Date: Fri 27-Nov-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: JUDYC

Quick Words:

Armageddon-Willis-Affleck

Full Text:

NOW PLAYING: "Armageddon" A Total Popcorn Flick

By Trey Paul Alexander III

After the boring, downbeat fiasco that was Deep Impact (a box office hit whose

success was completely undeserved), I had little taste for

disaster-falling-from-the-heavens flicks. Thus, I didn't rush out to see

Armageddon , which eventually became the summer's top-grossing film at just

over $200 million. This action pic about a heroic effort to ward off an

asteroid and a catastrophic collision with Earth was released on video

recently so I thought I might finally give it a look. My hopes were high that

it would leave a more satisfying taste than the bitter brew of Deep Impact .

Such high expectations were dashed almost immediately as this high-octane

movie gets off to a thundering opening. Insufferably high testosterone levels

are made manifest by yelling actors, gaudy special effects, and a

hyper-actively moving and rotating camera... all in the first ten-minute

sequence alone. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay, who have

previously collaborated on such teeth-rattling films as Bad Boys and The Rock

, make it plain that subtlety is not their calling card. Overblown theatrics

are, and if Deep Impact was a dry, acrid drink, then Armageddon would qualify

as a greasy burger smothered in extra cheese.

After weathering a vicious, unexpected and destructive meteor shower (say

bye-bye to the Chrysler building and Grand Central Station, although, since

the novelty of the mass demolition of modern monuments in Independence Day ,

haven't we gotten a little tired of such mayhem?), NASA officials (led by

Billy Bob Thornton) track the path of the space rocks and discover an asteroid

the size of Texas bearing down on Earth. It's what they call a "global

killer," and if something isn't done in 18 days, all life on earth will be

obliterated.

Thankfully, the braintrust at NASA has a plan: send up two prototype space

shuttles to intercept the asteroid, plant a nuclear warhead within it, and

detonate the bomb with enough time for the ensuing pieces to miss contact with

terra firma. The pilots? Trained, seasoned men and women of the NASA space

program. The drillers? A motley crew of deep-core oil drillers, led by the

profession's top man, Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis), including: a cocky yet

talented young gun (Ben Affleck), who also happens to be sleeping with Harry's

daughter (Liv Tyler); an off-beat, sex-crazed weirdo (Steve Buscemi, who

else?); a big, bald black guy named (what else?) "Bear" (Michael Duncan); and

Harry's trusted right-hand man (Will Patton).

Stereotypes? Absolutely. Pure cheeseball? Without a doubt. But the makers of

Armageddon are out to amuse you, and if that means pounding you into

compliance with an arsenal of half-baked characters, blindingly flashy visuals

and numbingly loud sound, then so be it.

So, I'll admit I was eventually pummelled into submission. By the end of its

surprisingly lengthy 2«-hour running time, it's hard to say that one isn't at

least diverted by the over-the-top antics of Armageddon . Bay and Bruckheimer

are smart enough to let their two-dimensional characters be inhabited by

likable actors and they also seem to be in on the knowledge that this is a

mindless, popcorn summer movie. Thus, that's all they aspire to be, whereas

Deep Impact was hampered by its joyless, somber tack. Bay and Bruckheimer

won't exactly win any artistic merit badges for this entry, but they can rest

assured that they tried their darndest to keep 'em entertained.

Armageddon is rated PG-13 for very strong language and profanity. Though the

violence is fairly mild, the action comes fast and furious.