Skyfire [DVD]

An absolutely by the numbers disaster movie in the style of old school classics like ''The Towering Inferno''. Just new, and made in the east. Making something this formulaic, of this genre, NOW, should be so much more cringe inducing to watch. But somehow this manages to be OK. Not great, but OK..

First thing to say, is that just like the Roland Emmerich and Fast and Furious movies, leave your rational brain at the door when watching this movie.Second is that on Prime Video, this is the Chinese language version of the film with the only English spoken by the relevant characters with the majority of the film needing the viewer to read the English subtitles, but if you don't mind this, then enjoy the film for what it is, a Chinese take on the blockbuster disaster movie franchise.The closest western movie to this for scale, is probably Dante's Peak, but with the absurdity levels (i.e. don't think about it) pushed to Moonfall/Fast and Furious levels.The plot, A plush resort has been built on the site of a "dormant" Volcano that supposedly won't erupt for 150 years or so. However being that this is on the "ring of fire", a region of the Pacific of unpredictable volcanic sites that include Hawaii, Japan and Indonesia, to name but a few, the Volcano decides that it is going to erupt.Cue up, a series of "narrow" escapes, plenty of people dying, some seemingly for no reason, a lava chase/escape scene with some very energetic lava plenty of explosions and plot absurdities that seemingly ensure that all of the Chinese protagonists make it out alive.Despite that, I enjoyed the movie, and in places it made me cry a little. Would I watch it again. probably especially now I know to turn my brain off. Hey I bought it after all, and for £3.99 it's not too bad of a purchase.The only other thing is that I would hope Amazon Video would provide the English language dub as an option.

A big-budgeted Chinese disaster movie with a whole lot of action but little logic. Featuring the most basic of generic plots, we have an overly ambitious South African businessman (Jason Isaacs) who's had the wrecklessly nonsensical idea to build a luxurious theme park retreat on an unstable volcanic island. And of course, before the know-it-all geologists on the island get to say "I told you so", the volcano decides enough is enough and starts to blow its top!Despite the special effects not quite being as polished or convincing as a typical Hollywood blockbuster, there's some very decent action set pieces offered up here, albeit a bit over-the-top at times but thrilling all the same. The highlight being the island resorts' sky lift ride which takes spectators right to the top and inside the volcano itself and, unfortunately for the passengers, perfectly timed to coincide with the eruption. Then cue all the lava-dodging survival antics of a band of the islands inhabitants attempting to get themselves to safety, including an all-action, seemingly invincible, father and daughter duo with a fractured relationship. And what attempts at character development there are are tediously predictable in the way they play out and very much play second fiddle to the action. A special mention though to the bizarrely random but beautifully shot underwater marriage proposal. And upon the films' conclusion an inspiring message of hope dedicated to the "Warriors fighting fearlessly through the Covid-19 pandemic" followed by an upliftingly cheesy Chinese pop song played during the end credits...awww.Skyfire lag's behind the likes of 1997's Dante's Peak, which IMO is the best volcano themed disaster movie out there and of which it seems to take the most influence from. But it will definitely fill your fix for a no-nonsense, special-effects driven, man versus nature time-filler. The UK Blu-ray is completely bare-bones but is English friendly with removable English subtitles during the Mandarin language sections which make up around 90% of the films' duration.

Possibly one of the worst volcano films ever. Total implausible scenes. I mean who would in their right mind make a theme park on a volcanic Island? This has parts of Juraasic park & Dantes Peak copied recklessly. Chinese propaganda machine shows all that hugging and sobbing, which betrays the real China. The CGI. Was terrible, like watching a console game. Sorry, just awful🌋🌋🌋😱