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ARMAGEDDON
It
was the biggest grossing movie during the summer of '98. It's about
underdogs, ordinary guys who go on a journey into space to save
the world. Sounds messianic doesn't it?
Reviews by MIKE
FURCHES and DAVID BRUCE
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It's
Closer Than You Think.
Heads
Up!
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Directed by Michael Bay
Screenplay: Jonathan Hensleigh and Jeffrey Abrams
Story: Robert Roy Pool and Jonathan Hensleigh
Adaptation: Tony Gilroy and Shane Salerno
Bruce
Willis .... Harry S. Stamper
Billy Bob Thornton .... Dan Truman
Ben Affleck .... A.J. Frost
Liv Tyler .... Grace Stamper
Will Patton .... Charles "Chick" Chapple
Steve Buscemi .... Rockhound
William Fichtner .... Colonel William Sharp
Owen Wilson .... Oscar Choi
Michael Clarke Duncan .... Jayotis 'Bear' Kurleenbear
Peter Stormare .... Lev Andropov
Ken Campbell .... Max Lennert
Produced
by Kenny Bates (associate producer) Michael Bay (producer) Jerry
Bruckheimer (producer) Jonathan Hensleigh (executive producer) Gale
Anne Hurd (producer) Chad Oman (executive producer) Pat Sandston
(associate producer) Jim Van Wyck (executive producer) Barry H.
Waldman (associate producer) (as Barry Waldman) Original music by
Harry Gregson-Williams (additional music) Trevor Rabin Cinematography
by John Schwartzman (I) Film Editing by Mark Goldblatt Chris Lebenzon
Glen Scantlebury
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi disaster action, sensuality and brief
language.
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Armageddon: The Album [SOUNDTRACK] Various
Artists - Song Collections
1. I Don't Want to Miss a Thing 2. Remember Me - Journey 3. What
Kind of Love Are You On 4. La Grange 5. Roll Me Away 6. When the
Rainbow Comes 7. Sweet Emotion 8. Mister Big Time 9. Come Together
10. Wish I Were You 11. Starseed 12. Leaving On A Jet Plane - Chantal
Kreviazuk 13. Theme from Armageddon 14. Animal Crackers
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Earth
It Was Fun While It Lasted.
The Earth's Darkest Day Will Be Man's Finest Hour.
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STUDIO
SYNOPSIS:
Grossing more than 200 million dollars domestically during its initial
box office run in 1998, Bay's loud, fast spectacle is a love-it or
hate-it archetype of the big budget studio action film at the century's
end. Made with lots of money ($140 million!), a strong cast and tons
of special effects, ARMAGEDDON tells the tale of a team of oilmen
called in by the president to land on a Texas-sized asteroid approaching
Earth and blast it into pieces before it ends life as we know it.
Huge plot holes, some of the quickest cutting seen in film, and occasionally
unconvincing special effects will not deter those who approach it
seeking two and a half hours of full-throttle, flag waving cinematic
rush. |
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Review
By
DAVID BRUCE (1998)
|
 This
is "Independence Day meets Apollo 13" and "The Dirty
Dozen" in space! It's an asteroid movie with heroics. It's about
underdog, ordinary guys who go on a journey in space to save the world.
Sounds messianic doesn't it? Bruce Willis leads a ragtag group
of oil riggers into space to drill into and nuke an Earth-threatening
asteroid the size of Texas. Same basic idea as Deep
Impact. The filmmakers didn't seem to be very concerned
about the competition. They said that Armageddon is broader
in scope and had a better opening date (4th of July weekend vs. May
8). |
 Poor
New York. First the Devil's Advocate
arrives, then Mimic, then Godzilla,
then Deep Impact and now the asteroids
of Armageddon! New York seems to be the new symbol of Babylon.
The Bible says that in the last days the stars will fall from heaven.
This movie is about that. Hence the name. |
 This
film is not as spiritual as Deep Impact.
But, it is the better film. My 14 year old daughter loved it
and even cried during the father and daughter scenes at the end of
the film. The film is about the importance of relationships
and family. It features a dad who really cares about his daughter.
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 A
human sacrifice is necessary to save the world. Willis is the
one who willingly gives up his life so the world can be saved.
There are some similarities between this film and The
Fifth Element. In both films the earth is doomed and Bruce Willis
is given the task of saving it. Except in this film he must
die to save it. Jesus said, "No greater love has anyone
than the one who lays down their life for another." |
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FATHER
AND DAUGHTER
Review
By MIKE FURCHES (2001)
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  Mike
Furches mike@furches.org
Web site www.furches.org
Mike is a motivational speaker currently touring the country. He
works at the Westport Mennonite Brethren Church and assists other
churches in developing better outreach programs. He writes and does
consultations. In the arts Mike has worked with top music artists
such as Steppenwolf, Marshall Tucker Band, Kansas and has an active
interest in film. Mike is pictured with his wife and music band "Route 66."
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  There
are many components of this film that I have heard others criticize
but, as a father who has a daughter, I must say that it was nice
to see a film where there is real love between the two. I have seen
a number of Bruce Willis films and have to say that this was one
of my favorites. The story, while playing on emotions, is a little
out there, but it is still enjoyable. It is also nice to see redeeming
values in characters that others see as rough.
Are there deep spiritual overtones in this film? Not really, unless
you consider the fact that Armageddon can help strengthen the relationship
between father and child. It kind of did that for me. I remember
seeing the film with my daughter and placing myself in the situation
of what all would I do for someone I love?
While Armageddon has been on video for some time now, it is still
worth getting and watching. It is a film that gives ample opportunity
to talk about life and death as well as the redeeming value of individuals
many may consider undesirable. Also it is a fun movie and there
is nothing wrong with that.
On a scale of 1 - 10, Let's go with a 7
- Mike Furches
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ARMAGEDDON
in the Bible
(the
hill or city of Megiddo). The site of the final battle
of this age in which God intervenes to destroy the armies of Satan
and to cast Satan into the bottomless pit.
Revelation 16:16-21 "And
they gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place called Armageddon
in Hebrew. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air.
And a mighty shout came from the throne of the Temple in heaven, saying,
"It is finished!" Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and
lightning flashed. And there was an earthquake greater than ever before
in human history. The great city of Babylon split into three pieces,
and cities around the world fell into heaps of rubble. And so God
remembered all of Babylon's sins, and he made her drink the cup that
was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath. And every island disappeared,
and all the mountains were leveled. There was a terrible hailstorm,
and hailstones weighing seventy-five pounds fell from the sky onto
the people below. They cursed God because of the hailstorm, which
was a very terrible plague." -New Living Translation
There
is a very interesting scripture in the Bible that ties together
Armageddon and the "falling stars" from heaven: It is
Judges 5:19-20
"The kings
of Canaan fought at Taanach near Megiddo's springs, but they
carried off no treasures of battle.
The stars fought from heaven.
The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera." -NLT
SMITH'S
BIBLE DICTIONARY:
The scene of the struggle of good and evil is suggested by that
battle-field, the plain of Esdraelon, which was famous for two great
victories, of Barak over the Canaanites and of Gideon over the Midianites;
and for two great disasters, the deaths of Saul and Josiah. Hence
it signifies in Revelation a place of great slaughter, the scene
of a terrible retribution upon the wicked. The Revised Version gives
the name as Har-Magedon, i.e., the hill (as Ar
is the city) of Megiddo.—Ed.)
TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARMAGEDDON OF PROPHESY CLICK HERE
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RELATED
NEWS
JOHN GLENN:
RENEWED FAITH IN OUTER SPACE.
(
Nov. 1, 1998) John Glenn's return to space has reinvigorated his faith.
The experiences of seeing the Earth from the vantage point of 340
miles up "only strengthens my beliefs," he said during a
news conference from the space capsule. The 77-year-old Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) elder said he prays every day and believes that "everybody
should." Glenn said he was healthy, sleeping well, and keeping
busy as the subject of research and a part-time scientist, news reports
said.
John Glenn is not alone in finding
renewed faith in the heavens. Several astronauts say they feel in
awe of God while looking down at the Earth. The crew of Apollo 8 read
from Genesis while making the first flight around the moon. The first
liquid poured and food eaten on the moon occurred when Buzz Aldrin
took Communion, the San Jose Mercury News said. Apollo astronaut Jim
Irwin became an evangelist. Astronaut Tammy Jernigan talked about
her Christian faith during a live broadcast from a shuttle three years
ago.
...Shannon Lucid, the daughter of missionaries, took a minister's
sermons up on the Russian space\ station Mir. When it was damaged
in a crash, one of the cosmonauts' first broadcasts was to thank God
that they survived. Astronauts reportedly have held an active Bible
study among themselves.
..."To look up out at this kind of creation and not believe in
God is to me impossible," Glenn said during a news conference
from space Nov. 1, 1998 |
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CONGRATULATIONS
TO MR BRUCE WILLIS
Subject: Armageddon
Date: Wed, 07 Nov 2001
From: Ahmed .
Hi Mr.Brus Willis
. My name is Ahmed Abd Al-Fattah Mohamed Abo Saba`a . I am from
egypt , cairo I send this e-mail for Mr. Bruse Willis because i
am impressed by him & to congratulate for his film (( Armageddon
& his new films )) but ( Armageddon ) is otherness because it is
fantastic & Mr. Bruce Willis was appeared his creativity in his
film . I love his films because it is fantastic & terrific
Thank you very
much .
yours Ahmed
HUGE
BRUCE WILLIS FAN
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999
From: "Marjolaine Bourget"
Being
a great Bruce Willis fan(not to much but just enough), I enjoyed
watching this movie. I particularly liked the fact that Harry Stamper,
the guy that saves the world, is a normal human being, even a little
disfunctionate (at least with his daughter). It gives a little credibility
to the movie. I also liked your review of the movie. I found your
site while browsing through Armageddon sites. The Jesus in your
title caught my attention since I'm a believer. Your reviews are,
I think, down to earth and interesting. Thank you for offering a
christian point of view about seculiar movies. It is not because
a movie was made by a non-believer that it is not good. Most of
all, we don't even know if the guy who made this movie is or isn't
a believer. Thanxs.
Marjolaine
tizzoune@hotmail.com
NO
WAY FROM NO WHERE
April 17, 1999.
Hi.
my name is Meg Han and I enjoyed this movie alot. I kind of see
were you get your comparison about this and the armagedon in the
bible. It is so amazing to me how people can not believe the bible
with all that "world" out there. Look at all those yet
undiscovered things & places out there. There is NO way that
all just came out of no where! This movie could get someone thinking
about that though because what are the people who are left behind
gonna do when the tribulation of war comes or the hail storm. Are
they gonna try and fix that. They need to keep the fact seperate
from fiction! Thank you for your time. In Him, Meg Han
INTERESTING
ENDING
Feb 15 1999,
I
found it rather interesting that the movie ends with a wedding feast.
Did anyone else catch this? -Shawn Willox
A
"WICKED" MOVIE
Feb 2 1999,
This
was a wicked movie the part at the end when the daughter talks to
her dad was so sad I balled I couldn't handle that. Bear and AJ
and Harey were my favorite!!!!
________________
Dec
28, 1998.
Thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Was surprised by the ending, this
is a real tear jerker. Love the sound track. I am not a teenager,
but do enjoy sci-fi this was a good movie. Star
________________
Dec 27,1998.
After watching this so called movie...rather a joke.. I am assured
that Bruce Willis' acting is the star rating of the movie itself.
(-0) Boy...what a flop! -No name
________________
The
story itself is not interesting at all. Independence day, Deep Impact
and Armageddon. Why always the nation to save the world is America?
Yuko / Japan. Dec 13
________________
Russian
astronout looks not really!!! it's bad very bad on you!!! -Vasya
________________
Bruce
Willis must be a very good actor, because he prayed in this movie,
when in fact he doesn't even believe in GOD!!!! So in my opinion
he should win a Academy award. I guess you can see I don't think
to much of Brucey.
Later, Greg
________________
More.
Hello, I am very interested in your comparison of the movie "Armageddon"
to the story of Jesus. I am a religion studies student at the University
of Arizona. I went to see "Armageddon" tonight and kept
thinking that it would make a great honors thesis. So I got on the
net and found your sight. I was wondering if you had any other observations
to share. If you have any thoughts, I would really appreciate hearing
them. thanks for your sight, I
look forward to new postings!
Regards, Sam.
MY RESPONSE
Sam, I think it would be hard to compare the Jesus story to Armageddon
as there is no resurrection in Armageddon. Although, it relates
most in the area of sacrifice. The story of Jesus compares better
with Superman, 5th
Element, Point of No Return, Nikita,
Gattaca, Soylent Green, even Rambo (First
Blood), etc. BTW have you seen Zorro? There is a death and resurrection
scene in it. Well written movie. Zorro has a dual identity like
Jesus and is a savior/man. Zorro = Jesus. If you are compelled to
do Armageddon I would suggest focusing on its end-of-the-world biblical
themes (as also in popular culture in general) in relation with
Y2K. Or even, the recent men as responsible fathers in current films,
especially father - daughter themes, as in: Armageddon, Mulan, Zorro,
Lethal Weapon 4, Deep Impact, One
Simple Truth, Les Miserables, it's
incredible. Compare machismo of Lethal Weapon 1 to LW4. When did
you ever see Bruce Willis as care giving father who cries and even
mutters a prayer as in Armageddon? Something revolutionary and refreshing
is going on in popular culture. Keep in touch, I would love to help
you as I can on your honors thesis.
Yours, David Bruce.
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