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10-21

The Armageddon DVD will street on January 5th, for an SRP of $29.99 (prebook is Nov 24th). The disc will be dual-layer, and will include the Aerosmith I Don't Want to Miss a Thing video, and two theatrical trailers. It will be in full Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, and will be a widescreen release.

10-18

More DVD info: It is indeed set for January and will have the theatrical trailer, (I'm not sure which one because there were 3 for the film) and it will also have the Aerosmith video.

10-12

New DVD info: Word is that the Armageddon DVD is slated for release in January. Why is Disney missing the hoiliday season? No clue yet, but lets just hope its filled with extras. The only problem is that Disney has yet to release a DVD disc with anything other than the film's trailer.

10-7

Some news on the home video promotion being set-up for Armageddon's reelase:

The power-packed promotional sweepstakes will pay winner's taxes, parking tickets and award them real, certified asteroids!

The "End-of-the-World" national sweepstakes features five ARMAGEDDON videocassettes that will contain a grand-prize "ticket" to pay the winners' 1998 taxes. Ten additional ARMAGEDDON cassettes will include a "ticket" that will serve as a coupon to pay for the winners' 1998 parking tickets. Runner-up prizes include 15 real, certified-authentic asteroids, 25 official ARMAGEDDON jackets and 150 ARMAGEDDON soundtracks!

9-15

Buena Vista Home Video will be releasing the Bruce Willis big screen summer explosion film Armageddon to video on November 13. The tape will have a suggested retail price of $22.99. A director’s cut version will be available on LD from Criterion for a suggested retail price of $99.95.

7-26

It's official. Armageddon has just passed Deep Impact to become the top film of 1998. Armageddon's total is at $149.3 million.

7-11

New numbers for Armageddon. It looks it will be a close battle to see if Armageddon will beat Deep Impact.

Here are the estimates for Friday (7/10):
Numbers in () are the change from last Friday

1. Lethal Weapon 4: $11.3M - On pace for $36M for the weekend

2. Armageddon : $7.1M (-47%) - On pace for $24M for the weekend

3. Small Soldiers : $4.8M - On pace for $16.5M for the weekend

4. Dr. Dolittle : $3.8M (-49%) - On pace for $13.1M for the weekend

5. Madeline : $2.3M - On pace for $8M for the weekend

7-9

Here's how Armageddon did during the week:

Monday: $5,911,209
Tuesday: $5,911,749
Wednesday: $5,493,980

Total for one week: $71,519,609

7-5

It may not have been as big as you hoped, but it was big none the less. Read my full report.

7-4

It took-in $13.6M on Friday bringing its 3-day total to $31.7M. MIB last year on its first Friday did $15.7 and ID4 on its first friday did $17.7M.

Armageddon is on pace for a 5-day total of only $59 million and a 3-day, Fri-Sun, total of $41M. It would put it third on the all-time biggest July 4th weekend openings behind ID4 ($84.9M) and MIB ($79.3) and in front of T2 ($49.9M).

7-3

The Thursday total fell by nearly 12% from Wednesday’s premier to around $8,430,000, bringing the two-day total to just over $18,000,000.

5-21

From Ain't It cool News:

As luck would have it, my habit of taking a walk around at lunch, bumped me into the key grip on the set of Armageddon. After shooting the breeze for a few minutes, I was invited onto the set, and even better, invited back to watch and absorb as much as I could for the final 2 weeks of shooting. Needless to say, I was there. My first comment would have to be that the difference between a $3 mill. pic, and $150 mill. pic. is bigger than Godzilla himself. It sent my heart a racing just to see 5 or 6 Panavisions just sitting around, not being used except here and there.

Now, on to the meat of the story. Not only were the sets, and the props absolutely mind boggling, but the skill of the cast and crew on this will be what makes the film. Especially Billy Bob Thornton, who in addition to being very professional, was convincing, and fun. He would hop around the set between takes to another unit shooting some static scenes, and want to direct them, or ride on the camera dolly. Just all around pretty cool. Not to mention his stunningly beautiful assistant that was always around when he was.

As far as props and sets go, these were amazing. The Armadillo, which is the "Asteroid Rover" they built, not only looks mean and bad-ass, it was fully functional too. Built on top of a HUMVEE chassis, and everything else was custom designed and built. Now, on Stage 2, they tore out the floor, and dug down approximately THREE STORIES, giving the stage an almost 7 story interior height. Here, carpenters and set builders spent the better part of a year running steam piping, building the forms, and all the scenic elements for the interior of the asteroid. The effects and shots I saw in here in the last week were fantastic. Lot's of stuff being blown up, gutted, trashed, and blown up again (these being some of the exceptions to the Panavisions "just sitting around", each shot had a minimum of 5 cameras on it.)

The last night of scheduled shooting, they actually had a huge crane that picked up the Armadillo from the front end, and suspended it in mid-air. They had "green-screened" a huge spot underneath it, and had another crane from which the stuntman tumbled and bumped his way down the underside of the Armadillo. This shot was fantastic, and came from a buddy of mine operating the TechnoCrane. Brad is a pure master on this. They had stacked the TechnoCrane up ON TOP of another truck mounted Chapman camera crane, so that even more height and motion could be achieved. In-fucking-credible is the word. If the effects that were done without CGI were as good as they were, I can't wait to see the finished product. Each and every set was meticulously detailed (and then most of them were thoroughly destroyed), and wonderfully crafted. I didn't get a chance to bump into any of the other "stars", but many of the other actors (whose names now escape me) we're just having a good time. The crew was a bit worn out after 100+ days of shooting, and the tension was pretty high on the set towards the end (Mr. Bay is a pretty weird guy, very very quiet, and not nearly as communicative as many other directors).

I had to write in this piece because I went to see "Deep Impact" last week, and it SUCKED. Not only did I not empathize with any of the characters, all I could do was laugh at the "love story". The best part of the whole damn film was the "Armageddon" trailer. Anyway, I hope y'all do go see "Armageddon", the story line is COMPLETELY different from "Deep Impact", the only thing in common is an asteroid, and unlike "Deep Impact", if the set "fun factor" is at all indicative of the theater "fun factor" this movie's gonna be a helluva ride. Buckle up "A".

- One Charmed Life

5-20

Want to see the new line of shades from Swiss Army brands? Go here.

CANNES - As impossible to ignore as falling boulders, films in which asteroids bombard Earth are raining down on screens worldwide.

First came the TV movie Asteroid, then Deep Impact. And in July, Armageddon, starring Bruce Willis, crashes into theaters across the USA.

The producer, director and stars of the effects-laden film sprung 50 minutes of the movie on a select group of journalists at the Cannes Film Festival Monday, hoping to send jaws dropping.

Mouths did open; but mostly to let out laughs.

When the dozen theater speakers weren't coming unhinged thanks to scenes of familiar disaster-movie mayhem (major U.S. landmark - fill in the blank - topples onto fleeing citizens), the audience was coming unglued as a sober Willis emoted to his tearful daughter Grace (Liv Tyler).

When the lights came up, so did Willis, surprising the audience by taking the stage.

''Thank you for watching a 50-minute commercial for the movie,'' he said. ''And thank you for enjoying the comical aspects of the film. I'm glad you all take the end of the world so well.''

Later at a beachside press conference, Willis joined co-stars Tyler and Steve Buscemi (who delivers riotous one-liners in the face of doom) as well as producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay (The Rock).

But the pack was here for Willis, firing most questions his way. He handled them coolly.

To the notion that all his roles are heroic (in Armageddon, he plays an oil driller enlisted to save the planet): ''Well, in America, my name is in our Yellow Pages under World Saver, so it's getting easier and easier. Occasionally I also act in movies, such as one I just finished, Breakfast of Champions, based on Kurt Vonnegut's novel.''

On whether he believes in the biblical prophecy of Armageddon: ''I think we're experiencing the end of the world right now in terms of how the U.S. press is behaving. It won't be long until we see public executions on TV.''

Willis denied reports that he is interested in directing.

Armageddon director Bay took a few minutes to skewer his competition (Deep Impact), saying, ''Not to trash their movie, but it's not one I'd want to make. . . . At least in ours we have a lot of fun.''

When a French reporter noted that the 50-minute preview featured a world in crisis and yet showcased only scenes of a troubled USA, Bay avoided the U.S.-centric charge and mumbled, ''Well, we're shooting scenes around the world, in Paris, India, Turkey.''

The reporter had a point that was popular among the non-U.S. press.

Armageddon is the tale of how a band of misfit oilmen attempt to rescue humanity by landing on an oncoming asteroid to drill deep into its core and deposit a bomb. The preview played like a Chevy truck commercial, all fluttering U.S. flags and slow-motion close-ups of ruggedly handsome blue-collar men, women and children.

With Chevy's tagline being ''Like a Rock,'' can a cross-promotion be far behind?

By Marco R. della Cava, USA TODAY

5-18

If you live in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Miami, Boston, Seattle, Portland or Minneapolis send a postcard with your name and address to:

Premiere "Armageddon" P.O. Box 1511 New York, NY 10101-1511

Your postcard MUST match one of the screening cities and be postmarked by JUNE 8, 1998. Winners will be selected at random and the tickets will be made to you.

5-4

Aerosmith Records Title Track For Touchstone Pictures' `Armageddon'

BURBANK, Calif., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- America's premier rock band, Aerosmith, took a short break this week from their hugely successful ``Nine Lives World Tour'' to cut a new track for Touchstone Pictures' ``Armageddon.''

The new song -- a romantic ballad entitled ``I Don't Want to Miss a Thing'' -- will be the pre-release launch track for the movie, as well as a recurring musical theme throughout the film. Scheduled for release as a commercial single (5/4), the song will also appear on ``Armageddon'': The Album, from Columbia Records/Sony Music Soundtrax, due in stores June 30th.

``Armageddon'' reunites the same dynamic filmmaking team responsible for the 1996 blockbuster ``The Rock'' -- producer Jerry Bruckheimer (``Con Air'') and director Michael Bay (``Bad Boys''), who also served as producer on this film along with Gale Anne Hurd (``The Terminator,'' ``Aliens''), Jonathan Hensleigh wrote the screenplay and was the film's executive producer.

``Armageddon's'' distinguished cast includes Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Will Patton, Peter Stormare, Keith David and Steve Buscemi. The film opens nationwide on July 1st.

Marking the first time that Aerosmith have ever been asked to record an original song for a major film release, the track was completed at the Hit Factory in New York, over a period of three days. Produced by hot young talent, Matt Serletic (Matchbox 20, Candlebox), and mixed by long-time Aerosmith collaborator David Thoener, the track features a 52-piece orchestra, under the baton of Susie Katayama -- who took a day's break from the Eric Clapton tour to work on the song.

Since the release of their critically acclaimed, U.S. #1 debuting album ``Nine Lives,'' also on Columbia Records, the band have been firmly entrenched in the ``Nine Lives World Tour,'' which commenced in May 1997 and has so far taken in 133 shows across three continents to more than two million people.

``Armageddon'' follows the fiery trail of an asteroid the size of Texas that is heading directly towards Earth at 22,000 mph. NASA's executive director, Dan Truman (Billy Bob Thornton), has only one option -- to send up a crew to destroy the asteroid. He enlists the help of Harry S. Stamper (Bruce Willis) -- the world's foremost deep core oil driller -- to drill into its surface, and drop a nuclear device into the core. On this heroic journey, they face the most physically and emotionally challenging conditions ever encountered... to save the world and prevent ARMAGEDDON.

Company Press Release

SOURCE: Touchstone Pictures

5-2

From the people behind The Official Grayson McCouch Page:

Allow us to introduce ourselves. We're the webmasters of the Official Grayson McCouch Page. Grayson plays "Gruber", one of the astronauts in the movie.

Grayson is doing a question and answer forum. You send in your questions to a special email address (ask_grayson@hotmail.com), we forward them, he answers, and we post the replies to the page. It's a fantastic opportunity to discuss the movie, the other actors, the director, etc.

Hope to get lots of questions!

Thanks,

Carolyn & Kaia

4-30

From Ain't It cool News:

Report on 55 minute exhibitor screening of ARMAGEDDON

Ok folks, you've wanted the lowdown on ARMAGEDDON, and you're gonna get it. This piece isn't very opinionated, but it does tell you the lowdown, the skinny, a lot of the whizzes and bangs... but the writer did leave off the end sequence of events. I know these events, and quite frankly, when everyone asks me why I'm so fired up over this project, the reason is... well I know. I heard from one exhibitor in the Atlanta area that after seeing this 55 minute preview, that the chain decided to sell tickets 2 weeks ahead of time as they did with Independence Day and Star Wars Special Edition. In comparison the same exhibitor told me the plan for their chain is to drop back screens showing Deep Impact after only one week. Exhibitors are excited about ARMAGEDDON, and believe me there is a reason. If you go back on my site and read my original comparison between Deep Impact and Armageddon... the one that came months before I was invited on set you would realize that I've felt strongly about Armageddon long before Michael Bay talked to me. Heck, in one posting he was even referred to as the Prince of Darkness. This isn't about me and Michael Bay, it's about quality kickass films, and the 55 minutes according to the people I've talked with... kick ass. However, it doesn't mean I won't be seeing DEEP IMPACT opening day... I will, and I'm hoping for the best. One note... there are MASSIVE SPOILERS below.... In fact I don't recommend you read it, but since there are a bunch of ya that will crucify me if I don't well, here ya go. I'm going to do my countdown as usual...

OK HERE ARE THE SPOILERS.....

First of all, as I am writing this, I am very tired. I had very little sleep last night and I am struggling to stay awake. Second of all, I am not a very good typist so there are bound to be typos. Feel free to edit this as you deem necessary. As I stated earlier, I saw this at a meeting Buena Vista set up to let theatre managers and exhibitors see what their summer movies are going to be and how they can best be promoted. I don't know if I am not supposed to telling people about this but they did not tell us not to so here I go anyway. Please don't put my name in the just in case though. If I can pick a SecretSpy Name, I guess use BONOVOX.

The "movie" starts with the guy who sounds like Chris Tucker riding his bike down the street with his dog. They are in New York City. He gets off the bike and starts to watch television where they are announcing the shuttle Atlantis has just blown up and his dog gets away from him. The dog runs to a street corner where a guy is selling little Godzilla dolls. The dog starts attacking the dolls (the dog is a little dog, but the Godzilla's are only about a foot tall). ??Foreshadowing or just hopeful?? The vendor picks up a four foot inflatable Godzilla and starts hitting the dog with it. By this time the bike guy is trying to get the dog but he can't because the guy is swing the inflatable Godzilla so bike guy is saying he is he is going to kick his ass. Just then, an meteor land squarely on the vendor, causing a huge explosion. It then cuts to an Oriental couple in a taxi and the driver is saying it must be a terrorist attack. The couple decides it want to see a Broadway show. Back at the bike guy, he is standing at he edge of a hole holding a dog leash calling for his dog. The dog is still alive but hanging into the hole by his leash. More explosions start around the bike guy. Tens of meteors are shown heading towards downtown New York. We see meteors coming in then cutting to explosions everywhere. One hits the Empire State Building causing the top section to break off and crash to the ground like a lawn dart.

Bill Bob Thornton's character (Truman-working for NASA) is shown giving a briefing to some Presidential Advisor. He is telling them that the meteor's that hit where "the size of basketballs and Volkswagens" but they have detected another, bigger one coming in. The advisor asks how big it is and another NASA guy starts spout off numbers. Truman interjects. "It's the size of Texas." The advisor then asks how long they have. They come up with the figure of 18 days. They then begin discussing option for how they can stop it. One guy comes up with the plan the blow it up not from the outside but from the inside. He says its like putting a firecracker on your hand and lighting it. It would only burn a little. But, if you close your hand around the firecracker and it explodes, "Your wife will be opening ketchup bottles for you for the rest of your life." Truman suggests they use deep core drillers for the job. It does not let you know if he has Willis in mind or not, but as I said before, not much characterization or back ground was shown.

Pacific Ocean--Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis), is hitting golf ball off an oil rig. He hits, people duck to avoid being hit. The camera then pulls back to show him hitting balls at a Greenpeace ship protesting just off the oil rig. He is yelling at them cracking jokes, "I love whales," etc. Chick (Will Patton) comes over to tell Harry that A.J. (Ben Affleck) has not done something he was supposed to do the night before. Pissed off, Harry goes to find A.J. A.J. is in the bed when Harry knocks. He jumps out of bed and we see a woman's foot slide under the covers. Harry gets mad at what A.J. did or didn't do and yells at him for it. A.J. gives in really fast and apologizes. Now Harry knows something is up because he says A.J. has never given in so quickly in the five years he's known him. A.J. is guarding the bed so Harry pulls the sheets down where Liv Tyler is laying. "Hi, Grace" says Harry. "Hi, Harry" says Grace. Harry:"I told you to call me dad." We now realize A.J. was sleeping with Harry's daughter. Harry threatens A.J. but then tells him to hold on, he'll be back. A.J. looks puzzled for a second and then realizes what Harry is doing. A.J.starts to run. Harry goes up to Rockhound (Steve Buscemi) and asks him if he knew about all of this while he is loading a shot gun. Rockhound looks guilty. Harry is now chasing A.J. with a gun. You cannot tell if Harry is trying to hit him or not, but A.J. keeps trying to get Harry to reason with him. He finally corners A.J. and shoots. He wasn't intending to hit him but he gets knicked by a pellet. A.J. starts whining. Then a helicopter arrives at the rig. Rockhound tells Harry he swears "she didn't tell me how old she was."

It then cuts to Harry and his drilling crew pulling up to NASA. They are briefed about the situation at hand and they are asked if they are willing to do the job. The drillers are allowed to talk in private where they make up their mind to do it. Harry goes up to Truman and tells him they are in but they have a list of "demands." He starts naming off things each of his crew wants: fix speeding tickets, new cars, who shot JFK, and oh yea, they don't want to pay taxes--ever. Truman says he thinks they can work on some of those.

We then see the drillers training to be astronauts. They train underwater, go through batteries of tests, and practice their mission in simulations. This sequence is really funny and cuts back and forth to different characters to see how they react. Now it is time for the shuttle to launch since there is not much time left (23 hours, I think). Grace is waiting for the astronauts to board so she can tell them goodbye before they leave. She hugs her father, pats the others on the back until she gets to A.J. She jumps in his arms and they kiss and then A.J. starts singing to her. It is some classic rock song (I forget which one-sorry) and Rockhound and others start singing it as well. A.J. tells Grace he is going to marry her when he gets back. "You bet you sweet ass you are," she says and the men go to the shuttle.

There are two shuttles going into orbit, the Freedom and the Independence. Harry, Chick and Rockhound are on one (Independence) while A.J. is on another(Freedom.) The shuttles take off, one after another and go into orbit. They are then going to slingshot around the moon and this is a really exciting sequence. The ships are shaking like crazy and the G forces and speed are increasing. I think it gets up to about 10g's and 20,000 mph (this is what they said). Once their burn is complete, they are heading for the meteor the size of Texas. Once they reach it, they find what looks like a lattice work of rock with chunks flying everywhere.

Now Harry, I just can't tell ya what happens next. It's pretty cool stuff, but there are some surprises that need to be kept as suprises. Suffice to say, this is where everything goes nuts...

However, after the end of the film, the film then cuts to scenes of parades and the other astronauts. We then see a shuttle exploding (the Atlantis, I think) and other action scenes in the movie cut together in a trailer like sequence. Then the title Armageddon comes up and it is over.

4-14

From The Hollywood Reporter:

'Armageddon' will hit Cannes

The Walt Disney Co.'s Touchstone Pictures will screen 40 minutes of Michael Bay's "Armageddon" at a special sidebar screening for exhibitors and select international press at the Cannes International Film Festival next month. The event will include a lavish bash billed as "The Last Blowout, End of the World 'Armageddon' Party" to support the big-budget summer release about a team of astronauts sent to destroy an enormous asteroid hurtling toward Earth. "Armageddon" actors Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Billy Bob Thornton, Steve Buscemi and Liv Tyler are expected to attend, along with Bay.

4-12

New test screening news. Thanx to Ain't It Cool News for the info. This review has no spoilers and allso mantions of a new Armageddon trailer. So be on the lookout on the net for it!

Big Bad Wolf in the house. Thought you might like a further scoop on ARMAGEDDON, which I am now convinced will be the biggest blockbuster of the year.

After my review of a rough cut of ARMAGEDDON, in which I clearly underestimated the power of Aint-It-Cool-News and the Seven Dwarves (the enforcers of Disney), I was captured, interrogated, and tortured as a double agent. My cover was almost blown. In my naivete, I forgot that ARMAGEDDON has been surrounded with a secrecy reserved for clandestine government projects. But, I didn't crack under pressure and now feel compelled to send in an update.

I'll admit GODZILLA looks cool. As a kid I rooted for Godzilla to beat King Kong in KING KONG VS. GODZILLA. But Godzilla (no matter how cool), Mathew Broderick, and Hank Azaria can't compare with Bruce Willis, Liv Tyler, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck, Steve Bescemi, and an asteroid the size of Texas heading to Earth.

The trailers for DEEP IMPACT look good, but this movie goes further. It's APOLLO 13 turned up to 11, TOP GUN with Space Shuttles, THE ROCK on an asteroid, CRIMSON TIDE in outer space.

The new special effects look amazing! Fellow film geeks, you've never seen something like this before. Asteroids rain down on our fair planet. Dual Space Shuttles fly through space, dock with a space station, deal with disaster, and land on the rock. That's when the real fun starts. The stuff in space and on the asteroid looks other-worldly. Plus some great cinematography. I'd be surprised if this film doesn't get some Oscar noms.

I was worried about an excessive 3+ hour length, but word has it it'll be released at closer to 2 1/2 hours. Mo better. The story is tighter and the acting is first-rate, for an action picture. Also, a word about the reported "reshoots". The original script always had references to asteroids hitting Earth, I guess they just decided to go ahead and shoot some of the scenes for added effect. Never hurts to blow stuff up.

The bottom line, despite typical Hollywood formula, I thought this movie did a great job of combining character, action, and SFX. It's got visual spectacles galore, but enough intense human drama to keep all but the most jaded cynic involved. The Bruce Willis - Liv Tyler - Ben Affleck trio really gives this movie its heart and some of the conflicts on the asteroid remind me of CRIMSON TIDE, perhaps my favorite Simpson & Bruckheimer film.

Catch the new trailer, now at a theater near you. Tell me this isn't going to be the biggest movie of the year.

"Leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again."

- The Big Bad Wolf

3-29

Thanks to Aint It Cool News for this info:

I was on the Sony lot on Friday March 13th. As you reported, there was indeed a flood tank and a Shanghai-like village. I snooped around all day and who did I see but Michael Bay. I spoke to some of the crew members and they confirmed that principle shooting was done and that now, all of a sudden Michael has a few new ideas. He wants to show various places on the earth, each being destructed by various asteroid bits(INDEPENDENCE DAY?),

Anyway, there were hundreds of Taiwanese people running around the studio all day. Each was dressed in silk vests and linen pants and even Oriental slippers. Every litttle detail was taken care of. The crew guy that I spoke to said that Michael planned to blow up the entire set at about 10 p.m. that night and that it would be filmed using ten different cameras. I went inside and reexamined the set and saw that the lighting crew was testing various shades of red and yellow on the set. They cast an eerie glow and could very well set the stage for a forthcoming asteroid. Lastly, I tried to talk to Michael Bay and he told me that he was very busy. I went back and spoke to the original crew guy and he explained to me that when the filming was completed they were going to film on a new site the next week. I asked what other cities were they going to blow up and he suggested somewhere with Mountains.

3-4

The first test screening is in!
Thanks to Aint It Cool News for the info:

Armageddon, scheduled to open July 1, is going to be one of the biggest movies of the year. I recently saw a rough cut, with unfinished special effects and an incomplete ending. It's a Jerry Bruckheimer film, so don't expect a re-invention of the wheel, but it's got a great cast, some high drama, and (as far as I can tell) it's going to show us movie junkies some things we've never seen before.

SPOILER ALERT!

SFX are incomplete, but it looks like the film will open with a meteor colliding with Earth and killing all the dinosaurs. Jurassic Park meets Deep Impact.

CUT TO: Dan Truman (Billy Bob Thornton, playing Ed Harris in Apollo 13) presiding over Mission Control as a meteor shower destroys the Space Shuttle. A comet the size of Texas is coming to Earth and must be stopped before it destroys all of mankind.

Who else to send, but oil driller Harry Stamper (Bruce Willis) and his motley crew to fly to the asteroid, drill a deep hole, drop a bomb, and nuke it? Complicating things, oil worker A.J. (Ben Affleck) has the hots for Harry's daughter Grace (Liv Tyler), so we get a scene where Harry comes after A.J. with a gun, like some scene out of 'Lil Abner. What the hell were they thinking? My friend thought it was funny.

After this come a series of extended scenes, which go on way too long, detailing the recruitment and training of Harry and his guys ("How do we poop in space?"). Udo Kier appears in a cameo as a NASA shrink. Needless to say, Steve Buscemi (as Rockhound) gets most of the funny lines, and Harry and his gang know far more than the supposed experts.

In the past, Michael Bay has taken some heat for preferring style over substance and action over character, so it seems like he's going overboard to compensate here. It takes 90 MINUTES! into the movie for the two Space Shuttles to finally blast off. Of course, this is when the story really takes off, and a lot of the footage is really extraordinary.

Be forewarned, the movie I saw ended up being 3 hours long. I hear they're going to release it close to that length. That's too long, if you ask me, but hang in there, your patience will pay off.

The two Space Shuttles dock with a Russian space station, manned by Lev, a lone cosmonaut pining away for the glory days of the Soviet Union. The claustrophobic danger (and dark humor) aboard the decrepit space station marks the next level of this action/adventure. When the space station starts to malfunction, the movie takes Apollo 13 and turns the volume up to 11.

From there, our teams fly to the asteroid, where they crash-land and become seperated. The asteroid, the worst place imaginable, offers its own obstacles to Harry and his team. Physical and personal obstacles lead to a series of intense decisions and confrontations. (DELETED TO NOT SPOIL FILM) Of course, Harry and his surviving crew are not about to give up.

The movie I saw was still very unfinished (we're talking guys playing with G.I.Joe astronaut dolls in place of some SFX), but this movie goes a step or two beyond the average action movie. By the end, some people have died and (DELETED TO PRESERVE THE MYSTERY) Since all I saw was a cliffhanger, it sure has me wondering what happens.

At any rate, the first half of the movie is pretty typical Bruckheimer action stuff. But the second half promises to show some new things, both in terms of SFX and drama in an action picture. Personally, I can't wait to see the finished film.

1-28

Just added the Armageddon Super Bowl ad from the official site (which it seems will be up and running on Feb, 4). Go get it in the media gallery.

1-25

Here is an article sent to me from The Jessica Steen Page:

He wants his spaceship

Bruce Willis, in his last few weeks of filming Armageddon, has been waiting to learn whether he'll get to ride on NASA's notorious "vomit comet" training jet before the feature wraps. Turns out Willis and filmmaker Michael Bay have been lobbying for months to get aboard the aircraft, which simulates weightlessness. According to Willis' co-star Jessica Steen, "George Bush came to visit us on the set in Houston, with Bruce hoping he'd pull some strings." Restrictions on civilian flights aboard the jet have been tightened since Tom Hanks, Ron Howard and other Apollo 13 movie team members took rides three years ago, Steen said. But that hasn't quelled the Armageddon troupe's hopes. "Letters are still being written," she said.

1-14

Look for a 60 second spot for Armageddon during the Super Bowl on NBC coming up on January 25. Disney has spent $2.6 million for the commercial.

Films also going to air during the Super Bowl this year are: New Line's Lost in Space, Sony's The Mask of Zorro, Warner's Sphere and Universal's Mercury Rising. (Hey, isn't Bruce in that one as well?)