Armageddon (1998)

The other day, that movie crossed my mind again... so I thought I'd ask you all to share your thoughts on it. Armageddon came out back in 1998. I've seen it a few times myself, and for some reason, it just stuck in my brain and won't let go. I'm not entirely sure how to categorize it... maybe somewhere between an action flick and a disaster movie, but I wouldn't call it pure sci-fi. Most people seem to see it that way, though. It's about this asteroid—roughly the size of a small country—heading straight for the US, and obviously, they HAVE to stop it. From start to finish, the tension is constant and the action is nonstop... and I love that. Maybe some of you haven't seen it, but I suspect most of you have. So, tell me what you think: favorite scene, best actor, etc...

While most people will probably tell you the movie is terrible, I still have to point out that it was a masterclass in marketing. It’s hard to argue with a product coming straight from the desk of producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

The film has everything you'd expect from a two-hour popcorn flick: big special effects, tons of action, a star-studded cast, some humor, and a straightforward plot that anyone can follow without thinking too hard.

It even snagged 4 Oscars (including one for Best Original Song—Aerosmith: "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing") and pulled in massive numbers at the box office.

Unfortunately, though, none of that actually makes it a good movie. And you'll all agree that being a hit shouldn't be the same thing as being good.

Movies aren't baked goods; you can't just follow a recipe to get a specific result. Toss in 10% action, 15% romance, 40% special effects, three big-name actors, and a $100 million budget, and what do you end up with? A whole lot of nothing—basically just Armageddon.

But hey, if we're talking about the bottom line... it made money. If that was the only goal, then it was a total bullseye.

...but honestly, he had his standout moments too:
- Steve Buscemi (that scene riding on the warhead)
- Peter Stormare (playing that Russian hero)
...hmmm, let me think... what else was there...🤔

- those classic Michael Bay slow-motion shots ?? 🤣 👎

...I mean, it’s such a silly movie—compared to this, Independence Day is basically a cinematic masterpiece😁

I honestly can't wrap my head around how Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, and Udo Kier all actually signed on for this Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer project.
But hey, look, the movie isn't even that bad (certainly not compared to Pearl Harbor). It’s one of those total guilty pleasures... you know it's trash, but you just can't help yourself. Plus, it’s way more entertaining than something like Deep Impact.
Sure, the cast is unforgettable, but I just can't get past Ben Affleck and that blank, vacant stare of his.
As for the genre, I'd argue it's primarily Sci-Fi. It pushes the boundaries of what's possible, shifting from the real world into a hypothetical space based on scientific extrapolation—well, as much as astronomy allows for that kind of thing...

wearytinker8 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around how Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, and Udo Kier all actually signed on for this Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer project.
But hey, look, the movie isn't even that bad (certainly not compared to Pearl Harbor). It’s one of those total guilty pleasures... you know it's trash, but you just can't help yourself. Plus, it’s way more entertaining than something like Deep Impact.
Sure, the cast is unforgettable, but I just can't get past Ben Affleck and that blank, vacant stare of his.
As for the genre, I'd argue it's primarily Sci-Fi. It pushes the boundaries of what's possible, shifting from the real world into a hypothetical space based on scientific extrapolation—well, as much as astronomy allows for that kind of thing...

Why would it be unbelievable that Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Steve Buscemi would work with Bruckheimer or Michael Bay? I don't get it.

And Affleck definitely fits this type of movie, specifically because of that blank look and his overall vibe. Though, while I was watching Hollywood, I could hardly believe I was looking at the same guy.

This was actually the very first movie I ever bought on DVD. It was my absolute favorite back when I was around second grade. 😁 Even now, it still holds a certain charm for me, though looking back, I can see some flaws—the plot feels a bit hard to swallow sometimes—but I honestly don't get why people hate on it so much. The cast is incredible (I wouldn't swap a single person out; everyone hit their marks perfectly), there’s just the right amount of action, romance, drama, and laughs, and the soundtrack is flawless. And yeah, maybe partly because Aerosmith is my favorite band, but there are just so many great tracks in there. Plus, the script manages to be witty and sentimental at exactly the right moments.

As for the scenes, there are so many I love. I was obsessed with the chemistry between Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck. When I was a kid, I used to constantly rewind their three big scenes: the proposal, that "last" picnic, and when he sings 😁. That opening scene where we meet the crew is genius—you know, when Bruce Willis finds out about the relationship between Grace and A. J. Cook and chases Ben Affleck around the ship with a gun while Liv Tyler, wrapped in nothing but a coat, yells, "Harry, this is NOT funny!" 😂 On the emotional side, I have to mention the moment Bruce Willis says goodbye to A. J. Cook (Ben Affleck always surprises me with how easily he can fake tears) and, of course, the goodbye with Liv Tyler and that final flashback 😢. I remember watching this for the first time as a little girl and feeling like I had to comfort my mom because she was sobbing on the couch; I was actually worried about why Mom was crying! 🤣 Steven Tyler once said they really didn't want to record "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" because it wasn't even their song (it was written by Diane Warren), but then they showed him the scene where Liv Tyler tearfully says "Daddy," and he got so choked up he just shouted, "I'll do the song, I'll do the song!" 😁

Personally, I love that you can't quite pin it down to just one genre. Sure, it's technically a disaster movie, but to me, the storyline goes way deeper than that. It blends all these different elements together, and those are usually the kinds of movies I enjoy most.

All in all, it's a solid film. At least for me. 😬

By the way, that tagline at the bottom of the poster looks kind of cheesy to me. I haven't actually seen that specific version before.

On my DVD cover, it says:

"For honor,
For love,
For mankind."

Now we're talking! 👍

Just to add to that: the asteroid is actually "the size of Texas." One Texas is basically just how we measure asteroids on a collision course with the US...

LOL
One Texas.... two Texases.... three Texases.... haha

Man, I watched this movie ages ago. I almost lost it when Bruce Willis sacrifices himself at the end and starts sobbing to Ben Affleck... like... *sniff*... he just can't go on anymore...

Armageddon is your textbook Hollywood summer blockbuster, and honestly? I loved it. You've got a stellar cast, a killer soundtrack, and a massive asteroid threatening to wipe out the entire country...

Here’s a little trivia for you. I was browsing IMDb and saw a stat claiming the average shot length is only about 1.5 seconds. I didn't really buy it at first—I didn't notice it myself—so I went to double-check. Turns out, it's true. The cuts are happening every second or two. But hey, that’s just classic Michael Bay!

A bit overdone and totally flipped, but it’s a solid way to kill some time on a hot summer afternoon...

Look, I gave it a shot—the story isn't anything special, just the same old formula you see everywhere else. Special effects? Nothing to write home about. The acting? Meh. The cinematography? Same deal. But honestly, the movie is damn good, especially considering I usually go for those deep, philosophical, pseudo-metaphysical indie flicks. It’s two hours of solid entertainment with an incredible soundtrack, Bruce Willis, great visuals, a killer "hero team," top-tier shots mixed with humor, a romance, a heavy ending, and a heartwarming twist. For what it's trying to be, within its genre and purpose—it's almost a perfect score.

Oh, my dear Steve Buscemi 🙄

Maybe the guy was just trying to put food on the table for his kids 🙏

Definitely one of my all-time favorites. I find myself revisiting it constantly... The humor, the cast, the action—it has everything you need for a total "turn your brain off and relax" kind of vibe.

I have to say, I’m in complete agreement with everything mentioned here.

Is that the movie where the government official basically says if they actually try to save the country, the state will just do whatever it wants? They’re all sitting there plotting, and he asks if they can finally find out who pulled the trigger on Kennedy, and the other guy just tells him no. That’s the one scene that stuck with me...

Ronald Brooks75 said:Is that the movie where the government official basically says if they actually try to save the country, the state will just do whatever it wants? They’re all sitting there plotting, and he asks if they can finally find out who pulled the trigger on Kennedy, and the other guy just tells him no. That’s the one scene that stuck with me...

One of many hilarious moments. I remember quite a few, but the Russian cosmonaut stands out. When NASA in Houston tells him the docking is imminent, he just replies: "Ok, I'm not going anywhere..."

I remember seeing him in theaters back in the day and being totally starstruck 😬 even though I was only about 12 😁 I actually burst into tears on screen when Bruce saves the world, especially with Liv reaching toward the camera while Aerosmith played 🙂 that moment was burned into my brain forever 😢

Fast forward to his recent appearance on The Tonight Show, and honestly, I could barely watch—he just seemed so underwhelming 🤷
I guess I’m finally growing up 🙂

I found the movie to be quite excellent. I suppose the tension is what really does it for me; you end up watching the whole thing in one sitting. There are a few sequences that have become personal favorites, such as when a fragment of an asteroid strikes Paris or that moment they land on the asteroid right before the Independence crashes, all set to a truly great soundtrack.

The cast is also top-tier. I won't even get started on Bruce Willis, but I have to say, Steve Buscemi (Rockhound) was fantastic.

In my opinion, Armageddon stands as the premier disaster film out there.