Cheryl’s thoughts:

Revisiting this movie, I had forgotten that it was a Michael Bay and Jerry Bruckheimer vehicle. Lots of explosions, stupid situations, a complete lack of plausibility in many places, and emotionally manipulative. Sidebar: the score by Trevor Rabin is note-for-note perfect for amping up the tension and tugging on heartstrings.

It’s got a solid cast, and decent timing — there’s a bit of a lag in the opener but it picks up pace and starts moving pretty soon thereafter. Get your popcorn inside the first half hour. Each of the cast plays their part: Bruce Willis kicks ass, Ben Affleck is the young-gun to Willis’ straight shooter, Steve Buscemi delivers ascerbic one-liners, and Liv Tyler is at her lip-quivering best (though I think she and Affleck were better on screen in Jersey Girl).

Armageddon fits squarely into the “Bruce Willis Saves the World” series of films but is also a about as pro-America as you can get without dipping into actual propaganda — the kind of movie that Team America: World Police squarely lampoons, right down to the getting-in-fighting-shape montage.

That said, if you’re looking for a solid brain-parking blockbuster, this is your movie. If you want something with a hint of science fact, try Deep Impact that came out the same year.

Alynda’s thoughts:

It is thanks to Armageddon that I now have a better understanding of Team America: World Police.  Once again, this is one of those huge blockbuster movies that I never got around to seeing when they came out.  Why?  I have no freakin’ idea.  I was familiar with the Aerosmith song, if that makes difference.  But I digress.  So there I am, finally watching this thing, and it is possibly the most “rah rah, America is amazing and will save the world” thing that I’ve ever seen, that wasn’t intended as satire.  Honestly, I kept waiting for someone to sing “America, f- yeah!”  In hindsight, I should have expected something of this nature when I realized that it was a co-production of Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay.

I have to say, I can see why we chose this as being representative of the summer blockbuster genre.  It has all the classic components: Bruce Willis, the earth at risk, a love story that is both germane and unnecessary to the story, heroism, and sacrifice.  I could feel how hard the movie was working to make me cry, and yet, even though I knew I was being manipulated, I still did get a little soggy around the edges.  That is my nature, after all.  I think there is at least 20 minutes too much exposition; tighter editing would have resulted in a better paced movie overall.  I did like it, but I don’t think I’m in any great hurry to watch it again anytime soon.  Perhaps if it didn’t take itself quite so seriously, I’d have enjoyed it even more.

Cheryl’s take:

The Star Trek franchise is what one might call well-loved and among the films in the franchise, Star Trek II the Wrath of Khan is among the most well-loved by fans. It’s also very accessible to someone who’s never seen an episode (I don’t know anyone but I am certain they exist).

This film introduces us to Captain Kirk’s son and re-introduces Kirk’s nemesis, Khan Noonian Singh (played with scenery-chewing glee by Ricardo Montalban) and takes viewers on a roller-coaster sci-fi romp that includes some tension, some explosions, and plenty of pathos. If you’ve been around people quoting Star Trek there’s a good chance the line was from this film: Kirk’s immortal, “Khaaaaaaaaann!” yell; Spock’s logical, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.. or the one.”; or Khan’s frustrated, “The override. Where’s the override?”

Is it great cinema? Not particularly. The special effects are very dated and look incredibly clunky by today’s standards; the acting is, as you can guess, pretty over-the-top; and the plot? the plot is surprisingly above-average. In the end, this is one of those movies you just have to see. Entertaining and cannon as far as sci-fi films go.

Alynda’s Take:

Age changes your perceptions. When I first watched Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, I could not watch the scene with the space slug/scorpion being inserted into the ears of Chekov and some other random guy. I found it just too disgusting. Flash forward about 20 years or so. Special effects are now so good that the scene that once made me close my eyes now looks so tacky that I nearly laughed out loud. You know what? It turns out that when you’ve aged at least 20 years since your first viewing, you also realize that this movie is really about dealing with getting older, coming to grips with mistakes you’ve made in your past, and the enduring power of friendship.

But enough philosophy. Even though I can see a deeper meaning, the bottom line is that this is just full-on cheesy fun. Ricardo Montalban reprises his role as Khan-where he chews up the scenery in a most delightful way. His appearance and performance may be the best thing in this movie. Even if he is wearing a prosthetic chest. (Are those prosthetic pecs? I don’t know, but if not, wow! Not bad for a 62 year old man) The costumes and hair are 80’s chic, Spock makes logical choices, Kirk makes foolish ones (for a Captain anyway), Bones complains, and Scotty does his best to keep the engines running. Just another day in the Star Trek (TOS) universe. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. KHAN!!!!