Search - Nature Unleashed: Avalanche on DVD

MORE MOUNTAIN MADNESS...

Lawyeraau | Balmoral Castle | 03/27/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"When I saw this DVD in the video store, I knew that I would rent it, as I have a thing for mountains, despite the feeling it would not be a very good movie. Well, my expectations were met. The movie, although mildly enjoyable at times for its mountain views, is pretty much a stinker. It is definitely not a keeper.

The plot is simple. Scientific data indicates that a particular mountain in the Urals in Eastern Europe is going to undergo a massive avalanche that will bring down about half the snow on the mountain onto a ski resort. Of course, the person who brings this information to the village's mayor is met with derision. No one wants to believe her. Like John the Baptist, she is a voice crying alone in the wilderness.

Meanwhile, two mountain bad boys, brothers who run snowmobile tours in the mountains, have their own troubles. The younger one has had a bad break-up with the resort owner's daughter. The other one has his hands full keeping his wilder, younger brother in check. The resort owner's daughter has her own issues, as does her father and his business partner. When the inevitable happens and disaster strikes, let the games begin.

Over all, the special effects are repetitive, which is to be expected, given the fact that this is an obviously low budget film. The plot is loosey-goosey, with a number of silly sub-plots to nowhere, as the script is just plain bad. The directing is laughable and ham-handed. The acting is, for the most part, dreadful, with the exception of the resort owner, who gives evidence of some acting ability. No one in this film should give up their day job just yet.

The bottom line is that viewers should take a pass on this film, unless, like me, you are a sucker for mountains or disaster films. Even then, viewers should proceed at their own risk."

Well, it was no Vertical Limit,

PolarisDiB | Southwest, USA | 02/09/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"But it gets the job done.

A bunch of characters including two brothers, the younger brother's lover, her father the developer, and an avalanche watcher start to realize a nearby peak is about to come crashing down. Trying to find a way to keep everyone safe while maintaining profit, all while overcoming their own inner drama and differences, keeps them busy for roughly an hour and a half. We get to tag along too.

It basically has mediocre dialog, mediocre directing and editing, some pretty good photography, and bad acting, but it's the story that keeps this little experience interesting. In general, it's a somewhat tense countdown while the weight of the mountain starts burdening the souls of all involved. Can't say it was that bad.

Obviously a big difficulty was keeping it going with limited materials, being that a few shots/ideas are re-used several times. It also has a pretty useless side-story about the developer's evil business partner that frankly only worked to use up space, then climaxed in a pretty campy shot that I won't give away. But the fact that it even had side-plots and backstory and character development is kind of commendable for the type of movie it was. So there we go. Entertainment fun-fest and all that.

--PolarisDiB"