Armageddon Review
by "C.J HILL" (chris AT youngun DOT demon DOT co DOT uk)August 27th, 1998
Armadeddon (12) - UK Review
Following in the footsteps of Deep Impact, Armageddon is a high octane action story about a huge asteroid on a collision course with earth. A plan is devised to drill nuclear bombs into it's core and then remotely detonate them to destroy it. A team of the best oil drillers is formed (led by Bruce Willis) and trained for spaceflight, all in twelve days. The team are essentially a bunch of society outcasts or misfits but this doesn't deter NASA from sending them up. This motley crew, believe it or not are mankind's only hope.
Armageddon does not hang about in any way. Dizzying and spectacular action scenes bombard you right from the start. The opening scene of a meteor shower wrecking buildings and streets is something else. In true Bruckheimer fashion, this film is a pyromaniac's dream.
The acting all round is very good. Bruce Willis gives his very usual but very watchable performance and Steve Buscemi has all the best lines and provides some top comic relief.
However, on the downside, Armageddon is let down by being completely ludicrous. Deep sea oil drillers/social misfits become astronauts? Yeah, right. As you may have gathered, switching off the brain before you go into the theater will enhance your enjoyment a great deal as there are many scenes that are just too daft for words. Also it's very, very cheesy and some of us brits may find the over the top, patriotic ending hard to swallow.
Putting these criticisms aside, Armageddon still manages to be a thrilling film. The Bruckheimer formula of terrific action accompanied by pulse racing music should certainly win you over. To sum up, I felt Armageddon to be very similar to Independence Day. Utter cobblers but very thrilling cobblers.
8/10 Review by Chris Hill.
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
