Dark_Lord_Mark Just when I think I have seen all the slightly over the top, cheesy, crazy one liners, insane Nic Cage action movies, this enters my life.I was very afraid to see this movie. The reviews claimed top gun but not as awesome. I think this is more awesome but very cheesy.Nic Cage gets a bad rap. With so many bad actors getting a free pass such as Samuel Jackson and in recent times Bruce Willis who now collects pay checks rather than acts, I really wonder if he's just a whipping boy as he represents an era when movies were made for guys.This is about helicopter pilots and Cage is the young hotshot who is awesomely over the top. When he runs he overacts, when he drives he overacts, when he makes love he overacts. His love interest Sean Young just does a terrible acting job herself, but Tommy Lee Jones is excellent as the wily veteran who is their to reign in the cocky young kid in Cage.Excellent fun film with cheesy action. Lovers of movies get this movie while guys who love Broke Back Mountain simply cannot wrap they heads around why this movie is awesome.It's a solid 10 out of 10 in terms of being a guy movie, but to be snobbish I will give it a 7 out of 10. The last fight scene is so awesome.

xhearto what on earth is this movie!? good lord mankind, a little shame please!two stars for being a helicopter based film, a personal favorite, and one more for falling decidedly into mst3k worthy awfulness.one million stars deducted for having the budget and cast to make an awesome helicopter movie and making this.unbelievably corny dialogue delivered with cringeworthy timing? Check. ridiculous plot? Check. reasonably excellent helicopter stunts? Check. a scarfed out "soul - rock"? band butchering chain of fools while our heroes strut their groove thangs? Triple check.cop a chill.

Len9876 "Fire Birds" (1990) is reminiscent of "The McConnell Story" (1955), without the action scenes. Although the characters, dialog, and technical aspects of the film may be highly fictionalized, it is accurate and realistic enough to provide splendid entertainment in the tradition of Hollywood's golden era. June Allyson, playing a 'steely' girlfriend, would have been proud to fly alongside her man. Sean Young aptly takes on the role, while showing both a dedication for America, as well as a love for her man. She patriotically flies for her country, while cheering-on and encouraging her man (enthusiatically played by Nicolas Cage). Cage plays a young, 'hotshot' flier, with plenty of arrogance and too-much ego, until he truly learns humility from his helicopter trainer (well-played by Tommy Lee Jones). The film includes the danger and the romance of flying, as well as the privilege to serve as a flying ace. Like "The McConnell Story" (1955), I did not find the dialog to be the least bit 'corny'. June Allyson excelled as the 'good', but rather-emotional and naive wife. Sean Young excels as the 'sexy', sometimes-naughty and sometimes-nice girlfriend. But, Sean makes it quite clear that she wants to be a flier, as much as she wants to be a girlfriend or a wife. And, I do not think it is the least bit 'corny' that Sean displays a love for her country, as much as she displays a love for her man. Unlike June Allyson in "The McConnell Story" (1955), Sean Young does not wish to take on the traditional woman's role. Like her man, she has a dream to fly. And, like Nicolas Cage and Tommy Lee Jones, she excels in her role (as June Allyson does in "The McConnell Story"). And, there is plenty of 'meat' in the dialog, which is far from superficial. Whether it be Tommy Lee Jones talking about why he joined the military ("I wanted to be a full blown American hero, cook-in full tilt boogie for freedom and justice"), Nicolas Cage ("Are you ever gonna let me win?"), or after Sean Young wipes a single tear from her eyes. Nicolas Cage, Sean Young, and Tommy Lee Jones provide plenty of inspiration and strength. I rate this film an 8 out of 10, and highly recommend it to anyone who has a love for his-and-her country. With an open-and-patriotic heart, the film should make one stand up and cheer!

MightyCaseyMedia ...and acts rings around the entire human cast, except Tommy Lee Jones - and even he only rises to a shadow of his usual performance level a few times. The whole cast seems to be phoning this in, particularly Nicolas Cage. I've been known to enjoy some of his performances, but this one is a collection of annoying mannerisms surrounded by an "I'm too cool for school" smirk.I'm not sure why this movie was every green-lighted - was it a recruiting film for the war on drugs? An ad for Hughes Helicopter? Did Dale Dye need something to do for a couple of weeks? Is Sean Young a great example of an actress who can't save bad material, or what? I've seen this three times, each time looking for an answer to why it was made...and I'm still coming up empty.Give this one a miss and watch "Blue Thunder" instead.