Doomsday Meteor

release year: 2023
genre: disaster action
viewing setting: home streaming 6/11/26

synopsis: A giant meteor is detected six days before it will hit the Earth, causing a mad rush and a crazy plan to save the world.

impressions: This was passable end-of-the-world-if-they-can't-prevent-it disaster cheese. The main thing I can say is that they kept it lean and mean - often, instead of showing something happen (the son being rescued from school, the successful escape to the launchpad area, etc) they would have characters mention that it was about to happen...and then show the events right after it happened. It was a subtle, clever, and cost-saving way to advance the plot without having to film those scenes. Another thing: this had to be the world's unluckiest space mission...I mean EVERYTHING went wrong. Constantly. At every turn. It never stopped, and the characters never had a moment to rest or catch a break. At any rate, aside from that, and the meaningless technobabble, and the made-up science behind much of the events and the plan, the movie was reasonably entertaining.

acting: Joseph Michael Harris is the main guy, who goes from astronomer to seasoned military astronaut in a very short time. Anthony Jensen is his scientist buddy who helps make things happen. Eva Ceja is a lady who is the captain of the mission and makes sure she reminds everyone about it...often. Caroline Williams (who has a long career in horror films, including the lead protagonist role in 1986's the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2) is some sort of scientist who tells the crew what they can't do as challenges mount.

final word: Lower-budget, less-coherent version of Armageddon.

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