Armageddon

Armageddon

1998

Director: Michael Bay

Writer: Jonathan Hensleigh, J.J. Abrams, Tony Gilroy, and Shane Salerno

150 Minutes

Michael Bay spent his early years in the film business working on commercials and music videos. Then a script titled Bad Boys came to him. Success. And then a script titled The Rock came to him. Winner.

Finally, Armageddon came to him. Blockbuster.

Armageddon is a story about a group of oil drillers commissioned by NASA to stop a Texas-size asteroid from destroying earth.

But, there was so much more to this film.

In the scene above, A.J. (Ben Affleck) has taken Grace (Liv Tyler) to a secluded park on his day-pass away from NASA training. Grace happens to be Harry Stamper’s (Bruce Willis), A.J.’s boss/leader/commander, daughter. A.J. is apart of the oil digging crew and this is his last chance to be with the woman he loves.

They romance in pillow talk.

Grace asks, “Babe, do you think it’s possible that anyone else in the world is doing this very same thing and this very same moment.”

A.J. replies, “I hope so. Otherwise what the hell are we trying to save.”

This scene amplifies the importance of their mission. They are not trying to save large cooperation’s, amusement parks, and colossal cities; they are trying to save the small moments that an individual shares. They are trying to save children laughing, birds singing, and mother's praying.

In short, they are saving the human race, however large or small your definition is.

Between A.J. and Grace, their love isn’t about the grand adventure or royal weddings. It’s about intimate moments. Their love is pure. Their love is kind. And that’s why those men are going up.

“I really don’t think the animal cracker qualifies as a cracker,” A.J. says.
“Why”
“Well cause it’s sweet, which to me suggests cookie, and, you know, I mean putting cheese on something is sort of defining characteristic of what makes a cracker a cracker. I don’t know why I thought of that, I just…”

This film was not a shallow attempt at “we have special effects, so there is no need for story.” This film was a meaningful journey between father and son, mentor and apprentice. It's about friendship. And it's about love. These themes and ideas climbed aboard that shuttle along side A.J. and Harry.

That’s why this film is remembered.

In the years following, Michael Bay was commissioned to direct the Transformer’s saga. And in my personal opinion, it doesn’t live up to Bad Boys, The Rock, or Armageddon.

It’s because there is no story. No themes.

In the end, we need those small moments in life to let us know what's important. Life is not about six figure salaries, nor Lakefront mansions.

It’s about animal crackers conversations.