Rating: Summary: Cool movie, slightly flawed Review: This was an absolutely great special effects masterpiece. Check out the scene where the train station gets blown to bits, the demise of the empire state building etc. The sound is brilliant and the images are crisp and clear. The only problem that I had was that so many things went wrong. Shucks, I mean at the end of the movie so many things had gone wrong on the astroid that it was a pure miracle any of the crew survived. What I also liked was that it kept me emotionally hooked in through most af the show. If you like scf-fi, Bruce Willis and the lot, it's a must have.
Rating: Summary: Further proof of America's declining standards Review: A typically relentless, attention-deficit-disorder spectacle from Michael Bay ("Bad Boys," "The Rock"). An asteroid the size of Texas threatens Earth. Oil driller Bruce Willis and his trusty team of misfits (including Steve Buscemi, Ben Affleck, and Will Patton) are sent up to land on the rock, drill a hole, drop a nuke into it, and blow it up from within. The movie is a trashy combo of "The Dirty Dozen" and "The Right Stuff" - I would say "cheerfully trashy," but there's nothing especially cheerful about Bay's hyperactive, insecure style that treats the audience like morons, and the script makes almost no sense despite the work of many uncredited hands. Still, it was Touchstone's biggest hit to date, outearning their previous record-holder "Pretty Woman." Aerosmith's awful ballad "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" was actually nominated for an Oscar. Thank God it lost.
Rating: Summary: Nice Try... Review: While there are parts of this film which I found truely entertaining, there are two things which ultimately cause its downfall...1. Script (bleh) 2. Liv Tyler (You call that ACTING?) Tyler's big final scene (Oh DADDY! <sob sob>) is SOOOOOO awful. Instead of inducing tears I found myself laughing hysterically. Get rid of her and you might have something worth owning here.
Rating: Summary: The WORST science fiction, I mean fiction EVER! Review: The characters are extxremely flat and the emotion is so pathetic as to be unbelievable. The writing was, well, I can't call that writing. It was typing. But what really got me mad was that Bruckheimer and Co. went way out of their way to make the science absurd. It would have been more interesting if they had stuck to some basis of reality. I have never come to the end of the movie feeling more disgusted in my life and I've seen some pretty bad sci-fi! "Star Trek V" was genius compared to this! I know that such a bad review will probably get some people to watch this piece of crud to see what the hub-bub is about. It does come in pretty colors and if that suits you, fine!
Rating: Summary: A great film with great special effects. Review: I think that this is one of the best films that Michael Bay ever made. It has a great cast that gives great performances. The effects in this film are also very impressive and amazing. I don't that this is a depressing film at all. The action and suspense is fast-paced and kept me entertained throughout the film. I think that this is a really great film.
Rating: Summary: Absolutely Amazing! Review: Bruce Willis is great. The best sci-fi movie ever. The special effects, the story line, the soundtrack and the actors (Willis, Thornton, Steve B.) make this movie a must see for everybody. It is so well written and full of action. I recommend this movie to anybody that's into sci-fi or action movies.
Rating: Summary: Not bad, but not good either Review: The only thing that Armageddon lacked was a better storyline. The characters were well developed and it was easy to get emotionally involved in the movie. The actors were top notch and they were the only reason the movie did so well. As for special effects, they were good but you can't base a movie of just effects.
Rating: Summary: Eyes in the back of my head... Review: Why are my eyes in the back of my head? Because about every other scene I would roll my eyes and nearly gag. So sappy. So corny. So stupid. The special effects are OK, I guess, but who cares with a story so terribly written?
Rating: Summary: Armageddon...on the Criterion label? Review: I have a shelf full of Criterion Lasers and DVDs and I have always admired the company's painstakingly crafted and well researched products. But I am astounded that Criterion would put their name on this loud, annoying, stupidly written and badly cut film. I walked out of it in the movie theater -- then I was forced to sit through it on an airplane where walking out wasn't much of an option. (If there would have been parachutes available I might have considered it). Criterion...have you sold out?
Rating: Summary: OF ALL THE FILMS OUT THERE, CRITERION PICKED THIS? Review: Because I'm a collector of the Criterion DVD series, I felt "obligated" to buy this release. Even after watching both discs (the film disc + the supplement disc), I still cannot understand why Criterion would pick this particular film out of the thousands of classic movies that are available worldwide and which are infinitely better than this drivel. I will admit that the movie does have some suspense and the special effects are fantastic. But the movie is bogged down by glaring script errors, predictable plot, unnecessary vulgarity, and some downright terrible acting (and in Liv Tyler's case, complete lack of acting talent). The added footage doesn't help...it just makes the whole miserable thing longer! The commentary tracks are interesting, but not spectacular or particularly eye-opening. The booklet that is enclosed with the DVD contains an essay by Jeanine Basinger, director Michael Bay's former Film Studies Professor at Wesleyan Univerasity. How she gushes on about the film is a definite sign that she probably hasn't seen the movie herself and that she must have been paid a hefty sum for writing that saccharine. As far as the Criterion "extras" are concerned, you shouldn't really bother unless you're an ardent film buff whose life is dedicated to movies in every way or a Criterion series collector. The material is very good and interesting (with a couple of exceptions), but once you've seen it, it's enough. The famous gag reel earns its name well: not only is it unfunny, but it's outrageously vulgar (I'm no prude, but must one be so filthy so much of the time?!), and reinforces the fact that many of today's movie "stars" don't know the meaning of the word. One look at the compilation of deleted scenes and you'll clearly know why they were deleted. The segments on visual effects, storyboards, and production design are excellent and definitely up to usual first-rate Criterion standards. Movie theater trailers and TV ads are included, and they're an interesting diversion but nothing more. The Aerosmith music video "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" is included, and is definitely better heard than seen. In summary, if you *must* have Armageddon on DVD, I'd suggest the standard edition: it's shorter (you can thank me later) and it costs a lot less. But if you think long enough, you'll easily come up with dozens of movies that are much worthier of your time and money.
|