Blue Thunder (1983)

	Also Known As: -
	Year of first release: 1983
	Director: John Badham (WarGames, Short Circuit)
	Actors: Roy Scheider (Jaws), Warren Oates, Candy Clark, Malcolm McDowell (Clockwork Orange, Caligula)
	Country: USA
	Genre: Thriller, Polar, Action
	Conditions of visioning: 07.07.2019, VOD, 10" tablet screen
Synopsis: Vietnam War veteran now working for the Los Angeles airborne patrol, Frank Murphy (Scheider) is asked to test an experimental helicopter and while doing so, learns the sinister implications of the new vehicle.
Review: I love those 80's movies which don't try to get you to think too much, as I did when I watched them as a kid even though I was probably too young for it. Give me a custom helicopter, a pilot good guy, some action and bad guys that will get in the end what they deserve, add the 80's touch and I am happy. The 80's touch may be the most difficult ingredient to define and achieve properly. In this movie it includes an excellent Roy Scheider with a simple but efficient backstory for his character. His lifestyle is realistic (reminds me of Steve McQueen in Bullit), including his on and off female relationship. The helicopter is definitely futuristic (even though the movie introduction states the technology was in use at the time of making) and aged at the same time, but the special effects are decent and even the numerous night shots look good. Murphy is of course in conflict with his hierarchy. I like how his partnership with the newbie Lymangood works. And Malcolm McDowell plays very well the despicable adversary/villain. The soundtrack is uneven. Note that this movie led to a TV-series with the same title, but has nothing to do (except inspiring the idea) with the more successful Airwolf series (Supercopter in the French version) starring the recently departed Jan-Michael Vincent. I don't think I have yet managed to described why I like it, but that may just be the personal experience of watching it when I did. Anyway, a good movie from the 80's, as are the two other by the same director: WarGames and Short Circuit.
Rating: 7 /10