Black Angel

This is an exciting action packed flick about a pilot gone mad and attempts to blow up Las Vegas. Just when you think you know what is going to happen, it surprises you.

Ludicrous plot, bad acting, glaring factual errors. Stylistically, it's a bit of a Top Gun rip-off. And seriously, who ever heard of anyone landing a fighter on a road and then taking off again later? If you like to make up funny lines for the dialogue or you like to pick out errors, etc., then this is the movie for you. And Peter Strauss, next time you play a military man, get a haircut.

Just enough details to make this seem very real, and very possible.

Makes you wonder about the military phrase "routine training exercise" used in actual news stories.

No breaks in the action - and no subplots. This is straight action from beginning to end. Well worth watching.

This films tells the story of air force pilot who cracks under peer pressure,it was unclear if his parents pushed him to far,or what,he simply had to be the best,Barry Zetlin,who produce this film,assembled a good cast. The pressure was too much,he cracked under it all. The fight scenes in the air was well done,I suspect that quite a bit of stock footage film was used. This is available on DVD in either the UK or Australia. Before you order it,make sure your DVD player will play it,DVD's players in Canada and the US are region one,in Europe and Australia,they use region 2 and 4 which is Pal System.Region free DVD players can be purchased here in Canada and the US,if you do not wish to purchase one,go on to the internet and type in DVD players hackers list,this web site will give you instructions on how to change the region settings on your DVD player,not all DVD players can the region codes be changed. Another interesting item,Barry Zetlin,who produced this film appeared in it,a cameo appearance,he has also done this in other films he has produced. Alfred Hitchcock used to do the same thing.

Before he had the big budget of U-571, director Jonathan Mostow proved back in 1991 that he has what it takes to create a gripping movie. I rented this because I was writing a screenplay with a similar premise. The aerial combat sequences here are just as -- if not more so -- thrilling as anything in TOP GUN. I wish they would have got someone else to play Cpt. Gordon aka "Black Angel" -- still, the thesp gets across a spooky desperation. The script doesn't fully explain his motivation, but it's clear he has some kind of God-complex. Peter Strauss is also believable as the Mentor.

If you like military or doomsday thrillers, this is worth a rent or watching on cable.

Also of note: screenwriters John Brancato and Mike Ferris (THE NET, THE GAME) are billed as assoc. producers, though I don't know what their role in the production was.