How did I manage not to run into this movie all these years? I saw "The Final Countdown" for the first time today, and I must say I was glued to the screen the entire time. I'm a big sci-fi fan, and really enjoyed this film on that level. It also helps that I was in the Navy Reserves from 1983-1989 and so it's nostalgic seeing ops aboard a Navy vessel somewhat within that time frame.
Very well done overall, although certain elements of the film were a bit on the cheesy side (the whole side plot with Senator Chapman was just silly, and I thought the part was overacted by Charles Durning). The movie is only 102 minutes long, and I would like to have seen many plot elements further developed... around 140 minutes probably would have done it. I'm wondering if there are some deleted scenes from this film floating around somewhere -- unfortunately there will probably never be a "special edition" of this one, so we may never know.
Really quite good for many reasons, which I'll leave you to find out for yourself -- as long as you're not too spoiled by today's computer graphics, this one is well worth a rental. If you enjoy both sci-fi and watching scenes aboard an aircraft carrier ca. 1980, you may even find yourself owning it.
Very well done overall, although certain elements of the film were a bit on the cheesy side (the whole side plot with Senator Chapman was just silly, and I thought the part was overacted by Charles Durning). The movie is only 102 minutes long, and I would like to have seen many plot elements further developed... around 140 minutes probably would have done it. I'm wondering if there are some deleted scenes from this film floating around somewhere -- unfortunately there will probably never be a "special edition" of this one, so we may never know.
Really quite good for many reasons, which I'll leave you to find out for yourself -- as long as you're not too spoiled by today's computer graphics, this one is well worth a rental. If you enjoy both sci-fi and watching scenes aboard an aircraft carrier ca. 1980, you may even find yourself owning it.