Path of Destruction (film)
Encyclopedia
Path of Destruction is a 2005 made-for-TV TBS original film. It concerns a nanotechnology
experiment gone awry.
near Alaska
. However, an accident releases the nanomachines, witnessed by reporter Katherine Stern (Danica McKellar
). StarkCorp attempts to cover up the incident while the nanomachines cause storms and disintegrate objects. The disintegrated objects are made into more nanomachines.
Stark teams up with a scientist, Nathan McCain (Pratt) who once worked for StarkCorp, leading to the conspiracy and an attempt to stop the disaster. At first, McCain hesitates but eventually agrees to help Stern. They run around for a while, pursued by bad guys who are almost going out of their way to bully whoever stands in the picture.
Meanwhile, the United States military decides to disable the particles with a nuclear missile, despite fears that it will harm the west coast. However, after some consideration, it is decided that an experimental plane will be used to carry an EMP device to the nanomachines.
Meanwhile, the CEO of StarkCorp claims to apologize by bringing a deactivation device to national authorities. However, the chief scientist Dr. Van Owen knows that Stark is lying (taking the device to China), and brings him a bomb instead.
Later, the particles are disabled by the electromagnetic pulse
but the colonel in charge of the operation, dies heroically in the process. The nuclear explosion, now deemed unnecessary, is aborted and the world is saved. The colonel gets the Medal of Honor for his actions.
Van Owen forces information on the whereabouts of Stark from another executive after pistol whipping him and holding him at gunpoint. Van Owen enters the code for the bomb, but is killed by agents working for the Chinese government afterwards.
Meanwhile, the bomb explodes, killing Stark on the plane, leaving the StarkCorp assets to be seized by the government.
Over the plot, Stern and McCain develop a romantic interest in each other; although they never kiss or show displays of affection, it is implied that they begin dating at the end of the film.
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
experiment gone awry.
Plot
After the government cuts funding to a nanotechnology project, the fictional company StarkCorp stores samples on an oil rigOil platform
An oil platform, also referred to as an offshore platform or, somewhat incorrectly, oil rig, is a lаrge structure with facilities to drill wells, to extract and process oil and natural gas, and to temporarily store product until it can be brought to shore for refining and marketing...
near Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. However, an accident releases the nanomachines, witnessed by reporter Katherine Stern (Danica McKellar
Danica McKellar
Danica Mae McKellar is an American actress, academic, and education advocate. She is best known for her role as Winnie Cooper in the television show The Wonder Years, and later as author of the three The New York Times bestsellers, Math Doesn't Suck, Kiss My Math, and Hot X: Algebra Exposed, which...
). StarkCorp attempts to cover up the incident while the nanomachines cause storms and disintegrate objects. The disintegrated objects are made into more nanomachines.
Stark teams up with a scientist, Nathan McCain (Pratt) who once worked for StarkCorp, leading to the conspiracy and an attempt to stop the disaster. At first, McCain hesitates but eventually agrees to help Stern. They run around for a while, pursued by bad guys who are almost going out of their way to bully whoever stands in the picture.
Meanwhile, the United States military decides to disable the particles with a nuclear missile, despite fears that it will harm the west coast. However, after some consideration, it is decided that an experimental plane will be used to carry an EMP device to the nanomachines.
Meanwhile, the CEO of StarkCorp claims to apologize by bringing a deactivation device to national authorities. However, the chief scientist Dr. Van Owen knows that Stark is lying (taking the device to China), and brings him a bomb instead.
Later, the particles are disabled by the electromagnetic pulse
Electromagnetic pulse
An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic radiation. The abrupt pulse of electromagnetic radiation usually results from certain types of high energy explosions, especially a nuclear explosion, or from a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field...
but the colonel in charge of the operation, dies heroically in the process. The nuclear explosion, now deemed unnecessary, is aborted and the world is saved. The colonel gets the Medal of Honor for his actions.
Van Owen forces information on the whereabouts of Stark from another executive after pistol whipping him and holding him at gunpoint. Van Owen enters the code for the bomb, but is killed by agents working for the Chinese government afterwards.
Meanwhile, the bomb explodes, killing Stark on the plane, leaving the StarkCorp assets to be seized by the government.
Over the plot, Stern and McCain develop a romantic interest in each other; although they never kiss or show displays of affection, it is implied that they begin dating at the end of the film.