Reviews

**************Possible Spoiler****************** Don Taylor of The Final Countdown brings us this made for TV Air Force movie that doesn't bang nearly as hard as his Navy film. Hardly any close ups are taken and sadly, the writing sometimes makes these Red Flag pilots seem clueless to the Ultimate Game of dogfighting. Barry Bostwick is out of his element having dyed his hair brown instead of his natural white...Barry isn't Barry without white hair. Despite its shortcomings, this is a GREAT flick full of rivalry, betrayal, competition, egos and military hardware. F-4s and F-5s whirl around over the desert, chasing each other for the short opportunity to call out "guns guns guns" for 12 frames on their opponent. Yes, anyone into "movies with jets" will enjoy.

By the way, Navy still has all the cool movies...

*****************SPOILERS***************** Megaforce is another underrated gem, you had to be there to experience it. Barry Bostwick is GOD. He plays Ace Hunter, the brash and daring leader of the elite phantom army Megaforce. This flick was PC even before PC was the in thing, by showing Megaforce as encompasing races and ethnicities of the West (NATO). Hal Needham delivers non-stop, this movie is more noises, bangs, rockets, explosions, guns, tanks, airplanes and cool music. The great theme music by Jerrol Immel (of Dallas fame). Music note: Who ever plays those drums are tearing up that drum kit when Ace is chasing the C-130. The love scene rivals the GREATEST LOVE scene in a movie (which the greatest love scene is in Superman: The Movie), this one takes place free falling between Bostwick and Khambatta. Great ending credits song by 707 "Megaforce (Calling out to You). Special Effects: okay, not the greatest but movies back then caused you to use your imagination more. Megaforce's hangar looks like an airplane museum, but hey, it works. "You should see our other bases with our boats..." explains Dallas, hence a Megaforce 2 being set up. Still waiting...

Please release this on DVD, widescreen. This is NOT MSTheater fodder. I miss your movies Mr. Needham.

***Spoilers ahead**** Another overlooked gem, the last good Iron Eagle movie. Same familiar Heartbreak Ridge/ Dirty Dozen plot: whip up a bunch of misfits into shape for some heavy duty combat in the end. This flick never slows down, full of action, macho talking, fist fighting, jets, missiles, explosions with the inevitable exciting climax of a Death Star trench run (except this time its a canyon in the desert). Louis Gossett is GOD!! Mark Humphrey is Jezus!! Cooper was a bad mutha(shut your mouth), when Lebanov pushed him, he went and took care of his business.

The supporting cast of misfits is great, Clark Johnson as the street talking Graves and Colm Ferrore (the always entertaining Colm Ferrore) as the pushy Lebenov. Yeah, the Mig29s are really F-4s, yeah there are inconsistencies with the armaments on the pylons and yeah some shots are reused ones from the first Iron Eagle but hey, nobody's perfect. In some shots in Top Gun you can see Goose's red helmet in the back during the final firefight!! Even greatness isn't perfect.

Only confusing thing: it wasn't properly explained that Murray was the C-130 pilot...

***Possible Spoilers ahead***

Firebirds is not the greatest film but highly enjoyable for anyone who wants to see military hardware in action with chopers, missiles, guns, jets, bar brawls, master vs. apprentice, blood squibs, electronic beeps, noise and great in-cockpit views of the land zooming by. The great Capt. Dye had a little money in his pocket after Platoon and wanted to help create an Army version of Top Gun, thus Firebirds. Navy still has the coolest movies but this one can hold its own. One of Jones' (the great Tommy Lee Jones) finest performances as an old war dog being put out to retire, Cage is perfect as the cocky newcomer with the ability to be the best. And its always wonderful to see Capt. Dye in the movies.

C'mon, next to Blue Thunder, Firebirds has some of the best ariel chopper sequences.

EP2 is not the best nor is it the worse. The heavy CGI and special effects did more to let down than to amaze. The movie is TOO BIG when compared to the other episodes. Big in terms of "stuff" and "creatures" and "sheer numbers" and anything else you can think of. Its a wee-bit too much for even a Star Wars movie. EP5 was big, EP1 was big but restrained. During that last hour throw down, I felt like I was watching someone play a video game. All the actors were great! Christensen was a perfect pick to play Anakin. The scene with him talking about how he's good at fixing things is the BEST scene in the whole movie, possibly the series. Besides the issues listed above and below, I loved it and can't wait to see it another x number of times. Star Wars fans will understand, others won't. ***SPOILERS************** Since when could R2D2... What was up with the girl in the bar wearing the red skin-tite see thru mesh pants wearing no panties, with the juicy rear?? (Droooool) First Star Wars with a PG13 rating, you know something ain't quite right.