Source: DVD Launch
 "Armageddon" is no masterpiece, but was THE summer movie for 1998. If I recall it was the top grossing movie of that year, and the big July 4th movie ever one ranted about.
I did see "Armageddon" upon it's theatrical release, and I did enjoy it. Reviews were mixed. Some critics automatically called it the worst movie of the year, but some people looked beyond the lack of substance and didn't take it seriously. Yes, it's not the greatest movie ever made, but it is entertaining. It was what summer movies were supposed to be about: a ton and ton of hype and anticipation, plus to be an entertaining ride for two hours. "Armageddon" accomplished just that.
"Armageddon" has a really simple premise, nothing too incredibly original and standard all in all: A team of oil drillers, lead by Bruce Willis, train for a short time to go into space and blow up an asteroid the size of Texas before it crushes Earth. Also in that storyline, there arew a few subplots to not make it just an action movie. There's a storyline between Willis' daughter (Tyler) and a fellow driller (Affleck) to give romance, among other things.
As far as the movie goes, the characters are two dimensional. Nothing more or nothing less. Every character is developed nicely and standardly. The special effects are great (especially the explosions and space scenes), and the editing is pretty choppy, which is sure to put your head into a tizzy. While some of the dialogue is hallow, I felt at times there was a smart line or two. Michael Bay's direction is decent and gets the job done. Finally, the movie is pretty predictible. I know many felt the whole ending was a shock, but I saw it coming (and for those who didn't see the movie, I will not ruin it for you).
"Armageddon" isn't for everyone. It's just a fun movie to kill two hours. It won't get you thinking, and heck, it may kill braincells. As I said, it's one of those summer movies. It's supposed to be entertaining, and it accomplishes that. If you're a casual moviegoer and love action, this is the movie for you.
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