Armageddon Review

Overall Rating

Really intense and sweaty suspense from the movies action.
The humour / comedy is very funny and despite this being a film of a serious nature where the whole world is at risk, you can but help laugh at the moments of hysteria.
The performances from lead actors Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton aren't that convincing yet they are still decent.

Aspects of 'unrealism' within the film such as ever being able to land on a comet and dig a hole.
However the film itself tries to explain how and why.

Director Michael Bay known mainly for hit cop thriller 'Bad Boys' and the action packed 'The Rock' returns once again to the big screen with the 'Environmental / Nature' epic that is Armageddon.
Armageddon is the epic 'Environmental /Nature' film that shows how Earth is danger of being destroyed from a approaching Comet and that it's up to a group greasy, dirty oil workers lead by Bruce Willis to save the existence of mankind. A lost case it may seem and furthur so, the mentioned 'Best Drillers in the world' are trained by NASA to become astronauts and be sent in to space. It seems unrealistic that a bunch of drillers are to be sent on a mission between life and death, but their real mission on the comet lies in them drilling a hole which is 500ft deep enough to plant a bomb powerful enough to blast the comet in half to divert it's trajectory course away from Earth. Phew! The film starts with the destruction of a NASA spaceship by a shower of rocks ad it becomes clear to Dan Truman played by Billy Bob Thornton that a comet is on it's way to Earth. Thornton takes the role of Dan Truman very well and his perfomance is both clear and assuring.
Bruce Willis plays the role of Harry Stamper, the owner of a massive Oil Rig and reknowned by many as the 'Best in the World'. Willis is able to take his role as a 'roughneck' very well and even the occasional shiny glare in his eyes suggests his devotion to his role .... or is that the production lights reflecting of them? Along the cast in the film as well are Ben Affleck who plays a 'A.J Frost', a worker of Harry's and deeply besotted to his daughter 'Grace' played by Liv Tyler the daughter of Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler.
Both their performances are decent yet somehow not that convincing.
The Humour in the film isn't limited at all, even at the time of death there is still edge of laughter within the film which you have to laugh at depite the situation of the film. However despite this film being of high seriousness, it doesn't really touch you emotionally on the father-child bonds seen throughout the film. Although in some parts it is effective it loses some of it.
The climax of the film is a very suspenseful, tense and brilliant way to end the film, it not only is brave and courageous but the manner to which is shown adds to the tension and suspense.
The special effects in the film are very good if not brilliant, scenes from seeing the Statue of Liberty collapsing to Paris being attacked by small comet fragments have been amaingly crafted well together.
Despite that Armageddon proves to be one of the best 'Environmental' films that has been released so far on to the big screen. It provides action, suspense, comedy and also that aspect of seriousness and depression that a film like this needs.
Michael Bay has done well to produce a decent film, certainly worth watching and not one to be ignored despite slight niggles of improvements.

Members' Comments onUsmanKhan's Review

• Anonymous101 on 23rd Feb 2007

  Great film this, just a shame we didn't get to see a bit more of Liv(if you know what I mean)

• Lee2008 on 23rd Feb 2007

  Good review, but i must say this film is complete rubbish. A massive astroid is on course to collide with earth, wiping out all of mankind. Who do NASA recruit to destroy the astroid and save the planet? A bunch of oil rig workers! Im sure this film makes the imdb bottom 250 films of all time.