Synopsis
Get this: Chinese nuclear tests have jolted the Pacific tectonic plate into accelerated motion,causing terrible volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and massive venting of gasses that will soonheat the Earth to unlivable conditions. The only way to set things right is to set off acounteractive nuclear blast. In downtown LA. Now, I have a very soft spot in my… er… head fordisaster movies, but Scorcher tested even my patience. The FX consist largely of footageli…ted from Dante’s Peak, with some Independence Day thrown in for goodmeasure. The characterizations and plot developments rip off all the worst elements ofArmageddon, and not a single cliché is passed over. Exactly what a serial killer wholooks like Michael Berryman straying in from The Hills Have Eyes has to do withanything is beyond me, but there you go. Almost bad enough to be entertaining. But mostly justbad.
Audio
A 5.1 mix, which should be a recipe for spectacular rumbles, even if the best FX all comefrom other movies. The sounds certainly isn’t bad, and the wind effects in the opening scene arefabulous. Dialogue (along with everything else) completely free of distortion too. Nonetheless,I didn’t quite feel the power a film like this should have. The mix could have used a bit moreoomph.
Video
Decent picture, if you can sit through the film. Though sometimes a bit soft, the image isgenerally good, especially when it comes to the colours and blacks. The contrasts are very strong,even in the night scenes are ubiquitous dark interiors (don’t people who work in crisis roomsneed to see what they’re doing?). A 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen ratio is provided, so you don’tmiss any of the gold.
Special Features
A basic menu, and the only extras are trailers for China Strike Force,Invincible, Cool and the Crazy, and Shaolin Soccer.
Closing Thoughts
Dire stuff, but acceptable packaged.
Special Features List
- Trailers
