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STARS...
Sean Connery,
Natalie Wood, Karl
Malden, Martin Landau, Trevor Howard, Brian Keith, Henry
Fonda.
PLOT SUMMARY...
A giant asteroid is detected in space, heading for Earth. The U.S.
and Russia team up to deal with the crisis.
QUICK SCAN...
This film could be compared to "Star Trek: The Motion Picture".
Sean Connery, in a cool but elaborate hairpiece, is dynamic as usual
as a U.S space expert. Brian Keith gives a robust performance as a top
Russian official. The FX in the space sequences are okay, but those
depicting mass destruction on Earth are mediocre at best.
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DIRECTOR: Ronald Neame
YEAR & RATING: 1979 (PG)
BEST BETS:
Outland
Zardoz
Armageddon
Deep Impact
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SYNOPSIS...
A giant meteor is detected in space, heading for Earth. The U.S. and the
Soviets team up to address the problem.
In a secret underground U.S. military installation, the U.S. and Russians
warily convene. A top U.S. military man seriously resents the Soviet's
presence in the installation.
U.S. and Russian missiles, on orbiting launch platforms, are launched
at the meteor. Following the shattering of the meteor, large sections
hit Earth, causing disasters around the world. Most of our heroes survive. |
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Review:
Director Ronald Neame's METEOR is an all-star, yet surprisingly low
voltage Sci-Fi thriller.
Earth scientists detect a huge meteor headed on a collision course with
Earth. U.S. and Soviet scientists meet to try to deal with the pending
calamity.
There is suspicion between the U.S. and Soviet camps. A tentative (sort
of) romance develops between an American and a Russian.
Sean Connery ("Outland") brings appropriate professionalism
to his under written role. His toupee, while a bit elaborate looking,
makes a strong impression.
Natalie Wood ("Brainstorm"), looking radiant, is convincing
as a Russian aid to Brian Keith's Soviet boss. She lights up the scenes
she's in, as she always did. Natalie, we miss you!
Brian Keith ("Young Guns" and "Family Affair") is
robust and full of vigour as the visting Russian official. He gives
a lively performance, as good as his Teddy Roosevelt in "The Wind
and the Lion". Since he appeared in both these flicks opposite
Connery, perhaps the Scotsman's pep wakes Keith out of his sometimes
sluggish screen persona.
Martin Landau ("Mission: Impossible" and"Space: 1999")
is over the top as a military guy who doesn't like the Russkies sniffing
around the high tech military installation. It's George C. Scott's Buck
Turgeson, in the immortal "Dr. Strangelove", played straight.
Landau who has since polished his tarnished star by well deserved Best
Supporting Actor nominations for "Tucker" and "Crimes
and Misdemeanors", as well as a recent Best Supporting Oscar win,
did not improve his reputation at the time with this performance.
The scenes in space involving the U.S. and Russian missiles, as well
as the meteor, are not that convincing. Two years after "Star Wars",
METEOR seemed rather old fashioned, a vaguely Sci-Fi disaster flick
showing up rather late in the craze.
METEOR may be somewhat watchable for some Sci-Fi viewers. Connery/Wood
fans may dig this one. METEOR is an outer space bomb!
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