Deep Impact

Deep Impact is science fiction disaster film. It was the first DreamWorks film to be co-produced with another major studio, Paramount and was directed by Mimi Leder who also worked on The Peacemaker. The solid cast includes Morgan Freeman as the US president, Tea Leoni as a journalist and Elijah Wood as an amateur astronomer.

The film was a huge box office hit but received mixed audience reviews. Many viewers found the tone of the film to be a little dark and slow for the disaster movie genre. Spectacular effects, however, save the film; especially during the scenes when the comet hits. In addition, superb performances by the actors make this one a keeper.

Although more scientifically accurate Deep Impact lost out at the box office to Armageddon which was released two months later.

The plot revolves around three people Wood, Leoni and Robert Duvall (a space pilot) as they deal with the impending doom of the Earth due to the possible impact of a massive comet. Wood has discovered the comet and is desperately trying to save his and his girlfriend’s family. Leoni is a journalist who has discovered a secret government project to save a selected number of US citizens by a lottery. Duvall is the pilot on a joint US/Russian mission to blow up the comet before it reaches earth, they are only partially successful and the planet is still rocked by the impact.

Cinema release 1998

Certificate 12

Available on DVD and Blue Ray