Destroy Earth if we keep making movies like this...

Rating: Null/10 (31 August 2003)

Michael Bay, obviously tired of being harped on for being just an action junkie, turned his focus towards the stars (literally) when he made Armageddon...a cross sci-fi/apocalyptic excursion in ignoring basic laws of physics and maintaining credibility with your audience.
First off, no movie with Ben Affleck in it can be good. Everyone demanding a refund for Gigli can attest to that, those of us still wanting refunds for Pearl Harbor can sign contractual agreements to that. I don't care if Bruce Willis is in this, Jerry Bruckheimer knows that shoving Affleck's fat face in the frame is going to get him more money in the bank than Bruce's sweaty back. My, how times change.
Furthermore, Bay's shot composition is all wrong. Ridley Scott made thousands of commercials, yet that influence is barely visible in much of his work (until recently). With Bay, it is all-to-obvious that he came from the realm of music videos and 30-second spots. David Fincher also came from this world, but he has superseded any and all expectations of him, Se7en and Fight Club cement that stance in the ground.
Where Hollywood gets these plots from is anyone's guess. This is apparently one part Dirty Dozen, one part SpaceCamp, one part Moonraker, and a pinch of Star Wars thrown in for good measure. In other words, it's scraping the bottom of the barrel. Using "Leaving on a Jet Plane" as a sentimental song and the equally inexpressive Liv Tyler was a faux pas on Bruckheimer's part.
Overall, one big dumb movie, that's all there is to it. 1 out of 5 stars.