The Philadelphia Experiment (1984)

hyped garbage

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

This was the first movie that I noticed Michael Pare' in. I had watched him in "The Greatest American Hero" but he was a supporting player and I think he left the series before it ended. I did not see "Eddie And The Cruisers" until later and that was Tom Berenger's movie so Mr. Pare' was a supporting actor in it too. Of course, "Eddie And The Cruisers II' was Michael Pare's movie through and through. This no disrespect to Michael Pare' but at that time, I tended to focus on the lead actors and actresses rather than the supporting actors. However, after seeing "The Philadelphia Experiment", I came away with the opinion that Michael Pare' was an actor who was going places and was I ever right. He has a very successful career and is one of the actors that I like in almost every part that he does. Nancy Allen and Bobbi DiCicco also have done well in their careers. Good job to all of you and the rest of the cast of this important movie.

This movie was a great concept, but unfortunately, it ruins all suspension of disbelief due to the fact that the haircuts were not even close to the regulation of the time.Were regulation 1940's military haircuts so unacceptable at the time this movie was filmed that the actors couldn't comply?Don't get me wrong, I prefer long hair. But if you're going to make an accurate movie from that time period, than have the guys suck it down and get a haircut from that era. It will grow back in a few months.This movie reminds me of an episode of the Partridge Family, where Bert Convey portrays a captain in the Navy. But his hair is nowhere near regulation.So fake. Get a grip, get a 1940's haircut, or a regulation military haircut if you're going to portray somebody in the military. Otherwise, you look fake as Hell.

In 1943, the US Navy conducted a series of invisibility tests. David Herdeg (Michael Paré) and Jim Parker are sailors on the destroyer USS Eldridge being tested in the Philadelphia Harbor conducted by Dr. James Longstreet. The ship disappears but not just on radar. The two sailors jump ship and get thrown into 1984 Nevada. They get chased by a helicopter but escape. It's an alien world to them. Longstreet had conducted another experiment but this time an entire town disappeared. The guys walk to a gas station diner and end up carjacking Allison Hayes (Nancy Allen).It's a fine sci-fi idea based on the persistent conspiracy theory. It has great bones for a cool movie. There are some silly bits and weaker parts. Stewart Raffill is not the best director around but he does a competent job in this one. The movie doesn't really have any snap to it. Michael Paré and Nancy Allen are solid leading actors during the 80's but they're not the most compelling couple. The movie doesn't take full advantage and build on a compelling start.

Highly enjoyable adventure which is supposedly based on the real events of 1943 involving the USS Eldridge. Of course there is no evidence to support the stories but the spooky possibility of it all is still fun to think about and actually adds to the films enjoyment.Yes it looks pretty kooky now with lots of errors and dodgy effects but like many old films that's part of the fun. Actually the effects for the time vortex aren't too bad and the shots of the vortex hole in the sky with lots of swirling cloud around it are quite good still.The acting is very basic and hokey with chief of cheese Mr Pare and one of the Queens of the 80's Nancy Allen both in a very soppy love plot. Lots of military types running around being ordered by lots of scientist types in white coats...its all very cute.Its really the perfect boys own adventure with a love interest, daring heroism, mystery and a happy ending which can't fail to make you smile..it will also make you wanna jump through time vortexes too.7/10