FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER is a long-forgotten Vietnam War drama by CONAN THE BARBARIAN director John Milius. It's about a group of pilots flying bombing missions over the country, initially simply in the line of duty, but then things get personal. Yep, it's another film in the same 'flying' genre as many others like TOP GUN, STEALTH, and the like, and this one suffers from having slightly lacklustre action sequences but a decent cast to make up for it. Aside from the wooden Brad Johnson as the lead, we get treated to solid turns from the likes of Willem Dafoe and Danny Glover, alongside youthful appearances from Tom Sizemore, Ving Rhames, and David Schwimmer. It's not one of the director's best, but it keeps you watching all the same, even if it does go on a little too long.
55 Reviews
Underrated and under-appreciated.
starringdash18 July 2006
I can't understand why TopGun is so hyped yet nobody has even heard about this movie? Sure its not as glamorous or stylish but it is far more realistic. Perhaps some people just don't consider the old A-6 Intruder bomber as glamorous as an F-14 Tomcat fighter? Unlike Topgun, this movie is faithful to facts and the footage is much much better. The combat scenes are brilliant and the way they show the intensity of anti-aircraft artillery and machine gun fire from the ground really illustrates the difficulties of air warfare. Also unlike Topgun, where the MiGs were fake aircraft and really American F-5s, the MiGs in this movie were real MiGs. So were the SA-2 Divinia SAMs that were fired by the thousands. The combat and dogfight scenes were far more realistic than topgun even if they looked a bit less flashy.
This movie is a real gem and a must see for anybody interested in aviation or war related movies. If you are clueless about aviation and just want a no brain entertainer, stick to topgun.
This movie is a real gem and a must see for anybody interested in aviation or war related movies. If you are clueless about aviation and just want a no brain entertainer, stick to topgun.
Exceeds expectations as entertainment ........
merklekranz22 December 2009
Recommended viewing, especially for those who have not read the book. The flying scenes are great, with ferocious sound to match. While parts of the story will seem quite familiar, the raid on Hanoi is an unusual focal point of the film, and terrific. Danny Glover and Willem Dafoe have the best developed characters, but overall the acting is fine. The motivation of the different characters is quite interesting and adds to the excitement. Dialog varies from profound to hokey. The film is is recommended as one of the better Vietnam War movies. There is plenty of action, and "Flight of the Intruder" certainly exceeds expectations as entertainment. - MERK
A great movie
Ghosty-214 August 1999
Warning: Spoilers
Perhaps I should say "A really great movie *if you like planes*". This is not repeat not a chick flick.
Flight of the Intruder is based on the book with the same name by Stephen Coonts. (As usual, the book is much better than the movie; it's well worth the read)
Flying an A-6 Intruder may not be quite as glamorous as the "Fighter pukes", but Jake Grafton (the principal character) wouldn't swap it.
But when on a pointless "toothpick mission" (Blowing up a bunch of trees) Jake's bombardier is shot and fatally wounded by small arms fire, Jake becomes disillusioned, and angry at the political restrictions on the war.
With the aid of his new bombardier, "Tiger" Cole, Jake decides to bomb an unauthorised target to vent his frustration at being forced to fight the war with one hand tied behind their backs.
There is quite a bit of original footage in this movie, which is really great to see.. a lot of more modern movies just plaguarise footage from earlier movies, which really detracts from them when you're going "Hey! That shot was from Flight of the Intruder!"
I give Flight of the Intruder a 10/10. It's well made and very enjoyable.
Flight of the Intruder is based on the book with the same name by Stephen Coonts. (As usual, the book is much better than the movie; it's well worth the read)
Flying an A-6 Intruder may not be quite as glamorous as the "Fighter pukes", but Jake Grafton (the principal character) wouldn't swap it.
But when on a pointless "toothpick mission" (Blowing up a bunch of trees) Jake's bombardier is shot and fatally wounded by small arms fire, Jake becomes disillusioned, and angry at the political restrictions on the war.
With the aid of his new bombardier, "Tiger" Cole, Jake decides to bomb an unauthorised target to vent his frustration at being forced to fight the war with one hand tied behind their backs.
There is quite a bit of original footage in this movie, which is really great to see.. a lot of more modern movies just plaguarise footage from earlier movies, which really detracts from them when you're going "Hey! That shot was from Flight of the Intruder!"
I give Flight of the Intruder a 10/10. It's well made and very enjoyable.
"Top Gun" with Balls!!!
zardoz-1312 March 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Call it "Top Gun" with balls. "Red Dawn" director John Milius' big-screen adaptation of the Stephen Coonts novel "The Flight of the Intruder" upholds not only the finest traditions of the Hollywood aerial combat epic, going as far back as Howard Hawks' "The Dawn Patrol" (1930) as well as its gild-edged 1938 Errol Flynn remake, Mark Robson's "The Bridges at Toko-Ri" (1964) and Walter Grauman's 1964 British fighter-bomber classic "633 Squadron," but also issues a highly-politicized, anti-war statement without undercutting its high octane ingredients.
How they got the U.S. Navy to ante up all that fabulous equipment for an anti-war movie still amazes me. The aerial sequences rank among the very best, particularly when the A-6s explode in the air as the pilots bail out. Part of the dramatic punch of "Flight" is that our heroes fly jets that have no guns on board to retaliate with during an airborne enemy assault. They have to radio for help when it comes down to that. This raises the stakes considerably in the Robert ("The French Connection 2" & "Prime Cut") Dillon & David ("The Warriors" & "Nighthawks") Shaber screenplay that thrusts these Navy pilots into several suspenseful situations. When "Intruder" flies, you cannot beat its dog-eared, but flag-waving heroics, even if a couple of renegade A-6 Navy carrier pilots played by Brad Johnson and Willam DaFoe unfurl them for our entertainment. Indeed, all the clichés remain intact in this virtual remake of "The Bridges at Toko-Ri," except "Flight" boasts a happy ending.
Basically, "Flight" is a testosterone flavored tearjerkers for guys. When he loses his bombardier to a stray bullet at low altitude, Lt. Jake 'Cool Hand' Grafton complains about the targets they pick. Not long afterward the death of Grafton's, Lt. Cmdr. Virgil 'Tiger' Cole Dafoe comes on board, with a bad reputation for having allegedly abandoned a fellow pilot on the ground in North Vietnam. The two become best buddies after a near-death encounter in the night skies over North Vietnam when they dodge at least four Surface-To-Air missiles and plan an audacious mission that they fully expect to be court-marshaled for by the Navy brass. Along the way, "Flight" bogs down momentarily for an obligatory romantic subplot involving a Navy widow Callie (Rosanna Arquette) and her daughter.
Mind you, the movie never captures the complexity of the novel, but remember this is a genre movie and the romantic subplot is sort of expected. Sure, they could have put more bang into it in emotional terms, and may very well have. Sure, you can tell that the Tom Sizemore character is going to bite the bullet when he learns that he is a dad, albeit an illegitimate one. The cast is first-rate, too. Look for Ving ("Pulp Fiction") Rhames in an earlier role as well as David ("Friends") Schwimmer as a duty officer. One of the few things that date this aviation saga is the choice of "Lethal Weapon's" Danny Glover as the shouting authority figure who makes life rough for our heroes. An uncredited Fred Dalton Thompson has some choice moments as the Court-Martial captain. "Now is the time to come to Jesus," he warns them as their trial gets underway but yields surprising results. The Paramount DVD is a bare bones version without a Milius commentary that I think all die-hard Milius fans would have welcomed.
Can we say "Special Edition" in the future with a JM commentary?
How they got the U.S. Navy to ante up all that fabulous equipment for an anti-war movie still amazes me. The aerial sequences rank among the very best, particularly when the A-6s explode in the air as the pilots bail out. Part of the dramatic punch of "Flight" is that our heroes fly jets that have no guns on board to retaliate with during an airborne enemy assault. They have to radio for help when it comes down to that. This raises the stakes considerably in the Robert ("The French Connection 2" & "Prime Cut") Dillon & David ("The Warriors" & "Nighthawks") Shaber screenplay that thrusts these Navy pilots into several suspenseful situations. When "Intruder" flies, you cannot beat its dog-eared, but flag-waving heroics, even if a couple of renegade A-6 Navy carrier pilots played by Brad Johnson and Willam DaFoe unfurl them for our entertainment. Indeed, all the clichés remain intact in this virtual remake of "The Bridges at Toko-Ri," except "Flight" boasts a happy ending.
Basically, "Flight" is a testosterone flavored tearjerkers for guys. When he loses his bombardier to a stray bullet at low altitude, Lt. Jake 'Cool Hand' Grafton complains about the targets they pick. Not long afterward the death of Grafton's, Lt. Cmdr. Virgil 'Tiger' Cole Dafoe comes on board, with a bad reputation for having allegedly abandoned a fellow pilot on the ground in North Vietnam. The two become best buddies after a near-death encounter in the night skies over North Vietnam when they dodge at least four Surface-To-Air missiles and plan an audacious mission that they fully expect to be court-marshaled for by the Navy brass. Along the way, "Flight" bogs down momentarily for an obligatory romantic subplot involving a Navy widow Callie (Rosanna Arquette) and her daughter.
Mind you, the movie never captures the complexity of the novel, but remember this is a genre movie and the romantic subplot is sort of expected. Sure, they could have put more bang into it in emotional terms, and may very well have. Sure, you can tell that the Tom Sizemore character is going to bite the bullet when he learns that he is a dad, albeit an illegitimate one. The cast is first-rate, too. Look for Ving ("Pulp Fiction") Rhames in an earlier role as well as David ("Friends") Schwimmer as a duty officer. One of the few things that date this aviation saga is the choice of "Lethal Weapon's" Danny Glover as the shouting authority figure who makes life rough for our heroes. An uncredited Fred Dalton Thompson has some choice moments as the Court-Martial captain. "Now is the time to come to Jesus," he warns them as their trial gets underway but yields surprising results. The Paramount DVD is a bare bones version without a Milius commentary that I think all die-hard Milius fans would have welcomed.
Can we say "Special Edition" in the future with a JM commentary?
Very good Navy movie
kenandraf15 October 2001
Very good Vietnam war/action movie that is surprisingly very under rated probably because the story was very pro military and very gung ho which most audiences in the U.S. do not want to see in a Vietnam war movie.I on the other hand have no such limited prejudices and welcome this movie's unique approach to that war because even though I dis-agree with the way that war was fought,I still can enjoy seeing the warriors of that war have fun with their combat encounters and the price they pay for the rush they get.That selfish aspect of the Navy warriors depicted here so well really confused the mass audience who usually expect an uncomplicated formula where in if it is a Vietnam war movie,it is supposed to have an atmosphere of tremendous losses to the U.S. side and a U.S. military who do not like war and do not look forward to any battle rush at all.Only scenes of trembling,cowering soldiers who want to be at home with mama.Well,sorry to say,that narrow minded and limited way of looking at things surely blurred their rating of this movie which had great cinematography,directing,screenplay,script and story,coupled by good special effects and attention to detail on top of that!The movie has a right to be gung ho because there certainly were gung ho soldiers as well in that war!They may not admit it but the nay sayers of this movie put this movie down because of that gung ho atmosphere.I know movies and I know when people are unfairly under rating a movie only due to unpopular trends or formulas.Time to FREE YOUR MINDS!Yes,this movie has it's flaws,like average acting performances and lack of originality due to it having a feelof being a modern remake of those 1950's Korean war movies,but still,this movie all in all deserves at least an imdb 8.One of the top 20 war movies of all time in my book,and I have seen a lot........
This movie touch me in a way only a veteran could feel
reno_man4020 July 2005
When I saw this movie for the first time it seemed like Deja vu. the first part of the movie was like I was reliving a part of my life when I was aboard the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Saratoga (CV-60) in 1985. The ship in the movie was the U.S.S. Independence (CV-62) and it's the same ship in design as the Saratoga. When I was on that ship a pilot died suddenly when his A-7 exploded on approach and it was caused by a bomb arming and exploding on its own. We had an memorial service at the same place on the ship and it really blew my mind. From then on I have admired that movie and have watched it several times. To this day I get really choked up. Hey, it's not as well made as the Godfather but it isn't a bad movie either. But I feel it deserves better then a 5.3. Hey veterans out there, start voting.
Good Flick
mmetzger3226 July 2004
Why would anyone watch this type of flick if they didn't want to see a war movie? I read the other review online and was dumbfounded. Rarely in war are their racy love scenes, that's why it's a ware movie! If anything, the fact that some scantily clad bimbo's weren't running all over the deck of an aircraft carrier in the middle of a war zone lent to the authenticity of the film. I mean really, what do you want Demi Moore in her "A Few Good Men" dress uniform? Please!!! (BTW... I liked that movie too.) This movie delivers exactly what an action adventure war buff wants to see. A lot of adrenalin laced action, big guns with big explosion, and the possibility of the main characters dying in the end. It was a good story and a good movie. Willam DeFoe was awesome. But a harlequin novel it's not. So if you're looking for a love story, check out "An Officer and a Gentleman", cause this is not for you.
good war action
SnoopyStyle2 February 2015
It's 1972. The A-6 was the US Navy's medium attack bomber during the Vietnam conflict. It was called the Intruder. They fly low and alone over enemy airspace. Lt. Jake 'Cool Hand' Grafton (Brad Johnson) loses his bombardier with a peasant rifle shot. He questions the course of the war. Frank Camparelli (Danny Glover) is his commander. Political considerations keep the zone around Hanoi and Haiphong from being bombed. Lt. Cmdr. Virgil 'Tiger' Cole (Willem Dafoe) is a veteran flyer on his third tour newly arrived on the carrier. Jake meets Callie Joy (Rosanna Arquette) packing up for his bombardier's widow. Virgil is Jake's new co-pilot. Jake asks Virgil to bomb Hanoi. He relents after Boxman (Tom Sizemore) gets killed. He tells Jake about SAM city.
It's a bit of 'Top Gun', a bit of 'Road House', a bit of 'Animal House' and a whole lot of pro-war militarism. The tone is a mess. The humor is broad low grade. The romance is stiff and melodramatic. Brad Johnson is not the best lead. He has limited range. The good news is the movie has Willem Dafoe and also Danny Glover. What works are the planes and the missions. The flying action is done well although the miniatures are a little obvious and the special effects aren't the best. However the first run in Hanoi is terrific like the Star Wars trench run. In fact, that's what is better than 'Top Gun'. These are war actions with the characters getting shot at and killed. That makes those scenes more compelling.
It's a bit of 'Top Gun', a bit of 'Road House', a bit of 'Animal House' and a whole lot of pro-war militarism. The tone is a mess. The humor is broad low grade. The romance is stiff and melodramatic. Brad Johnson is not the best lead. He has limited range. The good news is the movie has Willem Dafoe and also Danny Glover. What works are the planes and the missions. The flying action is done well although the miniatures are a little obvious and the special effects aren't the best. However the first run in Hanoi is terrific like the Star Wars trench run. In fact, that's what is better than 'Top Gun'. These are war actions with the characters getting shot at and killed. That makes those scenes more compelling.
Very Good Film
newfenoix-122 April 2003
Brad Johnson's line, "fighter pilots make movies, bomber pilots make history." is very true. The A6 Intruder is one of the unsung heros of the Vietnam War. This bird served as the Navy's primary attack aircraft from the early sixties until very recently when its role was taken over by the F-14 and F/A-18. It is very refreshing to see a movie about the more glamorless aircraft in the inventory. The reason that people don't like this movie is REALISM! It isn't about dashing "Top Guns" going Mach 2. It is about the guys that had to dump the bombs from very low altitude and hope they get back home. These guys were exposed to EVERYTHING! It was dangerous work. It still is dangerous work. Army attack chopper pilots and Navy/Marine/Air Force attack bombers pilots are the guys that put it on the line everytime they fly; either in combat or in peacetime.
Flight of the Intruder: I appreciate it, but it's not my thing
Platypuschow7 February 2019
Top Gun clone? Absolutely not, this is considerably better than that monumentally overrated snorefest.
Telling a rather generic story set during the Vietnam war this feature stars Willem Dafoe, Rosanna Arquette, Tom Sizemore, Ving Rhames and Danny Glover so it's roster is pretty outstanding.
Now I'm rather bias when it comes to war themed movies, namely because I'm a great big anti-war guy so I tend not to see the appeal. That's not to say I'm anti-war movie, I just tend not to find them enjoyable.
Flight of the Intruder suffers from the standard genre tropes, is cheesy, macho-nonsense but does have a charm to an extent. The ending is strong which certainly makes up for everything else but it can only go so far.
With that amazing cast and very impressive flight visuals you can't take away from the film just how much they've accomplished here, it's just not my bag.
The Good:
Very impressive visuals
Wealth of talent present
The Bad:
Oddly structured
Love interest was needlessly tacked on
Telling a rather generic story set during the Vietnam war this feature stars Willem Dafoe, Rosanna Arquette, Tom Sizemore, Ving Rhames and Danny Glover so it's roster is pretty outstanding.
Now I'm rather bias when it comes to war themed movies, namely because I'm a great big anti-war guy so I tend not to see the appeal. That's not to say I'm anti-war movie, I just tend not to find them enjoyable.
Flight of the Intruder suffers from the standard genre tropes, is cheesy, macho-nonsense but does have a charm to an extent. The ending is strong which certainly makes up for everything else but it can only go so far.
With that amazing cast and very impressive flight visuals you can't take away from the film just how much they've accomplished here, it's just not my bag.
The Good:
Very impressive visuals
Wealth of talent present
The Bad:
Oddly structured
Love interest was needlessly tacked on
Not as bad as others seem to think
jrnorman2 February 2007
Watch this movie for the flying scenes! It has some the very best shots of an Intruder still or in flight. This aircraft is now out of service with the Navy except as a fueler but I can testify that this aircraft is down right dominating and scary to anyone on the ground when they make a low level pass and this movie captured it all!
That said, I read the book too and yes it is a lot different from the book but then most movies are. The question is does it conform to the spirit of the movie and Flight of the Intruder is close. It does take some short cuts which are even more obvious to a Navy vet but over all, this is one of my favorite Vietnam War movies and about the only one that gives a decent treatment to the carrier pilots.
The romantic part is not much and probably left in to keep it from not having any attractive females but it sure is not needed for dramatic effect.
The political and legal junk is really over blown and trite but if sufficient detail were included the movie would have been 3 hours long.
It is a good "Tiger flick" (war movie) for a rainy day and it has an honored place in my DVD collection!
That said, I read the book too and yes it is a lot different from the book but then most movies are. The question is does it conform to the spirit of the movie and Flight of the Intruder is close. It does take some short cuts which are even more obvious to a Navy vet but over all, this is one of my favorite Vietnam War movies and about the only one that gives a decent treatment to the carrier pilots.
The romantic part is not much and probably left in to keep it from not having any attractive females but it sure is not needed for dramatic effect.
The political and legal junk is really over blown and trite but if sufficient detail were included the movie would have been 3 hours long.
It is a good "Tiger flick" (war movie) for a rainy day and it has an honored place in my DVD collection!
A1 Skyraider Mechanic
FirstShirt6 October 2019
A Great Picture...because it's one of the few that show the A1 Skyraider protecting shot down Jet Pilots. Yeah...I'm an old guy...you'd have to be to have worked on these planes. The other picture that shows them is "We Were Soldiers....".
The planes were produced to fight the Japanese but the war ended before deployment...so the Air Force; which Never throws away planes, put them in the Arizona Desert. They were sent into Combat for Korea and Vietnam for Close-Air support of Infantry and Firebases and for keeping enemy soldiers off of shot down jet pilots. Our planes were in the 1st SOS at Nak Hon Phanom, Thialand, RTAFB. The Cockpit of the A1 was Armored with an inch thick steel; so enemy AK47 Bullets would bounce off of it. There is a website...just search A1 Skyraider. At least two Migs were shot down by A1 Pilots.....one by navy pilots and one by air force pilots. In the AF action the Mig thought he would have a field day shooting down two prop A1s....but the A1s have two 20 millie cannons on each wing...the Mig flew at the A1s and the two A1s flew at the Mig...both sides firing their cannons.....like High Noon! The A1s shot the Mig down...so I think they gave them each 2.5 planes...halfway to an Ace. In the picture the wounded pilot asks the A1 "Sandy" call sign to drop a bomb on him....but that would never have happened as the AF pilot would have been Court martialed.
Exciting adaptation chronicling the exploits of bombardiers including thrills and overwhelming aerial scenes
ma-cortes19 November 2012
It's a thrilling warlike movie that contains over-the-top performances , drama , poignant vignettes and unsparing action . It takes place at the beginning of the Vietnam war , after his bombardier is killed, Jake Grafton (Brad Johnson), a carrier-based Intruder pilot, questions the purpose of Navy bombing missions and he join forces with another partner (Willem Defoe) to carry out a dangerous objective in Hanoi . Meanwhile , a grumpy general (Danny Glover) surveys their exploits and frustrations but when his aircraft is shot down , he is stranded in the wilds of Vietnam . Alone , he must rely on himself and a whole army after him . Trapped behind enemy lines , only two men with whom he has radio contact can save him and to get him out . As the protagonists come determined to rescue him .
Pretty good aerial flick plenty action , tragic drama , fantastic cloudy scenes and breathtaking dogfighting . It's a spectacular actioner including impressive scenarios , fine star cast and memorable acting . It plays like one of these 1940s service propaganda war that was shot in cooperation with US Air Force . This stirring as well as incongruous warlike movie mixes thrills , rugged action and dialog with lots of military scenes , without losing sight of the continuation of its interesting plot or necessities of war and works on various levels . Acceptable budget extended adventures about a maverick pilot and his pal undergoing risked feats on air and bombing on earth . It gets the right balance between the old-style warfare movies and the modern wartime films . Noisy action scenes punctuate the tension without breaking it . Brad Johnson and Willem Defoe give terrific acting in this otherwise passable film , both of whom show professionalism as two crack fighter pilots , two ambitious Lieutenants assigned to risked missions . Danny Glover is top-notch as Cmdr. Frank 'Dooke' Camparelli , he is a grumpy but likable officer subsequently stranded and alone after his plane is gunned down . Secondary cast is frankly excellent as Rosanna Arquette , Dann Florek , Tom Sizemore , Ving Rhames , Madison Mason , J Kenneth Campbell , David Schwimmer , John Corbet , among others . Fine production design and right special effects , as a 1:160 scale model of the city of Hanoi was built for the filming of the bomb-runs scenes , buildings closer to the camera were detailed more while the furthest away buildings in the background we only painted blocks of wood . And being partially filmed on the USS Independence CV-62 . While the story was centered around VA-196, VA-165 was actually the squadron used to film the movie ; all of the aircraft used for filming were re-painted with VA-196 markings used during the Viet Nam conflict era . Colorful and evocative cinematography in super 35 by Fred J Koenekamp . Moving musical score fitting to action by Basil Poledouris , he had originally been scheduled to score Dances with Wolves but reluctantly dropped out to score this film for his close friend John Milius, with extremely damaging results to his career when he found himself suddenly unemployable at any studio making a picture with the then-hot Kevin Costner .
The motion picture was professionally directed by John Milius but he stated that making this film was one of the worst experiences he had. He is a notorious screenwriter and filmmaker with several hits , specially on adventure genre as ¨Jeremiah Johnson (1972)¨, ¨Conan¨ , ¨Red Dawn¨, and also made biography as ¨Dillinger¨ , making two films about Theodore Roosevelt , ¨ The Wind and the Lion¨(1975) and ¨Rough Riders¨ (1997) . He was partially the basis for the character of Walter in the cult classic ¨The great Lebowski (1998)¨. Rating ¨Flight of the Intruder¨: Good and entertaining . Compassionate thinkers , lovers warfare genre , and non-pacifists will all find satisfaction here .
Pretty good aerial flick plenty action , tragic drama , fantastic cloudy scenes and breathtaking dogfighting . It's a spectacular actioner including impressive scenarios , fine star cast and memorable acting . It plays like one of these 1940s service propaganda war that was shot in cooperation with US Air Force . This stirring as well as incongruous warlike movie mixes thrills , rugged action and dialog with lots of military scenes , without losing sight of the continuation of its interesting plot or necessities of war and works on various levels . Acceptable budget extended adventures about a maverick pilot and his pal undergoing risked feats on air and bombing on earth . It gets the right balance between the old-style warfare movies and the modern wartime films . Noisy action scenes punctuate the tension without breaking it . Brad Johnson and Willem Defoe give terrific acting in this otherwise passable film , both of whom show professionalism as two crack fighter pilots , two ambitious Lieutenants assigned to risked missions . Danny Glover is top-notch as Cmdr. Frank 'Dooke' Camparelli , he is a grumpy but likable officer subsequently stranded and alone after his plane is gunned down . Secondary cast is frankly excellent as Rosanna Arquette , Dann Florek , Tom Sizemore , Ving Rhames , Madison Mason , J Kenneth Campbell , David Schwimmer , John Corbet , among others . Fine production design and right special effects , as a 1:160 scale model of the city of Hanoi was built for the filming of the bomb-runs scenes , buildings closer to the camera were detailed more while the furthest away buildings in the background we only painted blocks of wood . And being partially filmed on the USS Independence CV-62 . While the story was centered around VA-196, VA-165 was actually the squadron used to film the movie ; all of the aircraft used for filming were re-painted with VA-196 markings used during the Viet Nam conflict era . Colorful and evocative cinematography in super 35 by Fred J Koenekamp . Moving musical score fitting to action by Basil Poledouris , he had originally been scheduled to score Dances with Wolves but reluctantly dropped out to score this film for his close friend John Milius, with extremely damaging results to his career when he found himself suddenly unemployable at any studio making a picture with the then-hot Kevin Costner .
The motion picture was professionally directed by John Milius but he stated that making this film was one of the worst experiences he had. He is a notorious screenwriter and filmmaker with several hits , specially on adventure genre as ¨Jeremiah Johnson (1972)¨, ¨Conan¨ , ¨Red Dawn¨, and also made biography as ¨Dillinger¨ , making two films about Theodore Roosevelt , ¨ The Wind and the Lion¨(1975) and ¨Rough Riders¨ (1997) . He was partially the basis for the character of Walter in the cult classic ¨The great Lebowski (1998)¨. Rating ¨Flight of the Intruder¨: Good and entertaining . Compassionate thinkers , lovers warfare genre , and non-pacifists will all find satisfaction here .
" Whatever happens, it's safe to say, your career in the Navy is over "
thinker169122 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The War in Viet-Nam was a mess. For America it lasted better than ten years and left the bodies of over 58,000 plus dead scattered over the backwaters of the country and spilled over onto the shores of the U.S. Yes the war did in fact fracture this country and in many ways, left it wounded beyond repair. This movie called " The Flight of the Intruder " brings to light the skills, courage, and integrity of the Navy pilot. The story, one of many from that era, relates the decision of pilot Lt. Jake Grafton (Brad Johnson) and his bombardier Lt. Cmdr. Virgil Cole (Willem Dafoe) who implement a scheme to take the war to the enemy. By defying their main authority, they fly their single Intruder into North Viet-Nam and drop their bombs not on the dark jungles of that country but in the stock-pile area known as ' Sam City. " Upon their return, they are arrested and brought before the Naval Board of Inquiry. Their commanding Officer, Cmdr. Frank Camparelli (Danny Glover) warned both men not to get too involved with personal losses, now they both stand a good chance of going to prison. The film is an excellent tribute to the officers and men of the US Navy and with all the action and combat drama seen in the movie, there is little doubt this movie will become a war time Classic. ****
Decent War Film, Nothing Amazing
gavin694231 March 2016
During the air war over Vietnam, a US Navy A-6 Intruder tactical bomber pilot schemes with a hardened veteran to make an unauthorized air strike on Hanoi.
Director John Milius later recalled, "That was Paramount with the Paramount control, and they tried to control every aspect of it. I'd spent more money than I'd ever spent before, because they told me how much I was going to spend on it. They didn't let me control it. I would have made that movie for at least $5 million less." One can only imagine what Milius would have done with complete control!
Roger Ebert called the film a "mess", noting that "some scenes say one thing, some say another." Others have complained about the special effects. I thought it was alright. Not a great film, but in retrospect somewhat interesting due to the cast. I mean, wow, a pre-"Friends" David Schwimmer and a pre-"Pulp Fiction" Ving Rhames?
Director John Milius later recalled, "That was Paramount with the Paramount control, and they tried to control every aspect of it. I'd spent more money than I'd ever spent before, because they told me how much I was going to spend on it. They didn't let me control it. I would have made that movie for at least $5 million less." One can only imagine what Milius would have done with complete control!
Roger Ebert called the film a "mess", noting that "some scenes say one thing, some say another." Others have complained about the special effects. I thought it was alright. Not a great film, but in retrospect somewhat interesting due to the cast. I mean, wow, a pre-"Friends" David Schwimmer and a pre-"Pulp Fiction" Ving Rhames?
BRAD JOHNSON AND MORGAN MCPHERSON IN THE SAME COCKPIT
xbrad683 July 2004
FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER reminds me of the ODYSSEY by HOMER. Both books take the reader on a quest. Stephen Coonts is a gifted writer. He was once stationed on the Aircraft Carrier USS INDEPENDENCE(CV-62) like his book is set on the INDY in 1972. Director John Milius (RED DAWN) makes yet another anti-communist movie about American A-6 INTRUDER Pilots during the Vietnam war. The talented Danny Glover plays Commander Frank 'Dooke' Camparelli an African-Italian-American and squadron commander. Christopher Rich plays Morgan 'MORG' McPherson who is the bombadier for Lt Jake 'COOL HAND' Grafton played by Brad Johnson. McPherson is killed by small arms fire on a useless bombing mission that leads Grafton to doubt whether the bombing runs are worth it. Lt Cmdr Virgil 'TIGER' Cole smoothly played by Willem Dafoe replaces 'MORG' and together the new A-6 team dreams of attacking Hanoi to the tune of DOWNTOWN. Rosanna Arquette is the perfect Navy wife as Callie. I gave FLIGHT OF THE INTRUDER a 9 out of 10.
Operation Arrogance
view_and_review24 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was horrible.
Two Navy pilots figure that they can make a real impact on the Vietnam War if they strike Hanoi, a target off limits for political reasons. Disobeying clear and direct orders they go into restricted air space and blow up a lot of SAM's (surface to air missiles) all with patriotic music in the background. This act is an impetus for North Vietnam to step away from peace talks. As a counter move, or out of sheer spite, our most glorious president ever, Richard M. Nixon, ordered that all Vietnamese heavy artillery targets be struck.
You see, these rogue pilots caused the war to finally go into full throttle. Their moralistic disobedience was a direct cause of all restrictions being lifted on the U.S. pilots that were itching to blow some crap up. Even the two rogue pilots were pardoned as a nod to the validity of their actions.
My goodness this movie was disgusting. The worst Vietnam War movie I've ever seen. This was nothing but some jingoistic military propaganda. "Woo haa! We're #1. U-S-A. Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out," pom pom BS. I guess the 90's is when Hollywood turned the Vietnam War into some glorious heroic war with righteous U.S. soldiers doing all kinds of brave miraculous stuff even in opposition of their commanding officers.
Our two hero boys were so good and so selfless that even when they were grounded they hopped in their jet to go save their commanding officer and help blow up stuff. So what if they were grounded; they would continue to defy orders to be the heroes they were meant to be.
Their CO was played by Danny Glover who was nothing but a raspy voiced cliche and an R. Lee Ermey wannabe. He spit out one bad line after another such as, "You don't have permission to die," and other military horse crap like that.
The "heroes," Virgil Cole (Willem Defoe) and Grafton (Brad Johnson), were two raging soldier boys that were willing to risk their lives and, at least, their careers for what was "right." They believed they could really end the war. No more bombing soft targets for them, they alone with just one jet, no navigation, and a jammed radar, were going to bomb the Viet Cong nerve center and change the course of the war. It was as stupid as it was arrogant. I only hoped that there would be some form of rectification or a lessons learned from their action. The lessons learned: you too can disobey orders, invade heavily fortified enemy territory, blow up crucial targets all by yourself and change the course of history. Operation Infinite Self-Righteousness.
Two Navy pilots figure that they can make a real impact on the Vietnam War if they strike Hanoi, a target off limits for political reasons. Disobeying clear and direct orders they go into restricted air space and blow up a lot of SAM's (surface to air missiles) all with patriotic music in the background. This act is an impetus for North Vietnam to step away from peace talks. As a counter move, or out of sheer spite, our most glorious president ever, Richard M. Nixon, ordered that all Vietnamese heavy artillery targets be struck.
You see, these rogue pilots caused the war to finally go into full throttle. Their moralistic disobedience was a direct cause of all restrictions being lifted on the U.S. pilots that were itching to blow some crap up. Even the two rogue pilots were pardoned as a nod to the validity of their actions.
My goodness this movie was disgusting. The worst Vietnam War movie I've ever seen. This was nothing but some jingoistic military propaganda. "Woo haa! We're #1. U-S-A. Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out," pom pom BS. I guess the 90's is when Hollywood turned the Vietnam War into some glorious heroic war with righteous U.S. soldiers doing all kinds of brave miraculous stuff even in opposition of their commanding officers.
Our two hero boys were so good and so selfless that even when they were grounded they hopped in their jet to go save their commanding officer and help blow up stuff. So what if they were grounded; they would continue to defy orders to be the heroes they were meant to be.
Their CO was played by Danny Glover who was nothing but a raspy voiced cliche and an R. Lee Ermey wannabe. He spit out one bad line after another such as, "You don't have permission to die," and other military horse crap like that.
The "heroes," Virgil Cole (Willem Defoe) and Grafton (Brad Johnson), were two raging soldier boys that were willing to risk their lives and, at least, their careers for what was "right." They believed they could really end the war. No more bombing soft targets for them, they alone with just one jet, no navigation, and a jammed radar, were going to bomb the Viet Cong nerve center and change the course of the war. It was as stupid as it was arrogant. I only hoped that there would be some form of rectification or a lessons learned from their action. The lessons learned: you too can disobey orders, invade heavily fortified enemy territory, blow up crucial targets all by yourself and change the course of history. Operation Infinite Self-Righteousness.
Cool scenes, and aviator action but very weak story
Yonhap S4 December 1999
Just an opinion but maybe the chances of novel-based techno-thrillers (aside from Tom Clancy's) basically stopped here in this movie. Flight of the Intruder is a novel based on Stephen Coonts' first book. The movie touches on interesting premise as we see the effects on the American pilots (in this case, the A-6 pilots of USS Independence) due to the US government's decision to limit the targets in bombing North Vietnam. Brad Johnson is pretty much what I imagined for the character of Jake Grafton. Had the movie been successful the latter books could use Tom Berenger. This is one of those times when less than stellar effects do not get in the way of enjoyment. The opening bombing scene and the adventure in SAM city were awesome.
Sadly, the story doesn't hold much and the ending is not so great. The daytime climax is really cheesy and doesn't fit well with the rest of the movie (and this climax itself doesn't flow well either). It's also pretty much a given when you have soldiers, pilots, and/or sailors in bar, chances are there'll be a barfight. The very short moments with Grafton and Cali were cool though and the movie could have utilize this subplot well.
The verdict: 3 of 5 stars.
Sadly, the story doesn't hold much and the ending is not so great. The daytime climax is really cheesy and doesn't fit well with the rest of the movie (and this climax itself doesn't flow well either). It's also pretty much a given when you have soldiers, pilots, and/or sailors in bar, chances are there'll be a barfight. The very short moments with Grafton and Cali were cool though and the movie could have utilize this subplot well.
The verdict: 3 of 5 stars.
A good film that is underrated and touching at times
Aly20012 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
So many war films can be either great, mediocre or terrible while others just fly under the radar without much attention; "Flight of the Intruder" falls into the latter category of being ignored. Truly a shame as this film is more of a drama based around the central characters rather than war itself.
Taking place during the conflict in Vietnam, the film tells the story of a group of pilots and their daily lives serving their country. The film examines much of what goes on behind the scenes for the pilots while observing them in combat as well.
The central character is pilot Lt. Jake Grafton (codename: Cool Hand), a brash but talented young man who goes through numerous trials as a Navyman from being embroiled in one of America's most contentious wars to losing his wing-man during one mission to a contentious relationship with his superior officer and new senior co-pilot. Portrayed with believable vulnerability by Brad Johnson, the actor brings a cocky charisma that makes Jake likable despite his arrogance. Johnson keeps the character grounded in reality as Jake must cope with loss when his co-pilot 'Morg (Christopher Rich)' dies and butts heads with his superiors yet Jake matures throughout the film.
Playing Jake's new co-pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Virgil 'Tiger' Cole, following Morg's death is the ever reliant Willem Dafoe. Lt. Cmdr. Cole is a seasoned Navy pilot, as he constantly reminds Jake Grafton early in their partnership, and is a straight-arrow but proves he is willing to bend the rules when called upon. The character is almost reminiscent of Dafoe's role as Sergeant Elias in "Platoon" except Cole is more reserved than the outgoing personality of Elias, but Cole does look out for the younger officers similar to how Elias treats Chris Taylor in "Platoon". Dafoe brings his mentor-like wisdom to Cole in addition to a battle-weary exterior and a selfless demeanor particularly in the film's explosive finale when everything rests on the combat veteran's shoulders to aid his comrades.
As Grafton and Cole's superior officer, Commander Frank Camparelli, is seasoned actor Danny Glover. Glover plays the character as a no-nonsense hard-nose and stickler for the rules, but secretly has a soft side for the men under his command. Camparelli is particularly hard on Jake and Virgil; Jake due to his brash actions and Virgil for his compliance in the younger officers' escapades. However Camparelli displays his compassion in the face of hardship such as the death of Grafton's co-pilot. He is also skilled in combat as seen in the final act of the film as Camparelli follows Grafton and Cole on their final assignment.
Truly an under-appreciated film that should be experienced by all.
Taking place during the conflict in Vietnam, the film tells the story of a group of pilots and their daily lives serving their country. The film examines much of what goes on behind the scenes for the pilots while observing them in combat as well.
The central character is pilot Lt. Jake Grafton (codename: Cool Hand), a brash but talented young man who goes through numerous trials as a Navyman from being embroiled in one of America's most contentious wars to losing his wing-man during one mission to a contentious relationship with his superior officer and new senior co-pilot. Portrayed with believable vulnerability by Brad Johnson, the actor brings a cocky charisma that makes Jake likable despite his arrogance. Johnson keeps the character grounded in reality as Jake must cope with loss when his co-pilot 'Morg (Christopher Rich)' dies and butts heads with his superiors yet Jake matures throughout the film.
Playing Jake's new co-pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Virgil 'Tiger' Cole, following Morg's death is the ever reliant Willem Dafoe. Lt. Cmdr. Cole is a seasoned Navy pilot, as he constantly reminds Jake Grafton early in their partnership, and is a straight-arrow but proves he is willing to bend the rules when called upon. The character is almost reminiscent of Dafoe's role as Sergeant Elias in "Platoon" except Cole is more reserved than the outgoing personality of Elias, but Cole does look out for the younger officers similar to how Elias treats Chris Taylor in "Platoon". Dafoe brings his mentor-like wisdom to Cole in addition to a battle-weary exterior and a selfless demeanor particularly in the film's explosive finale when everything rests on the combat veteran's shoulders to aid his comrades.
As Grafton and Cole's superior officer, Commander Frank Camparelli, is seasoned actor Danny Glover. Glover plays the character as a no-nonsense hard-nose and stickler for the rules, but secretly has a soft side for the men under his command. Camparelli is particularly hard on Jake and Virgil; Jake due to his brash actions and Virgil for his compliance in the younger officers' escapades. However Camparelli displays his compassion in the face of hardship such as the death of Grafton's co-pilot. He is also skilled in combat as seen in the final act of the film as Camparelli follows Grafton and Cole on their final assignment.
Truly an under-appreciated film that should be experienced by all.
As a former A-6 B/N
chad-mchugh17 June 2010
I found the movie interesting. It is probably loosely based on the exploits of Lyle Bull and Charles Hunter who on 30 October 1967 flew a solo flight over Hanoi and received the Navy Cross. Here is part of the citation for Bull: Lieutenant Bull assisted in the planning and execution of an extremely dangerous, single-plane, night, radar bombing attack on the strategically located and heavily defended Hanoi railroad ferry slip in North Vietnam. Although the entire Hanoi defensive effort was concentrated upon his lone bomber, he flawlessly assisted his pilot in navigating the aircraft to the target area and commencing an attack. Seconds before bomb release, six enemy surface-to-air missiles were observed to be tracking on his plane. Undaunted by this threat to his personal safety, Lieutenant Bull assisted his pilot in taking swift and effective action to avoid the missiles and complete the attack, releasing all weapons in the target area with extreme accuracy. After release, four more missiles were fired at his aircraft in addition to the intense anti-aircraft-artillery fire.
Would have been a 9 if they showed Rosanna Arquette one more time
freedoman25 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Good Action, Some Truth
hisown5 September 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Because my dad was a A-6 Bombadier/Navigator in Vietnam, I have a bias regarding this movie. It is highly entertaining and action-packed, however, the truth of the story lies somewhere in the middle and there's not much of it in this screenplay. I'm sure that many of the Navy's aviators in Vietnam grew weary of hitting "suspected" truck parks, oil refineries and missile sites, but I have yet to hear tales from my dad or his buddies about anyone who decided to fight their own war and fly through downtown Hanoi in order to destroy a SAM (surface-to-air missile) storage area all on their own. Guys got shot down a lot during the war, yes, but they were mostly Air Force guys (that's meant to be a dig!), and rarely a Navy A-6. In this movie, we see several from one squadron on the same cruise go down. Not too realistic. The quickly referred to "Operation Linebacker" was a real mission (proud to say that my dad was in the first plane over N Vietnam on that mission) and followed up by Linebacker II later on. It was not, however, inspired because of what the two lead characters in this movie did. The flying is pretty realistic though and it is nice to see the not-as-sexy-as-a-fighter-jet Grumman A-6 Intruder in a movie; I give it three stars for that. Still...I would rather listen to real bomber pilots and b/n's relate their adventures in 'Nam and aboard ship. If you want a real Vietnam movie, stick with "Apocalypse Now", "Full Metal Jacket" and "Platoon".
FOI
crickets29 June 2000
I've heard it said, "This is not repeat not a chick flick."
Wrong. I loved this film. I was impressed by the way the film dealt with personal relationships. Yeah - get worried, fellas, because one of the main themes is about how guys deal with losing guy friends. It's also about how guys deal with keeping guy friends, but I won't bore you...
If it makes you feel any better, there's a scene in a bar that involves a zipwire and a mudpit with an alligator, and some cool flight stuff that includes 'how to make the new non-pilot sick.'
Didn't have a 'chick' problem with it, which is probably why I'm so proud of my hardbound copy of "Baa Baa Black Sheep" autographed by Pappy Boyington. Don't count the women out when you watch this film. It has its clunker moments, but they are few, and thankfully they don't occur in the air.
Politically insightful in spots, and for the most part, a good two hours spent. Seriously, this is a good movie; do see it.
Wrong. I loved this film. I was impressed by the way the film dealt with personal relationships. Yeah - get worried, fellas, because one of the main themes is about how guys deal with losing guy friends. It's also about how guys deal with keeping guy friends, but I won't bore you...
If it makes you feel any better, there's a scene in a bar that involves a zipwire and a mudpit with an alligator, and some cool flight stuff that includes 'how to make the new non-pilot sick.'
Didn't have a 'chick' problem with it, which is probably why I'm so proud of my hardbound copy of "Baa Baa Black Sheep" autographed by Pappy Boyington. Don't count the women out when you watch this film. It has its clunker moments, but they are few, and thankfully they don't occur in the air.
Politically insightful in spots, and for the most part, a good two hours spent. Seriously, this is a good movie; do see it.
Flight of the Intruder (1991)
fntstcplnt23 December 2019
Directed by John Milius. Starring Brad Johnson, Willem Dafoe, Danny Glover, Tom Sizemore, Jared Chandler, Rosanna Arquette, Ving Rhames, J. Kenneth Campbell, Fred Dalton Thompson, Madison Mason. (PG-13)
Late in the Vietnam War, an A-6 Intruder pilot (Johnson) convinces a veteran bombardier (Dafoe) to join him on an unsanctioned mission over Hanoi to take out a surface-to-air missile depot. Pedestrian war film with thin characterizations and a cliché-riddled script (there's even time to squeeze in a barroom brawl) adapted from a novel by former naval pilot Stephen Coonts. Serviceable aerial action photography, but the visual effects are often awful; less likely to elevate the pulse than make the viewer wish they were watching an equally dumb but far more watchable air combat picture ("Top Gun," "Memphis Belle," etc., take your pick). Charisma-deprived leading man Johnson (think: a bland Tom Berenger) is a wash-out, Glover can't settle on a tone for his skipper character, Arquette is wasted in a superfluous romance sub-plot that (graciously) gets hardly any screen time; only a surprisingly understated Dafoe comes close to creating an interesting character. A Vietnam War movie made with the complete cooperation of the US Navy; that should be all the warning that's needed. Released the day after the combat phase of Operation Desert Storm began--talk about poor timing.
35/100
Late in the Vietnam War, an A-6 Intruder pilot (Johnson) convinces a veteran bombardier (Dafoe) to join him on an unsanctioned mission over Hanoi to take out a surface-to-air missile depot. Pedestrian war film with thin characterizations and a cliché-riddled script (there's even time to squeeze in a barroom brawl) adapted from a novel by former naval pilot Stephen Coonts. Serviceable aerial action photography, but the visual effects are often awful; less likely to elevate the pulse than make the viewer wish they were watching an equally dumb but far more watchable air combat picture ("Top Gun," "Memphis Belle," etc., take your pick). Charisma-deprived leading man Johnson (think: a bland Tom Berenger) is a wash-out, Glover can't settle on a tone for his skipper character, Arquette is wasted in a superfluous romance sub-plot that (graciously) gets hardly any screen time; only a surprisingly understated Dafoe comes close to creating an interesting character. A Vietnam War movie made with the complete cooperation of the US Navy; that should be all the warning that's needed. Released the day after the combat phase of Operation Desert Storm began--talk about poor timing.
35/100
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