Supervolcano is a fact based fable set at an unknown period of time in the future, and documents in retrospect a five year period in which the huge and highly unstable Yellowstone caldera (volcano crater) finally erupts as a supervolcano, and the destruction is causes over that period. The film is a skilful construction of drama, documentary, science education, archival footage, and state-of-the-art special effects to produce a ?War of the Worlds? type scenario that would have made Orson Welles proud!

Rick Lieberman (played by Michael Riley) is Scientist-In-Charge of the Yellowstone National Park Observatory, part of the United States Geological Survey. The story unfolds as journalists are invited to the unveiling of ?Virgil? (an acronym for Virtual Geophysical Imaging Laboratory), a powerful 3-D graphic representation and simulation model used to illustrate and predict changes to the form of the Yellowstone caldera. One particularly suspicious journalist questions whether an eruption of the structure is imminent, due to an increase in unnatural activity in the area ? this commences the ?science lesson?. From here we are witness to ever increasing activity at the site; with a corresponding increase in official politicking to allay fears of a possible cataclysm. Despite these official denials, the eruption takes place; and the film follows the proceedings of the catastrophe and the early attempts at deciding a disaster plan for the nation. Most of the film is concentrated in this period. Supervolcano is cleverly constructed in that the ?survivors? of the disaster relate the story of the eruption five years after the event.

In a minor gripe; the dialogue occasionally became a little laboured, due to the scientific information that needed to be imparted. But in an impressive effort for a feature such as this; neither dialogue, nor the scripting became too soppy, sentimental, or melodramatic ? we are relieved from the dreariness of overwrought subplots of heroism and romance. The same, however, could not be said for the occasionally overproduced musical score.

One aspect of Supervolcano that did annoy me was the fact that it was presented in two separate chapters ? the same way it appeared on our screens earlier this year ? it may not annoy others, but to me it ?cheapened? the whole feature.

Among the special effects, the nicknamed Virgil is most impressive. The special effects for the multiple eruptions are also particularly effective, and as realistic as could be expected.

THE EXTRAS

The package comes with a BBC Science Unit two-part documentary The Truth About Yellowstone, each part of about 28 minutes or so. These are both available in widescreen format with the audio in stereo. The documentary is informative, educational, entertaining and quite frightening! After events such as 9/11, the recent tsunami disaster and other recent documentaries, docu-dramas and movies concerning catastrophic natural events; the timing of the documentary couldn?t be any better! One does not have to have a science background to understand what is going on here ? it is pitched quite firmly at the armchair viewer, and contains all the ?gee-whiz? facts and figures to satisfy the most doom sensed viewers.

While some of the special effects (and ?gee-whiz? facts) shown in the documentary are directly taken from the main feature, their return does not detract from the documentary?s quality. The audio track and special effects are quite splendid, as is the quality of the natural footage.

CONCLUSION

This is a skilfully produced and filmed package that I highly recommend for all to view ? not only for the fact that the main feature is a ripping yarn, but the feature and documentary have some basis in fact.

Some people who buy the program may watch the feature only ? this would be a grave mistake in this case. The documentary adds a factual basis to support the more fictional account of the feature.

Two major advantages of this film over the genre of disaster movies emanating from the Hollywood computer graphics factory are that Supervolcano has a strong factual base to it, and the film is largely devoid of cheap sentimentality.

One recommendation when watching the feature: if you live in a block of flats and are subject to a curfew on noise at night, watch it during the day ? your subwoofer will see as much action as it ever in the past!

No part of this package should be missed! Highly recommended.