Let’s just ignore the fact that Armageddon (1998) was riddled with bad science. Just treat it as a summer blockbuster movie that did very well at the box office, and was extremely enjoyable. It was airing on HBO recently, and I caught the tail end of it.
They’ve successfully drilled 800 ft into the asteroid, but a recent CGI attack destroyed the arming mechanism on the nuclear bomb. The bomb can no longer be remotely detonated. Someone has to stay behind and hit that dead man’s switch.
”Either we all stay and die, or you guys draw straws,” says Colonel Willie Sharp.
Harry (Bruce Willis) tries to assume the mantle of responsibility, to be the one to sacrifice himself to save the world. “Nobody’s gonna draw straws,” he says. “I’ll stay and take care of it.” He tries to save his friends.
But the others, Chick, Bear, Lev, and AJ, just won’t have it. They’re all men and they just can’t let another man offer himself up for the ultimate sacrifice, without doing so themselves.
”Bullshit!” shouts Lev, the crazy Russian cosmonaut, and best wild card character in this movie. He shuts up Harry mid sentence (which I love).
”No way I will let you volunteer for this so I can go back to my home country like the man who didn’t volunteer. No way,” says Lev.
None of them could live with the guilt.
“Hey man. Let’s draw and let’s see who’s gonna stay up here and dance,” says Bear succinctly. He puts a brave face on the fearful situation.
So they draw.
AJ draws the short straw.
“Well, we’re all gonna die, right?” he says. ”I’m the guy who gets to do it saving the world.”
I guess there’s solace in that.
mruvula 