Au coeur de la fournaise

I was in a hotel in Bangkok trying to stay awake all night for a morning flight, and trying to focus on packing my bags to end a trip in SE Asia.

This was the only thing on TV, and I needed some noise in the room.

Just plain terrible. I laughed out loud numerous times at the awful acting, predictable and outrageous plot twists, second-rate effects, and threadbare storyline.

Don't waste your time. It hardly served its purpose as a device to keep me awake.

I often watch movies which are poorly rated and severely criticized, and feel many viewers were missing some significant points; satire, fantasy, surrealism, etc., which reviewers mistake as serious elements of the film. Inferno was roundly criticized for a large number of faults, with which I find myself in complete agreement. And I could add a number of others. I'm interested in forest fires, which is why I went ahead and rented it. In another incarnation I was foreman of a U.S. Forest Service tank truck and fire crew. In fact I grew up in the USFS and around fires. From the technical aspect of the film it is utter, complete and unmitigated B.S. I think Janet Gunn reached her professional peak as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, and is sliding down from there. I hope the rest of the cast and crew have other day jobs. This one really, really stinks, and is totally without redeeming merit.

Well, best thing about the film was the contra dance band at the end, the Hillillies from Mars, of which I am a member. Actors were competent I thought, though working with very poor material. I will say that lunch was pretty good. Though the extras didn't get the same grub as the stars. My buddy Ray, unfamiliar with the movie class system, managed to wander through the first class lunch line and get actual meat instead of the spaghetti we lowly serfs were served. Cast and crew seemed like nice folks. Strange business this second line Hollywood stuff. I think the director must have gotten tired when editing, and the writer gave up after awhile as well. Wonder what it would have been like had everyone mimed their parts?

While viewing a multi-pack of action DVD's I stumbled across what appears to be a little known film that I certainly had not heard of before. The only actor immediately recognizable is Dean Stockwell who has only a small and rather featureless part as Mayor Bill Klinger. Despite this I found the scenery and acting well above average for what was ostensibly a low budget production. Panoramic views of the sweeping forestry were well executed and while the special effects were not up to blockbuster standard they were adequate and in no way detracted from the experience. The plot revolves around new Rural Fire Chief Darcy Hamilton played by the incredibly sexy Janet Gunn. The move brings tension between Darcy, her daughter, the mayor and the local firefighters. All the while a random arsonist is making life difficult. The story itself is sound with some believable action heating things up. Overall I found the movie absorbing with above average acting and reasonably strong plot lines.

This movie was NOT as the description described "The Earth's air is polluted by solar activity, causing much of the planet to burst into flames. Dallas Cowboy cheerleader Janet Gunn stars as heroine Darcy Hamilton. Also starring Jeff Fahey and Dean Stockwell," The actors and actresses were as described(they did leave out boring) It was about an arsonist fire chief setting a fire trying to be a hero and they blew up a dam to keep the city from burning and of course blowing that up didn't endanger the city at all. Do the people who write the descriptions even watch these movies? IMDb needs a rating that allows one to post a minus rating