13.06: Battle of the Asteroids

Remember the summer of 1998? Wolf-Biederman vs a rock the size of Texas? That’s right. We were blessed with not one but two asteroid disaster movies: “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon”!

If you’re into more “serious” apocalyptic fare, then you probably prefer “Deep Impact.” If you’re into summer tentpole blockbuster explosion-based apocalyptic flicks, then it’s “Armageddon” for you. Both have star-studded casts with Morgan Freeman, Téa Leoni, Robert Duvall, Elijah Wood, Vanessa Redgrave, and Maximillian Schell in “Deep Impact” and Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Jason Isaacs, Ben Affleck, Will Patton, William Fichtner, Peter Stormare, Steve Buscemi, and Keith David in “Armageddon.”

“Deep Impact” address some of the societal impacts (ahem) of the impending doom of the planet. We hear about and see a bit of the government plan to preserve our “way of life” by saving a million Americans in some caves in Missouri.

“Armageddon” discusses no such plan. Of course, there’s no time since they discover the asteroid with only 18 to hire Bruce Willis’ offshore drilling team to slingshot around the moon like the Coyote (of Roadrunner fame) and destroy the thing.

We call “Armageddon” an apocalyptic comedaction film. It is doom-tastic, tear-jerkingly hilarious, and full of action and explosions.

Which one is your favorite?

Listen in to hear our favorite moments and quotes, why we love these films, and whether we think they still hold up 25 years later.

Next week: Choose Your Own Thanksgiving Adventure!