wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja) (01/20/86)
IRON EAGLE
a net.aviation review
Well, go to it for the flying, but don't expect anything resembling the
REAL Air Force or general aviation.
Plot synopsis: "Air Force Brat's" pilot father is shot down, captured, and
sentenced to death by Libya-like middle eastern country. Brat, who is
experienced F-16 simulator pilot, works with AF Reserve Fighter pilot
(played by Lou Gossett) and other brats to plan a rescue mission. They
steal 2 F-16s, and Rambo-ize the country to force the release of the
prisoner.
Like I said, the aerial photography is great, but... This movie reminds me
of those flying movies cranked out during the thirties; the scriptwriters
put in anything necessary to advance the plot, and hang reality. Not that
the planes are shown doing things that are impossible, its just that the
pilots, to the perception of a pilot in the audience, obviously don't know
what they are doing. The actors manipulate the controls with no
understanding of what happens. It's all a matter of what "films well," not
what an aircraft or pilot would actually do. I, for one, being an owner of
a 150, am happy to know that the carborator can be adjusted by reaching
into the oil access door, without taking the cowling off.
In one scene, for instance, the Brat is racing his 150 against a guy on
a motorcycle. Now, the scriptwriters needed a cliffhanging end to the
race, with the 150 slowly overtaking the cycle... so you see the 150
sllloooowwwwllllly overtaking the bike- with full flaps and a nice high
angle of attack. It reminds me of "Baa Baa Black Sheep," in the scenes
where a Zero is on the tail of a Corsair, and the F4U has flaps down so
that poor little converted T-6 can keep up...
The race scene was one of the more offensive depictions of general aviation
that I have ever seen. Art Scholl must'a laughed all the way to the bank on
this one (he flew the 150). Let's not even mention casual treatment of the
FARs (I don't squawk about FAR violations in movies, as long as the movie
doesn't show this as SOP). How about commissions of felonies, where the
penalty can be death? It shows one in here, and all the miscreant got was
a punch in the jaw.
The air combat sequences, although well filmed, are quite laughable
at times. For instance, the camera is in front of an F-16, showing a
MIG-23 (Kfir, actually) right on its tail. The F-16 does a split-ess to
try and shake the MIG. *TWO SECONDS* later, the MIG does a split-ess to
follow. How's that for reflexes?
Definitely a good action flick, though. If you can ignore the plot, you'll
enjoy this film. Bring an old Atari joystick with, so you'll have
something to wiggle during the pilot's-eye-view scenes.
So you get the feel of the movie. Go to the bargain show, and don't worry
if you're 20 minutes late, since the race is near the beginning. Actually,
any Art Scholl flying is worth seeing, so just watch it and cringe at the
plot.
SPECIAL BONUS: In the scene where the two girls steal the recon photos
from their father in the photo lab, watch in the background. You'll see a
big photo of the satellite I flew in the Air Force.
Ron Wanttaja
(ssc-vax!wanttaja)
"There's something about maniacs messin' with
good men that pisses me off..."