Flug durch die Hölle

Why would anyone watch this type of flick if they didn't want to see a war movie? I read the other review online and was dumbfounded. Rarely in war are their racy love scenes, that's why it's a ware movie! If anything, the fact that some scantily clad bimbo's weren't running all over the deck of an aircraft carrier in the middle of a war zone lent to the authenticity of the film. I mean really, what do you want Demi Moore in her "A Few Good Men" dress uniform? Please!!! (BTW... I liked that movie too.) This movie delivers exactly what an action adventure war buff wants to see. A lot of adrenalin laced action, big guns with big explosion, and the possibility of the main characters dying in the end. It was a good story and a good movie. Willam DeFoe was awesome. But a harlequin novel it's not. So if you're looking for a love story, check out "An Officer and a Gentleman", cause this is not for you.

Brad Johnson's line, "fighter pilots make movies, bomber pilots make history." is very true. The A6 Intruder is one of the unsung heros of the Vietnam War. This bird served as the Navy's primary attack aircraft from the early sixties until very recently when its role was taken over by the F-14 and F/A-18. It is very refreshing to see a movie about the more glamorless aircraft in the inventory. The reason that people don't like this movie is REALISM! It isn't about dashing "Top Guns" going Mach 2. It is about the guys that had to dump the bombs from very low altitude and hope they get back home. These guys were exposed to EVERYTHING! It was dangerous work. It still is dangerous work. Army attack chopper pilots and Navy/Marine/Air Force attack bombers pilots are the guys that put it on the line everytime they fly; either in combat or in peacetime.

Named for the Grumman A-6 Intruder and based on the Stephen Coonts novel of the same name, featuring his major protagonist Jake "Cool Hand" Grafton (Brad Johnson), "Flight of the Intruder" is a Vietnam War-era fighter pilot movie, featuring Naval aviators rather than Air Force pilots. It is reminiscent of Top Gun, though a much more under the radar film. It shouldn't be, because this is as good a film about aviators as there is. Sure, it's a little gung-ho, which is not how we generally like our Vietnam War movies - think "Platoon", "Full Metal Jacket" or "Born on the Fourth of July" - but the action scenes are good, if a little low-budget, and it shines a light on a part of the war effort that hasn't really grabbed much Hollywood attention over the years.

Johnson is pretty good as Grafton, ably supported by the always-reliable Willem Dafoe as his bombardier, Virgil Cole, and Danny Glover (another always-reliable actor) as Frank Camparelli. Rosanna Arquette has what could be termed just a little more than a cameo as Callie, Grafton's love interest. (In the book universe, Callie ends up marrying Jake Grafton).

Jim Page... I was on the Indy at the same time! It was my first time at sea, when they filmed the movie. I was eating "mid-rats" in the Officer's wardroom, when a movie crew guy asked me if I wanted to be in the movie. Next thing I know, I was on the Admiral's bridge in a scene with Danny Glover as the only "extra." The scene is early in the movie. Brad Johnson's BN was just shot and he's coming back to the carrier. Danny Glover is called to the bridge and watches as the A-6 lands on the deck. The shot is of Glover's left profile. I am the "officer of the deck" right behind him. You can just see the left side of my face. It was a lot of fun and great stuff to write home about.

I served as a dental officer on the Indy from 1989 until 1991. I moved with the Indy to Yokosuka. Six weeks later, I separated from the Navy.

Top Gun clone? Absolutely not, this is considerably better than that monumentally overrated snorefest.

Telling a rather generic story set during the Vietnam war this feature stars Willem Dafoe, Rosanna Arquette, Tom Sizemore, Ving Rhames and Danny Glover so it's roster is pretty outstanding.

Now I'm rather bias when it comes to war themed movies, namely because I'm a great big anti-war guy so I tend not to see the appeal. That's not to say I'm anti-war movie, I just tend not to find them enjoyable.

Flight of the Intruder suffers from the standard genre tropes, is cheesy, macho-nonsense but does have a charm to an extent. The ending is strong which certainly makes up for everything else but it can only go so far.

With that amazing cast and very impressive flight visuals you can't take away from the film just how much they've accomplished here, it's just not my bag.

The Good:

Very impressive visuals

Wealth of talent present

The Bad:

Oddly structured

Love interest was needlessly tacked on