Geologywood Strikes Again...

Before I begin ranting, I need to be clear that I thoroughly enjoy watching (and indeed own many) "bad" geology movies. My collection includes Hollywood and Made-For-TV specials (and they certainly ARE special aren't they?!) that cause geologists to experience laughter, frustration, anger, and sadness simultaneously. I'm a sucker for bad plots, awkward dialog, horrible/awesome special effects, and even picking apart the pathetic science. I admit it's FUN, but it also creates and propogates scientific myths and beliefs that drive me absolutely bonkers (e.g. - California will NEVER fall in the ocean, no matter how many times Hollywood thinks it's a good idea).

The latest gem from the SciFi Channel is Magma: Volcanic Disaster - you can read a summary of the plot (ahem...) here. And yes, I own it. Essentially it's a smorgasborg of previous geologic-themed movies; a dash of Journey to the Center of the Earth, Armageddon, Supervolcano, and The Core (all of which are doozies in their own right). Eventually I'll post a full analysis of the movie, but for now I wanted everyone to enjoy the scene that either has or will make every geologist gasp. It's VERY clear the writers of this script didn't make use of a science adviser much less a geologist...

Just to clarify, the gasp-inducing quote is: "Looks like an Ammonite, which would place this site at the Mesozoic at least if not the Devonian." Paleontologists will take issue with the fact that Ammmonites first appeared in the late Silurian (possibly trivial) and that they didn't go extinct until 65 million years (MA = millions of years) ago at the end of the Cretaceous (the K-T extinction Event). Volcanologists will take issue with the concept that a Devonian-aged volcano is preserved in Iceland considering the age of the Atlantic is on the order of 180-200 MA (Jurassic). SO, there are two questions that arise: (1) How do we preserve Devonian age (~400 MA) rocks in a landmass that didn't exist until ~200 MA? and (2) These 400 MA rocks appear to be closer to the summit of the volcano - why aren't they at the base covered by younger lava flows and pyroclastic debris? Even these two blatant inaccuracies are not what caused me to drool over myself because I lost control of my jaw... Ask any 5th grader and I think they would tell you that fossils are not found in volcanic rocks (at least those that cooled from magma). We find fossils in volcanic ash and we find molds and depressions found in cooled lava (e.g. - tree molds); we have found microscopic fossils in lava, but NEVER an organism even closely resembling an Ammonite... SIGH.

I do encourage you to rent the movie though if you want a good laugh, enjoy really bad special effects, awful music, and feel like critiquing some science...