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Deep Impact (1998)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
8 May 1998 (USA)
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Tagline:
Heaven and Earth are about to collide. more
Plot:
Unless a comet can be destroyed before colliding with Earth, only those allowed into shelters will survive. Which people will survive? full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
5 wins
&
7 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(104 articles)
2012 (Film Review)
(From Fangoria. 16 November 2009, 11:00 PM, PST)
'2012' Is Old News: Hollywood Apocalypses Through The Decades
(From MTV Movies Blog. 13 November 2009, 1:00 PM, PST)
(From Fangoria. 16 November 2009, 11:00 PM, PST)
'2012' Is Old News: Hollywood Apocalypses Through The Decades
(From MTV Movies Blog. 13 November 2009, 1:00 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Superior to 'Armageddon'
more (429 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Robert Duvall | ... | Spurgeon Tanner | |
| Téa Leoni | ... | Jenny Lerner | |
| Elijah Wood | ... | Leo Biederman | |
| Vanessa Redgrave | ... | Robin Lerner | |
| Morgan Freeman | ... | President Beck | |
| Maximilian Schell | ... | Jason Lerner | |
| James Cromwell | ... | Alan Rittenhouse | |
| Ron Eldard | ... | Oren Monash | |
| Jon Favreau | ... | Gus Partenza | |
| Laura Innes | ... | Beth Stanley | |
| Mary McCormack | ... | Andrea Baker | |
| Richard Schiff | ... | Don Biederman | |
| Leelee Sobieski | ... | Sarah Hotchner | |
| Blair Underwood | ... | Mark Simon | |
| Dougray Scott | ... | Eric Vennekor |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Impact (USA) (original script title)
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more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for intense disaster related elements and brief language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
120 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:PG-13 (certificate #35964) |
Iceland:12 |
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) |
Canada:G (Quebec) |
Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) |
New Zealand:M |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Belgium:KT |
Chile:TE |
Finland:K-12 |
France:U |
Germany:12 (w) |
Hong Kong:IIA |
Mexico:A |
Netherlands:12 |
Norway:11 |
Portugal:M/12 |
Singapore:PG |
South Korea:12 |
Sweden:11 |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:12
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Joshua Colwell, who played one of the NASA officials in mission control, was also a technical advisor on the film.
more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: (At 1:44:12) When looking at the Virginia Beach sign the wrecked bronze car's tail lights have been removed.
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Quotes:
[President Beck & Jenny are discussing the up coming news conference about the comet]
Jenny Lerner: I want exclusivity.
President Beck: Now listen, young lady. This is a presidential favour. I'm letting you go because I don't want another headache. And I'm trusting you because I know what this can do for your career. Now, it may seem like we have each other over the same barrel but it just seems that way.
Jenny Lerner: I want...
President Beck: You want?
Jenny Lerner: May I... May I have the first question?
President Beck: I'll see you Tuesday, Miss Lerner.
more
Jenny Lerner: I want exclusivity.
President Beck: Now listen, young lady. This is a presidential favour. I'm letting you go because I don't want another headache. And I'm trusting you because I know what this can do for your career. Now, it may seem like we have each other over the same barrel but it just seems that way.
Jenny Lerner: I want...
President Beck: You want?
Jenny Lerner: May I... May I have the first question?
President Beck: I'll see you Tuesday, Miss Lerner.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "HBO First Look: The Making of 'The Day After Tomorrow' (#11.10)" (2004)
more
Soundtrack:
The Hole
more
FAQ
Would a meteorite 2-3 miles wide actually cause a tsumani that large?more
more (429 total)
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It seems 1998 was the year Hollywood turned to the idea of the world being decimated by objects from outer space to fuel their disaster films. Both 'Deep Impact' and 'Armageddon' were released in that year but while I did enjoy the thrill and special effects of the latter film, I find 'Deep Impact' the superior of the two.
The film begins when a teenage amateur astronomer discover a comet on a direct collision course for the Earth. The world is then thrown into turmoil has humanity has to accept their possible extinction. While NASA sends a shuttle up with the intention to try to blow the comet to bits, the US government selects people to be saved in a cave they are building to withstand the event. Focusing on various unrelated characters, the film shows how people react differently to the destruction of all that they know.
The brilliant cast, including Morgan Freeman, Vanessa Redgrave, Robert Devall, Elijah Wood, Ron Eldard and many others, all given great depictions of their characters. It is because of their ability to bring their respective characters to life that 'Deep Impact' stands up so well as it is a very emotional and character driven story, as opposed to 'Armageddon', which relied much more on humour and special effects to sell it. Téa Leoni is the only one who doesn't shine through like her co-stars as her performance is quite bland and doesn't capture her character's turbulent emotions. However, as the rest of the cast give great performances, it's easy to overlook her. And even though there is much attention given to establishing the characters doesn't mean the film skimps when it comes to the special effects. Both the scenes in space and those on Earth when the comet hits the planet are well-handled visually. It features some of the best special effects of planetary annihilation that I've ever seen (and I'm a big fan of these disaster flicks).
What makes 'Deep Impact' rather unique in terms of disaster films is that it gives a very human side to tragedy and devastation by showing how ordinary people cope in times of crisis but it avoids the trap of being trite and overly-sentimental. It's a shame the film is so underrated then as it is a film that would appeal to sci-fi fans and those seeking an interesting story with strong characters.