Caffeinated Clint
Remember the Summer of ’97? Besides, there were two Volcano movies going head-to-head – Fox’s “Volcano” starring Tommy Lee Jones and Uni’s “Dante’s Peak” with Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton. Not that anyone much cared, because nobody rushed to see either (though did pretty good business, pocketing something like $180 million worldwide), but both films were, despite the presence of lava, chalk and cheese. I enjoyed “Dante’s Peak” more – It was easier to become invested in the characters in that one, as opposed to “Volcano” which seemed intent on passing itself of as something Roland Emmerich, the king of style over substance, might’ve had a hand in making.
I think it’s safe to say that the director of “Death Race” and “Mortal Kombat” will likely be aiming to please Emmerichians with his newly-announced Volcano project, “Pompei”. The Summit (how appropriate) distributed flick is said to be “a period adventure movie recounting the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and the destruction of the ancient Roman city” and that “Like Titanic, another high-profile historical disaster movie, Pompeii film will be anchored by a strong love story”. Yes, okay… but this is Paul W.S Anderson! remember!? Wasn’t his “Resident Evil” also supposedly anchored by a heartwarming message of hope and the importance of family… or something?
The Hollywood Reporter offers up the following synopsis of Anderson’s ”Titanic” wannabe :
Set in late summer 79 A.D., Pompeii revolves around the slave of a shipping tycoon who dreams of the day he can buy his freedom and marry his master’s daughter. What the slave doesn’t know is that she’s already been promised to a corrupt Roman senator, while he’s been sold to another owner.
Just when things can’t get any worse, Mt. Vesuvius erupts with the power of 40 nuclear bombs. But the slave is trapped on a ship headed for Naples, separated from his love and best friend, a gladiator who is trapped in the city’s coliseum. As fire and ash destroy the only world he’s ever known, the slave is determined to get back and rescue them.
Writing this heart-tugging, emotion-doused epic? Lee Batchler and Janet Scott Batchler of “Batman Forever” fame.
