Armageddon
It was a great movie. One of the summer blockbusters - its special effects were masterly. The meteor showers, the shuttle launches, the destruction of the Russian Space Station, the landing on the meteorite … all great stuff.
It was a movie with loads of interesting, overlapping ideas. It was about America's role as the Superpower Saviour, it was a celebration of human confidence in the new technology. Armageddon was about romance - A.J. and Grace the tender touch throughout; it was about daring and the strength of the underdog - the hard drinking/fighting riggers were needed to do the job, not the poncey soldiers and airmen. Above all it was about salvation. It was a celluloid celebration of the themes of danger, self-sacrifice and the salvation of the world.
When Bruce Willis, as Harry Stamper, detonated the nuclear warhead on the meteorite which saved the world he was acting out one of the great dramas of human history and experience.
If you haven't seen the movie, forgive me if I ruin the surprise! A meteorite is about to cause a 'global wipe-out' of earth and its inhabitants. There is only one viable solution: get on the meteorite and blow it apart - obvious really! Bruce Willis, a hard-nosed oilman, takes a team reminiscent of the dirty dozen into space and onto the meteorite. They have to drill down 800 feet, deposit a nuclear device, get off the meteorite and get back home for the party.
Sounds straightforward but loads of opportunity for thrills and suspense. An hour and a half into the movie Harry is on the meteorite, they've drilled the hole, dropped the device but the automatic detonator has failed. Someone has to stay behind. Someone has to give his life to save the world. A.J., who is Harry's best friend and prospective son-in-law, draws the short straw. At the last minute Harry substitutes himself for A.J.. Harry detonates the device.
Harry gives his life to save the world. Harry's action turns away the meteorite destruction. Harry becomes the world's hero. Whether it's Jack in Titanic (of whom Rose says, "He saved me as completely as it is possible for a person to be saved and I don't even have his photograph")or Harry in Armageddon (how many other films can you think of?) the story of loving self-sacrifice strikes deep at the heart of people of every generation.
What puzzles me, though, is why this redemption theme fills cinemas, theatres, book shelves and generates million dollar profits yet, when the real life story to beat them all is offered free, so few want to listen or take notice. Ok, so you don't get popcorn or coke on the way into church and there aren't too many guys with the pull of Bruce Willis in the pulpits but the story that they tell of Jesus of Nazareth, saviour of the world, is true. It's free. It's for real.
The scriptwriter of Armageddon has the President of the USA addressing the world saying, "The human species has the technology to prevent its own extinction" but the scriptwriter is wrong!
The human species hasn't the technology to halt hurricane Georges or El Nino or the barbarity of Kosovo or the destructive effects of sectarianism. The human species remains vulnerable in the face of death and final judgement. The meteorite of the consequences of human sinfulness is hurtling towards 'global wipe-out'. Jesus steps forward to take our place even though he didn't draw the short straw. Jesus stays behind and gives his life for the world through a savage and shameful execution. Jesus' action turns away the meteorite of wrath and judgement. Jesus made a difference for us.
Go on, read the book! Join the fan club. Follow the hero.