Disaster-themed TV movies are ten a penny so I find they really have to stand out in order to make an impact on the viewer. Sadly, CITY ON FIRE isn't that film. It's a particularly cheap kind of movie, one which looks little more convincing than a normal independent production. Heatwave-themed films don't tend to be very interesting - NIGHT OF THE BIG HEAT is an exception - and this merely consists of people sweating a lot with a few laughably poor set pieces.
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Leofwine_draca23 December 2018
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Theo Robertson9 January 2011HEAT WAVE is one of these movies produced to fill up the schedules of the SyFy Channel . It's one of those tired plots of " scientists race against the clock to avert an eco disaster " hoping the audience will be biting their nails on the outcome . If this was a big budget thriller with good production values it might have been salvable but we're watching a TVM which means you'll be stifling a yawn and pointing out the inaccuracy contained in the whole movie
This is an extremely clumsy film that gives the impression that the director is making an entirely different one that the screenwriter wrote . Right from the outset we're told the tempreture is rising and rising in Los Angles so much so that the city will be uninhabitle within a few hours . It's a good example of the screen writing rule of " show don't tell " being broken and even the meanest mind will notice the fact that despite it being unbelievably hot characters walk around with suits and ties on despite it being 130 degrees faranheit
Perhaps the worst sin of HEAT WAVE is that it gives out the ending early on in the film where characters discuss " ice crystals which if you put in to clouds will cause a torrential downpour " . The fact that there doesn't appear to be any clouds about in order to make this work or that rain won't decrease atmospheric tempretures to a bearable level in itself remains unexplained -
apostoldrn20 June 2010This is one of the most terrible movies I've ever seen. I don't even know where to begin, well, first, the cast was awful, a total of 10 actors, whom characters somehow represent the highest authorities in LA(governor, weatherman and weather scientists and of course the bad methane-gas-extractor-boss-guy) and i say "authorities" because no one else in LA seemed to give a damn about the whole thing at the moment.(you do, somehow, see a police car, though i don't remember seeing any officers on duty). Anyways, I still have to recover and find something that made sense in this movie, because there ain't much. The best worse things were the video effects. The explosions are great, as far as their sound is concerned, yeah, you get to hear awesome explosions, but the visuals on the other hand, terrible.
Yet the best part in this film was the fact that they were controlling the ultra-magnific-worldsaving-thermorocket with a Playstation controller. And no, it ain't a joke, it is a Playstation controller, though it has one extra self-destruct-button in the middle.
Well, overall it gets a 3,47/10 from me. Regarding the review, i'm sure there are many many more bugs to be found in this movie, thats the only reason one should take his time watching it. You will definitely get a laugh. -
hannah-1369631 May 2020'We're having a heat wave....' You get the picture & 'Methane's 1 of the culprets! Great special effects in the heat 'waves'. Put on your hats & get a cool drink; you might get a bit thirsty watching this HOT movie!! Enjoy!
P.S. 'I'm melting, I'm melting....😝😅 🛢 -
blue-895-1400611 November 2010Interesting little urban disaster movie. Not a big budget Hollywood movie like say..."Volcano", but a neat story with some cool (pardon the pun) characters.
The story follows a young scientist struggling to make a difference with her research. Her boss, however, is all about the bottom line. But when the scientist discovers the reason for a sudden Los Angeles heatwave, its her research that could save the day.
The pacing in the beginning is a bit clunky, kind of like a soap opera, but things pick up when the heat gets turned on. The idea behind the heatwave and how the scientists solve the problem was interesting, even if it may stretch the truth a little. It is a movie after all, and just as believable as lava erupting up from the La Brea Tar Pits.