rra
King Koopa
Posts: 10,145
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Post by rra on Feb 19, 2008 16:48:10 GMT -5
 IRON EAGLE (1986) - **1/2 If I wrote in my review for THE LAST STARFIGHTER that the movie perfectly recreated the fantasy of the kid playing the arcade console becoming savior of the world, one quarter at a time, then IRON EAGLE is virtually an arcade video game, for better or for worse. Back in the 1980s, when the U.S. Airforce had several real encursions with Libyan fighter planes, an American pilot is shot down over the Meditteranean Sea and is taken captive. He's tried before a kangaroo court, and is given a death sentence. As diplomatic and military hands are tied back home, and time running out, his son decides to mount his own rescue operation. What proceeds is practically the big-screen adaptation of 1942, that awesome classic Capcom WW2 video game about a lone American fighter plane who destroys the entire Japanese airfleet, regardless of fuel or ammunition supplies. See as a kid fly a F-16 and shames his military elders by blowing up a Libyan airbase, blast away several bogies, able to land his plane, rescue his pops, all by himself! Why did the AirForce Academy turn down his application? Maybe they simply hate Queen fans. If we had this teenager enlisted now, I'm sure America would have the Iranian nuclear "question" solved within a week. What surprised me though was how similar the plots for IRON EAGLE and STARFIGHTER are: A young guy who wants to escape from home to greater glories, but initially denied until they're forced upon a quest to fulfill the destiny of their heroic potential. If Robert Preston was the wiseman in STARFIGHTER, then Louis Gossett Jr. is the meaner, grouchier, and more badass mentor. He's Ernie Hudson, but with an attitude. Oddly enough, both seem to get killed but somehow return to life by the finale. The main difference though is that STARFIGHTER wasn't bogged down by contrived nonsense. From the whole annoyingly pointless bully angle that I'm sure inspired the emo angle in TRANSFORMERS to what the hero's friends do to make his mission happen, I rolled my eyes. I was reminded of another kids-save-parents picture from the Reagan Decade in THE RESCUE, where North Korea jobbed out this side of Val Venus. That said, despite those problems and some scenes of the hero being a bitch with Gossett, I actually was sorta enjoying the movie. Then the immaculate rescue and ass-kicking occurs, and I lost interest. I threw up my hands when to top it all off, the kid shoots down the dictator himself. Now some of you might remark, why be so critical with EAGLE and not so with STARFIGHTER? The difference between both fantasy concepts is, STARFIGHTER had the sci-fi escape clause. Considering the pivotal tie-in of the macguffin with the arcade machine, the hero pulling a Death Star is in lines with the arcade fantasy, which I was compelled by. With EAGLE, its grounded in reality down on Earth and its just plain silly. Though I have to say, its a watchable cartoon of its time...which I can't say for another goofy-aerial action flick released in the same year. But TOP GUN will get blown out of the sky soon enough.... |
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MCMGM
Vegeta
WC's Official Jeff Buckley Stalkeress.
Red Sonic My Ass
Posts: 9,184
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Post by MCMGM on Feb 19, 2008 16:55:55 GMT -5
I haven't seen this movie in years.
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Post by Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture on Feb 19, 2008 17:10:13 GMT -5
I thought this was about the screenplay that Brian Griffin wrote...
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BRV
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Wants him some Taco Flavored Kisses.
Posts: 16,970
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Post by BRV on Feb 19, 2008 17:12:22 GMT -5
I thought this was about the screenplay that Brian Griffin wrote... No, that was Faster Than the Speed of Love. |
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Post by Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture on Feb 19, 2008 17:13:15 GMT -5
I thought this was about the screenplay that Brian Griffin wrote... No, that was Faster Than the Speed of Love. Gotcha. Thanks for clearing that up.  |
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Chainsaw
T
A very BAD man.
It is what it is
Posts: 90,480
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Post by Chainsaw on Feb 19, 2008 17:14:06 GMT -5
I can't be the only guy who wanted to have a cassette deck that he could strap TO HIS FRIGGIN' LEG!!
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Post by Bobafett on Feb 19, 2008 18:05:59 GMT -5
the rescue..was that the crappy one where at the end the way they find out he Korean plane the good guys are flying back is friendly is because the annoying kid sticks his head out the top and reveals he's wearing a Bruce Sprinstien t-shirt?
that movie is a good example of why they shouldn't have a younger kid in amongst a group of teens in a movie like this...
also is it just me or does the kid in Iron Eagle look older on the cover art of the video than he actually is
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Post by humanoid on Feb 19, 2008 20:47:19 GMT -5
I prefer Iron Eagle 2.
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Post by stevierichardsfan on Feb 19, 2008 21:13:49 GMT -5
looks like a good movie
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Post by wildojinx on Feb 19, 2008 21:54:17 GMT -5
The soundtrack was awesome. Gotta love "road of the gypsy".
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Post by Hulkshi Tanahashi on Feb 19, 2008 21:55:01 GMT -5
I thought this was about the screenplay that Brian Griffin wrote... No, that was Faster Than the Speed of Love. *chuckles* That is... that is the worst title I've ever heard! |
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rra
King Koopa
Posts: 10,145
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Post by rra on Feb 19, 2008 23:13:16 GMT -5
the rescue..was that the crappy one where at the end the way they find out he Korean plane the good guys are flying back is friendly is because the annoying kid sticks his head out the top and reveals he's wearing a Bruce Sprinstien t-shirt? that movie is a good example of why they shouldn't have a younger kid in amongst a group of teens in a movie like this... also is it just me or does the kid in Iron Eagle look older on the cover art of the video than he actually is Yes, THE RESCUE was the one with that stupid Sprinsteen T-shirt sequence....back when right-wingers thought the Boss was on their side. As for the EAGLE kid....its called acting tough.  |
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Dr. T is an alien
Patti Mayonnaise
Knows when to hold them, knows when to fold them
I've been found out!
Posts: 31,364
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Post by Dr. T is an alien on Feb 19, 2008 23:25:17 GMT -5
I could not buy this kid flying a jet fighter, but D.A.R.Y.L. flying the SR-71 was a-okay by me. Don't ask me why.
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Post by Bobafett on Feb 20, 2008 13:41:57 GMT -5
I could not buy this kid flying a jet fighter, but D.A.R.Y.L. flying the SR-71 was a-okay by me. Don't ask me why. well DARYL was basicly a computer in a kids body so that you could buy I was sure though that RESCUE movie was a 90's thing because they picked Korea (well it could no longer be those damn russkies anymore ) but in Iron Eagle 2 they picked the most unrussian looking plane to be in the russian role, the Phantom looks nothing like any russian plane, the f-15, which the Isralis did have..is very similar in shape to a MiG Foxbat (sorry i'm picky about that sorta thing ) |
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AriadosMan
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Your friendly neighborhood superhero
Posts: 15,620
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Post by AriadosMan on Feb 20, 2008 13:49:43 GMT -5
This movie does have a seriously goofy plot, considering I don't even remember the explanation of how a teen who failed his Air Force ap suddenly gets clearance to fly in a highly dangerous mission to the most warlike region on earth for his first mission. Does the Air Force grant special waivers because of the Action Movie Clause of "this time its personal?"
Also, it may be the influence of Hot Shots, but I constantly referred to the Evil Foreigners as "Falafel" and "Baklava" throughout the movie. Its a very good candidate for a Rifftrax, if Mike can be persuaded...
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Post by FrankGotch on Feb 20, 2008 13:51:34 GMT -5
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