Flight Of The Phoenix (DVD)

i decided to buy this remake because not only did i love the original james stewart version but dennis quaid was also starring,a great idea for a movie,it does differ a bit from the original but that makes it original to this film,i guess it lacks the suspense of hardy kruger`s model designing rather than designing real aircraft,but a great remake none the less...

Having seen the original this film seemed a little rushed and lacked in suspense.Hardy Krugers part in the original was exellent, however in the latter film his counterpart was a little irritating.There was little effort shown in the construction of the aircraft one minute they were removing some parts and hey presto! they have a new plane.The original was rich in character study. It is still entertaining but not a patch on the original, which remains one of my favourite films.

The movie was good, but no where near as good as the old original. With the original film you got into the characters. The effects and soundtrack of the plane crashing at the beginning was good.
The ending was rushed and quite tame.
A average film. Not a blockbuster.

Fantastic movie. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I bought this DVD since I wished to compare it with the original British film from 1965. After an excellent rendition of the aeroplane crash, the product of modern technology but excellent nonetheless, this film degenerates rapidly and has none of the tension, or the charm, or the classiness of the 1965 film. Here's why I think this:

1. Racial tokenism. The cast presumably has, by some sort of law, to include ethnic minoroty actors. So, obviously enough, it deviates from the original film in this respect. It reminds me of a racial version of the English Scotsman and Irishman jokes. They're all in there somewhere. Nauseatingly enough, these characters have to do ludicrous things like open a drinks bar, complete with ghetto blaster and DJ'ing and dancing. Yep, they're in a life or death situation, some of their colleagues have died and they're looking at imminent death from thirst. But they have time to open up a drinks bar, jive about and give it the 'yo bro, homey' stuff.

2. Feminist tokenism. There just has to be a woman in a key role and she just has to be quite good looking in a boiler suit. YAWN.....

3. Language. Like many/most US films and remakes of great classics, there is far too much effing this and effing that. Anyone who has been truly in a situation of imminent or likely death knows that swearing rarely occurs, even in people who habitually swear. This film is just full of gratuitous swearing and it's so pointless.

4. Tension... or lack of. There are a few attempts to introduce some sort of tension but they fail miserably. The gung-ho, rapping, music blaring crew, apart from a token concern about water supplies diminishing, seem to have no doubt whatsoever that they'll get away. It's bicep waggling, sweaty (losing all that precious water eh?) brows working in the middle of the day (impossible in the Namibian desert). Even the three high spots of the original film.. the revelation that the German plane designer has stolen water, the fact that he designs model aircraft only and the shortage of starting motor cartridges for the plane engine, don't really create tension. The film blasts through them all.

5. Emotional touchy-feely blurb. Why do most US films have to include this sort of stuff? Crashing in the desert and having to build a plane or die would seem enough but no, not in American films. They always have to include the resolving of emotional 'issues' thing. Surly bad pilot is really a good egg. Domineering German plane designer is like that because his hamster died when he was a child (joke there). Incessant woffle about 'the folks back home'... looking at schmaltzy photos of girlfriends, boyfriends then, amazingly, they mostly survive and all come out 'better people'. Even the remake of War of the Worlds had to have all that stuff (along with Miranda Otto too, in fact)... divorce, disfunctional families, absentee father and....oh happy day....they all come out of it changed. Zzzz Zzzzz. It's just so predictable.

6. In the f-word laden special features, the commentary by the opinionated director of this mediocre film never once mentions that it's just a remake of someone else's film from 1965. There is no credit given, no acknowledgement of the original film. Just a Narcissistic 'aren't I clever?' monologue filled with swearing and telling everyone how hard it was to make the film.

I paid £3 for this on eBay and that's about what it's worth...if that. I find the DVD makes a good drinks coaster.

If I'm honest I didn't really enjoy this film, however it's not my kind of film. I think for the right watcher it would be a great film, the effects are average and the acting is good but I would not rank it as one of the best.

ive been looking for this dvd for ages,and when i saw the price i just had to bid!! what amazing value this purchase was.it arrived quite quickly,in perfect condition,not one scratch on the disc,it even had special features on the dvd,which was an added bonus,i have to say this was the best sum of money ive spent on ebay to date,and im sure it'll be hard to beat.

this is a very good film well made just as good as the old one with james stewart but with better effects nice to watch on a winters night with a can of beer

Taken on it's own I guess this could be described as a reasonable film but when you compare it to the original you realise just how much you are missing! Please don't bother!

Unusual storyline, really atmospheric locations and a strong cast. The simple plot is extremely watchable and in my opinion fits together well into a film which has many twists and turns and will appeal to a family audience. Watch it!