Le dernier départ

"Dan" (Richard Tyson) is a pilot who is trying to make ends meet after he was unfairly blamed for an airplane crash that killed his best friend. Much to his surprise the man who blamed him for the accident "Tony Williams" (Cliff De Young) comes to him and asks him to fly to Columbia and rescue his daughter, "Dr. Anne Williams" (Bobbie Phillips) from some narco-terrorists who have taken over the village where she works as a missionary. He agrees only because she was his girlfriend prior to the accident which caused both of them to go their separate ways. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie and risk spoiling it for those who haven't seen it I will just say that this was a good Christian movie which can be enjoyed by the entire family. Although it isn't an action-packed thriller by any means it has elements of action, humor, romance and a heart-lifting message which compensate for it to a certain degree. In any case, I rate this movie as slightly above average.

The movie tells the story of a bad-boy pilot living a life of shame and regret after a crash killed his best friend several years before and caused a breakup with his (presumably) girlfriend. He is in the "repo" business, repossessing aircraft from people who haven't paid up. The father of his ex-girlfriend comes by to ask him to fly down to Colombia and rescue her. She is a missionary-doctor in a remote village threatened by rebel guerrillas. He refuses at first, but after a walk on the beach he decides that he really is in love with her and heads off to rescue her.

Along the way to the remote village in Colombia, our bad-boy pilot comes across a very devout, missionary-doctor who finagles a ride with the pilot out to the remote village. It's at this point that the movie's agenda becomes very clear. This is not just a movie trying to tell a story about some missionaries, some villagers, and a pilot and their valiant struggle against rebel forces (ala Tears of the Sun). Instead it quickly turns into Christian propaganda bent at convincing the viewer of Christ's love.

The filmmakers could have made a movie and let the character's actions speak for themselves, but instead made a film that will alienate everyone who isn't already a "believer" with its overt, cult-like presentation. The movie is something that will undoubtedly be appreciated by Christian families and youth groups everywhere as an alternative to the rest of Hollywood movies that they will typically find so threatening. People who maintain the illusion that this movie will somehow show people the error of their ways and convince them to enter into a lifelong relationship with Jesus are only demonstrating just how ignorant they are.

I give this movie 6 stars because it has a good storyline, but it is weighed down by unnecessary scenes and dialog that detract from the story and only serve to draw things out needlessly. Having grown up as a missionary kid in Colombia, I have seen many movies like this. Last Flight Out definitely sets itself apart with the unusually high production values that show just how the Christian movie community is advancing. However, anyone who pretends this is a good movie by any worldwide standard is simply lying to himself. And everyone knows Jesus doesn't like lying.

The movie is unrated not because of any outlandish content, but presumably because it was not shown in theatres and is probably sold mostly in Christian bookstores which would make obtaining an MPAA rating an unnecessary expense.

Last Flight Out is piloted by Richard Tyson who is a cynic in matters of religion. He's a washed up pilot taking odd charter flights when he can find them and he's working South America now. His latest charter is medical supplies for Dr. Bobbie Phillips mission deep in the Colombian jungle and Dr. Adriano Gonzalez is hitching a ride back to the mission.

There's a drug overlord operating there played by Rene Moreno who wants all the ablebodied working for him cultivating the plants that make him rich. The Christian mission interferes with those plans, but he'd sure like to have that plane and the pilot that goes with it.

What to do but evacuate the village. The mission has a lot of factors going against it but prayer insures God will provide which he does, but not without cost.

This is a Christian movie so certain parameters are expected. You don't have to be a fundamentalist Christian to appreciate that people should not be enslaved. The performers are sincere.

You'll be judging this film by the strength of whatever religious convictions you might have.

Last Flight Out is an interesting film. It is set in South America in an area controlled not by a government, but by a minor warlord. A single American missionary doctor has remained to help the needy. Her old romantic interest flies in to bring her out, but she doesn't want to go. Lots of other sub-plots, but that's typical for this sort of adventure film. This is a World Wide Pictures (Billy Graham) film, so there is a Christian sub-plot; her old romance (the pilot) is a tough yet nice guy, but he isn't a Christian. I won't spoil the picture for you, but this is a picture designed to make you contemplate why you are doing what you are doing. It's a good film.

I loved this movie so much as a kid, and that's the biggest reason why I gave it a higher rating. The movie does a great job with showing the life of a missionary and delivering a very clear gospel message that hits the heartstrings.

From normal movie standards, It's not very well filmed. It's not very well acted. The lines are a bit cringe in some areas. The people sound like they're saying lines. But the story is good. It's a great movie for the whole family. It's really enjoyable film if you're a christian. It's wholesome, clean and shows the life of a missionary. And it might have you in tears by the end.

Solid Christian movie. With a solid gospel message.