Iron Eagle (1986)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Beautiful, moving film.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Sidney J. Furie directed this action-adventure that stars Jason Gedrick as Doug Masters, a willful young man whose father Col. Ted Masters(played by Tim Thomerson) is shot down by MIGs over a hostile Middle Eastern country, where he is taken hostage by the belligerent and ambitious leader(played by David Suchet) who loves sticking it the the U.S. Enraged at government inaction, Doug enlists the help of Air Force Col. 'Chappy' Sinclair(played by Louis Gossett Jr.) to train him to improve his piloting skills, then helps him "borrow" two fighter jets from the military to go into the country, battle the enemy in the air, rescue Ted, and make their escape. Granted that this film has a most unlikely premise, it is put across in such an entertaining, patriotic manner that it remains a guilty pleasure. Great fun, though I haven't seen the sequels...

I have reviewed a number of the negative reviews of this movie and have just watched it again. Of course the story is fantasy. No teen is going to bypass Air Force base security or fly an F-16, but I can tell you from 40 years experience as an Army and Air Force doc and flight surgeon that those of us who have walked the walk, not just talked the talk, love this movie. We got to fly because we qualified for it above others who just as passionately wanted it. We have walked in the Valley of the Shadow of Death so you guys can live free. Every flyer I know loves what they do as passionately as portrayed in this movie and would choose to do what is right rather than leave a fallen comrade. We live "Iron Eagle" and "Top Gun" and "Platoon" and "Full Metal Jacket" every day of our service to you and our country.One of the three best days of my life was the day I was commissioned an Air Force officer in 1972 and one of the worst was the day I was informed that I had to retire from the reserve. I just confirmed a need for my services again and will be returning as a National Guard officer for another six years just as my youngest gets her commission as an officer in the US Army.Watch this movie not for the realistic story but for the realistic portrayal of the passion of those of us who stand in harm's way to preserve your ability to live free. I don't expect you to emulate me. It will be enough if you merely try to understand me, and to appreciate what this movie is trying to say..WRD

I just saw this movie 24 years after its release,even though i was around when it was released,i had heard its so bad,i never got around to watch it. Actually,its a pretty decent aviator movie,if you like fighter planes movies you will enjoy it.It has extensive use of the F-16 Fighting Falcon airplane and also has an amusing chase scene with a Cessna trainer plane. The plot is a little far-fetched,a kid flying the Falcon to the middle east to save his father,i read its the reason the US Airforce refused to help the producers.But,the action scenes are pretty decent and even the plot is funny and not terribly unrealistic,considering this kid supposedly was trained by his pilot father.What i found incredibly cheesy and annoying is the use of the tape player every time he gets n the plane seat. Anyway,they did something right considering this movie made enough money to deserve four sequels! I enjoyed it and again its another instance where i shouldn't have listened to the buzz about this movie.

The bad news is: this movie ain't good. It contains lots of errors (or goofs, in IMDb terminology) and the plot is crap-crap-mega-crap. Totally unbelievable, complete nonsense.But let's be honest, films like these aren't made for good story lines. In fact, many movies aren't.So here's the good news: this movie may not be good, but I don't think it's as bad as most people say it is, either. The acting is good, the aerial combat scenes are very nice (although probably not realistic), there's plenty of humor and the soundtrack is great!If you need/want to watch this film as a critic, continuously alert for errors or other weaknesses, DON'T. You'll kill yourself in a fit of utter depression. I suggest that instead you crank up the volume, break out the popcorn/pizza and beer, put your feet on the table, disable your intellect and just let yourself be entertained. Because that's something this movie IS good for. It's a light-hearted, rocking, funny, feel-good movie with fighter jets in it and a great soundtrack to boot.One last word of advice though: be wary of the sequels! Part 1 (this movie) may not be good, but part II is bad, part III is worse and part IV is worst. Even die-hard Louis Gosset Jr fans don't like them.