Fire Birds (1990) Reviews

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Nicolas Cage stars in the below-par action film Firebirds -- a dying ember from Reagan-era nationalistic jingoism. In this Top Gun retread, Cage plays Jake Preston, a hotshot Army helicopter pilot who is being trained to use the U.S. Army's Apache aircraft to destroy the drug fields of a South American drug cartel. It up to his taskmaster instructor Brad Little (Tommy Lee Jones) to teach Jake humble lessons before he can be trusted to launch into the skies against the drug dealers. While Jake is trying to tame his egoism, he engages in a torrid love affair with flying ace Billie Lee Guthrie (Sean Young). The film was originally titled Wings of the Apache for the U.S. Army Apache assault helicopters that are prominently displayed in the film. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Starring:: Nicolas Cage, Tommy Lee Jones, (more)

Director(s):: David Green

Theatrical MPAA Rating:: PG13

Format(s):: DVD
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Average Ratings

(4 member reviews)

Member Reviews

	George T.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful

If it wasn't for Tommy Lee Jones, the theater would have been burned to the ground and the actors run out of Hollywood. Jones was a dead ringer for a fast talking hardcore Army instructor pilot. He played it so well I could actually come up with a name of someone I served with that he reminded me of. Unfortunately the other stars' acting fell short enough to launch a search and rescue mission doomed for failure with no chance of recovery in sight. Some of the dialogue was similar to a 5th grade play rehearsal or audition. The lack of use of technology was rather comical as 2.75" FFARs are used to shoot down a jet in lieu of the stingers that were mounted on each wingtip. Stingers were also forgotten about while chasing the MD500 since no attempt was made to neither get a lock on the aircraft nor arm the system. In closing this movie is mildly entertaining and worth a look... unfortunately blank stare seems to be the one of choice.

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