Blue Thunder (1983)

Memories, I would have been 19 at the time in Southern Cal, and in the Navy. Dating a hot chick who had a Firebird like Rockford had (except it was yellow), I watched this film and was so blown away I decided to go back and take her that time (lol). I was still blown away. The ending is just awesome when Scheider takes on the jets, just the most awesome thing ever, really. Also, this film reinforced my love for McDowell, he is perfect here and my second favorite role he played (first being Clockwork Orange of course). Stern is also really good here in a uncharacteristic good guy role. But Scheider is the main man here, he was on the crest of his fame, I had watched him in Jaws and also in Marathon Man, here he was the main man, (outside of the helo). Does it hold up well now to a contemporary viewer? Maybe not a 10 but it should at least rate a 8, great early 80's action film.

Blue Thunder was a great film when I was 13 but unlike most it's still a great film now. It's set in 1980 Los Angeles and Frank Murphy (Roy Schneider) is selected to flight test a new 'Anti Riot' helicopter prototype (Project THOR: Tactical Helicopter Offensive Response or Nicknamed Blue Thunder by the development team). As often is the way, the leaders of this project have a more sinister underlying plan for this piece of hardware revolving around possible terrorist action during the up and coming Olympic Games. The only thing that dates this film is the computer effects used during one of the fight/flight scenes. The Action contained within it (for an early eighties film) is first class. The main plot line is waaaaay ahead of it's time, the flight scenes are superb, the dialogue is compelling but above all believable with none of the clunk of the Blue Thunder T.V show, or the later offering (unrelated by studio) of Airwolf. The casting is excellent, Roy Schneider plays Frank Murphy brilliantly, Malcolm McDowell is really good as the annoying military test pilot but the show is stolen by Warren Oats as Frank Murphy's C.O Captain Jack Braddock. "If you notice that I don't have an ass when I get out of this chair it's because the Mayor has chewed it off". This film is also one of the first, I believe, to call reference to P.T.S.D, as suffered by countless Vietnam war veterans. I can highly recommend this film to you, if you are a fan of espionage, hardware or just plain suspense films you will really enjoy it.

Troubled LAPD helicopter pilot (Roy Scheider) is asked to test-pilot a new hi-tech helicopter called Blue Thunder. The Blue Thunder is supposed to be designed for riot control. It's got powerful weaponry, infrared cameras, stealth technology, and more. Soon Scheider discovers the super copter has a sinister purpose.Directed by John Badham with a script by Dan O'Bannon, Blue Thunder is a solid entertaining '80s action flick. Scheider is great. Malcolm McDowell is a hissable villain. Warren Oates steals every scene he's in. Daniel Stern is fun. Candy Clark is in it but don't hold that against the film. Even Candy Clark's propensity for overacting can't hold Blue Thunder down. It soars in spite of her!

This film could have been a cheesy "b" movie that featured lots of stupid dialog and such, however it has Roy Scheider in it and he elevates this film to another level. The film has a rather simple enough plot as there is a new helicopter being introduced. A police helicopter like no other as it has a lot of advanced features to make patrolling the skies a breeze and even a machine gun to handle the more extreme situations. Roy plays a pilot who flies the skies of the city and he is given the opportunity to fly this super copter over the city, but what starts out as a routine test run becomes something more as he and his partner actually record a conversation between some people that could cause quite a stir. It is not to long before the partner ends up dead and Roy has commandeered the helicopter using it to aid his wife in getting the tape that will expose the whole cover up. Very good movie, your basic police type movie only with the super copter in it to change things up a bit. The action is mainly confined to the end of the film, but there is enough interesting stuff going on to keep one entertained till they get to the chases and gun fights near the end of the movie. Malcom McDowell plays a sort of rival helicopter pilot to Roy's and he adds some pep as the movies villain as there is a nice fight in the skies at the end of the movie. When I looked up this film I saw that there was a television show based on this movie, I am guessing it was rather short lived as I have never heard of it till just now.