Dateline: USA, Present Day. It seems as if the world is going to be hit by a giant asteroid, and that the only way to stop this potentially inconvenient event is to send some guys up there to stuff it chockas with nuclear explosives. The top minds at NASA decide that it would be best to send a motley crew of deep-sea oil drillers up to do the job. Bruce and his mates are given the patented Astronauts for Dummies course and are sent up to do the job, but not before the approaching menace is able to do a hell of a lot of damage to New York and surrounding areas (which I must say is great fun to watch).

For anyone thinking of making a whiz-bang 90's Hollywood spectacular, this is most certainly the film to watch. Armageddon is quite literally a remedial course in modern Hollywood filmmaking. For instance, watch for the first scene on the oilrig. First, the love interest is set up, then, of course, the typical jealous father who deep down actually likes his prospective son in law. In the ensuing chase around the rig, stereotype after stereotype is unloaded as the characters are passed by, with just enough characterisation and relationship information explained as is needed. In a way, just as many critically acclaimed movies may be a master at their craft, that is, explaining complex emotional relationships and turmoil for instance, Armageddon has the art of Hollywood movie making, for what it is worth, down to a fine craft.

I am afraid I can't be too critical of this movie, as it is a bit of a straw man for the serious movie critic. Basically, if you go into this movie expecting much more than a spectacular and well-crafted romp, you very much deserve to be let down. Personally, I find expectations can greatly affect how much people might enjoy a particular movie. So, if you are thinking of seeing Armageddon, just set the bar nice and low and enjoy the typically light humour and watching large things explode.