The Big Bad Wolf has reported in about her/it's/his battle with the seven little dwarvish henchmen and how he/she/it barely escaped last time. But she/he/it has seen the most latest recent print, and reports back that the film is getting better. You see, this canine is the dog sniffing the tree in the sacred orchard in Burbank. This ain't no test screening, this is more secret than that. Very few have seen what this fanged one has seen. I imagine the three little pigs drew their guns and gave him the once over, but now... now the film 'looks even better' You remember the review, it was the same day as DEEP IMPACT's reviews. Heh heh heh heh. But keep in mind, this is someone on the inside, and while I've seen all the storyboards myself, read the script and seen extended footage, I have to agree that this is the film alongside Godzilla that will make me stay up whimpering till it comes out. And of course the ever present torturous countdown clock, moving the hundreds of seconds by, drawing me closer and closer and closer. In fact, how come Lucasfilm hasn't already marketed these is insane.
As a deep cover double agent, I don't know how much more of this torture and interrogation I can take. My cover was almost blown. But the movie is too big to be kept under wraps by the agents of the Seven Dwarves. I must divulge more. This time, just call me "The Big Bad Wolf".]
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
