Armageddon

Armageddon (1998) starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Michael Clarke Duncan and Steve Buscemi.

Before...it has been so long since I first saw this and I cannot remember what I was thinking before seeing it. Possibly I was excited at the prospect of a big action movie with explosions but honestly I can't remember. What I do know is that I saw it at the cinema and enjoyed it. Before seeing it this time, if I am honest I was not looking forward to it. I had remembered it for being a love story and forgotten all of the action surrounding it...

After New York City is damaged by hundreds of small meteorites, NASA and Dan Truman (Thornton) discovers an asteroid the size of Texas is on a collision course with Earth. They recruit the best deep core driller in the world, Harry Stamper (Willis), to train astronauts who will go to the asteroid, drill into the center and detonate a nuclear warhead. Harry says he can't train men how to drill in ten days, so he brings in his own team (Affleck, Buscemi to name but two) of roughnecks to learn to become astronauts and get the job done. Stamper must come to terms with risking losing everything, including his daughter (Tyler), in order to save the planet.

My wife's view..."I think it is probably one of my favourite disaster/end of the world films. Great fun, and easy viewing everytime. I hate Ben Affleck, but he is actually quite appealing in this. Very Hollywoodised, very smooth, very funny. Will make you cry...in a good way. I like it. ★★★★☆"

Where to start...well as I said I came into this film with trepidation and fear, and then it began. First scene a MASSIVE explosion as metorites showered down on the earth blowing things up. All fear flew away and I was excited about watching the film. Then the humour came, the film actually was very hilarious. There are quite a few laugh out loud moments, for instance where Bear (Clarke Duncan) and some other members of the drilling team join in with A.J. (Affleck) in singing "Leaving on a jet plane". CLASSIC!!

The key issue with this film is the fact that it decides to forgo the jeers and taunts about it being far too over the top in it's cheesiness. In fact, if it cut all of that out of the film then there wouldn't be much left to the film. However it is that mix of cheesiness and action that somehow makes Bay's films work absolutely.

The film has it's action, it has its hammy acting and it has it's humour. All of this put together create one of Michael Bay's best films. Stylish slick and brilliant, just a bit cheesy sometimes. This is why this film gets...

★★★★☆