The Flight Of The Phoenix (DVD 2004)

I decided to buy this version on Ebay having been lent the new version by a friend, and remembering that the old version seemed better. I think I was right; the characters in the older version are more believable and you can identify with them much more; the scene where they attempt to start the engine has real tension, and you find yourself willing it to run properly, even though all the starter cartridges have not been used.
By comparison, the recent version has had a 'crash-bang-wallop' Hollywood makeover. You can't like or identify with any of the characters, even the token female interest, and Hugh Lawrie is absolutely wasted. It's a case of style over substance; dramatic tension has been sacrificed in favour of lots of eye-popping and ear-bursting special effects. Compare the numbers of each version for sale on Ebay, and who is buying which one, and perhaps you'll agree with me!

Too many films have the honour of 'classic' put against the title simply because a certain actor happens to be in it. This film has great acting, a great set, a great story line, and should called a classic.
The story is based around the oil industry just starting up in Libya. The isolated encampments of oil industry rough necks and the people who supply these sites, provide the framework. A worn out company supply plane fails to make it through to the delights of Benghazi, when engulfed by a sand storm. The resulting crash leaves the survivors waiting to be rescued, until they realise they are on there own. How to get away. This is the story of the aircraft that came back from the dead.
The story pits the old pilot, James Stewart (who was a USAAF pilot in WW2) against the new world of the young German aircraft designer Hardy Kruger. Who should be in charge. Old soldier Peter Finch lost in the new world without an empire to defend, does all he can to sacrifice himself for the others. While the Sgt. Ronald Fraser has only thoughts for himself. Also included is Ernest Borgnine, who can only get work in the desert which is now sending him mad. Richard Attenborough trying to stay off the bottle, tries to be the man of reason and peacemaker.
The building of the escape plane, and its eventual flight (I'm not giving anything away, the clue is in the title) finally pulls everyone together.
True it is a mans film, any re-make would have to have a female or two in the all cast crew to add any originality to the story.

Get this one, don't bother with the remake!

Stunning cinematography, great cast who put in great performances. When a film is this good it beggars belief that someone thinks a remake could add anything, except perhaps cash to their bank account!

i brought the dvd on the flight of the phenix because it is a good old film . i think the old films have more carictor to the and story .it is beter than the remake of this film in which they remade. i think the fillm is very good and good old actors.

This film is a classic which stands alone. Jimmy Stewart, Dickie Attenborough and the remainder of the cast give sterling performances which 'ooze acting'. Their absolute focus to the job in hand in helping to create a film which draws the audience into the adversity that these men are enduring, making the audience also endure is what the whole point of film making is all about. I loved this film, which philosophically can be argued that it should be included in school ciriculum which can educate many a child as to the many aspects of the character of the human spirit in the face of such overwhelming odds, which in terms of lectures and words would take not only many times in hours and minutes to explain to children the same lesson but would do so in pictures and emotionally stirring images that are unescapable. Such a programme would make clear to the child which character type they want to be, furnishing them with an early psychological path to follow. Loved the original, the new version shouldn't have even bothered. In my mind all in the remake lost their credibility and in some cases, for good.

film i have looked for, for a while really enjoyed it.this has to be one of my all time favourites, good acting and a sterling cast.

very good deal from a very good dealer it was a film on dvd i wanted for a long time
i got the film for a ver low cost and had super fast turnround
just what more can one say