Deep Impact (1998)

“Mitch, we can do or we can teach. What’s your pleasure?” – Spurgeon Tanner

Number of Times Seen – At least 10 times (Theater, 29 Sep 2000, video, DVD and 27 Jan 2014)

Brief Synopsis – As a deadly comet hurdles towards Earth, a team of Astronauts try to stop it.  If they don’t succeed, who on Earth will survive?

My Take on it – This movie came out during the same summer as Armageddon (1998) and although many would suggest that these movies are quite similar, I disagree.

While Armageddon (1998) is a pure action flick, this movie takes on all the dramatic aspects of a disaster movie.  There are heroic scenes here, but ultimately what’s important here is the characters and how they each react (in their own way) to the impending disaster.

This movie paces the events well and instead of it being just days or weeks until the disaster, we know that there is close to 2 years to prepare with a number of ideas on how to stop or stall the disaster. (Yes, the plot line of an astronomer racing to tell the world seems silly in that context, I agree.)  This gives us time to get acquainted with the characters and see how this impending disaster affects their lives and the lives of everyone around them.  It also allows us to connect with them better on an emotional level so we feel that we have much invested in them and want them to find a way to survive.

The cast here is truly amazing – Tea Leoni, Robert Duvall, Elijah Wood, Vanessa Redgrave, James Cromwell, Maximillian Schell, Ron Eldard, Jon Favreau, Laura Innes, Mary McCormack, Richard Schiff, Leelee Sobieski, Blair Underwood, Dougray Scott and Morgan Freeman.

This movie makes me cry every time I watch it because I care so much about the characters and that to me makes it a great and memorable movie (despite plot holes throughout).

The musical score by James Horner is exceptional.  Listen to it here!

Bottom Line – Great disaster movie because it gives us many likeable characters (and actors) who we know won’t all be able to survive.  Good pacing where is doesn’t all happen in days, but over a period of two years. Highly recommended!

Rating – Oscar Worthy

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