Armageddon: Or all you have belongs to us

by: bamf 1 year, 8 months, 1 week, 1 day, 4 hours, 41 minutes ago

 

Bamf here rematerializing from the void..

I didn’t see Armageddon when it first was released in theatres.  I remember the ad blitz that came with it and I became a bit jaded to the film.  It was not until a year later, when I was living in Denali National Park in Alaska that I finally saw the film.  That was about 7 years ago.  I remember certain aspects of the film striking me as funny.  I was living with hippies at the time.  They always talked about going into the woods, starting communes and raising their young colorblind.  I do not believe in communism.  In an idealistic world where man has no need for collecting food, or building shelter then sure.  It might work, maybe.  But to get to that point we would need massive social reconstruction.  An event that would bring the world together in one unifying goal.  Armageddon in my opinion is a tale of how this radical social change could happen.  Over the years I have watched the movie from time to time and little things just stuck out to me, they kept building in my subconscious and after viewing it again I felt I had a pretty good case.  It does not explore whether the change would be for the good, nor do I think of it as a communist manifesto.  In this post though I will explore certain themes and ideas that support my theory, and by the end, if you watch Armageddon again, you may very well see a completely different film through my eyes. 

George Orwell has been on my mind a lot lately and his ideas go hand and hand with what I will present.  In this when referring to the government I will call them “The Party.” Enjoy fair reader and take this with a certain tongue in cheek approach. 

Show me the problem
Eddie Griffin is our first look into this world.  His dog attacks a toy Godzilla, which was a nod to the films competitor that year.  The street vendor and Eddie begin bickering about the actions of the animal.  The vendor is trying to make money in a capitalistic society by peddling his goods in a free market.  Having an animal destroy said wares hurts him through his livelihood.  His materialism is what causes a fight between the two citizens.  But the fight is quickly shown to be irrelevant by the first meteorite shower of the film.  The vendor is killed, Eddie is spared.  Their bickering becomes a non-issue once a threat is established.  It matters not what religion, creed, or color they are.  There is a blind threat that will kill them all.  That fear will put all of human kind in line for whatever may be needed to maintain our safety.  Fear is your only god.

Control, and the illusion of choice
Once the party has determined what must be done to obliterate the threat.  Bruce Willis’s character Harry Stamper is sought out.  This is when the movie first starts to play with its fascist undertones.  A group of military personnel request Harry to come with them to the U.S.  They first ask, he refuses, and then they tell him he really has no choice in the matter.  As a matter of “National Security” he is ordered by the President to come wherever they may please.  Harry explains if he goes then his daughter goes, which if you think about it, the party could care less about.  If by her coming it makes Harry happier fine, but regardless this man is going to serve the parties needs.  The illusion of choice is what the party depends on to keep its citizens in line with its needs.  Harry and his daughter are given the entire truth, the truth that is hidden from the rest of the world only because they control the equipment that has the ability to track such an incoming object.  Once again, control is the parties’ greatest asset. 
Harry is asked to help them train their astronauts under tight time constraints.  “Asked”, I say.  Here is the thing.  You are told you are the only person who can save the world.  If you chose not to help, you die.  If you chose to help, you might die.  Is this really a choice that you are given?  Hurmmm, I could possibly die, or definitely die, what shall I do?  Harry of course “chooses” to help, bringing along with him his own crew.  When his drill assembly is revealed to him attached to the Armadillo, Harry is obviously taken back.  It is non functional, but The Party has it never the less.  They steal his drill design for proprietary knowledge that has now been assimilated by The Party for the “good of the people.” Sounds like a totalitarian government to me. 

Another interesting thing happens once Harry decides to help The Party.  There is a subtle change to the music of the film.  During the montage for Harry’s crew recruitment, Aerosmith covers “Come Together” originally composed by The Beatles.  And from that point forward the only music you hear save one time, is Aerosmith, and the films score.  That jingoistic, big movement pieces that Michael Bay is known for.  It’s the music of The Party.  A fascist or totalitarian government, in an effort to control the masses will revise or audit art, music, and books to fit their image.  From the second act on you get Aerosmith (State Approved obviously), or music of The Party.  Originality is gone now that the government has complete control. 

No Taxes ever

In a communism you serve the needs of the party.  Communism and Fascism go hand and hand.  If you do not give your self entirely to the ideals of The Party, you will be punished.  Control must be maintained at all times.  One of the miners, Newman, says to Harry “Guess I can’t let you go up alone,” and punctuates it very unsurely.  He isn’t happy about the idea, but guesses he can join in.  Oh Newman, poor Newman.  You just didn’t give it all, now, your future is not so clear.  Newman becomes subjugated the remainder of his time onscreen, and eventually is placed on a ship destined for death (but more on that later) Once the crew has decided to join Harry, they produce a list of demands. No taxes ever are at the top of the list. And everyone is behind this idea.  The Party obliges, but there is a cost.  You don’t have to pay taxes, but you also have no control over your life anymore.  If The Party tells you to blow that rock up, you must conform.  In communism you won’t pay taxes, but you also are placed where you are needed no matter what your particular interest maybe.  Want to be a painter, sorry, we need you to turn the fields.  All in service to the people, who are slaves to The Party. 

I don’t know when Ill be back again
Pop quiz.  When I write the word “Armageddon”, what color do you think of?  Come on work with me.  There you got it?  Here is your answer.

Red

What color do you associate with communism?

Red
What color are the savior astronauts wearing when they leave the planet?

Red

Well reddish orange actually.  But once in space, they change into a dull shade of grey uniform.  What?
So here we have our comrades, their existence known to the world now.  The saviors of humanity preparing to launch away into the stars.  They may very well die from their mission set upon them, they will die if they do not try to stop the meteor, and even if they save the world, they will still die.  But maybe some will get a high school named after them.  Anyways here our heroes go, ready to be lifted to uncertainty and what do they begin to do.  Sing.  It’s a sweet gesture by A.J to his fiancée Grace.  But the brainwashing that’s going on is really the villain here.  It’s innocent enough, but think about it.  All of these unique individuals indentured into service by their government are now singing the same tune.  Symbolically they have lost their individuality and are marching to their deaths, all the while singing happily. 

Comrade President
The President of the United States addresses humanity with an uplifting speech as the ships prepare to launch.  In between the lines listen carefully and you can also here the President stating the agenda of his communistic, new world order.  Here is the thing.  When the U.S.S.R first attempted communism they took an enormous risk.  The Russians knew they would not be able to compete in a global market for long.  The free market system will always outdo communism.  So the USSR was depending on themselves being the proverbial “spark” that would ignite the fire (communism) across the world.  (There is that red reference again.) This didn’t happen, and the Soviet Union fell, hard.  They couldn’t feed their people, couldn’t cloth their backs, and couldn’t compete in a free Markey system.  The President addresses the nation, the world, not as an American, but as a citizen of the world.  Goodbye nationalism, hello new world order.  The asteroid is now the spark.  The only way for communism to be feasible is if the entire world embraces it at once.  The U.S. starts the fire of a one world communistic government with hegemony.  And they say it all in their first message to the world, not a leader, but as a citizen.  The first stop illustrates this point beautifully.  The Russian space station Mir is a relic of the cold war.  Aged beyond its use, complete with a forgotten spacefarer who has spent 18 months in atrophy alone.  As the old symbol of communism is destroyed (MIR) by “joining” (literally and figuratively) with the U.S. the cosmonaut lives and a new era of world communism will be born.

Freedom and Independence
Two ideas vested in our culture are freedom and independence.  These coveted ideals are sacred to our nations spirit, and embodied in the two ships Freedom and Independence.  When I first saw Armageddon oh so long ago, this was the first idea I had that spawned all of this that you have read.  What do you lose when you are a communist?
Independence

What ship blows up in its final approach?

Independence
Independence is lost but Freedom goes on.  But at what price?  The crew unknowingly or not sold their souls for their government.  And a world where Freedom and Independence do not go hand in hand is a world I would rather have destroyed. Think I’m still stretching?  There is even a nice little shot of the U.S. flag burning in the rubble of Independence.  Movies use symbolism to tell their stories.  This was not done unintentionally.  Our good comrade A.J. even shoots the flag up right before he knocks to the ground.  This is so blatant that they could have inserted a quick clip of “Big Brother” holding a gun to an eagle’s head and shooting it.  I can it now, blood splattering across the screen, feathers gliding to the floor.

The Judge
“Unlock the Judge” Harry says.
Ina communistic fascist regime, and yes, we are talking about fascism here.  Remember they were forced to do this.  In said regime there is no trial or due process.  Persons speaking against the party are made to simply disappear with all trace of their existence erased.  Orwell calls it “vaporizing” in his book 1984.  “The Judge” drill bit is now the only chance the crew has in burrowing far enough down into the asteroid to plant a nuclear device respectively.  If the bit succeeds in its task we live, if not we die.  This drill bit effectively becomes humanities judge, jury, and executioner.  You created it humanity, now will it save you?

We are getting close
The asteroid is getting closer to its zero barrier.  Fragments from the preceding string are now hitting earth.  Martial law is instituted after France is hit and 42 countries go into complete panic brought on by their fear.  They aren’t going to make it.  Fear is useful to steer the masses.  From chaos spawns a new order.  The disorganized become eager for order, who will step in?  Your government that’s who.  And one more piece is moved into place to bring the world into its new mothers arms. 

All this time we are seeing the ineffectiveness of government.  The President is constantly given poor advice but still acts on it for what he perceives as being for the good of the people.  Cannot talk with the mining crew Mr. President?  Fire the bomb they say, everyone is expendable.  Even the earth, right?

Animal Farm
If you have not read Animal Farm then this reference may be lost.  The moment has come to destroy the harbinger of death.  But who will stay to ignite it.  I must re-iterate that the only reason they have to leave someone behind is because the President got bad advice in the first place.  So now someone has to die for his or her governments mistake.  Why not leave Rockhound, the space dementia afflicted pedophile who actually wants to die.  Why?  Illusion of choice.  Even when you want to die, when it is your “choice” the fascist wont let you.  Instead Harry takes the burden from A.J. and stays behind for the good of mankind.  That’s right.  Old Boxer, on his own “choice” will finish the job for the good of his comrades. 

For All Mankind
Upon the crews return, they are back in their red jumpsuits.  Those grey ones just don’t cut it on Earth apparently.  The asteroid is destroyed and humanity is saved.  On the patch that Harry gives to A.J. for the NASA administrator Truman there are some interesting words made prominent.  “For All of Mankind”.  This reminds the citizens through symbolism that Boxer, err, Harries sacrifice for The Parties survival. 
Still not convince?  Don’t think the world ends in a one-world government?  Well as the credits roll they show it all to you.  It’s all there.  Look at the attending guests of A.J. and Graces wedding.  It drips with irony and symbolism.  Not only do you see every astronaut who gave their lives for the party, but you also see something else.  There is what looks to be every head of state from every country around the world.  They are all toasting to their ability to dodge the bullet once again.  Their goals have been realized finally.  Here these dignitaries all stand together, at a wedding, unified.  Do I have to spell it out?  The countries have been joined, effectively married together and the one world, communistic fascist regime has been born, with some freedom for a cost, and no liberty for anyone.

Fear
Do I think all of this was intentional?  Are they subtly trying to warm you up to the idea of this new world?  I don’t think so.  I think I’m reading into it more then anyone probably ever should.  That being said I feel my point has been made, if not here I go.  For the most part, nothing is an accident in a movie.  Action is character and whatever is shown to you has some significance to the rest of the stories.  But what should you take away from this, besides the fact that I have an overly analytical, paranoid eye?  Fear.  The shadow of fear is long and disparagingly cold.  It blocks the light of truth and instead of stepping out of the shadow into the light.  We can become complacent and forget what that illumination once was.  We forget where that warmth comes from but we know we still want it.  So instead, we wrap ourselves in a blanket of perceived safety from our cold fear.  All the while forgetting we could just step into the light.