IMDb > Fire Birds (1990)
Fire Birds
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Fire Birds (1990) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
4.2/10   2,639 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Step Tyner (story) &
John K. Swensson (story) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Fire Birds on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
25 May 1990 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The best just got better.
Plot:
The U.S. Government is willing to help any country that requires help in ridding themselves of drugs with support from the Army... more | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
Review: Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
 (From FilmSchoolRejects. 22 November 2009, 6:27 PM, PST)

User Comments:
A Sean Young/June Allyson Fan... more (44 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Nicolas Cage ... Jake Preston

Tommy Lee Jones ... Brad Little

Sean Young ... Billie Lee Guthrie
Bryan Kestner ... Breaker

Illana Diamant ... Sharon Geller (as Illana Shoshan)

Dale Dye ... A.K. McNeil
Mary Ellen Trainor ... Janet Little
J.A. Preston ... General Olcott
Peter Onorati ... Rice
Charles Lanyer ... Darren Phillips

Marshall R. Teague ... Doug Daniels
Cylk Cozart ... Dewar Proctor

Charles Kahlenberg ... Oscar De Marco
Gregory Vahanian ... Tom Davis
Bob Lujan ... Steward Rives
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Wings of the Apache
more
Runtime:
85 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Australia:M | Iceland:L | Canada:14A (Ontario) (video rating) (2004) | Norway:15 | Canada:AA (Ontario) (original rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #30312) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:15
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The Catamarca Desert is specifically located in Argentina. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: An OH-58D (The helicopter flown by Sean Young’s character) can not be flown single-pilot in the left seat. Many of the Mission-Related controls are only available to the Right-hand seat (Pilot-in-command seat.) more
Quotes:
[to Brad Little]
Jake Preston: Well that's very big of you, Little.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
White Flag more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
A Sean Young/June Allyson Fan..., 26 July 2008
8/10
Author: Len9876 from United States

"Fire Birds" (1990) is reminiscent of "The McConnell Story" (1955), without the action scenes. Although the characters, dialog, and technical aspects of the film may be highly fictionalized, it is accurate and realistic enough to provide splendid entertainment in the tradition of Hollywood's golden era. June Allyson, playing a 'steely' girlfriend, would have been proud to fly alongside her man. Sean Young aptly takes on the role, while showing both a dedication for America, as well as a love for her man. She patriotically flies for her country, while cheering-on and encouraging her man (enthusiatically played by Nicolas Cage). Cage plays a young, 'hotshot' flier, with plenty of arrogance and too-much ego, until he truly learns humility from his helicopter trainer (well-played by Tommy Lee Jones). The film includes the danger and the romance of flying, as well as the privilege to serve as a flying ace. Like "The McConnell Story" (1955), I did not find the dialog to be the least bit 'corny'. June Allyson excelled as the 'good', but rather-emotional and naive wife. Sean Young excels as the 'sexy', sometimes-naughty and sometimes-nice girlfriend. But, Sean makes it quite clear that she wants to be a flier, as much as she wants to be a girlfriend or a wife. And, I do not think it is the least bit 'corny' that Sean displays a love for her country, as much as she displays a love for her man. Unlike June Allyson in "The McConnell Story" (1955), Sean Young does not wish to take on the traditional woman's role. Like her man, she has a dream to fly. And, like Nicolas Cage and Tommy Lee Jones, she excels in her role (as June Allyson does in "The McConnell Story"). And, there is plenty of 'meat' in the dialog, which is far from superficial. Whether it be Tommy Lee Jones talking about why he joined the military ("I wanted to be a full blown American hero, cook-in full tilt boogie for freedom and justice"), Nicolas Cage ("Are you ever gonna let me win?"), or after Sean Young wipes a single tear from her eyes. Nicolas Cage, Sean Young, and Tommy Lee Jones provide plenty of inspiration and strength. I rate this film an 8 out of 10, and highly recommend it to anyone who has a love for his-and-her country. With an open-and-patriotic heart, the film should make one stand up and cheer!

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Fire Birds (1990)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Worst Helicopter Movie, EVER! dj_beauchamp
Eye dominance and helmet eyepieces... ha_lynn2002
I'm amazed this wasn't in the 'goofs' section... majestic12
so lame irisheleven
film location mcavendish
Top Gun in Choppers brownozere
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