Official Synopsis:
Another massive 10.5 quake tears apart the West Coast, threatening to turn the American landscape into a hellish wasteland. Seismologist Samantha Hill (Emmy® winner Kim Delaney, TV's CSI: Miami) sees an even greater threat: an ever-widening fault line that's heading straight for the country's two largest nuclear reactors. If meltdown occurs, millions will die. Samantha and the American president (Emmy® and Golden Globe® winner Beau Bridges, TV's Stargate SG-1 agree only one man can help them - the scientist who predicted this terrifying natural disaster years before - Samantha's own father, Dr. Earl Hill (Golden Globe® nominee Frank Langella, Good Night, and Good Luck.), now counted as a possible casualty of a massive Las Vegas quake. Together with a crack rescue team including Brad (Dean Cain, Mayday) and Will (Oliver Hudson, The Out-of-Towners), Samantha must find her father and stop the fault from slicing uncontrollably toward millions of people and the ultimate nuclear apocalypse.
Our Take:
I watched the original 10.5 miniseries on TV because I am completely addicted to disaster flicks. They don't necessarily have to be great disaster flicks, I just love watching tales of man versus nature. Unfortunately, I thought it was a pretty weak effort that suffered from a severe case of miniseries-itis. Basically, it started off with a massive earthquake/special effects sequence, but then it was all talk and people looking worried for the next two hours; of course, it ended on a cliffhanger and started all over again the next night. That's a basic formula for TV-movie and miniseries disaster flicks.
So I expected pretty much the exact same thing with 10.5 Apocalypse, but it turns out that it is markedly better than its predecessor. While it's very similar in tone, the balance between action sequences and dialogue is much improved this time around. In the new miniseries, things start off with a bang, then we get a lot of dialogue and people looking worried, but then we get a lot of mini-disaster sequences generously spread out throughout the film. So rather than devolving into a boring talk-fest, 10.5 Apocalypse keeps you interested.
Some of the special effects are a bit questionable at times, but some of the sequences are pretty breathtaking, so it's a mixed bag in that area. Still, it is fun to watch some of the big destruction sequences, such as the Hoover Dam crumbling beneath massive floodwaters.
Unfortunately, the DVD comes sans extra features, and it does one of my pet peeves with miniseries; namely, there are end and opening credits right in the middle of the show. I much prefer when it's edited seamlessly into one three-hour-plus movie. Still, it's a minor complaint, although the lack of extras is a let down.
Overall, 10.5 Apocalypse is an enjoyable disaster movie with some exciting destruction sequences and a good cast filled with TV favorites. People like me who love movies of this type should have some fun with this one.
Overall Picture:
Movie: B
DVD: C
- Mike Spring
Editor
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