Special effects may be more sophisticated
than ever, but the filmmakers utilizing them
are not. When audiences began to yawn at the
once-spectacular sight of a car careening off a
cliff and bursting into flame, or a building
being blown up, engorged in fire and
exploding glass, brick and steel, Hollywood
scripters turned to thoughts of genocide.
"Volcano," "Dante's Peak" and "Godzilla"
decimated cities, while "Independence Day,"
"Mars Attacks!," "Deep Impact" and now
"Armageddon" threatened the destruction of
the entire planet. While none of these films
managed to make the most of their premise,
"Armageddon" suffers not only from a
mediocre script but also from being the last
epic disaster picture out of the gate. How
many times now have we seen shots of
people gaping helplessly skyward while
standing in front of the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel
Tower or other world-renowned landmarks
that are about to be destroyed? How often
have we seen an Asian community wiped out
as a means of showing the potential
seriousness of the threat (i.e., if it happened in
the U.S.!)?
When it comes to the end of the world, moviegoers feel like they've been there and done that. And "Armageddon," with its overly-comedic approach and annoyingly cartoonish protagonists, doesn't do much to engender feelings of significant concern for the fate of Earth. Basically, the story involves an oil drilling crew, comprised of the requisite Jerry Bruckheimer-brand rag-tag team of misfits, who must land a space shuttle on an asteroid and drill an 800-foot hole into which a nuclear device is to be dropped and detonated. But all does not go exactly according to plan! This is probably because the purported super skills of this supposedly expert crew are never effectively demonstrated. (Steve Buscemi being able to instantly ascertain exactly where they are on an uncharted asteroid and, when asked how he knows, declaring "Because I'm a genius!", does not count.) Still, as a summer popcorn flick, the film has its moments and is ultimately enjoyable, even though the fate of the planet seems to take a backseat plotwise to the fate of Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck's goo-goo-eye-making. Starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler. Directed by Michael Bay. Written by Jonathan Hensleigh and J.J. Abrams. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Gale Anne Hurd and Michael Bay. A Buena Vista release. Action/thriller. Rated PG-13 for sci-fi disaster action, sensuality and brief language. Running time: 148 min
When it comes to the end of the world, moviegoers feel like they've been there and done that. And "Armageddon," with its overly-comedic approach and annoyingly cartoonish protagonists, doesn't do much to engender feelings of significant concern for the fate of Earth. Basically, the story involves an oil drilling crew, comprised of the requisite Jerry Bruckheimer-brand rag-tag team of misfits, who must land a space shuttle on an asteroid and drill an 800-foot hole into which a nuclear device is to be dropped and detonated. But all does not go exactly according to plan! This is probably because the purported super skills of this supposedly expert crew are never effectively demonstrated. (Steve Buscemi being able to instantly ascertain exactly where they are on an uncharted asteroid and, when asked how he knows, declaring "Because I'm a genius!", does not count.) Still, as a summer popcorn flick, the film has its moments and is ultimately enjoyable, even though the fate of the planet seems to take a backseat plotwise to the fate of Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck's goo-goo-eye-making. Starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler. Directed by Michael Bay. Written by Jonathan Hensleigh and J.J. Abrams. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Gale Anne Hurd and Michael Bay. A Buena Vista release. Action/thriller. Rated PG-13 for sci-fi disaster action, sensuality and brief language. Running time: 148 min
No comments were posted.