Comparing Deep Impact and Armageddon - Essay Example

The objects are large enough to destroy all life and Earth. - The comet and asteroid are headed directly for the planet. Prevention - In Deep Impact, scientists decide to plant nuclear bombs beneath the surface. In Armageddon, scientists decide to drill a single bomb toward the asteroid’s core. - The goal is the make the objects less dangerous to the Earth. - Both plans partially fail; the comet is split into two pieces, both still deadly, and the asteroid is eventually destroyed, but at the cost of living. Heroic Men -

In Deep Impact, the crew aboard the spacecraft commits suicide to ensure that the final bombs hit their target and destroy the comet. In Armageddon, a man remains behind to manually detonate the bomb that would destroy the asteroid. - Because of the men risking their lives, their plans succeeded and they saved the lives of people on Earth. Conclusion - The stories have differences that make them unique, but they also have many similarities. - The final similarity is the message that what may not be the best for a few people can still be best for most.

Comparing Deep Impact and Armageddon
Deep Impact and Armageddon are two science fiction disaster-drama movies that were released in 1998, with Deep Impact being introduced two months before Armageddon. These two movies tell separate and unique stories about impending disasters that could change the world forever if scientists do not prevent them from occurring in the right amount of time. Though the movies have aspects that set them apart from each other, making them two distinct tales, they share many similarities. They cover similar disasters, which involve a large object heading for Earth, how they decide to destroy the objects before they hit Earth, and men die for the sake of the people still living on Earth.
In Deep Impact, a teenage stargazer, with the help of a professional astronomer, discovers that a seven-mile-wide comet is headed straight for Earth.

In Armageddon, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration learns that an asteroid the size of Texas, which is what remains of a meteor shower, is on a direct path for the planet. Both of these objects are large enough to destroy all life on Earth. Events such as these are referred to in these movies, as well as in real life, as ELEs, or Extinction Level Events. If plans are not formed and implemented promptly to prevent the comet and asteroid from striking Earth, humanity will cease to exist as we know it.

Both movies take a similar approach to solving their dilemma. In Deep Impact, it is determined that the only way to destroy the comet is for astronauts and scientists to plant many nuclear bombs beneath its surface and have them detonated. Armageddon refers to a similar method and decides that scientists and a drill operator should drill a single nuclear device toward the asteroid’s core. The goals are to destroy the comet and split the asteroid into separate pieces, which will bring about less destruction and even offer the possibility that the remaining pieces will completely miss the Earth or else burn up in the atmosphere. In both cases, the teams and their methods are only partially successful. Instead of being destroyed, the comet is split into two pieces, with each piece still heading for Earth and just as dangerous as when they were whole. In Armageddon, the asteroid does break into two pieces as planned, but at the unexpected cost of innocent lives.

The final similarity between Deep Impact and Armageddon is how the separate teams bring about the preservation of Earth and its people at the cost of heroic lives. In Deep Impact, while one comet half crashes into Earth, the scientists are desperate to make sure that the other half does not make contact. The crew of the spacecraft assigned to destroying the comet decide to make their last efforts a suicide mission, which will allow them to detonate their remaining bombs and successfully destroy the remaining comet. They do so, and the comet splits into more pieces, burning up in the atmosphere before they have a chance to hit the Earth. The men gave up their lives to save those on Earth. In Armageddon, when their plans are not successful, one astronaut stays behind on the asteroid so that he may manually detonate the warhead. By doing so, and by taking his own life, he can destroy the asteroid before it has a chance to end life on Earth.

Deep Impact and Armageddon have different characters that experience unique events as they watch their loved ones attempt to save the Earth. The stories have qualities that make them individual representations of a similar disaster threatening Earth. Despite their vast differences, they have their likenesses, which appeared in the forms of impending disasters, plans to prevent them from happening, and the lives that were lost for the sake of others. Together, these similarities also reveal the same message that the needs of the many greatly outweigh the needs of the few. During disastrous times, men were willing to risk their lives for the lives of others. Read More