not horrible nor great

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

There's nothing wrong with this film, if it had been made 20 years before. As a late '70's early '80's disaster film it would be pretty average for a member of the genre. However, coming in 2003 it's simply obviously dated, full of clichés, bad acting, terrible special effects, has an obvious and hackneyed plot, and is barely worth watching.There's the Baddie developer, who broke all the rules, secretly stashed a lot of money, blamed the architect - who was too stupid to notice that he wasn't to blame - spent all the money from a contract before it had been signed, has everybody in the town in his pocket (except for the ex-wife of the architect). Phew! I'm sure there are more clichés about the character, but my fingers are getting tired.There's the hero architect, who comes back to defend his reputation, try to make it up with his estranged son and wife, does everything he can to save the town, finds redemption, doesn't die. Yada, yada, yada.When the water flows through the town it's obviously a bucket of water superimposed on shots of the town, or a cup of water and some models.As I said, if this film had been made before 1985 it would have been a lot more acceptable. To have made a film of such low quality in the 21st Century is a travesty.

Cinematic Perfection.No single two words can be more suited to the genius that is this masterpiece of all moving picture shows.The acting: Sublime.The script: Dramatic.The visual effects: Like you can smell, taste, even hear the water, or feel the blood running through poor, downtrodden, dam-bolt-bulleted Frank's fingers. Delicious.The sound effects: When David and Garth run-crawl through the metal tube, you can hardly tell the difference between above mentioned and a tin can rattled by a spoon. Technological brilliance.The Direction: Standing ovation. And kneel in submission.The Conclusion: Hands down, the single most thrilling moment in filmography. *Spoiler Alert* The make-out scene involving the legendary dam architect, David Arthur Powell, and the sexy sultress interim mayor, Natalie Powell. *Spoiler Alert conclusion* It just captures the embrace of the audience, the latter flailing in desperate attempts to tie up the loose ends of their frazzled psyche. The estranged, mentally unstable husband. The mayor-wife searching for answers through the fog of love. and hate. The strong, Einstein's-Theory-of-Relativity-smart, 12 year old puberty-ridden Garth, resentful and abandoned, abandoned resentfully. The plight of Deputy Sheriff Bloom beginning the movie in shy obscurity, but coming out, Blooming if you will, into a passionate and firm officer of the law. If you cannot shed a tear for the moment that brings these lives back out into the light where we belong. Wherever we belong. If you cannot shed, then you must be dead. Emotionally. Bravo.If only just for one day I could rate a movie above 10 stars.10.1 / 10 The Endnote: If you have not had the privilege, nay honour, to witness this movie-industry revolutionary then you may as well not witness life itself. Here's lookin' at you kid. Good night and Good Luck.

Possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. Pathetic in almost every way.I threw the DVD straight in the bin - I didn't even think it was fair to give it to the local thrift shop.The effects are beyond a joke. The dam control room looks like cardboard. The water looks way out of scale with the backgrounds - nothing works.Then there is the limp plot - about as much depth as a Scooby Doo cartoon.I couldn't wait for them all to drown.

This is a well directed well acted disaster movie. The script keeps the interest up right from beginning to end. This may not have the special effects budget of other like movies but that does'nt stop it packing a real punch. When it comes to casting this movies leaves the likes of Day After Tomorrow in the shade. Bruce Boxleitner is super as the baddie, this actor does'nt put a foot wrong and if this is anything to go by is very underrated. Michele Greene is top notch as the mayor and watch out for Mathew Ewald as her son. The term the next James Dean is often used loosely but it can be used confidently in relation to this young actor. This kid is going to go far. Finally Joshua J Masters puts in a lovely performance as the Deputy Sheriff. Do'nt miss it!