This was supposed to do for police surveillance helicopters what "Jaws" did for sharks.
It wasn't THAT successful, but "Blue Thunder" does score on a few fronts.
For one, it is very well-made technically. You have to give Badham credit - the look of this film certainly makes the bells and whistles look authentic, anyway. And the Orwellian themes, as others have noticed, are addressed head-on.
The actors do their best in a movie where the helicopters get the top billing. Scheider does his stalwart, straight-arrow best (just like in "Jaws" - coincidence?), Clark is resilient as his girlfriend, Stern plays his best friend well (for a JAFO) and as the villain, McDowell is icy and nasty in equal measure. Oates has little to do but does it well as Scheider's boss.
The story, though, is a mishmash of techno-babble, intrigue, the latest surveillance techniques (of 1983), tough guy talk and the freedom of the press, with helicopter dogfights in downtown LA thrown in for good measure.
All in all, "Blue Thunder" makes its point but fails to follow through, except maybe if you count the last scene. Definitely throws out the possibility for a sequel, if you know what I mean.
Six stars.
TIDBIT - McDowell admitted during filming that he got very airsick and many shots had to be re-taken, since he was throwing up in just about every in-flight scene he was in.
Now THERE'S a sequel - "Blue Thunder 2: The Dramamine Patrol".
It wasn't THAT successful, but "Blue Thunder" does score on a few fronts.
For one, it is very well-made technically. You have to give Badham credit - the look of this film certainly makes the bells and whistles look authentic, anyway. And the Orwellian themes, as others have noticed, are addressed head-on.
The actors do their best in a movie where the helicopters get the top billing. Scheider does his stalwart, straight-arrow best (just like in "Jaws" - coincidence?), Clark is resilient as his girlfriend, Stern plays his best friend well (for a JAFO) and as the villain, McDowell is icy and nasty in equal measure. Oates has little to do but does it well as Scheider's boss.
The story, though, is a mishmash of techno-babble, intrigue, the latest surveillance techniques (of 1983), tough guy talk and the freedom of the press, with helicopter dogfights in downtown LA thrown in for good measure.
All in all, "Blue Thunder" makes its point but fails to follow through, except maybe if you count the last scene. Definitely throws out the possibility for a sequel, if you know what I mean.
Six stars.
TIDBIT - McDowell admitted during filming that he got very airsick and many shots had to be re-taken, since he was throwing up in just about every in-flight scene he was in.
Now THERE'S a sequel - "Blue Thunder 2: The Dramamine Patrol".