Sky Riders

Pros: Music 9/10 (Lalo Schifrin's music gives more tense especially at the action scenes) Scenery 10/10 (Meteora are really breathtaking... we should see more often this place in movies) James Coburn 8/10 (Cool as always... Classic Coburn) Cons: Scenario: 4/10 (Plain scenario, no surprises... ok it's a 70's scenario but still they could have work it more... I mean James Coburn fighting Leftist terrorists on Meteora?..) Direction 5/10 (Hickox isn't Hitchcock, that's for sure... aerial shootings though where actually good) Conclusion: It's a classic 70's action movie. If you decide to spend your time to watch it you won't regret it. But the next morning you'll not remember a lot. Maybe only the stunning scenery of Meteora. It's 7/10 by me.

"Sky Riders" is good fun, with a fairly unique premise. Robert Culp plays Jonas Bracken, an industrialist whose family are kidnapped by terrorists who demand a ransom. Also swept into the drama is Jim McCabe (James Coburn), the ex-husband of Jonas's wife Ellen (Susannah York) and biological father to Jonas's stepson. The trouble is, our good guys realize that the bad guys have holed up in a mountaintop lair, and will be able to see most anybody that's coming. Then Jim hits upon inspiration: hire a hang gliding team to perform as an impromptu rescue unit, taking lessons from them himself. The hang gliding sequences give this action-thriller something extra. Directed extremely well by Douglas Hickox ("Theatre of Blood", "Zulu Dawn"), this is a genuinely exciting movie that can actually keep a viewer watching. It's breathtaking, with the expected impressive aerial stunts and lots of amazing Greek scenery. The music by Lalo Schifrin is just perfect as it's quite rousing and the movie just steadily builds the whole time towards a fantastic action climax. The acting is fine from most everybody involved, with Coburn making for a rugged and engaging hero, Culp the picture of grim determination, York a feisty victim, and Charles Aznavour solid as the intrepid Inspector Nikolidis. The people playing the hang gliders include John Beck, Barbara Trentham, Henry Brown, and Steven Keats, and they're a very likable bunch. Werner Pochath and Zouzou are appropriately odious as two of the terrorists. This is clearly not a movie that's too well known, which is too bad as it deserves better. One could certainly do a LOT worse. Eight out of 10.

This is certainly not as great as a James Bond action film. It is a very good movie with a simple plot. It has a wonderful cast and a great outdoor location for the major action scenes. Not a spoiler, just pay attention when action starts. Do watch closely when a helicopter scene begins. You will see James Coburn doing a real scary stunt hanging from under the helicopter. Not a stuntman doing the job. Also close your eyes when Coburn speaks and ask yourself if it is Leonard Nemoy. They have the same voice. This is well worth seeing. It is not real dumb. It also is not an educational film. No nudity or gore. James Coburn is the main attraction here. There are very nice aerial shots. The stunt hang glider pilots are very skilled.

I don't remember "Sky Riders" ever coming out. I would have been twelve years old when it was released and if I knew about about I would have wanted to see it without a doubt. The poster alone would have been enough for me. Somehow it slipped through the cracks. Well, thanks to YouTube I got to see this movie yesterday. It was an okay watch. It started out pretty good but then it started a fade a little. The aerial footage was pretty impressive but it was also kind of boring. The big raid on the hideout stuff was well done, I guess, but it wasn't that exciting either. All in all, I kind of liked "Sky Riders" but I won't be watching it again any time soon.

I have been trying to find this film on video for many years because I remember it as being so interesting, with the rescue sequences by hang gliders. I disagree with another person who commented that they could not see the hang-gliding sequences, due to darkness in the film. There are not very many films that make a big impression on me but this one did and I still remember it though I only saw it once, when it was first released. I hope it is released on video or DVD some day so that I can see it again.