There is a hidden volcano growing underneath the city of LA. The city is building a new subway line led by Stan Olber (John Carroll Lynch). Mike Roark (Tommy Lee Jones) is living with daughter Kelly (Gaby Hoffmann). He leads the office of Emergency Management where Emit Reese (Don Cheadle) works. When some city workers are killed by something hot underground, Mike goes down to investigate. He barely escapes and gets geologist Dr. Amy Barnes (Anne Heche) to help. He tries to be cautious and has the powers to take over, but nobody in the city wants anything to close down. Then a giant earthquake hits.
It's a traditional disaster movie with lots of stock characters reminiscent of the 70s. It is well made if a little bit corny. A lot of things blow up. Everybody is taking it seriously which was probably difficult. Director Mick Jackson is expert enough to head this schlock fest. The start has a nice quiet anticipation and then it's wall to wall action. There is a lot of real fire action as well as some reasonable CGI. Lava is not the best but there are lots of explosions. Tommy Lee Jones maintains a modicum of realism through his will of personality. It is as good as the genre allows.
It's a traditional disaster movie with lots of stock characters reminiscent of the 70s. It is well made if a little bit corny. A lot of things blow up. Everybody is taking it seriously which was probably difficult. Director Mick Jackson is expert enough to head this schlock fest. The start has a nice quiet anticipation and then it's wall to wall action. There is a lot of real fire action as well as some reasonable CGI. Lava is not the best but there are lots of explosions. Tommy Lee Jones maintains a modicum of realism through his will of personality. It is as good as the genre allows.