Black Thunder (1998)

When the top secret prototype of the Nova Stealth fighter has been stolen, the Pentagon launches big alarm; the plane shouldn't come into hostile hands. There is only one man who can get ... See full summary »

Director:

Rick Jacobson

Writer:

William C. Martell

Stars:

Marcus Aurelius, Catherine Bell, Michael Cavanaugh

Cast

Credited cast:
Marcus Aurelius	...	Hinkle
Catherine Bell	...	Lisa
Michael Cavanaugh	...	Barnes
Michael Dudikoff	...	Vince
Frederic Forrest	...	The Admiral
John Furey	...	Moore
Landon Hall	...	Eileen
Gary Hudson	...	Jannick
John Lafayette	...	Demuth
Robert Madrid	...	Stone
Robert Miranda	...	Rojar
Richard Norton	...	Rather
Dean Scofield	...	Captain Jones
Sonny Surowiec	...	Alias
Marc Vahanian	...	Radio Operator

Storyline

When the top secret prototype of the Nova Stealth fighter has been stolen, the Pentagon launches big alarm; the plane shouldn't come into hostile hands. There is only one man who can get back the plane; the test-pilot Vince Conners. He and his partner Jannick pursues the Nova to Libya but when they land at the site their mission fails. Jannick has been captured and Conners is on the run. Without friends or allies they have to try to find the Nova without falling into the hands of the military regime and before Libyian terrorists uses the plane to bomb a meeting of the United Nations in Paris, with nerve gas.

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Plot Keywords:

murder of a nude woman | woman murders a man | nudity | military | test pilot | 

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Taglines:

The World's Most Powerful Jet Fighter Is In Enemy Hands. Only One Man Can Steal It Back.

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black Thunder - Die Welt am Abgrund

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Concorde-New Horizons, Royal Oaks Entertainment Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Nancy Valen (Mela) used body double Susan More for her nude scene.

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Goofs

After being ordered to launch his strike aircraft, we see a flight of F/A-18 Hornets launch from the carrier. Maybe there's also a supporting flight of F-14 Tomcats we didn't see. But the flight of aircraft we later follow as they approach to make the strike on the airbase are F-16 Falcons - never a carrier-operated aircraft.

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Connections

Edited into Flight of Fury (2007)

User Reviews

Average motion picture about a stolen prototype with contrived plot and stock characters

The top secret prototype called Nova Stealth fighter has been hijacked by a Libyan spy during testing , as the Pentagon launches warning ; the aircraft shouldn't come into enemy hands. There is only one man who can retrieve the plane ; the test-pilot Vince Conners (Michael Dudikoff) . Vince is assigned by general (Michael Cavanaugh) to carry out the dangerous mission and set out in pursuit the stolen plane by means of a stealth jet nicknamed ¨Black Bird¨ SR 71 . He and his pal hot-dog pilot Jannick (Gary Hudson )pursue the Nova to Libya but when they land at the place their objective failure . ¨. Jannick has been trapped and top gun Conners is on the run. Without friends or allies they have to attempt to encounter the Nova without falling into the hostile hands of the military regime and before Libyian terrorists utilize the aircraft to blow up a meeting of the United Nations in Paris, with nerve gas , using bombs with chemical and nuclear power . Vince links with an equally rebellious fighter woman (Nancy Valen ) and blasts away at the ending . Meanwhile terrorist groups are united for buying atomic weapons to realize a nuclear massacre and world big alarm . But also Connors receives help from USS Sarasota carrier commandant (Frederic Forrester) and his assistant (Catherine Bell).

Lower-budget extended adventures produced by Robert Corman about a maverick pilot and his partner undergoing risked feats on air and earth . A standard actioner plenty action , struggles , shootouts and spectacular dogfighting . Dudikoff shows professionalism as crack fighter pilot assigned to get back an invisible jet . Comic touches by Gary Hudson provide some relief from the flights and explosions here . Acceptable aerial photography and functional musical score. The motion picture is regularly directed by Rick Jacobson . He is an usual director of TV movies as ¨Xena¨, ¨Hercules¨, ¨Cleopatra 2525¨, ¨Baywatch¨ and the successful ¨Spartacus¨; and occasionally directs for cinema as ¨Bad guys¨ , ¨A bold affair¨ and ¨Strategic command¨ in which play similar actors than ¨Black Thunder¨ . It's a predictable movie but often exciting . Rating : Passable , 5.