Armageddon (Page 1 of 2)

I guess I get to be the guy who says there's more elements to a compelling story than the regularity of action beats. I expect characters with clear motivations and consistent, relatable views of the world, who don't suddenly get "space dementia." When science is involved, I hope for a treatment of it that at least appears to be true. Go ahead and have Reese tell me he doesn't understand time travel. I can't argue with that, but stopping to refuel on "Russian space station" doesn't even pass George Lucas logic. Why do they have extra fuel? Where did they get it? What deep space mission were the russians planning?

Anyway, the question also came up whether it's possible for an intelligent person to enjoy a movie like this. Absolutely. That's why I go to Bad Movie Night (www.darkroomsf.com/#bmnnow). A revolving group of hosts get microphones, but everyone is encouraged to mock. DIFers in the Bay Area should come down. I mention it in particular because I'm gonna be hosting Jaws: The Revenge coming up. I may not make fun of the movie, but I'm totally gonna dis the house it bought Michael Caine.

Best William Finctner role: Strange Days, where he plays the one of a pair of evil cops who gets no lines or really any screen time where he's in focus. He spends the whole movie giving extras, our hero, but mostly extras, that Finctner glare.

I think I preferred this commentary after Teague calmed down and eventually passed out. It was never bad, but it got a little messy at times.

I guess I'm just not a fan of listening to drunk people when I'm not drunk myself.

Glad to hear the appreciation of Fichtner though, it's always a good time when he shows up. I always first remember him from one of the rare good episodes from the fifth season of West Wing.

Last edited by Hansen (2010-08-23 14:15:11)

I liked this movie when it came out and still do. It's bad astronomy but it's fun and a good balance of humour, action, poignancy, and ups and downs.

I actually stopped drinking after and as a result of this episode.

Smoking, and soda, too. What up.

I loved armageddon when I was younger. I'd say young, but I'm only 24, and considering 'dad' is about twice my age, it doesn't exactly feel right.
I haven't watched it in years, but I bought it today to re-watch it.

Btw, having not listened to the whole commentary yet, I noticed Teague dissapeared, but then reappered again. Did the guys wake you up, or did you pass out later than that?

Great commentary still, though. I had to look up William Fichtner, but yeah, he's pretty much in every movie.

Last edited by Tomahawk (2010-08-24 19:32:51)

" 'I'm not saying he's black, I'm just saying he has an event horizon.' ...or is that a fat joke?"

I cannot believe nobody cracked up when Brian said that. That's T-shirt worthy, that is.

It has to do with black holes, but I'm not sure it makes sense as a black joke or a fat joke, which really just makes it funnier.

Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week.

Dorkman, when we're all old and cynical and we've given up on love, call me. Because for for that post alone, I will marry your wrinkled white ass.

Actually, that's a genius idea. More so if there hadn't been a movie with that title already. How about 'Waterloo' for a space movie about a disastrous battle. Or how about 'Normandy.' That'd be a great title.

Like that whole 'Icarus' thing in "Sunshine".

Also, the one who directed the whole "drillers vs austronauts" question to Michael Bay was Ben Affleck.

Last edited by Tomahawk (2010-08-25 21:03:43)

That was fun. It's tough to hear 4 peeps excitedly talk over each other, and yeah Teague was feeling good for most of it but so what, i was kinda loaded myself listening to it. I LOLed when Jake said "At this point anything could happen."

From the bits i saw i always hated this movie. When Criterion did Armageddon i wanted to understand what they saw in it but as soon as i saw the dumb as a stump story and slow-motion flag stuff i thought 'my God, Criterion's being ironic!' We went from the deadly serious early '80s action movies i love to Terminator 2's tongue in cheek "bad to the bone" to this technically brilliant shit. Dumb was the new smart.

Well i finally watched the whole thing with the sound off and the visuals held my attention. In fact the shuttle take offs were beautiful.

To Michael Bay et al i say: Too bad you made The Poseidon Adventure instead of something profound. For 50yrs people have been saying Stanley Kubrick's a genius and he got death threats when A Clockwork Orange came out. Now we say Michael Bay's an idiot and he gets $70m for Transformers. It's a crazy world, kids. G'night.

/speed kills

Last edited by beldar (2010-08-26 01:49:44)