In March 12 1998, front pages across the nation and around the world contain a report from Brian Marsden of the International Astronomical Union in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who estimated a mile-wide asteroid was heading  toward Earth and expected to come startingly close to our planet on October  26, 2028. The report was quickly revised after further calculation that  asteroid XF11 will come within only 600,000 miles of Earth, beyond the  distance of the moon. Hollywood, gearing up to release two Earth-smashing  movies for the summer, couldn't hope for a better publicity stunt. But  considering research shows that every 10 million years, an asteroid or  comet has impacted Earth that drastically altered life on the planet, the  question is not if but when the next one will head directly our way, and  when it does, what can we do about it.
A $75 million collaboration  between DreamWorks and Paramount, that premise is explored in the  cataclysmic movie Deep Impact. Directed by TV veteran, Mimi Leder, whose  previous work was the directorial debut of The Peacemaker, the story is  grounded more in the human relationships and reactions when faced with  catastrophe and demise. Anyone who is looking for special effects  extravaganza and testosterone actions will be better served with  Bruckheimer's Armageddon, the other Earth-smashing movie of the same year.  Not that the special effects in Deep Impact are any less spectacular, it is  used with restrain and the result is much more devastating and profound.  While there are numerous subplots, the script by Bruce Joel Rubin and  Michael Tolkin focuses mainly on two families: ambitious reporter Jenny  Lerner (Tea Leoni) and high school astronomer Leo Beiderman (Elijah Wood).  Both characters are well developed enough for us to share in their initial  panic, grieve, courage, and hope for survival.
For a summer movie, Deep  Impact is surprisingly unflinching in its depiction of doomsday  destruction.  There are no bravado heroes riding in at the last minute to  save the day, any attempts to successfully destroy the comet was met with  failure. Rather, people are face with what matters to them most and  sacrifices are made for the betterment of mankind. As the comet, or should  I say part of the comet, impacted the ocean, huge tidal wave swept inland  and taking with it lives and cities. It is difficult to keep a dry eye when  Jenny stood at the beach, holding tight to her father and say  "Daddy..." before they are swept away, but then we also rejoice  with those that survived and hope we will never have to face such  scenario.
Distributed by Paramount, the dual-layer DVD boasts a superb  transfer. Shot in Super 35, the film is presented in its theatrical ratio  of 2.35:1, 16x9 enhancement is not offered and pan and scan would severely  limit the effect of the destruction. Images are amazingly sharp and  detailed, such as during the landing on the coma, I can clearly see the  fine particles, debris and gases emitting away from the surface. Shadow  details on space and interior are clearly defined and blacks are superbly  deep. Colors are vivid and vibrant, and fleshtones are naturally rendered.  Digital artifacts are limited to few jaggedness on edges. The bulk of the  special effects were done by Industrial Light & Magic and for the most  parts look very impressive. The comet impact calls for the CG artists to  render some incredible imageries of biblical destruction. Some of the  memorable sequences include the comet streaking over the ocean, the  receding tide on the beach, and then of course, the enormous wave smashing  through the east coast. The science of the movie is also believable,  especially the microgravity effect experience by the astronauts and the  geysers cause by the sun on the coma.
Deep Impact might not be last  year's loudest movie, Godzilla and Armageddon are battling that out for the  title, however, the Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack on the DVD creates for a  very realistic environment. The discrete effects are expertly mixed for  full envelopment of large crowd scenes and helicopters swirling overhead.  Imaging and panning are superbly projected on the shuttle's approach to the  comet with realistic debris flying from the front to rear channels. The  vibration and shake are so violent that I have to brace for the shuttle not  to fall apart. The bass is no pushover either, as during the shuttle's  blast off, detonation, and tidal wave, I have to grip the sofa, sit back  and feel the force. The score soundtrack by James Horner is rich in  fidelity and well integrated. As the follow-up to the Oscar winning score  in Titanic, I must admit that as a stand alone album, Deep Impact was a  letdown. A reason is the lack of recurring theme and the score in general  is quiet and somber. But after experiencing it with the film, Horner  demonstrated to me once again why he might just be the best among today's  composers. During the sad and emotional stages of the film, Horner's cues  never overstate the obvious. His orchestration subtlely supports the actors  and did not overpower their performances. The score is not one of his most  original, but it is very effective in the movie.
While Armageddon is  louder and more extravagance, Deep Impact leaves a more lasting mark. The  DVD  includes two widescreen theatrical trailers.
In March 12 1998, front pages across the nation and around the world contain a report from Brian Marsden of the International Astronomical Union in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who estimated a mile-wide asteroid was heading  toward Earth and expected to come startingly close to our planet on October  26, 2028. The report was quickly revised after further calculation that  asteroid XF11 will come within only 600,000 miles of Earth, beyond the  distance of the moon. Hollywood, gearing up to release two Earth-smashing  movies for the summer, couldn't hope for a better publicity stunt. But  considering research shows that every 10 million years, an asteroid or  comet has impacted Earth that drastically altered life on the planet, the  question is not if but when the next one will head directly our way, and  when it does, what can we do about it. A $75 million collaboration  between DreamWorks and Paramount, that premise is explored in the  cataclysmic movie Deep Impact. Directed by TV veteran, Mimi Leder, whose  previous work was the directorial debut of The Peacemaker, the story is  grounded more in the human relationships and reactions when faced with  catastrophe and demise. Anyone who is looking for special effects  extravaganza and testosterone actions will be better served with  Bruckheimer's Armageddon, the other Earth-smashing movie of the same year. Not that the special effects in Deep Impact are any less spectacular, it is  used with restrain and the result is much more devastating and profound. While there are numerous subplots, the script by Bruce Joel Rubin and  Michael Tolkin focuses mainly on two families: ambitious reporter Jenny  Lerner (Tea Leoni) and high school astronomer Leo Beiderman (Elijah Wood). Both characters are well developed enough for us to share in their initial  panic, grieve, courage, and hope for survival. For a summer movie, Deep  Impact is surprisingly unflinching in its depiction of doomsday  destruction. There are no bravado heroes riding in at the last minute to  save the day, any attempts to successfully destroy the comet was met with  failure. Rather, people are face with what matters to them most and  sacrifices are made for the betterment of mankind. As the comet, or should  I say part of the comet, impacted the ocean, huge tidal wave swept inland  and taking with it lives and cities. It is difficult to keep a dry eye when  Jenny stood at the beach, holding tight to her father and say  "Daddy... " before they are swept away, but then we also rejoice  with those that survived and hope we will never have to face such  scenario. Distributed by Paramount, the dual-layer DVD boasts a superb  transfer. Shot in Super 35, the film is presented in its theatrical ratio  of 2. 35:1, 16x9 enhancement is not offered and pan and scan would severely  limit the effect of the destruction. Images are amazingly sharp and  detailed, such as during the landing on the coma, I can clearly see the  fine particles, debris and gases emitting away from the surface. Shadow  details on space and interior are clearly defined and blacks are superbly  deep. Colors are vivid and vibrant, and fleshtones are naturally rendered. Digital artifacts are limited to few jaggedness on edges. The bulk of the  special effects were done by Industrial Light & Magic and for the most  parts look very impressive. The comet impact calls for the CG artists to  render some incredible imageries of biblical destruction. Some of the  memorable sequences include the comet streaking over the ocean, the  receding tide on the beach, and then of course, the enormous wave smashing  through the east coast. The science of the movie is also believable,  especially the microgravity effect experience by the astronauts and the  geysers cause by the sun on the coma. Deep Impact might not be last  year's loudest movie, Godzilla and Armageddon are battling that out for the  title, however, the Dolby Digital 5. 1 soundtrack on the DVD creates for a  very realistic environment. The discrete effects are expertly mixed for  full envelopment of large crowd scenes and helicopters swirling overhead. Imaging and panning are superbly projected on the shuttle's approach to the  comet with realistic debris flying from the front to rear channels. The  vibration and shake are so violent that I have to brace for the shuttle not  to fall apart. The bass is no pushover either, as during the shuttle's  blast off, detonation, and tidal wave, I have to grip the sofa, sit back  and feel the force. The score soundtrack by James Horner is rich in  fidelity and well integrated. As the follow-up to the Oscar winning score  in Titanic, I must admit that as a stand alone album, Deep Impact was a  letdown. A reason is the lack of recurring theme and the score in general  is quiet and somber. But after experiencing it with the film, Horner  demonstrated to me once again why he might just be the best among today's  composers. During the sad and emotional stages of the film, Horner's cues  never overstate the obvious. His orchestration subtlely supports the actors  and did not overpower their performances. The score is not one of his most  original, but it is very effective in the movie. While Armageddon is  louder and more extravagance, Deep Impact leaves a more lasting mark. The  DVD  includes two widescreen theatrical trailers.