User reviews

I found the movie interesting. It is probably loosely based on the exploits of Lyle Bull and Charles Hunter who on 30 October 1967 flew a solo flight over Hanoi and received the Navy Cross. Here is part of the citation for Bull: Lieutenant Bull assisted in the planning and execution of an extremely dangerous, single-plane, night, radar bombing attack on the strategically located and heavily defended Hanoi railroad ferry slip in North Vietnam. Although the entire Hanoi defensive effort was concentrated upon his lone bomber, he flawlessly assisted his pilot in navigating the aircraft to the target area and commencing an attack. Seconds before bomb release, six enemy surface-to-air missiles were observed to be tracking on his plane. Undaunted by this threat to his personal safety, Lieutenant Bull assisted his pilot in taking swift and effective action to avoid the missiles and complete the attack, releasing all weapons in the target area with extreme accuracy. After release, four more missiles were fired at his aircraft in addition to the intense anti-aircraft-artillery fire.

Recommended viewing, especially for those who have not read the book. The flying scenes are great, with ferocious sound to match. While parts of the story will seem quite familiar, the raid on Hanoi is an unusual focal point of the film, and terrific. Danny Glover and Willem Dafoe have the best developed characters, but overall the acting is fine. The motivation of the different characters is quite interesting and adds to the excitement. Dialog varies from profound to hokey. The film is is recommended as one of the better Vietnam War movies. There is plenty of action, and "Flight of the Intruder" certainly exceeds expectations as entertainment. - MERK

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.

Watch this movie for the flying scenes! It has some the very best shots of an Intruder still or in flight. This aircraft is now out of service with the Navy except as a fueler but I can testify that this aircraft is down right dominating and scary to anyone on the ground when they make a low level pass and this movie captured it all!

That said, I read the book too and yes it is a lot different from the book but then most movies are. The question is does it conform to the spirit of the movie and Flight of the Intruder is close. It does take some short cuts which are even more obvious to a Navy vet but over all, this is one of my favorite Vietnam War movies and about the only one that gives a decent treatment to the carrier pilots.

The romantic part is not much and probably left in to keep it from not having any attractive females but it sure is not needed for dramatic effect.

The political and legal junk is really over blown and trite but if sufficient detail were included the movie would have been 3 hours long.

It is a good "Tiger flick" (war movie) for a rainy day and it has an honored place in my DVD collection!

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).

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

It's 1972. The A-6 was the US Navy's medium attack bomber during the Vietnam conflict. It was called the Intruder. They fly low and alone over enemy airspace. Lt. Jake 'Cool Hand' Grafton (Brad Johnson) loses his bombardier with a peasant rifle shot. He questions the course of the war. Frank Camparelli (Danny Glover) is his commander. Political considerations keep the zone around Hanoi and Haiphong from being bombed. Lt. Cmdr. Virgil 'Tiger' Cole (Willem Dafoe) is a veteran flyer on his third tour newly arrived on the carrier. Jake meets Callie Joy (Rosanna Arquette) packing up for his bombardier's widow. Virgil is Jake's new co-pilot. Jake asks Virgil to bomb Hanoi. He relents after Boxman (Tom Sizemore) gets killed. He tells Jake about SAM city.

It's a bit of 'Top Gun', a bit of 'Road House', a bit of 'Animal House' and a whole lot of pro-war militarism. The tone is a mess. The humor is broad low grade. The romance is stiff and melodramatic. Brad Johnson is not the best lead. He has limited range. The good news is the movie has Willem Dafoe and also Danny Glover. What works are the planes and the missions. The flying action is done well although the miniatures are a little obvious and the special effects aren't the best. However the first run in Hanoi is terrific like the Star Wars trench run. In fact, that's what is better than 'Top Gun'. These are war actions with the characters getting shot at and killed. That makes those scenes more compelling.

Just an opinion but maybe the chances of novel-based techno-thrillers (aside from Tom Clancy's) basically stopped here in this movie. Flight of the Intruder is a novel based on Stephen Coonts' first book. The movie touches on interesting premise as we see the effects on the American pilots (in this case, the A-6 pilots of USS Independence) due to the US government's decision to limit the targets in bombing North Vietnam. Brad Johnson is pretty much what I imagined for the character of Jake Grafton. Had the movie been successful the latter books could use Tom Berenger. This is one of those times when less than stellar effects do not get in the way of enjoyment. The opening bombing scene and the adventure in SAM city were awesome.

Sadly, the story doesn't hold much and the ending is not so great. The daytime climax is really cheesy and doesn't fit well with the rest of the movie (and this climax itself doesn't flow well either). It's also pretty much a given when you have soldiers, pilots, and/or sailors in bar, chances are there'll be a barfight. The very short moments with Grafton and Cali were cool though and the movie could have utilize this subplot well.

The verdict: 3 of 5 stars.

I can't understand why TopGun is so hyped yet nobody has even heard about this movie? Sure its not as glamorous or stylish but it is far more realistic. Perhaps some people just don't consider the old A-6 Intruder bomber as glamorous as an F-14 Tomcat fighter? Unlike Topgun, this movie is faithful to facts and the footage is much much better. The combat scenes are brilliant and the way they show the intensity of anti-aircraft artillery and machine gun fire from the ground really illustrates the difficulties of air warfare. Also unlike Topgun, where the MiGs were fake aircraft and really American F-5s, the MiGs in this movie were real MiGs. So were the SA-2 Divinia SAMs that were fired by the thousands. The combat and dogfight scenes were far more realistic than topgun even if they looked a bit less flashy.

This movie is a real gem and a must see for anybody interested in aviation or war related movies. If you are clueless about aviation and just want a no brain entertainer, stick to topgun.

I´ve had the novel "Flight of the Intruder" in my bookshelf for years and when I saw the DVD in local store it didn´t take me long to purchase it. Not very clever move.

If you haven´t read the book this film might entertain you; it has some action, flying-scenes, and couple of well-known actors from other films(eg. Dafoe and Glover). If you read the book first like I did and enjoyed it, I doubt that this movie will satisfy you. I understand that filming a novel is no easy task and directors have to take shortcuts sometimes to keep the movie in decent running-time. What I don´t understand is mixing plot somewhat completely, changing characters to just barely familiar compared to novel and leaving out important happenings. So, big disappointment for me. I recommend everyone who hasn´t read the book to read it and those who read to book and haven´t seen the film to borrow it from somewhere instead of buying it.

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.

It's a thrilling warlike movie that contains over-the-top performances , drama , poignant vignettes and unsparing action . It takes place at the beginning of the Vietnam war , after his bombardier is killed, Jake Grafton (Brad Johnson), a carrier-based Intruder pilot, questions the purpose of Navy bombing missions and he join forces with another partner (Willem Defoe) to carry out a dangerous objective in Hanoi . Meanwhile , a grumpy general (Danny Glover) surveys their exploits and frustrations but when his aircraft is shot down , he is stranded in the wilds of Vietnam . Alone , he must rely on himself and a whole army after him . Trapped behind enemy lines , only two men with whom he has radio contact can save him and to get him out . As the protagonists come determined to rescue him .

Pretty good aerial flick plenty action , tragic drama , fantastic cloudy scenes and breathtaking dogfighting . It's a spectacular actioner including impressive scenarios , fine star cast and memorable acting . It plays like one of these 1940s service propaganda war that was shot in cooperation with US Air Force . This stirring as well as incongruous warlike movie mixes thrills , rugged action and dialog with lots of military scenes , without losing sight of the continuation of its interesting plot or necessities of war and works on various levels . Acceptable budget extended adventures about a maverick pilot and his pal undergoing risked feats on air and bombing on earth . It gets the right balance between the old-style warfare movies and the modern wartime films . Noisy action scenes punctuate the tension without breaking it . Brad Johnson and Willem Defoe give terrific acting in this otherwise passable film , both of whom show professionalism as two crack fighter pilots , two ambitious Lieutenants assigned to risked missions . Danny Glover is top-notch as Cmdr. Frank 'Dooke' Camparelli , he is a grumpy but likable officer subsequently stranded and alone after his plane is gunned down . Secondary cast is frankly excellent as Rosanna Arquette , Dann Florek , Tom Sizemore , Ving Rhames , Madison Mason , J Kenneth Campbell , David Schwimmer , John Corbet , among others . Fine production design and right special effects , as a 1:160 scale model of the city of Hanoi was built for the filming of the bomb-runs scenes , buildings closer to the camera were detailed more while the furthest away buildings in the background we only painted blocks of wood . And being partially filmed on the USS Independence CV-62 . While the story was centered around VA-196, VA-165 was actually the squadron used to film the movie ; all of the aircraft used for filming were re-painted with VA-196 markings used during the Viet Nam conflict era . Colorful and evocative cinematography in super 35 by Fred J Koenekamp . Moving musical score fitting to action by Basil Poledouris , he had originally been scheduled to score Dances with Wolves but reluctantly dropped out to score this film for his close friend John Milius, with extremely damaging results to his career when he found himself suddenly unemployable at any studio making a picture with the then-hot Kevin Costner .

The motion picture was professionally directed by John Milius but he stated that making this film was one of the worst experiences he had. He is a notorious screenwriter and filmmaker with several hits , specially on adventure genre as ¨Jeremiah Johnson (1972)¨, ¨Conan¨ , ¨Red Dawn¨, and also made biography as ¨Dillinger¨ , making two films about Theodore Roosevelt , ¨ The Wind and the Lion¨(1975) and ¨Rough Riders¨ (1997) . He was partially the basis for the character of Walter in the cult classic ¨The great Lebowski (1998)¨. Rating ¨Flight of the Intruder¨: Good and entertaining . Compassionate thinkers , lovers warfare genre , and non-pacifists will all find satisfaction here .

Directed by John Milius. Starring Brad Johnson, Willem Dafoe, Danny Glover, Tom Sizemore, Jared Chandler, Rosanna Arquette, Ving Rhames, J. Kenneth Campbell, Fred Dalton Thompson, Madison Mason. (PG-13)

Late in the Vietnam War, an A-6 Intruder pilot (Johnson) convinces a veteran bombardier (Dafoe) to join him on an unsanctioned mission over Hanoi to take out a surface-to-air missile depot. Pedestrian war film with thin characterizations and a cliché-riddled script (there's even time to squeeze in a barroom brawl) adapted from a novel by former naval pilot Stephen Coonts. Serviceable aerial action photography, but the visual effects are often awful; less likely to elevate the pulse than make the viewer wish they were watching an equally dumb but far more watchable air combat picture ("Top Gun," "Memphis Belle," etc., take your pick). Charisma-deprived leading man Johnson (think: a bland Tom Berenger) is a wash-out, Glover can't settle on a tone for his skipper character, Arquette is wasted in a superfluous romance sub-plot that (graciously) gets hardly any screen time; only a surprisingly understated Dafoe comes close to creating an interesting character. A Vietnam War movie made with the complete cooperation of the US Navy; that should be all the warning that's needed. Released the day after the combat phase of Operation Desert Storm began--talk about poor timing.

35/100

During the air war over Vietnam, a US Navy A-6 Intruder tactical bomber pilot schemes with a hardened veteran to make an unauthorized air strike on Hanoi.

Director John Milius later recalled, "That was Paramount with the Paramount control, and they tried to control every aspect of it. I'd spent more money than I'd ever spent before, because they told me how much I was going to spend on it. They didn't let me control it. I would have made that movie for at least $5 million less." One can only imagine what Milius would have done with complete control!

Roger Ebert called the film a "mess", noting that "some scenes say one thing, some say another." Others have complained about the special effects. I thought it was alright. Not a great film, but in retrospect somewhat interesting due to the cast. I mean, wow, a pre-"Friends" David Schwimmer and a pre-"Pulp Fiction" Ving Rhames?

"Flight of the Intruder" had the potential to be a very good war film, about the Vietnam War. It seems odd that the billing for the movie doesn't show it as a war movie, but as an action, thriller and drama film. The story is about war, the people involved and how it affects them. That is according to Stephen Coonts, author of the book by the same name. The story is fiction but it's based on his experience and nine years of U.S. Navy service, including two combat cruises as a Grumman A-6 Intruder pilot.

When Coonts tried to get his book published, 30 publishers wouldn't even look at it. Four others rejected it and two others hadn't responded. Finally, the Naval Institute Arm (connected informally with the U.S. Naval Academy) published it. The Institute had a big success with the earlier publication of "The Hunt for Red October" that went on to be a smash hit movie. This book also became a big hit and was a best seller. Unfortunately, the movie didn't fare as well.

Paramount hired John Millius to direct the film. He had a string of very good screenplays and films directed with war themes. Those included "Red Dawn" of 1984, screenplay and direction; screenplay for "Apocalypse Now" of 1979; writing and direction of "Farewell to the King" of 1989; and many more. Apparently, Paramount tried to run everything and kept interfering with the film. The result was a movie with plot holes, poor editing, scene changes, continuity goofs and other problems. The studio should have let Millius run the show – he had the track record to turn out very good films of this type. The critics noted the deficiencies and generally panned the film. It failed to recover its $30 million cost at the box office.

Originally, Richard Gere was to play the part of Virgil Cole that finally went to Willem Dafoe. And, Millius had tried to get Richard Dreyfus for the role of the commander, Camparelli. Danny Glover wound up in that role. Dafoe is OK, but Glover just doesn't quite seem to fit. His acting, especially as the tough squadron leader, isn't really convincing. It seems forced or contrived. Maybe it's the persona of his character, Roger Murtaugh, from the "Lethal Weapon" films that sticks in one's mind.

But, even with these flaws, "Flight of the Intruder" is better than the critics give credit. The film differs from the book in some places, but it is a realistic portrayal of Navy service during the Vietnam War. The flying scenes are very good, the shipboard scenes at sea are nice and the film has considerable action.

The movie was filmed in Hawaii with full U.S. Navy cooperation. Here are a couple humorous lines from the film

Lt. Commander Mad Jack "Doc" is flying to Subic Bay as a passenger with Lt. Sammy Lundeen. A crew member instructs him on ejection. Doc, "Do I say roger or…. just do it or what?" Sammy Lundeen, "You even say 'huh,' you'll be talking to yourself… 'cause I'll be gone."

Sammy Lundeen, "Here, Doc, take some oxygen." Doc, "Keep your hands on the wheel."

The original Stephen Coonts book is great. The movie, although it attempts to contain all of the content of the book is not so great.

The problem is that it everything from the book looks like it has been put into a blender and spat out in a completely different order. And don't even get me started on how Callie (played by Rosanna Arquette) is represented.

Sure, you could point out that movies are never the same (or as good) as the book, but this is just way off base.

Yes, the flying sequences are good and some of the atmosphere comes across, but overall I think the movie is confusing and cheesy. This is a pity, because there was so much potential.

When I saw this movie for the first time it seemed like Deja vu. the first part of the movie was like I was reliving a part of my life when I was aboard the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-60) in 1985. The ship in the movie was the U.S.S. Independence (CV-62) and it's the same ship in design as the Saratoga. When I was on that ship a pilot died suddenly when his A-7 exploded on approach and it was caused by a bomb arming and exploding on its own. We had an memorial service at the same place on the ship and it really blew my mind. From then on I have admired that movie and have watched it several times. To this day I get really choked up. Hey, it's not as well made as the Godfather but it isn't a bad movie either. But I feel it deserves better then a 5.3. Hey veterans out there, start voting.

So this movie may not have the AAA casting, editing or scripting of Top Gun. But if you love war movies about air combat, then it's a must watch.

In contrast to Top Gun, this movie focuses on air-ground combat in the Vietnam war, so you won't see any dog fights... What you will see is about twice as much amazing footage of low altitude air-ground combat against a multitude of AA, flak and SAM sites.

And despite not having an early Tom Cruise, many of the actors in this film are still extremely well known today and for the age of the film they pull off their roles pretty well.

This movie must have had a hell of a budget in it's day, and if you're after a good quality flick with a ton of jets and a bucket load of action then this is definitely something you should add to your watch list.

What starts off as a pretty good action flick quickly gets bogged down with some lousy dialogue and no action.As far as the romance goes Brad Johnson and Roseanna Arquettte don't have a whole lot of chemistry together.In a lot of ways,this movie is almost interchangeable with "Top Gun" and I never liked that flick either.Director John Milius is a hit or miss director,and this one is a miss.