quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
I like the movie, but I’ve never figured out what the title “The Final Countdown” has to do with the movie, the plot, or anything.

Counting down to Pearl has always been my guess.

I LOVED where that Tomcat almost ends up in the drink while toying with the Zeros.

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:

...I LOVED where that Tomcat almost ends up in the drink while toying with the Zeros.

I have not seen it in 20+ years, but IIRC the Tomcat vs Zero flying scenes were GREAT. The only special effects I remember - also great - were the mass of clouds when the CO sent the destroyers off and continued the carrier's heading into the storm.

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:

I LOVED where that Tomcat almost ends up in the drink while toying with the Zeros.

Some of that scene was left on the cutting room floor, the F-14 came close enough to the sea that they churned up water with the blast from the afterburners. A friend of mine, who once flew Tomcats, told me that you “fly the engines, not the aircraft “ with the early TF-30 powered Tomcats, anyway. I was able to chat with one of the cameramen who worked on the movie. The camera ship was a converted B-25, where the tail gunners position was originally had been removed, it was altered to an open air camera station with the operator sitting in a sort of bosun’s chair with his feet in stirrups. During periods when they would be setting up for more shots he would chat with the aviators in the Tomcats and one time he was jokingly giving one of them a hard time, asking him “Hey, can’t you get any closer for the camera.” The F-14 happened to be in trail at the time and the pilot said “Stick your foot out here.”, the cameraman did and that guy drove that big ‘ol Tomcat right up until he was touching his foot with the tip of the radome, turned on pitot heat burning a hole in the sole of his shoe and asked him “That close enough for you?” He said he didn’t give them a hard time after that.

Awesome movie. I got to tour the USS Midway last year in San Diego and even that older aircraft carrier was pretty impressive. I can't imagine a Nimitz class carrier.

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
I like the movie, but I’ve never figured out what the title “The Final Countdown” has to do with the movie, the plot, or anything.

Counting down to Pearl has always been my guess.

I LOVED where that Tomcat almost ends up in the drink while toying with the Zeros.

Wasn't there a countdown when the storm was approaching? It's been awhile, but I thought they were attempting to intercept the Japanese task force, and there was a clock counting down the approaching time vortex. It's been a long time since I've seen it, so I could be wrong.

For rscalzo, you're wife getting hung up on the time/space paradox is funny stuff. My wife would be saying something like "Wait a minute. How does he feel about meeting his friend after all these years? Hush, woman, and just look at the planes!!

Love this movie. I’ve got it on DVD. It’s a great Sci-Fi story that plays “what if” which are always fun. Plus the flying scenes are SO much better than Top Gun!

My favorite scene is when the F-14s buzz the Senators yacht. The premise being that they’ve never seen a jet before much less a 4th generation fighter like the Tomcat. The reaction of those on the yacht is spot on, a good piece of acting IMHO.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mojojojo,

quote:

Originally posted by clubleaf206:

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:

I LOVED where that Tomcat almost ends up in the drink while toying with the Zeros.

Some of that scene was left on the cutting room floor, the F-14 came close enough to the sea that they churned up water with the blast from the afterburners. A friend of mine, who once flew Tomcats, told me that you “fly the engines, not the aircraft “ with the early TF-30 powered Tomcats, anyway.

Those Crap & Shitty TF30's were a horrible pairing. If I recall, after pilot error, that engine was responsible for most of the accidents: stalls, compressor issues, coughs on the cat, etc.... Took 20+ years for the much improved GE F110 to be developed on the -B & -D models.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: corsair,

When this movie was shown on cable, Captain Yelland's remark of "Jap bastard" was edited out.

Used to watch it all the time as a kid as it was regularly shown on one of the cable movie stations and I couldn’t get enough of the Tomcats. Loved it and still do. I love the bantering back and forth about not interrupting history at which point they say fuck it, this is a US aircraft carrier and we defend no matter the year. Everything launching quickly was excellent to watch. We’d drive out to Carswell AFB on the days they’d play war, launching every plane they had as fast as they can and seeing that in the film was a rush.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
We’d drive out to Carswell AFB on the days they’d play war, launching every plane they had as fast as they can and seeing that in the film was a rush.

While that was cool, nothing beats a B52/KC135 MITO. I used to get a boner watching these. This one was filmed at Griffiss AFB in '87 or '88. If that's accurate, I was probably standing around watching it live...with a boner.



The only time I didn't care for them was when they'd take off northbound instead of southbound (like here). I lived about two miles from the end of 33 and usually worked nights. They'd shake the whole house so much you'd think it was coming down. That'll wake you up!

That is one of my favorite movies from my childhood. I had it burned on VHS and I swear I wore the tape out.

It was one of the inspirations for me joining the military and working on aircraft.

Tony.

quote:

Originally posted by Dawes:
I'm surprised that Hollywood hasn't redone this film, considering that they seemed to have re-made every other movie from the 1980's. A remake would have F-18's and F-35's, though.

I hope they never do. It really can't be improved upon. Great cast, amazing soundtrack, no CGI or blue screen crap.
Had to spool it up and rewatch it this evening.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:

quote:

Originally posted by mark_a:

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
I was expecting Europe.

BE DO DO DO...

I’ll have to check this one out not heard of it.

I was singing the song as I opened the thread.

The rest where you admit to male failure, can't help you with...

Y’all have to cut me a little slack. The movie came out a few years before I was even born.

Next thing you'll tell us is you've never seen The Warriors either.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:

quote:

Originally posted by mark_a:

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
I was expecting Europe.

BE DO DO DO...

I’ll have to check this one out not heard of it.

I was singing the song as I opened the thread.

The rest where you admit to male failure, can't help you with...

Y’all have to cut me a little slack. The movie came out a few years before I was even born.

Next thing you'll tell us is you've never seen The Warriors either.

I have seen the Warriors as it was one of those that TBS seemed to have on a constant loop when I was a kid.

I am looking forward to checking out The Final Countdown.

Having seen this movie multiple times over the years, I think I can say with reasonable assurance that there's no "countdown" of any kind. Maybe the original novel had something more?

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:

quote:

Originally posted by mark_a:

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
I was expecting Europe.

BE DO DO DO...

I’ll have to check this one out not heard of it.

I was singing the song as I opened the thread.

The rest where you admit to male failure, can't help you with...

Y’all have to cut me a little slack. The movie came out a few years before I was even born.

Not necessarily... I think we're relatively the same age (34) and I saw it probably 15-20 years ago.

Hell, I'll raise you. Saw it in a base theatre overseas in 1981

OK, I had to watch it on Amazon.
Everything you guys said about it is true--much better carrier and flight scenes than Top Gun.
And there is still no connection between this excellent movie and its totally irrelevant title.

quote:

Originally posted by Dawes:
Having seen this movie multiple times over the years, I think I can say with reasonable assurance that there's no "countdown" of any kind. Maybe the original novel had something more?

The only novelized version was written after the movie. There's no countdown.

Just got done watching it.
Pretty good flick.