Leah Rose F.

Paras

Natural Sciences II

1st year BS Public Health

February 12, 2016

Volcano Movie Review

Most instances, natural calamities occur unexpectedly and catch people off guard. They
sometimes come without a warning and leave without mercy (InsuranceLinked, 2016). This is
fairly true for volcanic eruptions, a catastrophe with enough capability to destroy a whole city
and endanger millions of citizens in just a matter of hours.
In the disaster film Volcano, several scenes were portrayed about a sudden volcanic
activity in Los Angeles, California. Starring Tommy Lee Jones as LA Office of Emergency
Management (OEM) head, Mike Roark, and Anne Heche as geologist Dr. Amy Barnes, the duo
courageously faced the onslaught of a raging volcano amidst the lack of time and preparation
(Sager, 2011).
While watching the movie, one will have many questions and doubts about the scientific
accuracy of the scenes presented. First off, the abrupt appearance of a huge volcano in La Brea
Tar Pits, LA is unlikely, if not totally impossible, to happen in a place above San Andreas fault,
which is a transform fault. These types of volcanoes only form along subduction zones like the
Pacific Plate (Penny, 2012).
Another thing is the scene where people are escaping a subway train as lava flows
underneath it; with everyone in such close proximity to lava, its a wonder that they are not
endangered by the extreme heat lava emits. Lava melts at 1,300-2000 Fahrenheit, while human
skin melts at 200 Fahrenheit (Sager, 2011). Its such an absurdity that the characters are able to
interact with lava so lightly up to the point that they even tried extinguishing it with water and
diverting its direction away with concrete barricades (which lava can melt, obviously).
Albeit volcanic eruptions happen in real life most of the time, the adaptation of the movie
Volcano goes beyond the realms of possibility. The entire film consists of the leads at ground
zero, breathing the ash-filled air without a mask or any safety precautions (Sager, 2011). In
reality, they must have died almost instantly because the glass particles in dust can cause lung
bleeding.
Moreover, the total casualties after the disaster only amounted to a hundred people. In
a city populated by 15 million people, its a miracle to have casualties in just three digits (Sager,
2011). The news report at the end of the film which says the lava is subsiding is also wrong
because lava doesnt subside as it solidifies once on the ground.
Despite all these mistakes and inconsideration to geological facts, Volcano still made the
audience realize the importance of teamwork and cooperation during times of need. It also
emphasizes the growing need for a sound plan of action and a better system of diagnosing
disasters.
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References:
Jackson, M. (Director). (1997). Volcano [Motion picture on DVD]. USA: 20th Century Fox.
Insurance Linked. (2016). Preparing for Natural Disasters. Retrieved February 08, 2016, from
http://insurancelinked.com/preparing-for-natural-disasters-presented-by-insurancelinked
-com/
Penny. (2012, December 05). Bad Geology Movies: Volcano, 1997. Retrieved February 08,
2016, from http://paleopix.com/blog/2012/12/05/bad-geology-movies-volcano-1997/
Sager, D. (2011, December 05). What the film!? Volcano. Retrieved February 08, 2016, from
http://underthegunreview.net/2011/12/05/what-the-film-volcano/