Armageddon

Armageddon might not be a science lesson, but man, is it a good time! Bruce Willis leads a team of misfit oil drillers sent to save Earth from a giant asteroid, and yeah, almost none of it is scientifically accurate, but honestly, who cares? This movie is packed with action, laughs, and just the right amount of emotional moments to keep you hooked from start to finish. The characters are great, each bringing their own quirky energy, and the mix of humor and tension works really well. The whole movie keeps you on the edge of your seat, and even if you know it’s not realistic, you’re still rooting for these guys. By the end, it actually hits you in the feels too. Overall, Armageddon is a fantastic watch. If you’re looking for a fun, thrilling ride and don’t mind leaving real-world logic at the door, this is a movie you’ll love.

**_First, there was "2001: A Space Odyssey," and then..._** ..."Armageddon." Lol, okay maybe it suffers from too much modern blockbuster syndrome, but I couldn't help thinking that 1998's "Armageddon" was the 1990's "2001: A Space Odyssey." I visualize the sci-fi progression something like this: 1968: "2001: A Space Odyssey" 1979: "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (which towers alone in the Trek franchise -- a profoundly spiritual TRIUMPH) 1986: "Aliens" 1998: "Armageddon" Some might object that I omitted "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" (1977), but it really doesn't fit the list. Don't get me wrong, it's good for what it is, a space fantasy, but it's just too kid-oriented to be relevant to adult-oriented sci-fi. In any case, I hated "Armageddon" when I first saw it and never cared to see it again. My dislike was a combination of the whole "blockbuster" syndrome with its fast-editing to please those with ADHD approach and, believe it or not, Roger Ebert's scathing denouncement, which illustrates the power of words. Well I decided to give it another chance. Wow, was I entertained! Despite my dislike of fast-editing techniques, the story pulled me in right away and held me to the end. Yeah, some of the melodrama is too much, like Willis' scene with his daughter (Liv Tyler) near the end (rolling my eyes), but the filmmakers actually put some depth into the story and it mixes well with the action and humor. Their best move was to focus on character so that we knew and identified (with) the many individuals before the last hour's non-stop suspense & action kicked-in. Speaking of the humor, there are some laugh-out-loud lines, like the one on not paying taxes, ever. Furthermore, the star-studded cast is great and I especially appreciated the inclusion of Keith David and Michael Clarke Duncan (RIP). The film is rather long at 2 hours and 31 minutes (the DC adds two additional minutes), but the story maintains your attention and the suspense, action and F/X are literally senses-shattering. So, yeah, it's a shameless, over-the-top "blockbuster," but it tries so hard to entertain that you can't help but respect it. Besides, in addition to the disasters, action and humor, there's some actual depth to the characters and story. Take, for instance, Willis' character stumbling upon Affleck and Tyler during an intimate moment where Affleck literally covers her with kisses while she just eats it up. Willis stops, looks, and reconsiders his stubborn position. Then you know why he does what he does at the end. GRADE: B+/A-

Another end of the world movie. Not really action more drama then anything. It's an unlikely team that saves the world.