Synopsis
After a collision with a comet, a nearly 8km wide piece of the asteroid "Orpheus" is heading towards Earth. If it will hit it will cause a incredible catastrophe which will probably extinguish mankind. To stop the meteor NASA wants to use the illegal nuclear weapon satellite "Hercules" but discovers soon that it doesn't have enough fire power. Their only chance to save the world is to join forces with the USSR who have also launched such an illegal satellite. But will both governments agree?
Votre Filmothèque
Cast
- Sean ConneryPaul Bradley
- Natalie WoodTatiana Donskaya
- Karl MaldenHarry Sherwood
- Brian KeithDr. Dubov
- Martin LandauGeneral Adlon
- Trevor HowardSir Michael Hughes
- Richard DysartSecretary of Defense
- Henry FondaThe President
- Joseph CampanellaGeneral Easton
- Bo BrundinRolf Manheim
- 40
Chicago Reader
Director Ronald Neame brings his impersonal British craftsmanship to this 1979 feature, so it isn't a complete bust, but it's a long way from the apocalyptic satisfactions of his Poseidon Adventure. - 40
The New York Times
As it is, the suspense is sludgy and the character development nil; even the inadvertent comedy is spotty. - 38
Chicago Tribune
Let's face it, the bottom line on a disaster film is how special are its special effects. With Meteor, the answer is not very. [22 Oct 1979, p.6] - 30
Variety
Meteor really combines several disasters in one continuous cinematic bummer. - 30
Newsweek
Director Ronald Neame, who once made good movies, has instructed his actors to shout as much as possible. The rest is special effects -- and not very special ones at that. [05 Nov 1979, p.101] - 20
Time Out
Shoddy, unspeakably inept sci-fi disaster movie, with America and Russia combining forces when a meteor on collision course threatens to destroy the earth. - 20
TV Guide Magazine
An $18 million, star-studded disaster film, which in itself is a major disaster. - 20
Empire
Poor script, poor direction and poor performances mean a dismal 70's disaster movie is the result.