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Excellent collection of material
The Criterion Collection release of Armageddon is a treat. It offers 2 commentary tracks, one featuring the director Michael Bay, actors Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has comments on several interesting things. Affleck’s commentary is sometimes very funny. The other commentary track features the Director of Photography and special effects people.

The commentary includes interesting details, including background information on the characters and filming locations. Note: The commentary is raw and sometimes laced with profanity, although the movie itself is rated PG-13, for reasons explained in the commentary.

Although it’s not much, this collection is also a Director’s Cut and has a couple scenes added, notable of which is Harry Stamper’s character visiting his father before launch. Some other scenes are cut slightly differently, adding some depth to the story.

The Gag reel on the second disk is extremely funny, raw, and not your typical “behind-the-scenes” documentary.

The second disk also features a tremendous amount of information on the special effects and includes many different trailers and promo material. The Aerosmith song video is also included.

While the story can be nit-picked, it’s still very exciting and enjoyable.

Overall, if you liked the movie, the Criterion Collection release is the DVD to have.

an incredible release by Criterion
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

This is the largest packed special features release by criterion to date at the time of release. Being the case, both the film and the special features will be reviewed.

The film is about Earth being threatened by an asteroid that would cause the end of every life on Earth. There are some opening scenes of a metoer shower over New York City.

Chapter 3 on the DVD is one that some may want to skip. There are two scenes that may hit too close to home for some people. In one scene, a meteor is shown hitting the World Trade Center, and in another scene shows the World Trade Center with the top ¼ of one of the towers destroyed and the rest of it on fire.

The film has good acting with an all-star cast. The movie has some excellent special effects. The film has many errors though. there are too many to mention in less than 1,000 words.

The Criterion edition is a director’s cut with scenes not shown in theaters.

The special features are really good. There are 2 discs in this set one of which only has special features. Disc 1 has TWO aduio commentaries. One is with director Michael Bay, actors Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The other is with cinematographer John Schwartzman and two scientific consultants. one from Nasa and the other an asteroid expert.

On disc two, there are deleted scenes, outtakes and blooper reel, (You may want to note that the blooper reel contains profanity rarely heard even in some R rated films and will offend some people.), Storyboard images, analysis of Visual effects and production design, Trailers and TV spots, and the music video of the song “Don’t want to miss a thing” by Diane Warren and performed by Aerosmith.

Overall this is high quality and is one of the more well-known films that have been given the Criterion treatment.

Relax and enjoy one of the best films of 1998
I don’t belong to the apparent elitists who despise Michael Bay’s filmmaking because he’s entertaining for it’s own sake. Michael Bay is what he is the same as Hitchcock directed psychological thrillers or George Lucas directs science fiction. He makes films that are loud, fast, action-packed and quite frankly, fun to watch. Isn’t that what movies are supposed to be about?

Armageddon was probably the most (other than maybe Saving Private Ryan) anticipated movie of 1998. I’d rank it in my top two or three of 1998 (The others being Saving Private Ryan and American History X). It’s not the next Schindler’s List and it doesn’t strive to be. It stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck and Liv Tyler in the main roles. The supporting cast is underrated, well-balanced and fun to watch, from Michael Clarke Duncan and Steve Buscemi down to lesser know actors Marshall R. Teague and Jessica Steen.

Yes, the plot and premise may not be the most believable. But neither is King Kong, Lord of The Rings, Star Wars or whatever. These pseudo-critics on Amazon.com whine about “poor science” behind the movie, or the poor plot or the stereotypical cast. You know what? Who friggin’ cares? It’s a movie that’s made for sheer fun, for entertainment, for bringing your family to enjoy a couple of hours of action, thundering explosions, fast vehicles and a little romance. Armageddon, despite what the Ebert and Roeper apprentices in here think, is entertainment at its best. Stop whining and enjoy yourself.

We are all familiar with the story by now. An asteroid the size of Texas is on path to impact with Earth, which would destroy all forms of life on it. The world only has 18 days until impact. The only way to stop it is to blow it up from the inside by drilling to its core. For that, NASA recruits the worlds’s best deep-core driller in Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) and his renegade drilling crew. The crew, along with some NASA astronauts and an unlucky Russian cosmonaut, journey to the asteroid and embark upon the mission to destroy it and with that, save the entire planet.

Along the way, the crew endures despite losing lives, having to overcome huge obstacles, and having to make decisions that will affect not only the world but their own personal lives. The movie is filled with a few emotional moments that will bring tears to some eyes. The score is grandiose and is a large part of the film. The film strives to be patriotic and the cinematography reflects it. I couldn’t help but feel patriotic and moved while watching the movie. The sound and visual effects in the movie were awesome, which its four Oscar nominations reflect.

This movie is a lot of things. It’s fun, it’s moving, it’s sad and it’s romantic. Above all, it’s one of the more entertaining movies I have seen. The cast had a lot of chemistry together and seemed to have a lot of fun which is reflected in the film. This was Ben Affleck’s first big box-office action movie and he gives a good first effort. Bruce Willis takes on the role of Harry Stamper with ease like the action movie veteran he is. Liv Tyler is sweet as Harry’s daughter and their emotional goodbye is to be remembered. (Home theater aficionados will also appreciate the visual and sound effects in this movie).

Armageddon was the second-highest grossing film of 1998 narrowly behind Saving Private Ryan. That might be something for critics to think about, because obviously A LOT of people saw this movie. All in all, don’t listen to the critics here trying to become the next “Top 500 reviewer.” See the movie, it’s a blast.

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Amazon.com essential video
The latest testosterone-saturated blow-’em-up from producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay (The Rock, Bad Boys) continues Hollywood’s millennium-fueled fascination with the destruction of our planet. There’s no arguing that the successful duo understands what mainstream American audiences want in their blockbuster movies–loads of loud, eye-popping special effects, rapid- fire pacing, and patriotic flag waving. Bay’s protagonists–the eight crude, lewd, oversexed (but lovable, of course) oil drillers summoned to save the world from a Texas-sized meteor hurling toward the earth–are not flawless heroes, but common men with whom all can relate. In this huge Western-in-space soap opera, they’re American cowboys turned astronauts. Sci-fi buffs will appreciate Bay’s fetishizing of technology, even though it’s apparent he doesn’t understand it as anything more than flashing lights and shiny gadgets. Smartly, the duo also tries to lure the art-house crowd, raiding the local indie acting stable and populating the film with guys like Steve Buscemi, Billy Bob Thornton, Owen Wilson, and Michael Duncan, all adding needed touches of humor and charisma. When Bay applies his sledgehammer aesthetics to the action portions of the film, it’s mindless fun; it’s only when Armageddon tackles humanity that it becomes truly offensive. Not since Mississippi Burning have racial and cultural stereotypes been substituted for characters so blatantly–African Americans, Japanese, Chinese, Scottish, Samoans, Muslims, French … if it’s not white and American, Bay simplifies it. Or, make that white male America; the film features only three notable females–four if you count the meteor, who’s constantly referred to as a “bitch that needs drillin’,” but she’s a hell of a lot more developed and unpredictable than the other women characters combined. Sure, Bay’s film creates some tension and contains some visceral moments, but if he can’t create any redeemable characters outside of those in space, what’s the point of saving the planet? –Dave McCoy

Amazon.com
The latest testosterone-saturated blow-’em-up from producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay (The Rock, Bad Boys) continues Hollywood’s millennium-fueled fascination with the destruction of our planet. There’s no arguing that the successful duo understands what mainstream American audiences want in their blockbuster movies–loads of loud, eye-popping special effects, rapid- fire pacing, and patriotic flag waving. Bay’s protagonists–the eight crude, lewd, oversexed (but lovable, of course) oil drillers summoned to save the world from a Texas-sized meteor hurling toward the earth–are not flawless heroes, but common men with whom all can relate. In this huge Western-in-space soap opera, they’re American cowboys turned astronauts. Sci-fi buffs will appreciate Bay’s fetishizing of technology, even though it’s apparent he doesn’t understand it as anything more than flashing lights and shiny gadgets. Smartly, the duo also tries to lure the art-house crowd, raiding the local indie acting stable and populating the film with guys like Steve Buscemi, Billy Bob Thornton, Owen Wilson, and Michael Duncan, all adding needed touches of humor and charisma. When Bay applies his sledgehammer aesthetics to the action portions of the film, it’s mindless fun; it’s only when Armageddon tackles humanity that it becomes truly offensive. Not since Mississippi Burning have racial and cultural stereotypes been substituted for characters so blatantly–African Americans, Japanese, Chinese, Scottish, Samoans, Muslims, French … if it’s not white and American, Bay simplifies it. Or, make that white male America; the film features only three notable females–four if you count the meteor, who’s constantly referred to as a “bitch that needs drillin’,” but she’s a hell of a lot more developed and unpredictable than the other women characters combined. Sure, Bay’s film creates some tension and contains some visceral moments, but if he can’t create any redeemable characters outside of those in space, what’s the point of saving the planet? –Dave McCoy

From The New Yorker
“The Right Stuff” meets “The Dirty Dozen” in a frenzy of special effects and ear-shattering detonations. An asteroid “the size of Texas” is speeding toward our fair planet, and unless it’s nuked within eighteen days we’ll all be saying good night, world. NASA’s executive director (Billy Bob Thornton) devises a plan to drill a hole in the asteroid and blast it from the inside. Enter Bruce Willis, as Harry S. Stamper, “the world’s best deep-core driller” and a maverick with a heart of patriotic mush. Harry recruits a crew of roughnecks, including A.J. (Ben Affleck), a hot-rodder who’s in love with Grace (Liv Tyler), Harry’s babe of a daughter, and Rockhound (Steve Buscemi), who likes hanging out with strippers. Willis, with his imperturbable gaze and incessant little smirk, doesn’t seem a natural choice for even a scruffy hero like Harry, but Affleck demonstrates a sexy Paul Newmanish charm and is clearly bound for stardom. The surprisingly witty script was worked on by a squadron of writers, including Robert Towne. -Daphne Merkin
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Armageddon Blu-ray Description:

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52 in DVD
• Released on: 2010-04-27
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 150 minutes

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