The Eruption of St.

Mount Helens - Nature Video. DVD. Large format. c 2000. The Eruption of Mount St. Helens!" chronicles the cataclysmic events during one of America's most famous natural disasters, capturing the dramatic primary and secondary eruptions that began on Sunday, May 18, 1980 at 8:32 A.M. When the destruction was over, the once beautiful symmetrical cone rising 9,667 feet above sea level had lost over 8.8 billion cubic yards of ice, rock and dirt, decreasing its height by 1,300 feet. Originally shot in the IMAX format, this film includes footage from the rescue helicopters that combed the area looking for survivors after the initial eruption. These amazing scenes reveal an unearthly landscape of mud, ash, and steaming craters, which sharply contrasts with the pre-eruption scenery of pristine snow-covered peaks and the crystal waters of Spirit Lake. As the film revisits the area a decade later, it is startling to see the rapid recovery after so much devastation. In this celebration of nature, "The Eruption of Mount St. Helens!" explores the power of nature to destroy, and to heal, in a cycle of destruction and creation that constantly changes the world in which we live. Commentary -- This documentary on the May 1980 eruption of Washington's Mount St. Helens volcano does a fine job of explaining why the mountain exploded, but what distinguishes this production is its spectacular cinematography. Originally shown in IMAX theaters, this film presents highly detailed and lavish views of the gorgeous scenery of the Pacific Northwest, both as they appeared before the top 1,300 feet of Mount St. Helens was blown into the sky and during the disaster's dramatic aftermath. When the first eruption occurred on the morning of May 18, 1980, the entire region was showered with gray ash, and the footage of towns that took on a wintry appearance in the springtime is truly eerie. For weeks after the mountain blew, it created its own unstable weather system, but when the clouds finally cleared and camera crews could fly near the volcano, the footage they brought back was stunning. Shots of what had been wooded mountainsides made utterly desolate are terrifying, and they dramatize how powerful and deadly a volcano can be. More recent footage showing the landscape after it recovered is inspiring and reassuring, and this film, which was nominated for an Academy Award, will leave viewers in awe of both the beauty and violent fury of Mount St. Helens. -- Robert J. McNamara