User reviews

Tense and suspenseful aerial action film with an exciting final chase starred by superbly crafted high-tech helicopters and F16 on the L.A. skies among its big city skyscrapers . Frank Murphy (Roy Scheider) is a Vietnam vet and police pilot who forms a helicopter surveillance team along with his younger partner (Daniel Stern) , when they spontaneously catch a secret conversation . Booth of them discover the strange project Thor (Thunder Helicopter Offensive respond ) in which are implicated powerful authorities . Then they take to the skies against a nasty army colonel (Malcolm McDowell) who will defend his accomplices at whatever cost.

Gripping , original action movie that deal with Roy Scheider trying to find the means avoid a video disk to be taken by corrupt government agents . Acceptable thriller full of intrigue and tense, this is a fast-paced , stylized action-suspense film. The tension of this picture keeps snowballing as ever close for ending . Casting is frankly magnificent, Roy Scheider as tormented Vietnam vet , Malcolm MacDowell takes honors as a psychopath who attempts to turn the tables on the protagonist before he can inform the police. Plus, a good secondary cast, such as Daniel Stern , Candy Clark, Warren Oates , Joe Santos and usual baddie of the 80s Anthony James , among others . But the real star is ¨Blue Thunder ¨ a heavily armored prototype , an Apache helicopter-alike which is secretly being proved for use in a nefarious government conspiracy . The slick screenplay written by recently deceased Alien's Dan O'Bannon . Adequate musical score accompanying the action by Arthur B. Rubinstein and inventively photographed by classic cameraman John A. Alonzo . The motion picture is professionally directed by John Badham . He's a nice director who achieved his greatest success in the 80s . He directed several hits ( Saturday night fever , Short circuit, Blue thunder, Drop zone, War games,Skateout ) , though today making TV movies( Jack Bull, Floating away ) and television episodes ( Crossing Jordan, Psych, Las Vegas, Standoff , Heroes ). Blue Thunder was followed by a successful TV series also starred by the ultra-sophisticated helicopter with James Farentino and Dana Carvey.

"Blue Thunder" . . . isn't this that movie where Roy Scheider uncovers a government conspiracy and then loops a wicked military chopper? You betcher sweet ass it is! And it's a shame the helicopter didn't talk. I mean, the comic potential of a reckless pilot and his snappy chopper is enough to salivate over. A more cynical person might find all of this silly, but not me. I was caught up in the whole thing; the car chases, the dofight through downtown L.A. It all works somehow, both as police procedural and conspiracy flick.

Scheider lends a great presence to validate the whole thing, Malcolm McDowell is a real slime of the first order, but neither one of these guys has a thing on the real star of the movie: ol' Blue, herself. That is one menacing attack helicopter, loaded for bear and still sleek. I can only imagine what it was like back in the '80s to be a bystander on the ground watching them film this beast in the air.

7/10

I was dying to see this when I was 13 but I was too young to get in at the pictures. I saw the trailer when I went to see Superman 3. I finally hired it on video and loved it. I think at the time, it was the look of the helicopter that I was drawn too. Big bulky and menacing. (The scene where we first see Blue Thunder with the sun rising behind it is sheer class.) I've got the DVD and always enjoy watching this film, I love Roy Scheider in most films he's in and he's excellent in this one. Also thought Daniel Stern was great as Murphy's observer. The series was quite cheezy but enjoyable in it's own way. Universal latched on to the super hi-tech helicopter theme as Airwolf followed soon afterwards. The helicopter in Airwolf was a Bell 222 whereas Blue Thunder was a converted Gazelle helicopter that was given a facelift to make it look bulky and menacing, a little bit like an Apache. Back to the movie. The plot is quite thin and there are a couple of scenes that are a bit far fetched but if you're looking for a film with good helicopter chase sequences in it, they don't come much better than this. Catch you later.

A Vietnam vet police helicopter pilot is asked to test a new state-of-the-art helicopter.

If you appreciate Blue Thunder for its action sequences, 80s technology and a decent hit of LA nostalgia there is no reason not to enjoy it.

The plot is a passable excuse to get Roy Schneider and Daniel Stern into the titular chopper doing all kinds of mischievous things and there is plenty of amusement to be taken from this. Imagine a couple of teenage boys let loose with hi-tech surveillance kit in a vehicle that can hover anywhere, seemingly undetected, and that's the mentality on display.

Most of the characters and the dynamics between them are hugely clichéd and not really explored in much depth or with any particular interest to me.

The plot does get vaguely engaging when the main conspiracy starts to unfold. There is one foot chase sequence involving someone bound and gagged that works very well.

All the downtown LA set aerial sequences that carry the movie to its conclusion are very well made, with production values and practical effects that hold up to the modern era. The flight stunts and use of model aircraft are blended seamlessly so that virtually everything feels real, apart from the final stunt, which has been built up so much during the movie that you somehow accept it as something that has to happen.

Schneider has no real acting challenges, but his presence is enough to engage anyone who is a fan of his work. Stern compliments him well in their scenes together. Warren Oates, Malcolm McDowell and supporting cast are all solid.

It's a 6.5/10 for me but I round upwards.

Old movies have it hard on ImDb. They got pushed in this database without all the benefits modern movies have to artificially boost their initial user score. Publicity stunts, media spin, false "user" feedback... They got none of that. How many bad movies have you seen start at 8,5 and end up being turds. To remedy that, Blue Thunder gets a solid 8 from me. It is a typical 80's flick, sprinkled with sexist and racist bits nobody would dare to approach today. Movies reflect their epoch; here we find a pre-olympic L.A. not very far from it's race crisis. More important, we find real helicopters doing real stunts above and inside the city. No production will ever get a permit to do all this anymore and only for that, that movie is worth watching.

I first saw Blue Thunder as a kid at the time of its release and enjoyed it purely as a slice of action/adventure typical of its time. I could name many films from the early 80s of a similar ilk, but this one stuck in my mind as a real favourite and it was only when I re-watched it recently that I understood why.

Unlike other films in the genre, Blue Thunder always strikes me as having been thought about and crafted in a very careful way. In fact I didn't remember there being as little action as there is. Instead we are given far more character development than we might be accustomed to, thereby enhancing the final aerial drama because we do care about the people involved.

Roy Scheider(who I must confess is my favourite actor of his era) gives a standout performance. His portrayal of Murphy with its wry humour & very human lapses shares more than a little with a certain Chief Brody, but the use of an aging rebel with little cause as the main character in a technological thriller is still refreshing now.

Malcolm McDowell gives the sort of OTT villainous performance that only he can (why has no-one ever cast him as a Bond villain?) and special mention must go to Warren Oates as Scheider's long-suffering boss.

The helicopter looks awesome with cool gadgets aplenty but it isn't the star here, Scheider is. Move over Top Gun, Airwolf, Wings of the Apache, et al; this is the number 1 fly-boy in town.

Having now worked on an attack helicopter program, I was interested in

seeing "Blue Thunder." I skipped it on its first release. Good thing. "Blue Thunder" is more timely than ever, what with federal abuse of

power with massacres and attempted massacres in Philadelphia (MOVE incident, Ruby Ridge and Waco. Structurally, the film is a mess, taking a fair amount of time introducing us to "Blue Thunder" an "antiriot" (now call "antiterrorist") helicopter better equipped for mass murder than crowd control. Roy Scheider plays Murphy, a former Vietnam helicopter pilot haunted by his memories of 'Nam (this gimmick was getting tiring in 1983). Murphy finds himself the target of a "government conspiracy" when he "gets too close" for the REAL intentions of "Blue Thunder."

Reels of film must have been left on the cutting room floor. Certainly Candy Clark and Warren Oates shine in "nothing" roles, their "real" relationships to Scheider remaining pretty obscure. Malcolm McDowell makes an excellent villain, though his "real" relationship with Scheider doesn't pay off).

HOWEVER, when "Blue Thunder" works, it really rocks. See it.

A helicopter is developed for police work using full surveillance technology, stealth modes etc. Officer Murphy and his partner are trained to fly it for street tests. However Murphy suspects that it has more sinister uses when he finds that the man in charge is Colonel Cochrane – who he has a history with in Vietnam. The battle between the two men heads for a showdown as Murphy gets evidence to back up his suspicions.

Made as a film but turned into an inferior tv show this film is entertaining but no more than that. The plot is interesting – with plenty of conspiracy stuff but the action is sometimes forced. Because most of the helicopter shenanigans are save for the climax we are given car chases etc to help fill the time. The helicopter itself is very cool and well used and the final battle above the city is exciting if formulaic. The morals of a `big brother' helicopter, able to pry everywhere isn't examined as well as could have been but it's still interesting.

Scheider is always good to watch and does well, as do Warren Oates and a young Daniel Stern. However the show is stolen and the film made by a great baddie from Malcolm McDowell (catch you later!) who is menace incarnate for me.

Overall an enjoyable thriller but it really only sticks in the memory due to the TV series that followed – worth watching for McDowell though.

Blue Thunder is the name given to a new specially modified helicopter, designed for use in major police incidents such as riots, it's basically a tank with rotors and an intricate computer. Los Angeles police pilot Frank Murphy is selected to be the pilot in the city for it, but Frank has major issues with the test pilot of Blue Thunder, a guy he served in Vietnam with. As things progress Frank and his young understudy Richard Lymangood begin to find that all is not what it seems. Conspiracies, corruption and even murder are all linked to Blue Thunder, both men realise that their lives are in serious danger.

This is a very tidy thriller, the sort of film that asks you to pay attention to everything that is being said. It's very well written, acted professionally, and contains a wonderful last 20 minutes of aerial thrills. Roy Scheider, Malcolm McDowell, Daniel Stern, Warren Oates and the lovely Candy Clark all earn their pay cheques and John Badham is unfussy in his direction. It's not a film that you are likely to revisit more than once, but its smart plot and solid thriller heart more than make this an enjoyable piece. 6/10

This was supposed to do for police surveillance helicopters what "Jaws" did for sharks.

It wasn't THAT successful, but "Blue Thunder" does score on a few fronts.

For one, it is very well-made technically. You have to give Badham credit - the look of this film certainly makes the bells and whistles look authentic, anyway. And the Orwellian themes, as others have noticed, are addressed head-on.

The actors do their best in a movie where the helicopters get the top billing. Scheider does his stalwart, straight-arrow best (just like in "Jaws" - coincidence?), Clark is resilient as his girlfriend, Stern plays his best friend well (for a JAFO) and as the villain, McDowell is icy and nasty in equal measure. Oates has little to do but does it well as Scheider's boss.

The story, though, is a mishmash of techno-babble, intrigue, the latest surveillance techniques (of 1983), tough guy talk and the freedom of the press, with helicopter dogfights in downtown LA thrown in for good measure.

All in all, "Blue Thunder" makes its point but fails to follow through, except maybe if you count the last scene. Definitely throws out the possibility for a sequel, if you know what I mean.

Six stars.

TIDBIT - McDowell admitted during filming that he got very airsick and many shots had to be re-taken, since he was throwing up in just about every in-flight scene he was in.

Now THERE'S a sequel - "Blue Thunder 2: The Dramamine Patrol".

This one was perhaps unfairly overlooked for those of you who like glossy 80's product used to glamorise hardware. I would've liked to have seen the director make more of a choice between 'investigative thriller' and straight-up action movie, because trying to do both makes it occasionally uneven. More than compensating for this though is the great cast and impressive gadgetry. Ya gotta love Roy Scheider; he made a great leading man, and this is definitely one to look out for if you feel he didn't quite catch the wave he should've done, after "Jaws"...

It's a little bottom-heavy, with most of the action being shoehorned into the last segment, but if you garnered some enjoyment from Badham's other crowd-pleasing fare of the decade like "War Games" and "Short Circuit", then you should also be able to derive some form of pleasure from this.

A Great Big Hit When it Came Out, This Conspiracy/Action Movie is Remembered Fondly by Fans Who Viewed it in the Theatres in 1983. But Today, the Action is OK but Not That Great Considering. However, it was More Prophetic than Originally Planned.

The Blue Thunderous Machine is Perhaps a Cloning of Wireless and Warrantless Surveillance Technology and Drones. This Makes the Movie Haunting and Thought Provoking When Audiences Rediscovered it in Recent Years.

The Film Takes its Theme Almost to the Background in the Way it Focuses on the Aerial Action and the Sting of Big Brother is Relegated to "Whisper Mode". The Muted Message, Today, can be Heard Loud and Clear.

It's a Fun Film Nevertheless and Delivers its Thrills in an Over-the Top, Sometimes Reckless Abandon of Real Life Consequences. Roy Scheider and Malcolm McDowell are Good-Bad Guys and Their Characters are Just This Side of Stereotype.

The Film Holds Up Pretty Well and is Worth a Watch for What it Does Best, and Despite its Reluctance to Go Deep in the Weeds of the Troubling Scenario, the Movie Manages to be Quite Unsettling, Albeit in its Near Subliminal Story of What Was to Come and It Did Come in a Multitude of Ways. The Aforementioned Surveillance, Drones, and the Militarization of the Police Force.

One of the things that really caught my attention about this film was the brief blurb at the beginning which stated something to the effect of "All of the surveillance equipment depicted in this film exists and is in use in the United States." Knowing what I do of technology, I am not surprised that those capabilities existed back then. However, I received a powerful demonstration of the stealth technology called "whisper mode" in the film, a couple of years after seeing it. I live near a major U.S. Army firing range, and our local airport hosts a considerable amount of military traffic. At this particular time, I was renting a house about one kilometer from the airport. I went out for a walk late one Sunday night, and, shortly after leaving the house, I heard a noise I could not identify. It was a loud hissing sound, 'which seemed very close at hand, but I could not locate the source, until I looked up. Passing overhead at about 200 meters was a Chinook helicopter, the type with two rotors, and fuselage that looks kind of like a banana. Normally, the rotor noise on these cargo helicopters will rattle windows, but this baby was tip-toeing out of town very quietly. If I had been indoors, I never would have heard it. This made me completely rethink the sequence where the helicopter was hovering right outside of a building, and the people inside couldn't hear it! I took it for artistic license at the time, but the demonstration I witnessed of "whisper mode" made it seem entirely feasible.

This film appealed to me strongly, for several reasons. I am a techno freak, to begin with, and I love anything that flies. Also, the characters in the movie are amazingly human, kooky, (especially the lead characters wife,) and easy to identify with. And the kind of shenanigans the Feds were trying to pull seem all too realistic to me, in light of some of the things that they have been caught doing! And I loved the response of sending a couple of F-15's armed with missiles after the renegade, when he is stooging around in downtown Los Angeles. Missiles are not known for being highly selective when they are of the heat seeking type, and urban areas are rich with thermal signatures which can confuse the tiny brain packed into an air-to-air missile. The filmmakers actually downplayed the havoc that could result from launching such weapons in a downtown area.

I found the film to be an enjoyable, realistic, thought provoking experience, which I would recommend to most people. The hardware is not the star, thanks to the excellent work of Roy Scheider and his supporting cast, and the dialog is tight and realistic. When informed that one of the suspects in a liquor store robbery is wearing a Hawiian shirt and a cowboy hat, Scheider's character says, "What ever happened to being inconspicuous?"

"Blue Thunder" has some really cool moments but, at the end of the day, it's just too silly to take seriously. It's probably the best R rated movie every made for 12 year old boys. It has the feeling of a movie that was rushed into production. The studio was looking for a big summer hit. The script needed more development. The good guys are okay but the villains are cookie cutter bad guys. That said, "Blue Thunder" is an okay time killer with a nice cast and some good action scenes. Honorable mention: a dreamy Candy Clark.

John Badham is a curious director and I think he gets it right in this one. After all Roy Scheider never stunk it up in his illustrious career and he hits all the right notes in this one as Frank Murphy the Vietnam Vet trying to escape the memories of his war experience. When Malcolm McDowell shows up (and honestly, who plays an a--hole better than McDowell in his heyday?) to become Murphy's nemesis. The very underrated Warren Oates as the crotchety commanding officer and Candy Clark as Murphy's girlfriend, who is the ultimate heroine of the plot, turn in solid performances. The helicopter clearly steals the show though as anyone between the ages of 7 and 21 had to just be glued to the screen watching that bird strut its stuff. Great action sequences and rather good photography during the climactic chase scene.

I still have fond memories of this film which I saw in the drive in as a kid and I think it's what films of this genre should be...a couple of hours of wild fun!..."Follow My Leader"

However with today's technology and killing prowess of the worlds' militaries the tech displayed in this movie is underwhelming. I remember watching this when it first came out when the helicopter seemed so futuristic. Now, not so much. It doesn't take away from the story line or the action. It's no Lethal Weapon but is definitely worth a watch.