetary crisis like this is very limited. The plan is to creating weak spots in the crust, using nuclear explosions, and promote volcanic activity at the bottom of the ocean, where the least damage would be done. Submarines from various nations launch nuclear tipped torpedoes, that trigger underwater lava flows.
Lacking scientific credibility, and with average special effects, there isn't much too reason to see this, except for Xander Berkley. Berkley is a very solid actor, and it is nice to see him in a lead role. It is also good to see Reiko Aylesworth (24). Unfortunately despite the film's mostly solemn attitude, the story is just too goofy to be taken seriously.