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Touchstone Pictures' "Armageddon," the insanely explosive mega-film of the summer - has finally arrived - and it does live up to its publicity hype.
Jerry Buckheimer produces, Michael Bay directs and dynamos, Bruce Willis (Harry S. Stamper), Ben Affleck (A.J. Frost), Liv Tyler (Grace Stamper), Billy Bob Thornton (Dan Truman), Will Patton (Chick Chapple), Steve Buscemi (Rockhound) and Peter Stormare (Lev Andropov) dominate the cast.
For imminent thrill-seekers, "Armageddon" is the film; for special effects enthusiasts, again, this is the film; for fans of the all-star cast members, yes, this is the film.
For people afflicted with heart conditions, this may not be the film, since its spit-fire seismic explosions will over stimulate anyone's cardiopulmonary rhythms.
As comic-rescue from harangues of heart-jolting, nerve-tingling action sequences, the film also offers some pretty humorous retort and scenarios.
Still, the most laughable quality of the film is the story.
Imagine grossly out-of-physical- and neurological-shape oil drillers becoming overnight astronauts. The humorous idiosyncrasies of characters, namely Steve Buscemi's Rockhound, make for great entertainment.
At times, one practically forgets that some asteroid, the size of Texas, is on its way for Mother Earth.
Another boon to the film includes the few aesthetically-appealing cast members such as Liv Tyler (Grace), Jessica Steen (co-pilot, Watts), Ben Affleck (A.J. Frost), Bruce Willis (Harry S. Stamper) and a piercing-blue-eyed astronaut who says, "Red or blue; red or blue?"
This film focuses on likable, albeit disturbed individuals who save Earth from an asteroid. Added conflict arises from quasi-bad guys such as the moronic U.S. President played by Stanley Sharp, the mule-headed, Colonel Willie Sharp, played by William Fichter and egocentric, General Kimsey, played by Keith David.
"Armageddon" is the more elaborately-produced asteroid flick of the summer. Specific charms of the film include the breadth of special effect artistry, meticulous scientific detail and clever characterization.
A final pert to the film includes choice songs like Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion" sung by Steven Tyler, father of Liv Tyler, and John Denver's "I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane" humorously crooned by Ben Affleck before leaving Earth on a space shuttle, jet plane.
One criticism of this film is Aerosmith's over-exposure in the musical score. Just because Liv Tyler plays a supporting role does not imply that "Armageddon" should be a marathon music video for her dad's band.
The film is rated PG-13 and lasts 144 minutes.