Desert Thunder

OK - so the characters were stereotyped, some of the acting wasn't very good, the comedy scenes were clichéd, the plot was predictable and the film had nothing new to say, but -

• the aerial shots were terrific!

A by the numbers, low-budget war film capitalizing on the (then) impending threat of Iraqi bioterrorism. Because neither Congress or the UN will act, a squabbling military brings a reluctant, guilt-ridden Air Force officer out of self-enforced retirement to recruit and train the usual gang of bickering misfits. This takes most of the film's running time, leaving the last 10 minutes for the obligatory fiery air strikes, probably cobbled together from some other movie and repeated where necessary for the decidedly non-climactic climax. You've seen this all before, done much better.

What may seem interesting, this movie contains some scenes that seem (almost) identical to corresponding fragments of "Navy SEALs". These include, among others:

• parachute jumps from an airplane to water (in the middle of "Navy SEALs", at the beginning of "Desert thunder")

• camera look over a "Near East port" in the night: a jeep is coming out of a gate and then some men in uniforms follow;

• commando attack on port buildings in order to free some people from the terrorist hands.

It seems more interesting if we consider that the films were directed by different people and even the scenario was written by not the same man.

Concocted by hack director Jim Wynorski in collaboration with Roger Corman's Concorde Films, "Desert Thunder" passes it's time a lot quicker than a lot of other low-budget action films I've seen, but is still nothing great.

Baldwin and Tyson put together a "crack" team of misfit combat pilots who have been dishonourably discharged for various antics to fly a secret covert mission to Iraq and thwart the baddies' plans to launch a biological weapon against Europe. So we've got a kind of "Top Gun"/"Iron Eagle" meets "The Dirty Dozen" movie where we know the heroes will pull together and save the day.

Riddled with clichés along the way including: a brawl in a redneck bar; convenient plot information delivered by generals and bad guys; token racial minorities; poor attempts at humour; military funeral with requisite flinching when the guns fire and Baldwin's psychological hindrance from feeling responsible for the death of another pilot. It takes 70 minutes before our heroes even make it to Iraq for the climax which feels like they forgot there was supposed to be an ending.

Still, not that horrible, but certainly no classic of action cinema. No credits are given at the end for any sort of flying effects; pilots; planes etc., which makes me wonder if the combat footage is stolen from another film? I bought it for $2 on a double bill with "Fear" (1988) which wasn't as good as it sounded.

"Desert Thunder" is a surprisingly enjoyable outing from Jim Wynorski. By the box art you would think it's a dry and serious affair. In fact, it is an upbeat and downright lighthearted experience.

Daniel Baldwin plays Lee Miller, a fighter pilot with a dark past. He is put in charge of assembling a team to fly to Iraq and stop a missile that will destroy a major city in Europe. The ragtag team are all outcasts from the military but Miller and his right hand man, Streets (Tyson) must unite them towards one common mission.

Besides Miller & Streets, the team, called "The Shadow Dancers" consists of: Burkett (Tim Abell), the hothead, Detolla, the silly chef who provides most of the comic relief, Jones, a record producer, Hasheem, A political refugee and computer nerd, and Malone, a woman who was involved in a military scandal.

Will they survive each other before they can take down the wacky Iraqis? If you watched this in 1999 it would seem "ripped from the headlines". The evil Iraqis brag about stalling U.N. weapons inspections. They say the WMD's are hidden in the palaces "where the Americans can't touch them." This is a direct slam on Hans Blix. You got burned, Blix! Daniel, one of the more underrated Baldwins, puts in an engaging performance. Miller calls people he doesn't know "Slappy" or "Sparky" and he is a compulsive gambler. Tyson is stoic as Miller's foil. They have to oversee the many training sequences, barroom brawls and food fights that pad out the running time.

It is suspected that "Thunder" contains stock footage, but this couldn't be definitively confirmed. Speaking of recycling, one pilot's airplane handle is "Eagle One", which is used in another Roger Corman production, The Hunt For Eagle One (2006).

Not only does "Desert Thunder" resemble the movie Top Gun (1986) but also the NES game "Top Gun", as shown in the Nintendo-type screen in the planes and the usage of the term "bogeys".

"Thunder" contains all the clichés you know and enjoy, mixed together with an uplifting patriotic theme, some goofy humor and some explosions. It all adds up to a rousing good time! For more insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com