Combustion (2004)

Sick Product of a Sick System

Expected more

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

'Combustion' (2004) TV/DVD is an entertaining production likened to the serious ('Sharknado', this is not) 'Disaster' genre movies of yesteryear. 'Combustion' contains some of the action, thrills, & suspense you would expect from a TV production. Acting & script are the highlights here, while overall production could have produced a real winner under more capable direction. There are better Disaster genre movies available, but there are also worse. This film is recommended more for die-hard fans of the Disaster genre, more so than the curious Disaster genre viewer. For similar themes consider: 'The Core' (2003); 'Descent' (2005); 'Magma: Volcanic Disaster' (2006); 'Aftershock: Earthquake in New York' (1999); '10.5' (2006); 'Earthquake: Nature Unleashed' (2004); 'Buried Alive' (2004); '10.5 Apocalypse' (2006); & 'Daylight' (1996). Also consider: 'Earthquake' (1974); 'The Towering Inferno' (1974); 'The Day After Tomorrow' (2004); 'Absolute Zero' (2005); 'Tidal Wave' (1973/1975); 'Meteor' (1979); 'Twister' (1996); 'Volcano' (1997); 'Category 6: Day of Destruction' (2004); 'Dante's Peak' (1997); 'The Swarm' (1978); & 'Outbreak' (1995).

I found this made for TV movie very entertaining. In fact, I have purchased it on DVD to watch again whenever I want. I agree that this movie is for entertaining purposes and not mind thinking, but with that said, I thought the plot was well established. I liked that Joe Lando's character, Scott Daniels, was an intelligent man and not some "like duh!" man who didn't know how to do his job. I liked the comradely between Scott and his co-worker. And I thought the special effects were good for such a low-budget movie. The movie is somewhat predictable, but still fun to watch. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes "disaster" movies, or is just a fan of one or more of the stars in the cast. I for one watched the movie because it starred Joe Lando, but found myself intrigued by some of the other characters.

Combustion is one of those television movies that wasn't meant to do anything but entertain. At that it succeeds and has a fair amount of suspense and thrills--again for a television movie. Greedy oil entrepreneur Talbot (Michael Gross) is in collusion with city fire chief Patterson (Michael Gregory) to suck oil from beneath the city using an old oil field just outside of town. The problem lies in the methods used by Talbot to get the oil, which leads to explosions under the city causing much combustion of buildings and the loss of life. Gas escaping from the manhole covers also causes unconsciousness and sometimes death. Scott Daniels played by Joe Lando, who basically makes his living playing in disaster flicks, is the city engineer who discovers, along with his assistant, the nefarious goings-on. Since the fire chief is intent on a cover up to save his hide when the fires flair up, he tries to convince Mayor Walker (Lisa Banes) that Daniels is the fire bug setting all the fires. The acting is adequate by all and Michael Gross makes a good villain. There is an attempt at a romantic subplot involving a love triangle among Daniels, Allison Saunders (Susan Walters), and Lourie Harper (Gabrielle Carteris) that never really gets off the ground. The special effects are adequate. Because it is a TV movie the part that shows one of the heavies being blown up with dynamite doesn't really show much. He is blown to smithereens off camera.I knew an old banjo player named Floyd Holland who before he performed would tell his audience, "If you don't expect much, you won't be disappointed." That goes double for this film.