Sunday, August 11, 2019
"Deep Impact" (1998) simulates what happens if a comet hits the ocean, but also poses a "political" question
“Deep Impact” (1998, dir. Mimi Leder, from Paramount and Dreamworks) dramatizes what happens
to western civilization when the Earth is hit by a comet (not an asteroid,
which was “Armageddon”, a different review).
In fact, the comet had been discovered by a high school
student and the whole matter is uncovered by a sleuthy journalist in the first
half of the movie.
Comets pose somewhat different risks to Earth from asteroids
or very large meteors.
The scene where the comet hits the Atlantic ocean is
impressive, and a 1000-foot high tsunami knocks down all the skyscrapers in
Manhattan.
But the film is also noteworthy because there is a lottery
to determine who will be sheltered underground to survive the event and restart
America. People get a simple phone call inviting
them to the shelter.
The idea might be unacceptable today if people were chosen
based on some characteristic (given the political climate today). But a film where people are on an escape
vehicle going to another planet and are hand selected can have that political
objection (previous review).
Morgan Freeman plays a “black” president and nobody thought
anything of it in 1998.
I originally saw the film in the General Cinema (now AMC) in
the Mall of America in Minnesota.
James Horner supplies the music score.
NASA “Deep Impact” gif of a comet landing, public domain, Wikipedia
reference.
See also review of cable film “Impact”, June 9, 2009 on cf
blog.
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