Movie Reviews
Bad leads to worse, two of those on board are dead, and this band of people is stranded in the desert basically one choice: wait for a search plane to find them. They gather their water (roughly enough for 30 days if no one exerts themselves) and ration it for what could be a long wait. The sun is getting to some of them who begin seeking more desperate measures (two more are dead). But a small variable of hope comes into view when Elliot (Giovanni Ribisi) suggests that the plane can be rebuilt. One of the two engines is still in tact. If it can be dug out, that engine will be the sole one, and as a result become the entire fuselage.
This is the politically correct, modern, hip version of Flight of the Phoenix nothing like the original Jimmy Stewart film. We now have large explosions, intense gun fights, slick profanity, two black guys, a Mexican, an Arab, and a woman to go with about eight white men. But, Im choosing not to make any harsh comparisons to the original because it has been such a long time since I have seen it that to do that would be unfair. And you all know that I am always, always fair here at CollinWelchOnline. (Jimmy Stewarts version is better.)
What this remake has is style. I gotta give them that because I fear the score would be dreadfully low if I didnt. Whys that? Well, style rarely compensates for substance or lack thereof, and this film has little of it. Director John Moore is good at using style to make up for things, we saw him do it with Behind Enemy Lines. Most of the characters undergo dramatic character transformations. Now, I cant be sure as to how quick those changes take place, because the film never really tells us how long its been from one scene to the next. I have to say though, it seems like a not-too-long period of time when it happens. In the opening moments, they all hate each other. Then when the plane crashes, they hate each other more. When signs of hope come in sight, they suddenly band together for the greater good only to find that they shouldnt have been relying on certain persons. And so on.... The rest doesnt require additional explanation.
However, I enjoyed the look of the film. Its either very bright or very dark, never coming into neutral, and thats fine. The sandstorm sequence was believable and violent in a way that didnt take up so much time as to imply that the filmmakers wanted to show off. I didnt like the abundance of characters. Ribisis character has a different voice every time he enters the frame. The conflict with him and Quiad is a lot of fun to watch though.
Other than a few unnecessary adversaries, and miraculous recoveries, The Flight of the Phoenix is a large, fun ride not to be taken seriously in an Oscar-caliber season that often traps itself into taking itself way to seriously. While it doesnt complete itself satisfactorily, youll probably get a buzz off of what happens in between. ***