Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Flight of the Phoenix (2004)

This is topic Flight of the Phoenix (2004) in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Rich Granata (Member # 2285) on 12-18-2004, 11:00 AM:

Drew in an astounding 6 patrons on opening Friday night at our 10-Plex.

What a bomb. Sorry Dennis Quaid

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-18-2004, 02:50 PM:

This one wasn't too great, but it also wasn't too bad. If 1/2 an hour had been cut from it, the movie would've been much more enjoyable. There are simply too many tangents and unnecessary scenes that drag the movie down.

That being said, mega-kudos to whomever did the sound mix on this. GREAT SOUND!!!

3 out of 5 stars

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 12-18-2004, 08:59 PM:

Sound mix good.. overall picture sucked...

Posted by Chris Hipp (Member # 1788) on 12-19-2004, 12:52 AM:

Aside from those cutaway shots, like the guy walking through the desert, I enjoyed it.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 12-19-2004, 01:11 AM:

quote: Jason Black
...overall picture sucked...

Gosh Jason... what a dumbass!

I agree Chris... While NOT as good as the original, I sorta liked it!

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-19-2004, 02:06 AM:

As I was flipping through TV channels looking for something that wasn't boring (I failed) the director of this movie was talking about how it was so much better than the original because it was shot in a real desert and has the big effects and the big sound. His words.

So it must be great.

Posted by Jason Gazaille (Member # 2846) on 12-19-2004, 02:12 AM:

This film was better than I thought it would be, but I didn't think it was great. I agree the sound was good. FOX even splurged and put SDDS on it! Overall, B-.

Posted by Jason Black (Member # 684) on 12-19-2004, 04:42 PM:

Phil,

Dumbass, eh?

I'll keep that in mind for use against you at a later time and date...

BTW, my decision stands. The overall film {if that makes you happy, SUCKED.

Posted by David Yauch (Member # 2754) on 12-20-2004, 02:28 AM:

I think this film accomplishes one thing very well. You definately will want to kick the shit out of that nerdy bastard...

Not sure if that's what they wanted or not, but it's what they got.

Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 12-22-2004, 11:39 PM:

Yeah, I agree with most of you. I felt it was slow paced and the cutaways were kind of stupid. But I did enjoy it... why?... Because Dennis is HOT. [Razz]

On a different note it was predictable and I found every character annoying.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-23-2004, 03:45 AM:

SPOILER

quote: David Yauch
You definately will want to kick the shit out of that nerdy bastard...

That nerdy bastard was the only one in the movie with a brain. Yes he deceived them in regards to his qualifications, but it was something he had to do, and let's not forget it was that nerdy bastard who was the reason they got out of there alive. While I agree his personality and mannerisms were annoying, I respected the character over all the others because he was logical. Sometimes you have to put someone's personality aside and step back to actually see what they are accomplishing, whether you like the way it is achieved or not. The important thing is the end result.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 12-26-2004, 12:40 AM:

***1/2 out of *****

I enjoyed this film for the great soundtrack (Gotta love it when you can get a little Johhny Cash into a film) the good sound mix. Yes the story was predictable, but that didn't hurt the movie like some films. I would recommend this film to a patron that was trying decide what to watch. If the film made you want to punch Elliott(Giovanni Ribisi) in the face then I guess it did what it was supposed to.

Kurt Zupin

Posted by Christian Appelt (Member # 1067) on 12-26-2004, 05:17 PM:

Who needs a remake of an almost perfect adventure movie?
I just watched the original on DVD for the fifth time, and it's a really great movie. Fine photography and all those excellent actors who knew how to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

This kind of making wimpy new movies from classics makes me [puke]

What's next, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA with Vin Diesel or Keanu Reeves, maybe a love story added? [Big Grin]

Posted by Richard Greco (Member # 2032) on 12-28-2004, 12:21 AM:

quote: Brad Miller
That nerdy bastard was the only one in the movie with a brain.

Brad's right. Although he was annoying and had an ego the size of Phil's...whatever, He was the one who made this movie come together.

I thought this movie was awesome, even through our analog FM transmitters at the drive-in it sounded really great.

Very BRIGHT picture(obviously the desert setting was the reason for that) The plot line was very well developed and the crash looked spectacular.

Overall 4/5

Can someone explain to me the meaning of the nomads? I was confused about that part though.

Posted by David Yauch (Member # 2754) on 12-28-2004, 05:55 AM:

I never said the nerdy bastard wasn't the reason they got out alive, or that he wasn't more sensible than anyone else.

He's still a nerdy bastard and I still want to kill him.

Posted by Eric Hooper (Member # 1730) on 12-30-2004, 07:18 PM:

One of the worst of 2004! [sleep]

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 12-31-2004, 04:38 PM:

I can think of 5 films that are far far [bs]

then Flight of the Phoenix

-CATWOMAN
-Anchorman
-Spanglish
-Ocean's 12
-The Villige (one of this years biggest disapointments)

among some others

Posted by Steve Kraus (Member # 476) on 12-31-2004, 06:49 PM:

Pretty good low end on the soundtrack though, and isn't that why we show movies? [Eek!]

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 01-08-2005, 12:26 PM:

We just got around to this one after we dropped the Fockers.

I agree, great sound. I enjoyed it alot. Predictable? Sure, but whaddaya want? Just about every movie of this type ends with the main stars (at least) getting out alive. Nothing wrong with a little mindless entertainment.

I thought the nerdy guy was a little over the top the way he made everyone say "please." That would have inspired me to kill him right there. Other than that, the revelation of his "real" job was a nice twist.

4 out of 5 for me.

Posted by Christian Volpi (Member # 2370) on 01-08-2005, 12:40 PM:

quote: Mike Blakesley
ends with the main stars (at least) getting out alive

Jeez, thanks for spoiling the ending!

Posted by Ian Price (Member # 14) on 01-08-2005, 02:27 PM:

I enjoyed the original Flight of the Phoenix so I thought I might enjoy this one.

I agree with most of the sentiments in this thread regarding the new film. It isn't very good.

But the opening shots of the C119 Flying Boxcar flying close to the desert floor on it's way to the desert oil camp were worth the price of admission. I like to watch things fly. I enjoyed the scene with music during Fly Away Home where Anna Paquin is flying the birds alone along the marsh at the end of the film. I still couldn't sit through Winged Migration however.

Things I learned during the opening shot of Flight of the Phoenix was that the C119 Flying Boxcar flew a little cocked. I never realized the fuselage tilted up a an angle to it's path of flight. I have always thought that the C119 Flying Boxcar was an interesting aircraft. It had a short life span probably due to it's recipricating engines in an age of turbines. I'm glad to see it has had a nice life in the movies.