Mayday

Pacific Global Flight 52 is headed from San Francisco to Japan when it has to change course due to storms. The new route takes the flight dangerously close to a restricted zone where a missile test is taking place.

John Berry is a 'weekend pilot' who ends up having to fly a very complicated aircraft, under adverse conditions, and get it back to the ground safely. Sharon is the flight attendant who has to help him. They are among the few who were not in the main cabin or the cockpit and therefore not affected by what happened. There were also passengers in a conference room, but they seemed to contribute little to the situation.

Cmdr. Slan shows little emotion over what has happened and, in fact, he cares more about the navy's reputation than the passengers on the plane. Even worse, Beneficial Insurance agent Anne Metz only cares about potential liability, which will be less if everyone on board dies in a crash away from a populated area. If, for example, the plane crashes into buildings in a large city, her company and Pacific Global could both go bankrupt.

I thought Aidan Quinn and Kelly Hu did a good job showing they could take charge of the situation. Dean Cain delivered a detached and uncaring attitude, very military, occasionally angry (but restrained, and for all the wrong reasons). Charles Dutton did a fine job as the admiral observing the missile test. The actor playing the older airline executive did a good job, while the younger man who worked directly with Metz came across as an unfeeling buffoon. The air traffic controllers seemed very professional, as did military pilot Lt. Matos, who investigated the missile situation up close.

To me, the action in the plane looked realistic, though I'm certainly no expert on what should have happened. The big event was quite exciting and scary. And the excitement occasionally returned. The events in the cockpit were pretty amazing if not miraculous, and it's incredible the new crew had their calm moments. They did work well together. But much of the tension came from what the various parties didn't know about what was going on, and from our heroes having to figure out certain things.

It was entertaining, whether realistic or not. One hopes the people on the ground would have more concern in real life.

This movie does not do justice to the original book from which it was taken. About 30 years ago Tom Block's name was on the cover, and he was credited with this original book. Recently his friend and fellow writer Nelson DeMille put his name on it. The movie barely mentions Tom Block. Tom is a retired airline pilot who knows his stuff. Read the book to see that. We can guess why this was done. Some asked about afterburners and rapid or explosive decompression. Read the book, but there was a lot of funny things going on in the film with all this. Funny and dumb to a pilot. Even with so many changes it was a half way interesting film. Too bad it might take readers away from the re-released book when it ought to help to make a lot more. Film viewers will be more than pleasantly surprised if they do read Tom Block's book (well, I guess Nelson DeMille did have a good part in the writing, after all he got his name on it finally). See the film, but definitely read the book.

I taped this movie so I could watch it after I read the book.The book was far better.In the book,the passengers who survived turned into zombies though oxygen deprivation and their actions threatened the survivors.One flight attendant was killed by them.There was a scene in the book where Kelly's character took off her pantyhose to close the cockpit door so the passengers wouldn't get in.Sadly that wasn't in the movie either.Also,I know that this was a TV movie,and that the acting wasn't going to be the greatest,but at least hire actors who can act well enough to get you caught up in the story,I'm specifically referring to Aidan and Kelly,somebody else said they acted like they were on a Disney World ride,and I agree.I kept looking at the tape timer to see how long it would be until it was over.If it comes on again,just tape it and watch something else.

This film may have been less far-fetched than the Nelson DeMille/Thomas Block novel on which it is based, but it lacks the tension which the authors provided so well. Director T.J. Scott is obviously constrained by the network-television format, which allows little blood and no coarse language -- still, he should have let the main characters look increasingly unkempt and sweaty after the accident. Other mistakes include a subplot involving several characters who weren't in the book, and some weakly interpreted villains (Johnson suffers the most; where is his swagger and sardonic humor).

This rates a 5 because the cast members do their best, the effects are good for a TV-movie, and there are a few nice touches (at one point the film refers to a change of terminology between the 1978 and 1997 versions of the novel). It's sad, though, that "Mayday" never got a big-budget blockbuster treatment.

-Tony

Considering this is a made for TV movie,the special effects were above the normal TV standard. Some good movie actors,Dean Cain and Adrian Quinn star in this film. I was able to purchase a DVD copy of this film,Mayday,through the German DVD shops which can be found on the web-sites. Grant you,this a made for TV film, it was not bad. The special effects,when the missal hit the plane,was well done. If you should wish to purchase a copy of this DVD from Germany,make sure your DVD player plays the European standard,pal system,if it does not,your player will not be able to play it. Does your player play other region DVD's,check your manual. I the player was purchased in the USA or Canada,no doubt it is region one. Here in Canada,multi region DVD players are for sale,or,do this,on the internet,type in DVD hackers list,this list lists all the players that are capable of playing this region DVD. It also gives instructions on how to change the region codes on your player,many DVD player,this can be done. Good luck.