Dueling Movies: Volcano Vs. Dante's Peak

InformationGeek · August 11, 2011, 05:42:18 PM

In 1997, when disaster movies seem to make a return, Universal and 20th Century Fox faced off against each other with two movies about volcanoes going: Universal's Dante's Peak and 20th Century Fox's Volcano. Critics gave Volcano higher reviews then Dante's Peak, but that movie was praised for being more scientifically accurate then the other.

If you guys have seen both movies, which one do you think was better. It doesn't matter if you hated both movies, just want to know which was techincally the better of the two. I'm kind of curious about these two films.

Doggett · August 11, 2011, 06:34:29 PM

Dante's Peak for me.

It has a less blockbuster feel and I really like Linda Hamilton.
I kinda miss her in flicks.

Its been while so I can't really remember the specifics, I might need a rewatch.
But I think Dante's Peak just had better drama in it.

akiratubo · August 11, 2011, 06:47:08 PM

I'm no fan of either. They were both stupid, but Volcano was insultingly stupid. So, I guess I'll go with Dante's Peak.

The Burgomaster · August 11, 2011, 08:56:04 PM

I prefer DANTE'S PEAK

Jack Slater · August 11, 2011, 10:43:15 PM

It comes down to what your in the mood for IMO. If it's true insanity with little rhyme to no reason, Volcano is the better bet.

Volcano scientifically is a big hot mess. It's a blockbuster disaster film in the same vein as lets say Earthquake without the cast of big names. It delivers what you'd expect in every disaster film that had past. I mean people going into this movie expecting something else should just stay away for the disaster genre altogether. Spoliers Volcano's under L.A., Are main (Jones) has a daughter that's constantly put in pararrel, Anne Heche is a scientist for crying out loud, eruptions start for the Tar Pits, One characters arce is that he's a rasict cops and bye the end of the movie he changes his mind about being rasict (did this film come out around the time of Rodney King, not sure). Cars, houses, buildings blow up, The effects are decent, heck they even use a building to devert lava into the sea which just so happens to have you guess it his daughter in it......you get my point, it's ridiculous.

Dante's Peak for me is the better movie still fun just not as bat s**t crazy. The acting is about 10 times better which probably says more about Volcano then it does about Dante's Peak. There's a mix and match of truely great effects and not fully realized or pulled off effects. It tries to take a more serious tone with the material but im not to sure if it suceeds in being a better film on that leave or for having it. It also has a way bigger build up which I quite enjoyed.

Jack · August 12, 2011, 07:21:49 AM

Wasn't a fan of Dante's Peak, but at least it had some characters in it and a bit of drama. Volcano did, technically, have "characters" and a "plot", but it was just about the special effects. And when the little girls comments that "everybody looks the same" when covered by ash and soot, oh good god man...did the writers just get back from their political correctness re-education camp before starting work on this?

Silverlady · August 12, 2011, 08:29:07 AM

I prefer Dante's Peak. I like the story line better than Volcano's.

Jack Slater · August 12, 2011, 10:25:02 AM

Quote from: Jack on August 12, 2011, 07:21:49 AM
And when the little girls comments that "everybody looks the same" when covered by ash and soot, oh good god man...did the writers just get back from their political correctness re-education camp before starting work on this?

Oh Yeah! forgot about that that was hilarious.

Hammock Rider · August 12, 2011, 11:56:23 AM

Volcano had better effects but most of the characters were pretty annoying. Tommy Lee Jones was his usual self, but Anne Hesch as a scientist? I wanted to push her in the lava. It was big and noisy though, and for what it's worth, it's one of my 5 year old nephew's favorite movies. After we watched it he actually asked me if there were any volcanos in his back yard that he could save us from.

Dante's Peak seemed like it was lower budget but the characters were more likable. I always enjoy movies that feature the scientist/ man of action character and Pierce Brosnan was good in that role. Linda Hamilton is always an asset. And you've got those two lovebirds that got cooked in the natural spring once the volcano started waking up. So I vote Dante's Peak, but I guess it depends on what you're looking for in a volcano movie.

FatFreddysCat · August 12, 2011, 03:09:21 PM

Dante's Peak for me too. Both films are ridiculous, but "D's P." seemed a little less ridiculous... Brosnan and Hamilton were a better team than Tommy Lee Jones & Anne Heche too.

JaseSF · August 12, 2011, 06:38:20 PM

I actually rather liked both although I agree Dante's Peak is the better film and does have a better plot and better acting. Still Volcano was indeed something of a throwback to those old disaster films of yesteryear and I had fun watching it even if it is more of a popcorn movie so to speak. I actually own both on DVD.