Movie Review: Magma - Volcanic Disaster (2006)

Magma: Volcanic Disaster (2006) - USA - Sci-Fi/Disaster Movie - PG-13

Directed by Ian Gilmore

Starring Xander Berkeley, Amy Jo Johnson, David O'Donnell, George R. Sheffey, Michael Durrell, Reiko Aylesworth, Valentin Ganev

An average disaster movie with a not too original plot brought up a level by a really good cast.

A volcanologist is convinced that an increase in volcano activity is an indication of a global catastrophe. It is up to a professor of volcanology and his students to investigate this possibility and come up with a way to avert this potential tragedy, and an even tougher task of convincing the government.

The basic plot of this movie is pretty much by the book disaster movie plot. Take out volcano and insert any other disaster in the above summarization and you have the plot of any of dozens of other disaster movies. What separates this from a lot of the others are excellent performances by Xander Berkeley, Amy Jo Johnson and the rest of the cast.

Xander Berkeley brings his all to this role as he does with any role. Amy Jo Johnson is refreshing in her role of an eager student whose drive and enthusiasm helps to get things moving forward. Reiko Aylesworth as the semi-estranged wife of Xander Berkeley's character brings empathy to the story. Additionally there is conflict such as a sleazy government scientist who does not take the threat seriously and sets up a verbal smackdown by Amy Jo Johnson's character which is probably the best line in the movie.

My Rating: 3 Fingers

Magma: Volcanic Disaster is available on DVD.

For more volcano disaster movies check out Super Eruption and Disaster Zone: Volcano in New York.

Toxic Fletch