A guilty pleasure of mine

Rating: Null/10 (6 February 2010)

I've always kinda liked this film. Sort of a guilty pleasure of mine. The script is cheesy in parts, but the film makes up for that with thrilling outer space/end-of-the-world drama.
NASA has only one chance to blow up an asteroid that threatens all life on Earth. One chance to do it and do it right. We feel for the guys sent on the mission, but at the same time we know that if they can't get the job done, the entire human race will be wiped out.
There are parts of the movie that will make you start to tear up. These ordinary men are sent on a dangerous mission to save humanity, and (minor *spoilers*) not all of them come home safely. One particular tragedy is especially sad. But then the film comes back with some uplifting moments as well.
There's also plenty of Michael Bay explosions and grand scale destruction.
I can understand the complaints people have with this film. I noticed a few myself when watching the movie for the first time in years. Some of the dialogue is cheesy, the romance (particularly the "animal cracker scene") doesn't really work, there are too many clock-ticking-down-to-one-second scenarios, and a lot of scenes are overly sentimental (with dramatic slow-motion). I can see these flaws, but the fun and the thrills balance them out for me.
(One gripe that I can't agree with is the film's lack of scientific plausibility. No sound in space? No explosions? In a film like this, scientific accuracy is not what's important to me. I don't expect to find realism. The movie is entertaining the way it is.)
The cast includes several familiar faces (Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck, Owen Wilson, Michael Clarke Duncan, etc.) and the ensemble is kind of fun. (Though I've never been much of a Liv Tyler fan.)
If nothing else, the movie is worth watching for the performances of Steve Buscemi (as a borderline insane maybe-genius) and Peter Stormare (as the crazy Russian cosmonaut). Buscemi is great.
While it's not perfect, there's a lot to like in Armageddon. It's a fun ride and a classic "save the world" epic. I'd rate the movie about a 6, but I couldn't help but enjoy certain parts enough to bump my final grade to a 7/10.