Final Descent

The story line is interesting, if somewhat improbable. Some would say down right impossible. But that should not detract from the film. It is no more improbable than the story lines of any adventure movie - James Bond, for example - or many of the fantasy films that are so popular these days. So we should not judge the film on how realistic we think it may or may not be, but on how entertaining it is.

I found "Final Decent" to be very entertaining. It had action; it had romance; and it had suspense. In fact, I would call it the best of the Airplane disaster movies. That's enough for me. I liked it. And I am saddened that it was never available commercially.

Where's the DVD?

Based on the book "The Glass Cockpit" and directed by Mike Robe. The best unbelievably far fetched action movie ever. Semi-Believable acting despite the ok character development. Hilarious story line along with some really cheesy special effects. No way anyone was going to die with Robert Urich at the wheel. No problem goes unsolved with this guy! This would make an excellent Mystery SciFi Theater flick! No kidding, It's just as funny as "The Tomorrow War" with Chris Pratt.

Now granted, if you are one of those types that complain because your ice water was served cold and wet you might not like this. But if you go into with the knowledge you are not in some USC film class, you can enjoy a lazy afternoon watching this.

Urich is his usual engaging self. This actor while in some pretty broad roles always managed to keep his performance low key.

He does so as the pilot of this doomed plane. There is a question of potentially sacrificing the lives of some to save the others, a nice little addition to your standard disaster movie.

The script and the actors are so bad, it's almost comical! The pilot declaring his love for his co-pilot which he kept hidden for too many years, 3 Canadian oilworkers opening a hatch (27.000 ft???) to haul in a waterhose, a chopper shooting at the jammed wings of the plane, etc etc. If you have really really nothing better to do, see it and enjoy a laugh.

I like Robert Ulrich a lot so that may influence my opinion. I expected to be bored but was not. The acting was good. There's always a temptation to go over the top in these types of films but it didn't happen here. The snippets of the passengers were blessedly short and the emphasis stayed on trying to save the plane. The technical stuff was believable.