No air. No escape. No time.

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Amy Brenneman, Viggo Mortensen, Dan Hedaya, Jay O. Sanders, Karen Young, Claire Bloom, Renoly Santiago

DML Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ - above average

"You know what, I don't know anything. But, we're not going to make it another hour unless I shut this thing down." – Kit Latura

Why watch this? This mini-disaster film is large on action as the noble Stallone works to save people trapped in a flooded tunnel under the Hudson.

Plot Summary: An explosion collapses both ends of an underwater vehicular tunnel, trapping a diverse group of survivors inside. A disgraced former rescue chief, Kit Latura, is the best option to find a way to navigate the treacherous, damaged tunnel to lead the survivors to safety. They must face rising water, collapsing structures, and a dwindling air supply, all while attempting to find a way out.

Dad's Preview: This is straight-forward vintage Stallone, as the lone specialist, willing to to risk his life on a long-shot to save the trapped survivors. Time is running out as the water is rising. I simply love Stallone saving people - there, I said it. Look for a young Viggo Mortenson as the cocky climbing-expert, who is too smart for his own good.

Davis Entertainment; Universal Pictures

The end of the world is just the beginning.

Starring: Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, Jamey Sheridan, Laura San Giacomo, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Miguel Ferrer, Adam Storke, Ray Walston, Rob Lowe, Bill Fagerbakke, Matt Frewer, Corin Nemec, Ed Harris

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"The man in the desert is Flagg, and I think he's crucifying anyone who gets in his way." – Sue Redman

Why watch this? ... it's a very interesting, and scary, post-apocalyptic epic.

Plot Summary: Following a devastating global plague that wipes out most of humanity, the remaining survivors begin experiencing psychic visions. These dreams guide them to one of two opposing figures: the benevolent Mother Abagail or the malevolent Randall Flagg. As these two factions gather in their respective locations, an inevitable confrontation looms, forcing a final showdown between good and evil for the future of the human race.

Dad's Preview: Adapting Stephen King's beloved novel was no small task. This limited-series (as opposed to the 2022 effort) succeeds on many levels, though it's not perfect. A government-created super-flu escapes containment and wipes out humanity. Those immune are left to survive in a decaying landscape of the dead. Half are drawn to an old, black lady singing hymns. The rest to the dark man (King's personification of evil is often "the walking dude") in Vegas. Early on, we are illuminated to the fact that is the battle of good vs. evil, and we wonder, "Can common folks ever overcome the devil's work? The actors are superb, as is its bluesy soundtrack. The vibe is creepy, but there are nice moments, too. It's worth your time despite and under-achieving ending (All it needed was better special effects back in 1994).

Laurel Ent., DawnField Ent., Greengrass Prod.; ABC

Don't breathe. Don't Look Back. The Dark Side of Nature.

Starring: Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Cary Elwes, Jami Gertz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Lois Smith, Alan Ruck, Sean Whalen, Scott Thomson, Todd Field

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"I gotta go Julia, we got cows." – Melissa

Why watch this? Tornados. This film gives quite an education on nature's most unpredictable phenomenon.

Plot Summary: Dr. Jo Harding, haunted by a childhood tragedy involving a tornado, leads a team of storm chasers hoping to deploy a revolutionary sensor array called "Dorothy" into the heart of a powerful twister. Her estranged husband, Bill, a former storm chaser himself, reluctantly joins the team to ensure Dorothy's successful deployment, as a record-breaking storm system sweeps across Texas and Oklahoma.

Dad's Preview: Tornados hit Texas quite often, and I know first-hand, they can be devastating. I weathered one up close... and that was enough for a lifetime. This film follows a group of highly intellectual and intuitive "storm chasers" during a weather event causing several tornados in rural Kansas. They encounter three very different tornados. It's a lot of excitement as the chasers pursue the funnels, only to narrowly escape. The squabbling and chemistry between Paxton and Hunt is very engaging, as their personal past keeps bubbling out. You can't miss a young Philip Seymour Hoffman in a dorky red ballcap.

Universal Pictures, Amblin Ent.; Warner Bros.

Silently behind a door, it waits. One breath of oxygen and it explodes in a deadly rage.
In that instant it can create a hero... or cover a secret.

Starring: Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Robert De Niro, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Donald Sutherland, Rebecca De Mornay

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"It's a living thing, Brian. It breathes, it eats, and it hates. The only way to beat it is to think like it." - Ben Rickert regarding the nature of fire

Why watch this? ... to appreciate the risks these heroes take every day.

Plot Summary: This story follows two firefighting brothers in Chicago. The feuding siblings come from a long line of men who battled the city's fires. A series of peculiar arson attacks, involving deadly backdrafts, force them to put aside their differences and work together. An arson investigator is working to uncover the mystery behind these dangerous and deliberate fires.

Dad's Preview: This is a great film about firefighters. We witness the standard life-saving events, but the plot goes a lot deeper. There is an arsonist at work. Solving the mystery brings a twist at the end you won't see coming. Kurt Russell's wonderful performance is so nuanced that the audience cannot figure him out. De Niro and Sutherland, in supporting roles, are pivotal to the plot.

Imagine Films Entertainment, Trilogy Ent. Group; Universal Pictures

What's slower than a speeding bullet, and able to hit tall buildings at a single bound?

Starring: Robert Hayes, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Stephen Stucker, Barbara Billingsley

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?" - cabin announcement by Head Flight Attendant Elaine Dickinson

Why watch this? A superb comedy if you just want to laugh and not have to think.

Plot Summary: (as if the plot matters...) When the crew and passengers of a commercial flight fall victim to severe food poisoning, a former fighter pilot, who is afraid of flying, must step up to the challenge. With the help of a gruff air-traffic controller and his old commander, he faces his fears and attempts to land the plane safely. He navigates difficult weather and personal trauma to ensure the lives of everyone on board.

Dad's Preview: "Surely, you must love this film?"... "I do... and please don't call me Shirley". This is the spoof of all film spoofs, taking aim at the Airport franchise. It's a series of absurd situations, snappy one-liners, and it is ALL hilarious! You'll find something you like amid all the segments, be it a sex-craved inflatable autopilot, the dingy stewardess, or the airport control tower loaded with morons and drug-addicts.

Howard W. Koch Productions; Paramount Pictures

One Tiny Spark Becomes a Night of Blazing Suspense

Starring: Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, William Holden, Faye Dunaway, Fred Astaire, Susan Blakely, Richard Chamberlain, Jennifer Jones, O. J. Simpson, Robert Vaughn, Robert Wagner

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Now you know there's no sure way for us to fight a fire in anything over the 7th floor. But you guys just keep building them as high as you can." - Chief O'Hallorhan

Why watch this? This is a harrowing flick, chock full of both terrible and heroic moments.

Plot Summary: Set in San Francisco, the film depicts a catastrophic fire erupting in the world's tallest skyscraper during its grand opening celebration. The architect and a fire chief lead efforts to rescue the trapped partygoers, facing immense challenges as the blaze intensifies. The disaster is ultimately attributed to cost-cutting measures by the building's contractor, highlighting themes of corporate greed and heroism in the face of peril.

Dad's Preview: 70's disaster films usually featured current hot actors (Newman, McQueen, and Dunaway), and a large supporting cast of aging stars (many of whom will courageously succumb one at a time for dramatic effect). Here a skyscraper is burning. As the flames grow and move upward, the situation gets more grim. There are some thrilling sequences as firemen battle the blaze, and a daring rescue takes place. The ever cool Steve McQueen steals the film as the stern, determined Fire Chief O'Hallorhan.

Warner Bros., Irwin Allen Productions; 20th Century Fox

Suspense and shock beyond anything you have seen or imagined!

Starring: Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, Veronica Cartwright, Ethel Griffies, Charles McGraw, Lonny Chapman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I have never known birds of different species to flock together. The very concept is unimaginable. Why, if that happened, we wouldn't stand a chance! How could we possibly hope to fight them?" – Mrs. Bundy

Why watch this? The idea of peaceful birds, turning on man, is literally terrifying.

Plot Summary: A wealthy San Francisco socialite follows a handsome lawyer to a small coastal town. The two connect, yet upon her arrival, the local bird population begins behaving strangely and attacking people. As the attacks escalate and become more violent, the residents must fight for survival against the inexplicable avian threat.

Dad's Preview: Hitchcock was the master of suspense. Every frame of his movie builds on something with an eventual payoff. I love this film because it has some horrifying moments. Hitch wonderfully utilizes lulls. There is a nice, long build-up to the first attack. Then for no reason, the birds stop. This gives the audience a chance to catch their breath. Then comes the next build-up. I think the birds are more terrifying when they are sitting still, on the jungle gym, on the roof, in the drive way. Looking... Planning... Waiting...

Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions; Universal Pictures

Godzilla, a weapon of science, a great battle of wonder and terror!

Starring: Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata, Takashi Shimura, Fuyuki Marakami, Sachio Sakai, Toranosuke Ogawa

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"It's impossible! Godzilla absorbed massive amounts of atomic radiation and yet it still survived! What do you think could kill it?" – Dr. Kyohei Yamane, Raymond Burr (American version)

Why watch this? ... this is the OG Godzilla - a superb and symbolic film about the cost of destructive science.  

Plot Summary: An investigation into a series of mysterious ship disappearances leads to the discovery of a giant, irradiated monster named Godzilla, awakened by atomic bomb testing. This monstrous creature emerges from the sea, causing widespread devastation and panic as it lays waste to Japan. Faced with an unstoppable force, a scientist wrestles with the moral dilemma of deploying a potentially even more dangerous weapon to stop Godzilla's reign of terror.

Dad's Preview: More than any country, Japan felt the full brunt of American war-power when two atomic bombs destroyed the cities of Hiroshima and Najasaski. Ten years later, this film displays the traumatic mental effect those events had on Japan as a nation. The menacing monster, Gojira, is a symbol of mankind's horrible decision to embrace a weapon so devastating. This film classic still has a powerful impact today.

(Note: for those over the age of 40, OG stands for Original Gansta, and, per my kids, it's a compliment.)

Toho Co. Ltd.

Extremely Sweet & Incredibly Heartwarming

Starring: Thomas Horn, Max Von Sydow, Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Viola Davis, John Goodman, Jeffrey Wright

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Oh, I think a lot of things are odd. People tell me I'm very odd all the time." - Oskar Schell

Why watch this? 9/11. This film looks at a single life taken that day, and the massive toll it extracts.

Plot Summary: After losing his father in the September 11th attacks, nine-year-old Oskar Schell discovers a mysterious key among his father's belongings. Believing it holds a final message from his dad, Oskar embarks on a secret quest across New York City to find the lock that matches the key. As he navigates the city, he encounters a diverse group of people, each with their own stories of loss and connection, ultimately learning to cope with his grief and finding solace in human connection.

Dad's Preview: This film is about Oskar. He is justifiably devastated and angry. The clue left by his Dad will to help him go outside again, explore and meet new people... and heal. The performance by Thomas Horn is very good, and I really enjoyed veteran actor Max Von Sydow as the muted renter. This powerful movie is painful and heart-wrenching as Oskar struggles to finds ways to move forward. For all the film's anguish, the journey shows that there might be a way to joy, too.

Scott Rudin Productions; Warner Bros. Pictures

The untold story behind the miracle on the Hudson

Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Valerie Mahaffey, Delphi Harrington, Mike O'Malley, Jamey Sheridan, Anna Gunn

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"This was dual engine loss at 2800 feet followed by immediate water landing with 155 souls on board. No one has ever trained for an incident like that. No one." - Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger

Why watch this? Often heroism goes unnoticed when it's ordinary people doing their jobs.

Plot Summary: After birds destroy his plane's engines shortly after takeoff, pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger makes a difficult decision to perform an emergency water landing on the Hudson River. The successful maneuver saves all 155 passengers and crew, making Sully a hero in the public's eyes. However, an investigation follows, scrutinizing his actions and potentially jeopardizing his career and reputation.

Dad's Preview: Thanks to a tsunami wave of super-hero films, the definition of the word hero is a bit skewed for folks. This film focus is airline captain Chesley Sullenberg, whose flight departing NYC was struck by birds seconds after takeoff. He made the decision to land in the Hudson river. Nobody died, but the FAA was convinced he could have landed at nearby Teterboro airport. This amazing film should help us understand true heroism in the most understated, yet powerful, manner. Once again, Tom Hanks proves he's the man.

Village Roadshow Pictures, Ratpac-Dune Ent., Flashlight Films,
The Kennedy/Marshall Co., Malpaso Prod., Orange Corp; Warner Bros.

The question of whether or not we are alone in the universe has been answered.

Starring: Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Randy Quaid, Robert Loggia, Margaret Colin, James Rebhorn, Harvey Fierstein

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom. Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution, but from annihilation." - President Whitmore

Why watch this? The best alien invasion/action thriller ever!

Plot Summary: Large, mysterious alien spacecraft arrive on Earth and position themselves over major cities, initially causing wonder which swiftly turns to terror as they unleash destructive attacks. Humanity's attempts to counter the invaders' superior technology initially fail, forcing a desperate fight for survival and unity among a diverse group of individuals, including the President, a scientist, and a fighter pilot. This unlikely group must devise a plan to overcome the seemingly unstoppable alien threat.

Dad's Preview: All reservations I had about Will Smith quickly evaporated watching this exciting action flick. He's the perfect fighter pilot with lots of sass and determination. One by one we are introduced to the characters as the invasion tension ramps up. When it finally occurs, it's a cinema spectacle right up there with War of the Worlds (1953). Earth scrambles a desperate team to find a way to defeat the alien attacking force. Can they find a way to stop ships and weapons that out-match humanities best?

Centropolis Entertainment; 20th Century Fox

Houston, we have a problem.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Ed Harris, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Kathleen Quinlan, Chris Ellis, Joe Spano, Marc McClure, Xander Berkeley

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"We've never lost an American in space, we're sure as hell not gonna lose one on my watch! Failure is not an option." - Gene Kranz

Why watch this? It's important history, and so well done. I love that combo.

Plot Summary: Astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert facing a severe crisis when their spacecraft is crippled by an explosion en route to the moon. This incident forces NASA's mission control to abort the scheduled moon landing and work tirelessly to bring the crew back home. Faced with dwindling resources and technical challenges, the astronauts and the ground crew must rely on their ingenuity and teamwork to overcome the perilous situation and ensure their survival.

Dad's Preview: This is an extraordinary telling of a true event that narrowly escaped a horrible catastrophe. As astronauts and ground technicians face the missions issues, it becomes a case study in ingenuity where necessity becomes the "mother of invention". The all-star cast shines, and Ed Harris, as Flight Director Gene Kranz, is memorable as the man in charge on Earth.

Imagine Entertainment; Universal Pictures

"Something hit us... The crew is dead... Help us, please, please help us!"

Starring: Charlton Heston, Karen Black, George Kennedy, Gloria Swanson, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Sid Caesar, Linda Blair, Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy

DML Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ - above average

"No, not much...there's just a hole where the pilots usually sit." - Joe Patroni, when asked to visually assess the airplane's damage

Why watch this? Chuck Heston simply adds legitimacy that makes these disaster movies believable.

Plot Summary: A Boeing 747 suffers a mid-air collision, incapacitating the cockpit crew. A flight attendant must take control of the aircraft, guided by a pilot on the ground. There, however, is no way to land the plane, unless they can somehow get a pilot through the cockpit's gaping hole.

Dad's Preview: This is the best of the "Airport" films. Why? They put Charlton Heston and George Kennedy in charge! As is the case with disaster films, there are usually two sub-plots at play: the fixing of the problem, and the interactions of the innocent folks involved. The latter can get a little silly. This film, however, genuinely feels more realistic. There are also some thrilling sequences that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Universal Pictures

Oceans rise. Cities fall. Hope survives.

Starring: Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, Elijah Wood, Robert Duvall, Venessa Redgrave, Morgan Freeman, Maximillian Schell, Rya Kihlstedt, James Cromwell, Jon Favreau

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Well, look on the bright side. We'll all have high schools named after us." - Astronaut Andrea Baker

Why watch this? This rich film has heart, even in the midst of an epic disaster.

Plot Summary: This science fiction disaster film centers on humanity's response to the discovery of a massive comet on a collision course with Earth. A team of astronauts embarks on a desperate mission to attempt to destroy the comet, while on Earth, individuals and governments grapple with the implications of a potential extinction-level event.

Dad's Preview: 1998 welcomed two flicks about a comet heading for Earth. Mere months before came Armageddon (1998), however, I prefer this film. This story focuses more on how humanity would be impacted, if God forbid, an event like this ever occurs. Both films send shuttle teams into space to blow up the oncoming comet. Here, the shuttle crew, led by the dependable Robert Duvall, is more realistic, less flashy, and I find that to be more heroic.

DreamWorks Pictures, Amblin Ent., The Manhattan Project,
Zanuck/Brown Prod.; Paramount Pictures

In 2004, a devastating tsunami hit southeast Asia. This is one family's true story of survival.

Starring: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, Oaklee Pendergast, Samuel Joslin, Marta Etura, Sönke Möhring

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Lucas, look at this place. They're so busy in here. You get to go and do something. Go help people. You're good at it." - Maria Bennett, to her son Lucas after they reach the hospital

Why watch this? ... the tsunami, as it smashes into the resort, is harrowing footage.

Plot Summary: Maria, Henry, and their three sons take a Christmas vacation to Thailand. Unfortunately, that is interrupted by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The family is separated in the chaos and devastation, forcing them to fight for survival and desperately search for each other amidst the aftermath.

Dad's Preview: During the actual event, I was glued to the news and watched all the footage - the tsunami killed tens of thousands of people. This film is intense to say the least. The scenes of the killer waves are incredibly shot, with well-done, realistic effects. In such a disaster film, it is hard to find anything cheery, but there are some very uplifting moments, as victims pull together to get people to safety and medical treatment. Look for a young Tom Holland in his major film debut.

Apaches Ent., Telecinco Cinema; Warner Bros.

When the big one finally hits L.A.

Starring: Charlton Heston, George Kennedy, Ava Gardner, Lorne Greene, Geneviève Bujold, Richard Roundtree, Marjoe Gortner, Victoria Principal

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I think there are still people alive down there and I want to get them out!" - Stewart Graff

Why watch this? Heston in the middle of a huge disaster... He's the perfect man-of-action I want in charge.

Plot Summary: The people of Los Angeles find their lives disrupted and thrown into chaos by a catastrophic earthquake. Among them are an architect dealing with marital problems and a new romance, a suspended police officer, and a seismologist predicting further disasters. The film follows their struggles for survival amidst the destruction and their interwoven stories as they attempt to cope with the aftermath of the quake.

Dad's Preview: I love well-done disaster films. I'm also a huge Chuck Heston fan, so this epic, filmed in Sensurround (the theater actually shook during the quake sequences), blew me away. As a determined kid, I saw it in theaters over ten times. What the film does well is fully develops its characters. It also realistically depicts a massive quake in a very crowded city. Who will survive the initial disaster and the aftershocks to follow? For its time, the effects were pretty darn good. I still cringe when the truckload of cattle careens off the collapsing overpass bridge. Dang!

The Filmmakers Group; Universal Pictures

What is the cost of lies?

Starring: Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Adam Nagaitis, Emily Watson, Paul Ritter, Robert Emms, Sam Troughton, Karl Davies, Michael Socha

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"The truth doesn't care about our needs or wants, it doesn't care about our governments, our ideologies, our religions. It will lie in wait for all time. And this, at last, is the gift of Chernobyl. Where I once would fear the cost of truth, now I only ask: What is the cost of lies?" - Valery Legasov

Why watch this? This incredible mini-series realistically explores one of the world's most terrifying disasters.

Plot Summary: Initially, the story details the event itself, and the aftermath, as clean-up crews quickly descend upon the smouldering reactor. Workers and civilians are immediately exposed to lethal doses of radiation. It's gut-wrenching. The Soviet government sends in renown chemist, Valery Legasov, and deputy chairman, Boris Shcherbina, to assess (and deal with) the situation. This historically-accurate accounting leads to the final episode that explains exactly what caused the explosion and immediate meltdown.

Dad's Preview: This highly-acclaimed mini-series was nominated for 19 Emmys, winning Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing.  It is incredibly well-down and completely engrossing. We have several plants inside U.S. borders and there is a cautionary tale on the very real dangers of improper nuclear facility oversight.

Sky UK, Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint, Word Games; HBO

She was heralded as unsinkable...

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, David Warner

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"The press knows the size of Titanic, now I want them to marvel at her speed, too. We must give them something new to print. And the maiden voyage of Titanic must make headlines!" – I. Bruce Ismay

Why watch this? A truly epic telling of the greatest maritime disaster.

Plot Summary: A young, upper-class lady, Rose DeWitt Bukater, feels trapped by her engagement to a wealthy but controlling man, Cal. Aboard the luxurious RMS Titanic, she meets Jack Dawson, a free-spirited artist traveling in third class. Despite their stark class differences and Rose's engagement, they fall deeply in love. However, their romance unfolds against the backdrop of the ship's fateful maiden voyage and the impending disaster that will forever change their lives.

Dad's Preview: I've always found sea disasters interesting to research. What went wrong? Could it have been prevented? The story of R.M.S. Titanic is an exercise in man's hubris. For god's sake they called her "Unsinkable", before she had sailed a single league. The film, its cinematography and effects are very well done. Even the fictional love story is engaging. As horrible as it was, the actual sinking, which takes quite a while, is remarkable to witness on the big screen, and I loved every minute of it. 

20th Century Fox, Lightstorm Entertainment; Paramount Pictures

Who will survive-in one of the greatest escape adventures ever!

Starring: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Red Buttons, Carol Lynley, Shelley Winters, Roddy McDowall, Stella Stevens, Jack Albertson, Pamela Sue Martin, Arthur O'Connell, Eric Shea, Leslie Nielsen, Fred Sadoff

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"We're cut off from the rest of the world. They can't get to us. Maybe we can get to them. You've said enough, now get out of the way." -  Rev. Frank Scott

Why watch this? This is the great disaster film by which all others should be compared.

Plot Summary: A cruise ship is hit by a huge rogue wave and capsizes, still afloat, yet upside down. A small group of cruise passengers, led by a determined, plain-spoken preacher, work their way through the badly damaged ship, en route to the inverted hull, where (thanks to a very informed ten-year-old boy) the hull is only one inch thick. The dead and burnt litter their path, and we sense that not everyone will survive their perilous journey.

Dad's Preview: This disaster classic feels completely real as we follows these ordinary folks in a dire, uncertain situation. The trick in these films is to interweave dangerous obstacles, without having it appear too contrived. This was producer, Irwin Allen's, superpower. It also helps that an incredible cast was assembled. I will single out Hackman as the tough, fiery preacher; Ernest Borgnine, as the grumpy, complaining NYC cop; and Shelly Winters, as a Jewish woman too heavy to even be on the journey, but she has her moment, and man, it's a great one. Folks, this is how great action films were done before CGI came along and all but ruined character development.

Irwin Allen, Kent Productions, Ltd.; 20th Century Fox