Armageddon vs. Deep Impact (1998): Nit-pickers were quick to point out that the two movies, released two months apart, really weren't about the same thing: After all, Armageddon features an asteroid hurtling towards earth and threatening humankind… In Deep Impact, the scary space rock is a comet. Huuuge difference. So which of these apocalypse flicks was the better film? Deep Impact stars the awesomeness that is Bobby D (aka Robert Duvall) and Morgan Freeman as our nation's Commander-in-Chief (pro!) but expects us to view Elijah Wood as a credible leading man (con). Armageddon rocked us all summer with a catchy tune by Aerosmith (oh, you liked it) but was helmed by blow-'em-up sellout Michael Bay (definite con). Ultimately, Deep Impact's sensitive examination of hope and survival was no box office match for the combined star power - and toothy veneers - of Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler and Owen Wilson.

Bottom Line: We choose Deep Impact and its tag line, "A Thriller with Brains." Even if the end is nigh, we'll take brains over Bay anytime.