As a die-hard movie enthusiast with a special place in my heart for space epics, I must say that Michael Bay’s Armageddon is a rollercoaster ride of cosmic proportions! The film, despite its scientific inaccuracies, offers an adrenaline-pumping journey through the stars.
During the late ’90s, Bruce Willis, Michael Bay, and Jerry Bruckheimer were all at the pinnacle of their respective careers. The news that these three powerhouses were collaborating on a space mission film sparked great anticipation among audiences. With screenwriters like Jonathan Hensleigh (most famously known for “Die Hard”) and an impressive cast including Steve Buscemi, Keith David, Owen Wilson, and Ben Affleck, it appeared that the project would be flawless.
Sadly, critics found Armageddon to be the type of movie that seemingly requires shutting off all one’s intellectual capabilities entirely. On Rotten Tomatoes, it garnered a low 43% rating, while on Metacritic, it received a 42%. Notably, Roger Ebert also listed this film among his most despised.
As a cinephile, I can’t help but share my excitement over a movie that was both critically and commercially successful in 1998. While some may argue about its artistic merits, it’s hard to deny the Academy’s affection for it, with nominations across four categories: Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Song, and Best Sound Effects Editing.
It’s worth noting that NASA shares similar sentiments as many viewers regarding the film. In fact, they’ve identified around 168 scientific errors, which makes this movie one of the most factually inaccurate ever produced.
A Crash Course Is Enough in Armageddon
Even after more than 26 years since its debut, “Armageddon” remains powerfully impactful by showcasing the authentic fear and puzzlement experienced by the select group of heroes spearheading the most critical mission in history.
In it, NASA learns that a massive asteroid the size of Texas is about to intrude on Earth’s not-so-cloistered environment. It will hit in 18 days (they couldn’t spot such a big thing sooner?), potentially destroying the planet. The organization’s top brass thus devises a plan to drill a deep hole into the asteroid, into which they will plant and detonate a nuclear bomb to blow it up. To do that, they recruit Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis), a third-generation oil driller who owns his own oil drilling company.
Since it’s an unmissable chance, Harry doesn’t think twice before joining, but Bay and his colleagues cleverly introduce a familiar scenario: Harry states that he would only participate if his own team is involved.
Humorously ensues as many members of Harry’s team put forth amusing requests to partake in the mission. One asserts a need to spend summer within the White House, preferably the Lincoln bedroom, another requests cancellation of all parking fines, and they all stipulate an unwavering refusal to pay taxes in the future. NASA executive Dan Truman, doubting their survival chances, concedes to their demands.
For the following twelve days, I’ll be training as an astronaut, transitioning from a driller. Once completed, I’m all set and geared up for the mission. In the film’s behind-the-scenes commentary, Ben Affleck shared that this plot twist had him chuckling.
I inquired from Michael about the reason why it seemed more feasible to transform oil drillers into astronauts compared to training astronauts as oil drillers. However, his response was to ask me to stop talking, thereby concluding our conversation on that topic.
In order for a disaster movie to be compelling, it needs to convey an overall sense of challenge, and it should subtly hint at impending doom. This is exactly what unfolds in this story. Despite any plot holes, we remain invested in the narrative due to the tension that everything could potentially go awry.
So Far, NASA Has Discovered 168 Errors in Armageddon
Based on information from Showbiz Cheatsheet, NASA frequently utilizes the movie “Armageddon” in its management training due to its numerous inaccuracies. In these training sessions, trainees are encouraged to spot as many mistakes as possible within the film. To date, a grand total of 168 errors have been identified, earning it the title of the most inaccurate space movie ever made.
Initially, becoming an astronaut requires at least two years of training, so it’s highly unlikely that Harry’s team could have grasped the fundamentals in merely 12 days. Furthermore, the most hazardous asteroid known to us is (53319) 1999 JM8, which measures only 7 kilometers across, whereas the asteroid depicted in ‘Armageddon’ was said to be as large as Texas (695,662 square kilometers).
To clarify, it’s crucial to understand that simply exploding an asteroid of such size wouldn’t resolve the issue. For reference, the asteroid responsible for the dinosaur extinction was approximately 150 times smaller. If we were to destroy this specific asteroid, countless small fragments would still potentially strike Earth.
So, was NASA ever consulted? According to Bruce Willis, there was some participation.
While some depicted locations in the movie are actual NASA sites, these areas have been enhanced visually using Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI). Authentic training facilities were used, and NASA provided assistance throughout the production. However, it’s important to note that the fundamental scientific aspects of the film are not accurate.
Although the film’s content is based on real scientific concepts, it’s important to remember that this is merely a movie, so we shouldn’t spend too much time analyzing its scientific accuracy. Moreover, given that this is a Michael Bay production, the filmmaker tends to prioritize entertainment over factual accuracy in his work.
Michael Bay Has Good and Bad Things to Say About His Film
To this day, Michael Bay remains proud of his movie. However, he admits that there were aspects he might have altered had the studio granted him greater creative freedom.
Speaking to the Miami Herald during an interview to promote Pain & Gain back in 2013, Bay said:
Given only 16 weeks to complete the entire film, we faced an enormous challenge. It wasn’t a fair situation for the movie, and if given a chance, I would rework the third act entirely. However, the studio seized control of the project, making it quite difficult. The visual effects supervisor experienced a breakdown under the pressure, leaving me to oversee that aspect. I even reached out to James Cameron for advice on handling such a vast workload by myself, but remarkably, the movie still performed well.
Quite unfortunate.
In 2021, Michael Bay found even more reasons to grin as NASA successfully sent a 1200 lbs SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on a test mission called DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) into space. This rocket was designed to orbit the sun before colliding with Dimorphos, a harmless asteroid, and altering its course. The storyline of this mission bears striking resemblance to the plot of Armageddon, prompting the director to share his thoughts on it.
Our strategy involved subtly maneuvering an object, possibly using controlled explosives or other means, to make a slight adjustment [to something]. It’s important to note that there are several potential methods and resources at their disposal, some of which were discussed in our film and currently under consideration.
It’s plausible that NASA might have drawn inspiration from the film Armageddon, despite their disapproval. This movie, filled with astronaut adventures and an exhilarating space journey, continues to be a must-watch for many. Although it could benefit from a trim of about 10 minutes and the second half is arguably stronger than the first, space mission movies today are rarely produced in this style. Regardless of your interest in the genre, the thrilling ride offered by Armageddon transcends universal boundaries.
Armageddon
is available to rent in the US on Amazon or Apple TV+
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2024-10-06 19:31