25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating film (though probably a bad one!), March 9, 2000
This film follows the familiar disaster scenario: gifted scientist comes to small town where he is sure a horrible natural disaster is about to happen; he warns the citizenry but his cautions are rejected by the establishment (fear for tourist or manufacturing or whatever dollars); cataclysm occurs and hero is vindicated; often leading character(s) perish; finally disaster (volcano, meteor, shark, flood, whatever) effects occur.
This plot outline could describe St. Helens, Dante's Peak, Jaws, and a bunch of other films. In the present film, however, it is used to good effect to describe the very real eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Washington State, and along the way gives an interesting accounting of the life and death of Harry Truman, noted St. Helen's character. The movie's strengths lie in its portrayals of the actual events surrounding the volcanic eruptions; its weaknesses occur with the invented characters of the scientist and his love interest.
As a citizen of Washington State with a love for disaster films, I have watched this film numerous times and enjoyed it. I would really recommend it.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Enjoyable!, February 13, 2002
By A Customer
This was the first "disaster" movie I recall seeing when I was about 13 and I still watch it every chance I get. The film combines real news footage of the actual eruption with re-enacted chaos, leaving the viewer with some idea of what it must have been like at ground zero. The scientist character is indeed based on a real scientist who camped out at the North side of St. Helens. His love interest may be fictional but it adds a human touch to his character. And Art Carney is very funny and warm as Harry Truman. No gore, no senseless violence or gratuitous sex scenes....I like this movie.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A well acted biography on the character's around the volcano, August 5, 1999
By A Customer
This was an excellent movie! Some people may fall asleep to it because different things are happening at once and it's also dated, but for people who like true stories and the great outdoors will be sure to enjoy it! David Huffman's best peformance as he plays the scientist David Jackson, who explores the volcano(He was really murdered in 1985, bless his soul!). The late Art Carney does an excellent job as Harry Truman, the old man who refused to leave his home during the explosion. The ending is very sad. I love the country music score on this movie, which got me into really liking country music in the first place. Too bad they don't really make movies these days as nice as this.
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