although this movie ( and i use the term loosely ) be make in 1997 and we just watch it tonight for the first time . my husband comment that a tommy lee jones movie that we would never hear of make him a little apprehensive . i blithely watch anyway and certain that if jones be in the movie and it must at least be worth two hour of my time . after all and he have be one of our go to actor for year . although heche isn not one of my favorite actress and i be additionally reassure by see another well know face . the list of accomplished actor or actress continue to grow and so i endure more and more of this film and certain that if i push through enough clichés and trite social statement and i would arrive victorious on the other side of the plot . ala and there be no plot . it appear to be burn by the ever ooze lava of doom . the character be paper thin . the plot be so chock full of hole that it literally distract me from most of the special effect and act in the movie . be the fee for a brief consultation with an elementary science teacher too much for this film budget . no acid rain . no toxic gas ( like sulfur or hydrochloride ) . no deadly ash . no skin sear heat just a few foot from the lava . wow . it the world friendly lava ever . the event be no good than the character . each incident be so contrived and far fetch . it like the writer say okay and we need to get rid of the little girl now . and poof and she splash by a lava bomb which burn her enough that she have to be carry to safety ( not from the lava and but from her own helpless stupor ) . but just moment later in the car she be in no apparent pain and soon after be run effortlessly through the ( groan . ) building that ( oh no . ) be about to be blow up . after endure all of this and your reward be the line from the little boy at the end ( about all the people look the same ) . which have get to be one of the bad movie line i have ever hear . even if it wasn not so painfully script and it be ridiculous timing for all the character involve . kid and cop aside and a if the mother would still be in the area and just need to be point out because she just isn not speak up . what . she hop to slink off into the shadow and get away from the little brat once and for all . i do not think so . obviously the child mother would be miss or dead or yell her head off to find her toddler . the token black gangsta tough hoodlum with a secret soft spot versus the chip on his shoulder narrow mind cracker cop with a secret soft spot scene make my eye bleed . even if such pat character exist and they wouldn not behave a the movie portray them give the circumstance . something about imminent fiery death and massive destruction tend to catch people off guard and ya know . there be too many canned movie moment like these to mention . really and it just an embarrassing movie to watch . those poor writer . where be they now .