Many scenes feature broadcast commentary by television stations reporting on the crisis. There's more than a hint of parody as correspondents react in horror to events around them while staying out of harm's way. But there's no mistaking this as anything but a blockbuster trying to get a running jump on competition like The Fifth Element and The Lost World . Like Twister , it pushes the cinematic experience closer to the level of an amusement park ride. However, unlike Twister , Volcano doesn't demand a complete short-circuit of all mental functions.
Volcano triumphs with a resounding bang.