Filmed in Oahu and Hilo, Hawaii; Japan; and the Pacific Northwest by National Geographic Television in association with Turner Original Prods. Executive producer, Michael Rosenfeld; producer, Kevin Bachar; writer, Jaime Bernanke
Host: Boyd Matson.
The problem with a documentary about tsunamis --- devastating tidal waves caused by underwater volcanic eruptions or earthquakes --- is a lack of footage. They occur so rarely and suddenly that no one has been able to document them for any significant duration. Their deadly nature would make for exciting television, yet this National Geographic special, kicking off TBS' "Disaster Sunday," can't deliver the visuals.
Don't tell that to the people of Hilo, Hawaii, or other Pacific Rim communities. The tsunami of 1946 devastated the Big Island city and so did one in 1960 (61 people dead). In the late 1800s, a tsunami killed 22,000 Japanese.
Eyewitness accounts, still photographs and artistic renderings of these events cannot do justice to the reality. And it's a shame the couple of scientists interviewed come off like Chicken Littles. Underwhelming statistics are partly to blame. There's a one in 10 chance that in the next 50 years a tsunami will strike the Pacific Northwest. Yeah, so? That tsunamis have been clocked at 400 mph is more impressive, and certainly more entertaining, if only we could see one in action.
To represent tsunamis, shots of churning seas that look like out-takes from a surfing competition are used. Photo-graphic evidence of their aftermath and first person reports are moving, yet the most dynamic sequences are repre-sentations. Computer-generated pictures of a huge wave bearing down on the Statue of Liberty and another on the Golden Gate Bridge are offered.
The other exciting point in the program is unplanned, and occurs inside the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu. A siren goes off while the crew is interviewing a resident scientist. An underwater earthquake was detected but did not result in a killer wave.
Because we know so little about them, the mystery of tsunamis could conceivably be the topic of a very engaging documentary. The folks at National Geographic don't take advantage of this mystery. They should have taken their cue from Native American legends or Japanese paintings about the subject.
Camera, Paul Atkins; editor, Dana Seidel; sound, Grace Niska Atkins; music, Pinnacle Prods.
Narrator: Michael Carroll.
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