Avalanche (1999)

Genres - Action, Adventure  |   Sub-Genres - Action Thriller, Disaster Film  |   Release Date - Jul 21, 1999 (USA - Unknown), Oct 2, 1999 (USA)  |   Run Time - 120 min.  |   Countries - United States  |   MPAA Rating - PG13
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Synopsis by Mark Deming

Alaskans may be used to a big snowfall every once in a while, but not the sort that hits Juneau in this disaster picture. Jack (C. Thomas Howell), his wife Lia (Caroleen Feeney), and their friend Neil (Thomas Ian Griffith) all work for the Environmental Protection Agency in Juneau, Alaska's capital city. One day, while they are tagging animals for a research project in the mountains near Juneau, a sudden avalanche occurs; Jack is immediately killed, and Lia is believed dead by search party leader Grant (R. Lee Ermey). Neil eventually finds and rescues Lia, but he sinks into a deep depression, convinced that he's responsible for Jack's death. A few years later, a large petroleum concern wishes to install a large pipeline through Juneau's mountain range to transport oil. Lia, who had moved away, comes back to Alaska to protest the proposed pipeline, believing that this will mean more avalanches and more loss of life. Neil is certain that she's right, and together they fight the all-powerful oil company, which is not above using violence to get its way. Avalanche was shot on location in Alaska, with the state's pristine natural beauty one of the film's most notable features.

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Keywords

avalanche, environmental-science, helicopter, oil-refinery, pilot, pipeline, race-against-time