"The Core" Movie Review [SPOILERS, as if you care]

I rarely* do movie reviews but the film I saw last night warrants some typed-out thoughts. The movie was The Core (2002) directed by Jon Amiel featuring Hilary Swank, Aaron Eckhart (who's this?), some other people I don't really know. While the movie was mildly entertaining I'm surprised they were able to lock in Hilary Swank (who's not that widely known) as a leading role and make any money from it in the theaters. Ok, so it didn't make any money ($31 million total gross while paying $85 million in marketing and production).

It had an Armageddonesque feel. It was so Armageddonesque that they pretty much ripped off everything from the movie except for a cool Aerosmith song and the fact that Armageddon was a good movie. Here are some obvious similarities:

Armageddon: imminent destruction of the earth by large meteor in the sky
The Core: imminent destruction of the earth by disruption in the earth's core

Armageddon: must fly never-before-seen craft into space to save earth and all mankind
The Core: must navigate never-before-seen craft into the earth to save earth and all mankind

Armageddon: they used the word "anomaly" in reference to the meteor
The Core: they used the word "anomaly" in reference to events that happened as a result of the earth's core being stopped

Armageddon: The smartest people in their field were brought in as advisors
The Core: The smartest people in their field were brought in as advisors

Armageddon: Meteors rain down upon New York City and Paris.
The Core: San Francisco is burned up by the Sun.

Armageddon: Government steals patented technology from guy and uses it to save the earth
The Core: Government steals patented technology from guy and uses it to save the earth

Armageddon: One ship is destroyed while navigating through many large meteors
The Core: Ship is crippled while navigating through large diamond deposits

Armageddon: Guy who invented technology draws straws and must die to save crippled ship
The Core: Guy who invented technology draws straws and must die to save crippled ship

Armageddon: Crew members leave ship and walk around on razor-sharp surface of meteor's surface
The Core: Crew members leave ship and walk around on razor-sharp surface of air pocket in the earth's mantle

Armageddon: Ship loses communication during its return to earth and is apparently destroyed and all crew members are thought to have perished
The Core: Ship loses communication during its return to earth's surface and is apparently destroyed and all crew members are thought to have perished

Armageddon: Earth and mankind are saved because of a mission that was conceived and executed within months
The Core: Earth and mankind are saved because of a mission that was conceived and executed within months

If you're looking for a movie that has little or no character development, a stolen plot, and is absent of any climactic elements then hustle down to your local video store and pick up "The Core."

* rarely = pretty much never