31
Metascore
19 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- Routine military melodrama leads to a satisfactorily explosive climax. But what makes Birds truly riveting entertainment is not the conflict between good and bad guys, but the clash between the film's apparent intent and the loony subversiveness of its performances.
- The only sensible thing to do with a picture as intentionally unreal as Fire Birds is just to lie back, pump up the volume, and pretend that you’re playing Nintendo.
- 40Time OutTime OutWith a gung ho script, sometimes rudimentary editing and uninvolving relationships, the whole effect is rather flat. None of the aerial sequences boast the visual thrills of Top Gun, while even the attempt to inject controversy in the shape of Hollywood's first female combatant is half-realised.
- 37Washington PostHal HinsonWashington PostHal HinsonIt would be hard to reduce filmmaking to its basics more than Fire Birds does. It's more video game than motion picture -- the first coin-operated movie.
- 30Los Angeles TimesMichael WilmingtonLos Angeles TimesMichael WilmingtonLean, mean, clean and empty-hearted, Fire Birds is a video-game recruiting poster with a bomb ticking inside--a bomb that never goes off.
- 30The New York TimesVincent CanbyThe New York TimesVincent CanbyFire Birds has one director (David Green), two writers (Nick Thiel and Paul F. Edwards) and many laughs, all of them unintentional.
- 25The Seattle TimesJohn HartlThe Seattle TimesJohn HartlFire Birds reduces it all to kiss-kiss-bang-bang, and the implication that a few theater-rattling explosions will turn the enemy to toast forever. The only blessing is that it runs less than 90 minutes.
- 25Entertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanEntertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanA third-rate knockoff of Top Gun and Blue Thunder.
- 20Tampa Bay TimesHal LipperTampa Bay TimesHal LipperFire Birds is Top Gun without wings. Without personality. Without sex appeal. Nicholas Cage is no Tom Cruise. Sean Young is no Kelly McGillis.